The Future of Our Democracy Depends on an Engaged Generation

I had the opportunity to join the Essex County Young Democrats alongside my running mates to share our enthusiasm for this year’s election and our commitment to serving the people of Essex County.

As a young person running for Essex County Commissioner in District 3, moments like these mean a great deal to me. Not simply because I am a candidate, but because I believe deeply in what it means for a new generation to see itself as part of the civic process.

Our communities are shaped by decisions made in government every single day, from the quality of our schools and access to opportunity, to transportation, housing, public safety, environmental protection, and economic development. Yet too many young people are taught about government as something distant and abstract rather than something that directly affects their lives.

That has to change.

Civic education should not end with memorizing the three branches of government or learning how a bill becomes a law. It should teach young people that their voice has value. It should teach them how to understand their local government, how to advocate for themselves and their communities, how to engage with elected officials, how to evaluate information, and, most importantly, how to participate.

Voting is one of the most powerful ways we participate in our democracy, but it is not the only one. Civic engagement can mean attending a school board meeting. Joining a neighborhood association. Volunteering at a food pantry. Speaking at a town council meeting. Organizing around an issue you care about. Asking your elected officials a difficult question. Registering your friends to vote. Running for office yourself.

Democracy only works when people understand that they don't have to wait for an invitation to participate. 

One of the reasons I am so proud to be running for County Commissioner is because I want young people to see that public service is something they can pursue. You do not have to wait until you are 50 or 60 to have a seat at the table. You can be young and experienced. You can be ambitious and community-minded. You can have a career, a family, and a commitment to public service. You can bring a perspective to government that comes from living through the challenges facing your generation. When young people see people who look like them, come from communities like theirs, and share their experiences stepping into civic leadership, it can change their understanding of what is possible. Representation matters. 

We often talk about voting as though it begins when someone turns 18, but civic engagement begins much earlier. It begins when a young person learns that their voice matters. It begins when a student is encouraged to ask questions about how their community works. It begins when a teenager sees their parents, teachers, neighbors, and community leaders participating in elections. It begins when we explain that local elections matter just as much as national ones. It continues when young people are given meaningful opportunities to participate.

At the Essex County Young Democrats meeting, I was reminded of just how much energy exists among young people who care deeply about the future of our communities. Our democracy needs young voices. The future of Essex County, and our democracy, will be stronger when young people recognize the power they already have to shape it.