Sydney Helmuth

Tag: youth

  • Nonprofit Empowers Young Activists Through Financial and Organizational Support

    Nonprofit Empowers Young Activists Through Financial and Organizational Support

    There are many barriers that prevent young people from getting involved in issues that they care about. One prominent barrier many face is finances. Leading advocacy initiatives is daunting, especially without financial support. To help relieve this burden, the nonprofit organization Future Coalition provides fiscal sponsorships to help meet the specific demands of youth and grassroots organizers. 

    Established in 2018, the organization has rapidly become a hub for youth-led activism, amplifying the stories of young individuals addressing the needs of their communities. At its core, the group believes in the power of young people to drive change. Future Coalition describes its mission as “accelerat[ing] the impact of young leaders by incubating, connecting, funding, and amplifying their work.” 

    In 2024, through its Future Incubator service, Future Coalition supported 15 youth-led or youth-centered projects. Future Incubator does not only provide monetary support for its projects; it also supports the administrative and legal backend for these youth-led initiatives.

    One of these projects is the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition. Due to Future Coalition’s fiscal support, the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition has been allocated more resources to its fight for climate justice, while the Future Incubator service covers management and fundraising softwares and legal and financial support. Without these services, it can be hard for youth-led initiatives to grow. Future Coalition allows youth advocates to focus on their mission, while assisting with more mundane financial, legal, and administrative tasks.

    In addition to Future Incubator, Future Coalition leads several other key initiatives to help young people get involved in politics. The coalition has had a crucial role in mobilizing young voters. Future Coalition’s Voter Hub serves as a platform for young voters to learn about politics, get engaged, and mobilize their communities. Recognizing the historic opportunity presented by recent elections, Future Coalition has encouraged young people across the country to push for a more progressive path, providing resources to ensure they are ready to vote. This includes tools to check registration, register to vote, and vote early.

    Future Coalition emphasizes the power of youth-led activism, supporting youth leaders and advocates in a variety of different ways. The resources and initiatives it provides are fundamental for the support of young advocates, and more organizations should be following in its footsteps. The Future Incubator program is a prime example of how Future Coalition is supporting young leaders. The Coalition’s other initiatives, such as the Voter Hub, work to mobilize young people to get involved in elections and issues that they care about. Future Coalition’s work allows young leaders and youth-led initiatives to thrive.

  • Exploring the Power of Political Advocacy for Young Voices

    Exploring the Power of Political Advocacy for Young Voices

    From a young age, I found myself fascinated by the world of politics. Every day, there are powerful people making decisions that will impact all of our lives. I remember my elementary school holding a mock election in 2012. I, of course, took this extremely seriously, researching both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney’s campaigns to make an informed decision. In 2020, when I was a little bit older, I got involved in the election in a more impactful capacity. I volunteered for Mission4AZ, creating social media content with peers to help get Mark Kelly elected as a United States Senator for Arizona. Working in this capacity opened my eyes to the power of young voices in political advocacy, and I want to share that power with others.  

    Historically, there have not been many political spaces open to youth and young adults, and I think it is time that changed. Luckily, with the prominence of social media, there is a much larger conversation happening about politics among younger generations. In this blog, I want to explore how young people can get involved with issues that matter to them. Social media is an easy and great way to do this, but there are so many other avenues as well. This blog will look into several ways young people can get involved in political advocacy, and why it is so important to do so. 

    Given the recent election, it is fair to say that American politics has been tumultuous as of late. It can be overwhelming and intimidating to consider. Preliminary data estimates that less than half of eligible young voters, ages 18-29, cast ballots in the 2024 election. This indicates a lower voter turnout from 2020. This decline is concerning, especially considering recent research says 55% of young people (ages 18-29) say the country is going in the wrong direction, and only 16% believe it’s on the right track. 

    These numbers emphasize the necessity of getting young adults involved in political spaces. With so few believing that the country in on the right track, I want to make sure other young people have the resources to change this. If you are interested in politics or want to be more involved, I encourage you to follow along. It is my goal to make sure that young people recognize the power they have, and never feel like they do not have a voice to advocate for themselves.