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Engaging young adults for activism
By Ryanne Persinger
February 28, 2008
A civic organization is trying to keep young people interested in politics long after November when the presidential elections are over.
Decker Ngongang (left) and Rod Garvin are Charlotte outreach coordinators at Generation Engage, a nonprofit that seeks to boost political and social activism among young adults.
Calvin Ferguson for The Charlotte Post
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"“We get politicians to come speak to young people,” Decker Ngongang, an outreach coordinator for the Charlotte based Generation Engage, said. “We want (youths) to care about the issues even after the elections are over.”
Generation Engage, which connects youths to political leaders and other organizations, focuses on creating a dialogue between youth and politicians.
The group allows youth to think for themselves and to understand what it is they like about a candidate.
This year especially, Ngongang said young people are interested in politics.
“If the election was held today, a black man could be elected president,” said Ngongang. “Any historic moment brings young people out (to vote).”
It is the first time in U.S. history that a woman – Hillary Clinton – or an African American – Barack Obama – have a good chance to become commander in chief.
“There is an excitement about Barack Obama,” Ngongang, 26, said. “It can’t help but to invigorate young people. We love new stuff.”
Twenty five year-old Varsay Sirleaf said he has always been into politics, he was even the student body president in college, but he says there is something special about voting in 2008.
“If you look at the demographics of youths that are supporting Barrack Obama that age range is between 18 to 30,” Sirleaf said.
“Look at that participation now compared to 10 years ago.”
According to Generation Engage, 50 percent of young adults voted in the 2004 presidential election, compared to 41 percent in 2000. But this year could bring a record number of voters under age 30 in the presidential election, or even in North Carolina’s May primaries, said Charlotte’s Rod Garvin, a Charlotte outreach coordinator.
“The excitement is early in the primaries and the caucuses,” Garvin, 32, said. “Voting is important to the overall democracy which is always evolving.”
In Garvin’s own opinion, he said until the first non-white male president is elected, America is unable to say that democracy is evolving.
“We want to keep democracy growing,” Garvin added. “It’s about that sustainability, it’s about being informed and participating in dialogue to make democracy happen.”
Generation Engage reaches out to all political parties whether it’s Republican, Democrat, Independent or other.
That is something that Tonya Simmons appreciates.
“They don’t force anything on you,” Simmons, 26, said. “It’s all just informational.”
Simmons attended his first Generation Engage ambassador meeting last year when the group held an internet chat with former secretary of state Colin Powell and local politicians.
“I really wanted to get our demographic here involved,” Simmons said. “It was good to hear about an organization that focused on being active in politics here in Charlotte.”
Generation Engage specifically targets ages 16 to 30. The organization focuses on those without a formal education, because they seem to be the most disconnected, Garvin said.
“You want to engage people in politics before they turn 18,” Garvin said.
Generation Engage has chapters in New York, Florida, California and Raleigh. The Charlotte chapter was chartered in 2007.
The group hosted an event at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, “Hip-Hop Politics,” this month promoting politics and reaching out to the young. Every year the Charlotte based group hosts a local block party for candidates running for local office.
“Young people need to understand why the school board race and county commissioners race affects them,” Ngongang said.
Sirleaf, who was born and raised in Liberia, agreed. Aside from elections, he was interested in the city’s new light rail system and tax increases.
“For (youths) who are not as aware of important issues ...Generation Engage bridges the gap. They gear it toward my generation.”
Ngongang is a graduate of North Carolina State University and majored in political science. He left a job at Bank of America to become more involved in leadership.
Garvin, once an educator at the Levine Museum of the New South, also left his job to work for the organization. He is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is currently working towards his master’s degree at Hood Theological Seminary.
On the Net:
Generation Engage: www.generationengage.org.
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