Why Don't Youth Orgs Have a Seat at the Policy Table?

So here's a question that I don't have an answer to, but I think is very important. Why aren't young voters and the many youth organizations that have sprouted in the last 5 years represented at the tables of the major progressive policy coalitions?

Earlier this week, a major new progressive policy coalition announced it's launch. Health Care For American Now (HCAN) is a coalition of over 100 progressive institutions dedicated to spending over $40 million this election cycle to promote guaranteed health care for all Americans. Looking over the list of participating organizations, only one - the League of Young Voters - is an organization representing the interests of young Americans. None of the 12 members of the steering committee are committed to representing the policy interests of young people. This, despite the fact that young people are the demographic most likely to lack health insurance.

This is clearly one of the next steps that we as progressive organizers need to take. We've made great strides in moving our generation to the polls and in altering the narrative around youth engagement (though there is still much work to be done along those lines). But even as youth orgs are creating an effective infrastructure for getting out the vote and building a new leadership pipeline, we're still not a major player the realm of progressive policy. We may be more effective and coherent as a movement, but we're still relegated to the "kids table."

If you look at the recent FISA fight, youth groups are also not one of the key players. With the exception of student loans and perhaps climate change activism, I can't think of any major progressive coalition in recent years that prominently included youth organizers in its leadership (please, correct me if I'm wrong) or as a key coalition member.

It's going to be very important that we change that - particularly in '09 and '10 when we'll have our biggest change to mold more progressive policy and legislation. We're getting really good at mobilizing our members and peers to vote. It's about time we demonstrate that we can mobilize them around an issue and get our rightful seat at the table.