A sampling of the lessons learned by the participants of the Generation Engage townhall Friday:

• Opponents of the transit tax aren't against it simply because they don't want a sales tax increase.

• The City Council and the School Board don't communicate as well as they should about zoning issues.

• The members of the MTV/BET generation aren't coveted voters mainly because they don't vote consistently.

The event at the Levine Museum of the New South was Charlotte's introduction to Generation Engage. It's a national nonpartisan group started after the 2004 elections to help boost young adults' civic involvement. Rod Garvin, formerly with the Levine, and Decker Ngongang -- who has written columns about race and social issues for the Observer and Creative Loafing -- are local outreach coordinators for Generation Engage.

The group specifically hopes to reach 18- to 29-year-olds who haven't gone to college. But after Friday's townhall, it was obvious that many of our college-educated young adults are starving for information as well.

The highlight of Friday's townhall -- a videoconference with former Secretary of State Colin Powell -- was delayed by a computer problem. When Powell finally came on screen, he was anti-climatic. He said stuff we already know: look for mentors in your own neighborhood, be good role models in your daily lives, work hard, be honest, yeah, yeah.

Powell's advice was great for high schoolers, but during the delay, the 50 or so participants got better guidance from City Councilman Anthony Foxx and school board member Trent Merchant.

The discussion ranged from recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions' impact on Charlotte to one older gentleman who was curious to hear young adults talk about issues they're passionate about. The men and women in the audience were varied in age and ethnicity.

Foxx talked about how politicians use jargon to limit access to information. If people don't understand the issues because the language of the discussion is too complex, then the power holders can do what they want.

Foxx also explained that because younger adults don't vote consistently, politicians tend to ignore them when it comes to campaigning and addressing concerns.

"People, pay attention," he said. "Vote regularly."

Many of Friday's attendees came out mostly because they were cool with organizers Ngongang or Garvin, but they left saying they gained valuable insight into how this city works.

Brett Lobello, 28, said he feels more knowledgeable about some of the hot Charlotte issues he's heard about.

"As a transplant, I've shied away from participating in the political process."

Now, the key is turning that knowledge into action. We have enough groups that talk and talk and talk.

Think about what kind of power our generation could have if groups such as Urban League Young Professionals, Young Affiliates of the Mint and others got together and laid out an agenda for this city, and then voted for people who represented our concerns.

Baby Boomers have set this area's agenda long enough. Generation Engage is one avenue to help young adults become playmakers, not simply spectators. You don't have to participate in Engage -- but please participate in something.

More Info

Details on Generation Engage: rod.garvin@generationengage.org and Decker@GenerationEngage.org