Assumptions

• When young people are at the table, we can develop creative and progressive solutions to fight the huge challenges we face as a generation.

• Transformational rather than transactional organizing is the best way to make real change.

• Building the political power of young people will benefit all people.

• Young people should be given the power to tell their own stories.

Values

• Authenticity

• Equity

• Social Justice

• Honesty

• Community

• Accessibility

• Intentionality

Context

About Minnesota:

• Minnesotans under the age of 35 are now the largest voting bloc in the state.

• Minnesota has some of the largest racial disparities in the nation.

• Minnesota is known for a solid history of progressive organizing and wins—young, marginalized people have been consistently left out of that progress and often sacrificed for it.

• Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee communities are growing rapidly.

About the Minnesota Youth Collective:

• Minnesota Youth Collective is a relatively new organization that has the opportunity to shape its reputation in the state.

• Minnesota Youth Collective was founded by young, queer, female-identifying people who practice intersectionality in organizing.

• Minnesota Youth Collective is an organization of young people, by young people, for all people.

People Power

• Centering and amplifying stories of young people in ways that are not exploitative—especially POC, LGBTQ, and other underrepresented groups

• Developing young people as leaders in their own right by investing in future generations of leaders through leadership development programming

• Meeting young people where they’re at, and making our work accessible by engaging communities

• Sharing knowledge that is traditionally held by more privileged communities

Equitable Progress

• Committing to social justice, anti-oppression, and dismantling systemic racism

• Building a more progressive state that puts communities first and creates policies that do not compromise any of our communities

• Electing officials who look like our communities and holding our current elected officials accountable to their constituents

• Breaking down barriers that stop our communities from being civically engaged through both policy and advocacy

Building Community

• Making space for real conversations centering the experience of young people around the issues they care about

• Connecting young people in every part of the state to their larger communities through transformational, rather than transactional, organizing

• Developing and participating in coalitions with diverse organizations that share our values

Short Term

• Increase voter turnout and general civic participation among young people.

• Young leaders will be given access to institutional knowledge and deliberate training, creating a diverse and empowered leadership pipeline in the state.

• Move issues that are most important to our communities to the forefront of electoral and political discussion.

• Create infrastructure for the engagement of young people wherever they’re at in life.

Long Term

• We will create a movement structure that encompasses young people of all walks of life—regardless of educational institution, class, or identity.

• The halls of power will be representative of our communities, and young people will shape policy at every level.

• Progressive wins will prioritize marginalized communities.

• Political knowledge and work will be accessible for all young people, increasing their involvement and engagement.

• Young people will become a critical constituency, and will be invited to the decision-making table by candidates and elected officials.