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For Immediate Release
New Site: GenerationNet.org gives Young People a Voice
Revitalizing our Democracy by Engaging Gen X, Gen Y on Own Terms
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - As election season heats up, hundreds of young Americans
are using the Internet to overcome the alienation that is destroying our
democracy. Young people nationwide are launching an unprecedented
grassroots campaign called GenerationNet.org.
GenerationNet.org's two-stage campaign combines online organizing and
offline activism. First, from August 29th to September 15th, hundreds of
members will vote at the group's website on the issues that matter most to
them. Second, they'll work together in an offline, grassroots advocacy
campaign to hold politicians throughout the country accountable for progress
on their top issues.
"GenerationNet.org is a powerful new voice for our generation," said Peter
Schurman, the group's Executive Director. "Instead of waiting for
politicians to get with it, we're now deciding for ourselves how we want our
country run, and working together to make sure they do something about it."
"There are 131 million people in generations X and Y, and that's almost half
the American population," he added. "More than 40 million of us are active
Internet users. Together our voices can have a huge impact."
GenerationNet.org addresses the problem of young people's alienation from
politics, which is destroying our democracy. Less than one-third of 18- to
24- year olds voted in the last presidential election. Yet more than
two-thirds of young adults surveyed by the National Association of
Secretaries of State believe that "our generation has an important voice,
but no one seems to hear it." Politicians' attitudes toward young people
were illustrated in 1992 when then-Senator Wyche Fowler asked young
activists, "Students don't vote... do you expect me to come in here and kiss
your ass?" (as quoted in Newsweek)
"GenerationNet.org's fresh approach confronts the vicious circle of
alienation by giving young people a voice in shaping the laws that affect
our lives," said Stacey Abrams, the group's President, explaining the
group's strategy of engaging young people on their own terms.
The group's website, http://www.GenerationNet.org, asks, "If you could
change any U.S. law or policy, what would it be?" and enables members to
democratically choose their top priorities. The group then organizes
grassroots campaigns for the changes they've chosen.
The website itself is new and different. Its issue survey allows visitors
to dynamically add their own top issues to the menu of options, displays
survey results in real time. "Most surveys limit your choices," said
Schurman, "but our uniquely democratic site gives everyone the power to
create new options." It also builds a sense of community online by enabling
members to connect with others who care about the same issues, who go to
their school, or who live or work near them.
GenerationNet.org's commitment to organizing offline, grassroots campaigns
is also new and different from other political websites. The "action"
components offered by other sites typically enable viewers only to send
emails to their elected officials, or to create online petitions, yet email
and online petitions are almost always ignored by members of Congress and
U.S. Senators. Instead, GenerationNet.org's offline campaigns will take
the issues to the politicians on their home turf, while they're campaigning
for re-election.
GenerationNet.org's campaign is based on the following examples, in which
its founders played key roles:
* In 1992, young people asked candidates for Congress to pledge cut
the US budget deficit in half in four years or leave office. In districts
nationwide, young activists urged candidates to sign the pledge,
demonstrating the scale of the national debt by pouring out 4,200 pennies,
each representing $1 billion, at the candidates' feet, while TV news cameras
rolled. Nationwide, 106 candidates signed the pledge.
* In 1993, the California Desert Protection Act was held up by
then-Senator Bennett Johnston (D-LA). A Louisiana high school student
launched a letter-writing campaign in her school lunch room, armed with
paper, pens, boom boxes, and cookies. Within three weeks, she generated
thousands of hand-written letters to Johnston. He approved the bill; the
full Senate followed, and the bill became law.
* In 1994, the House of Representatives passed regulatory reform bills
that threatened to cripple most national environmental laws, unless moderate
US Senators stopped them. Around the country, student volunteers donned
blindfolds bearing the name of their Representative and smashed piņata
models of the Earth. Powerful images on the evening news helped stop the
regulatory reform bills in the Senate.
GenerationNet.org will apply similar strategies in organizing its offline,
grassroots campaigns.
GenerationNet.org addresses the digital divide through a partnership with
PeoplePC.com, accessible through the site's Get Stuff page, which enables
visitors to buy a computer with Internet access for $25 a month. The Get
Stuff page also offers logo T-shirts and general merchandise for sale, and
provides links to partner organizations including Rock the Vote and Project
Vote Smart, and a link enabling voter registration.
GenerationNet.org is a new nonpartisan, web-based advocacy organization for
young people. The group sets no age boundaries for membership, but appeals
primarily to those born after the baby boom, because prior generations
already have a strong history of political participation. Generations X and
Y are defined by demographic historians Strauss and Howe as beginning in
1960.
GenerationNet.org has more than two hundred registered members. It is
funded by voluntary contributions from members, proceeds from online sales
of goods including T-shirts, computers, and general merchandise.
GenerationNet.org gratefully acknowledges generous grants from Morton
Meyerson, Jim Carlisle, Allen & Company and John and Frances Pepper, and a
$10,000 first prize from a Yale business plan competition. Working Assets
and eGrants.org have recently chosen the group as an eligible donation
recipient.
Contact:
Peter Schurman
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