Update: In this sixth installment of Fusion’s "30 Under 30," meet four women who aren’t content to let others define what politics is for them— they’re shaping the word to match their actions, rather than the other way around. These four women are working on everything from changing the reputation of the Republican party to reminding young people that they have the power to advocate for themselves. Their message is also to have young voters listen as well as engage. Click through to check out how young women are leading the latest charge to change the America we know.This story was originally published on January 28, 2016.
The 2016 election feels like the official Election of the Millennial Generation. And it’s not just because certain politicians are working hard to attract young voters.
Young people — and particularly young women — are involved not just in supporting candidates with their votes, they're actually key players behind the scenes. Fusion is bringing these influencers center stage, with a new, all-women, all-political “30 Under 30” video list.
In the site's rundown of the project, Rebekah Dryden, the director of elections coverage, discusses the importance of not limiting the pool to those working within the political machine.
“We didn’t want to limit our roster to campaign staffers and Washington types. Those people are hugely important, of course. But there are other people in the game, too. People working in outside groups — or even getting elected themselves. And, of course, there are incredibly influential people working entirely outside the system. For example, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has unquestionably pushed the Democratic candidates for president to address social justice and policing in ways that they simply weren’t before.”
If you think it sounds like a project that can't be done justice in just a few videos, you’re right. Fusion will be releasing the videos in bursts of two or three per week over the next few months, so you can check back weekly to see the next set of incredible women.
Carolina Hurley, the national communications director of the College Republican National Committee, is working to change the reputation of the Republican party to better reflect its investment in the issues that matter to young people.
Layla Zaidane, the managing director of Generation Progress, is doing her best to mobilize, engage, and educate young people around the issues that matter to them.
Roosevelt Networks' national director, Joelle Gamble, and vice president Taylor Jo Isenberg are changing the way we think about what it means to be a citizen.
Nina Morency-Brassard works with the International Rescue Committee. “People just want safety, health, opportunities for their children. Literally everywhere I’ve worked in the world, it’s boiled down to that,” she says.
Greisa Martinez has a personal reason for advocating immigration reform. Seven years ago, her own father was deported. “Migration is a human right,” she says.
Sarah McBride is working to keep the "T" in LGBTQ more visible.
Alwiyah Shariff is bringing an interracial approach to issues of social, economic, and racial justice.
Yong Jung Cho is taking candidates to task on their plans to deal with climate change.
Yvonne Dean-Bailey is only 19, but she’s representing herself and her community in the New Hampshire House.
Dionna Langford is the youngest member of the Des Moines School Board, and she's helping to bring an awareness of race and youth issues in the classroom.
Lily Adams, The Iowa communications director for Hillary Clinton, explains what the Iowa Caucuses do that are so important.
Meet Symone D. Sanders, the national press secretary for Bernie Sanders (no relation).
Lorella Praeli was an undocumented Dreamer — now she heads up Latino outreach for the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Rachel Kania, a political consultant for Rand Paul, had an existential awakening in college that led her to embrace a libertarian philosophy.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
2016 Republican Primary Results
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is Publishing A New Book — & It Sounds Epic
2016: House Of Cards vs. Reality