Brave New Voices 2008

The State of Youth In America (with a corresponding voter registration drive) George Washington University, 2:30 pm

This generation – the Free Speech Generation – has begun to define a new paradigm for civic and cultural involvement. No longer believing in the “one leader, one movement” strategy of prior generations, youth today embrace a multitude of voices, speaking directly to their peers about the various issues that effect local and global communities.

Following a six-month campaign by Brave New Voices veterans Chinaka Hodge and George Watsky, the event will bring 500 youth into one room to discuss the state of American youth and present recommendations to a new administration. Teenagers representing the entire country, from major cities to rural areas and Native American reservations, will bring their unique perspectives to the table. By declaring themselves active citizens, these youth will create a dialogue between the needs of American youth, setting a new standard for civic engagement and drawing back in a generation dedicated to true democracy and freedom. Filmed live and broadcast by One Economy/24-7Townhall.org, the event is the ending point of a national Brave New Voices Voter Registration Drive.

Participants Come From

Youth Speaks Presents: 

Brave New Voices 2008

Presented in Partnership with Robert Redford’s Sundance Preserve and the US Green Building Council

For the third year, Youth Speaks teams up with Robert Redford and the Sundance Preserve to present a national spoken word forum on Global Warming. Hosted at the Kennedy Center, this event has been an absolute highlight in the campaign to increase awareness of this critical issue. Featuring poets 13-25 years old from across the United States, this program will select 5 representatives to represent Sundance and Youth Speaks at numerous forums across the globe. Past winners have been featured at a number of events, performing for mayors, members of congress, and even past presidents, bringing down the house each time. There is no better way to hear the unique perspective young people of color bring to the table about Global Warming and how industrial pollution, environmental injustice, and unhealthy, nongreen communities effect people in their daily lives.

With a growing focus on Green Economies and how urban communities are affected by this global concern, a whole new generation are speaking up to spark change.