Throughout history, the participation and leadership of young people has defined the success of movements for justice. The same is true today. Scot and Sue are joined by Alex Ames, a movement leader in the state of Georgia, to give insights into the experiences of young people and democracy. Why are young people cynical toward the democratic process in the US? How do social media and the rising cost of living create the conditions for isolation? What issues matter most to young people, and how do we bring more of them into the pro-democracy movement?
Guest Bio
Alex is a student and community organizer based in Atlanta, Georgia. At 17, Alex founded the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, which builds grassroots student power among a multiracial base of thousands. She led campaigns to defeat “don’t say gay” laws, book bans, voucher bills, and racial gerrymandering, resulting in the largest public education budget in Georgia’s history. Alex now trains and funds youth organizers at the Student Action Network for Equity (SANE) and directs youth organizing at the nationwide Partnership for Equity and Education Rights (PEER).