and their local government officials
The initiative hopes to increase awareness, involvement and engagement among youth by developing relationships between young constituents and their local area representatives. University of Detroit Jesuit High School senior Austin Woods launched 20 Minute Teen Advocate, aimed at getting more young adults involved in the political process 20 minutes at a time. He started the social action initiative after formally surveying more than 100 teens on naming their Mayor and US Representatives and proved his suspicion that most teens had no clue. Only about 10% knew the answers to his questions.
20 Minute Teen Advocate is a 3 step program that will educate local teens about who their elected officials are (Step 1), then encourage them to reach out to them to make an introduction (Step 2) and then to advocate for an issue that is important to them (Step 3). Woods hopes that teens feel comfortable with reaching out to their elected officials with their concerns.
“I am doing this because it is really important that teens, as future voters, get involved with meeting their elected officials and advocating for causes they care about.”, said Austin Woods.
High school students (9th-12 grade) as well as middle school students are invited out to the initiative’s first introductory meeting on Saturday, November 21 at 11am at the Horatio Foundation at 1010 Antietam in Detroit, MI. Teens will have an opportunity to do all 3 steps and then learn how to become a 20Minute Teen Advocate Teen Leader by getting 5 other teens to take the 3 step challenge.
“I completed step 2 by contacting my Mayor of Farmington Hills, Barry Brickner and left a message. I was surprised when we called me back. We had a 20 minute conversation!” says Woods.
Austin Woods is a senior at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Detroit, MI where he is on the honor roll. He volunteers his time with his school and other community organizations like Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (Oakland County Chapter) and the Kappa Leaguers (Southfield Chapter.) Austin is a graduate of the Landmark Forum for Youth. He is a current and past member of the Model United Nations and the University of Detroit Jesuit Debate Team.
For more Information Contact:
Austin Woods
20 Minute Teen Advocate
Austinteenadvocate@yahoo.com
Media contact: 313.510.9242 | 248.875.6260
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Media Contact
Company Name: Austin Woods
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Austinteenadvocate@yahoo.com
Phone: 313.510.9242
City: DETROIT
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Website: http://www.20MinuteTeenAdvocate.org