OUR MISSION

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Youth Civic Impact Collective (YCIC) is a nationwide, nonpartisan student-led organization amplifying youth voices in our democracy and empowering students to transform civic education. 

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THE PROBLEM

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Voting––and civic engagement more broadly––reap enormous dividends for the people, students, and institutions that succeed in encouraging it. Once a young adult participates in community service or electoral opportunities, whether by voting, serving as a poll worker, or in some other form entirely, they are significantly more likely to never stop. Civic participation is a habit, and the literature shows that “voting in one election substantially increases the likelihood of voting in the future.” For students who are not eligible to vote, investing time to engage in civic education prior to voting will allow students to better equip themselves with the knowledge they need to effectively participate in the democratic process when the time comes. ​​

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Students constantly encounter obstacles that prevent them from practicing civic engagement and becoming active voters. One of the most significant impediments to student voting is a lack of time. Students are incredibly busy during the week, and their schedules serve as a barrier to voting and taking time to inform themselves. As University of Virginia professor John Holbein writes, “The hidden driver of low youth turnout [is] that the act of voting is ‘costly.’ Citizens have to expend time and effort familiarizing themselves with candidates and policies, decide which they prefer, and then overcome life’s distractions long enough to find their right polling station on the right day.” Students' schedules are filled with classes, exams, athletics, club meetings, and other responsibilities. Continuing with a normal class schedule on Election Day becomes a significant barrier for students to vote and commit to civic engagement. 

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HOW WE SOLVE IT

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YCIC is for the students, by the students. Starting with our entirely youth-led team, we advocate for student-driven solutions and fight for youth representation in all aspects of civic education. ​

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We partner with institutions––regardless of their campus progress––and actively help navigate the process starting from initial advocacy and logistics to final implementation. Canceling classes on Election Day is not about taking a day off, but a day on where students have the time and freedom to vote, volunteer, and practice civic engagement. Not everything can be learned in the classroom, and we are firm believers of educational reformer John Dewey's philosophy of "learning by doing." 

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We constantly ask ourselves: why do we do this work? Youth empowerment is our north star. Every win counts––whether that's a class-free Election Day, an improved civic curriculum, an extra dinner-table conversation with friends and family, or simply a student pausing in their day to reflect on their participation. We are tactic-agnostic and adapt our approaches based on how effective they are in achieving our short and long-term goals. 

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YCIC offers support and enacts change through various initiatives:

• Conferences and Gatherings: The National Civic Education Conference and Intercollegiate Gathering offers a robust network of student leaders, advocates, administrators from across the country, encouraging cross-campus dialogue and consistent exchange of strategies/insights.

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• ​Policy Advocacy and Research: We develop innovative campaigns and conduct policy research around civic education. We closely monitor important bills that YCIC can support and continue the dialogue with legislators, embracing a higher standard of youth engagement. 

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• Resources Committee: From providing guides on drafting initial proposals to petition forms to progress checklists, we offer an extensive toolkit and other resources for institutions to make sure that a non-instructional Election Day can become a reality. Our podcast "Student Voices, Civic Choices" amplifies youth perspectives and brings student voices to the forefront. ​

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• High School Committee: Our impact is not limited to higher education. There is a strong precedent even at the high school level for non-instructional Election Days. Partnering with high school students and education boards, we find creative solutions to integrate civic engagement into existing curricula and instill early habits of participation. 

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• Outreach Committee: YCIC is not a solo mission. Our work is possible because of our partnerships, expansive interscholastic network, experienced thought partners, and most importantly, our growing base of student leaders and youth activists. ​​

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