Empowering Our Youth to Strengthen Our Democracy
2023 No. 3
Greetings!
Recent revelations have laid bare efforts by MAGA Republicans to suppress the youth vote. They are lashing out because young people are beginning to feel their power and are turning out to support reproductive rights, voting rights, action on climate change, and sensible gun laws, among other causes. Youth participation overall in the 2022 midterms hit 27%, which was a historic high for a midterm election, second only to the 31% youth turnout in 2018. And, it is young people - many students at the University of Wisconsin at Madison - who are credited with the sizable 11-point win for Judge Janet Protasiewicz which achieved a liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

At Students for Justice, we are not satisfied with 27% or 31% youth turnout -not even remotely! Our mission is to persuade college students of the importance of voting and turn them into political organizers so that they help others to vote. And it works! Our interns become passionate advocates for voting rights and voter turnout. They give us the hope we need to continue this fight. Here is just a sample of what our interns have said to us about how important voting is to them:
"By encouraging voter turnout not only do we help bring in more votes but we help spark conversation within the community about what we as a community and nation feel is needed."
– Imani H.
"We cannot call ourselves a democracy, yet silence millions. I am committed to fighting voter suppression because EVERYONE deserves a voice." – James S.
"Encouraging and protecting voters is important to me because it is hard to find courage to vote on your own in a state where the system is making plays against you. Speaking up and voting is a right that every citizen has, and it is important that every citizen uses it." – Autumn W.
"As a Black woman raised in the South, I understand the fragile state of voting rights.. My parents instilled in me a sense of responsibility and encouraged me to never run from my fire within. Instead of standing by and waiting for change to occur, I, like the dearly departed John Lewis, plan to get into “Good Trouble”, and BE the change." – Jordan Y.
We can only continue to educate the future leaders of the fight for voting rights because of support from our friends, including you. It costs us $2,500 to enroll one intern in Students for Justice – one intern who will vote, who will persuade friends and family to vote, and who will become a skilled political organizer and leader. Our interns are located in the voter suppression states of the South and over 90% are people of color. They are the future leaders we need. Please consider a donation to help us enroll interns for the fall 2023 session.

With hope for our democracy,
Claire Ullman & Sandra Radoff
Co-Directors
Help us find opportunities for our former interns!
We work hard to make Students for Justice a career stepping stone for our interns. One of the ways we do this is by sharing job and internship opportunities with our program alumni. If you know of an opportunity for current college students or recent graduates, in any field, please email us to let us know about it so we can share it with our intern community. You might even consider having one of our former interns work for you this summer!
Want to make a difference?
The ongoing success of the internship program has been made possible largely by the Zoom house parties we've been organizing (more than 50 since Spring 2021!) Thank you to our AMAZING house party hosts for pulling their friends, co-workers, neighbors, and families together to educate people about the program and how they can engage in its on-going growth and success. To learn more about hosting or co-hosting a virtual party, please email Deb Wachspress, Development Director, at deb@studentsforjusticevote.org.

Help us reach more people! Please forward this newsletter to everyone you know who might want to help young people save our democracy.
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