Some try to find the answer by parachuting in fresh-faced volunteers to appeal to the 18-to-29-year-old demographic, and then they pull up the stakes once the votes are counted.

Generation Engage, a national nonpartisan youth civic organization, wants to change that.

Along with Western NC environmental groups, Generation Engage sponsored on Saturday an iChat session with former Vice President Al Gore to talk about global warming.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former President Bill Clinton and the late Coretta Scott King all have participated in youth forums.

As part of its Sunday series of questions for people in politics, the Citizen-Times spoke with Adrian Talbott, the co-founder and executive director of Generation Engage.

QUESTION: Why did you form Generation Engage?

ANSWER: Young people, particularly the 49 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds who live in rural and inner city communities and have no college experience, don’t suffer from lack of interest (in politics). They suffer from lack of access.

We try not to push positions. But we build an infrastructure that allows people, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to engage in genuine, active dialogue with civic leaders.

Q: How does that work?

A: The primary way we do that is in partnership with Apple (Computers).

We have I-Chat video conference ability. It’s like videoconferencing, but it runs over Internet lines.

It allows a group of several hundred young people who live in otherwise disconnected communities to join the national political discussion and ask questions.

We also are the appreciative recipients of a Google Grant, which is helping GenerationEngage.org’s Podcast Library receive 65,000 downloads a day to hear our podcasts.

Q: What do politicians get out of it?

A: Politicians need to win the most votes for the fewest dollars.

It’s accepted that you don’t go after young voters because they’re hard to reach and it’s too expensive. We say to politicians, “We want you to show up in one spot. We’ll put you in touch with groups.”

Q: How do you keep young people involved after the elections?

A: We are investing our efforts in three states, Virginia, New York and North Carolina.

We are here to stay. While voting is important, when Election Day is over, we are gong to be around with the same staff, continuing to do outreach. We try to provide a sustained network.

Q: Why was Asheville included in your last event?

A: Asheville is one of the strongest targets in the country where the message of the environment and the discussion of how local action to affect global change will really bring people into the fold.

The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) pumps so much toxins into the air. All it takes is a drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the effects.

You don’t need to be an environmentalist to care a huge deal about what happens to the environment.

Asheville and Western North Carolina are unique in that sense.