WEBVTT 00:01.468 --> 00:02.435 >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR 00:02.435 --> 00:03.536 JOINING US. 00:03.536 --> 00:05.438 YOUNG ADULTS TODAY FACE A 00:05.438 --> 00:07.040 DAUNTING SET OF CHALLENGES. 00:07.040 --> 00:08.241 THE JOB MARKET IS WEAK. 00:08.241 --> 00:10.176 THE COST OF COLLEGE HAS SKY 00:10.176 --> 00:11.578 ROCKETED AND CHILD CARE AND 00:11.578 --> 00:13.780 AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE OUT OF 00:13.780 --> 00:14.681 REACH FOR MANY. 00:14.681 --> 00:16.282 YET LESS THAN A THIRD OF ADULTS 00:16.282 --> 00:17.984 IN AUSTIN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 00:17.984 --> 00:19.886 AND 29 VOTED IN THE LAST 00:19.886 --> 00:21.021 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 00:21.021 --> 00:22.922 TONIGHT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT 00:22.922 --> 00:24.624 WHY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. 00:24.624 --> 00:26.760 FUNDING FOR CIVIC SUMMIT IS 00:26.760 --> 00:28.561 PROVIDED BY WELLS FARGO BANK. 00:28.561 --> 00:30.163 WHERE YOU'LL FIND A WIDE RANGE 00:30.163 --> 00:32.165 OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP 00:32.165 --> 00:33.266 YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR 00:33.266 --> 00:35.068 FINANCES AND BANKS TO HELP YOU 00:35.068 --> 00:36.870 FIND ONE THAT FITS YOUR NEEDS. 00:36.870 --> 00:39.072 WELLS FARGO, TOGETHER WE'LL GO 00:39.072 --> 00:39.873 FAR. 00:39.873 --> 01:03.296 [APPLAUSE] 01:03.296 --> 01:06.199 >> WELCOME TO WHY BOTHER? 01:06.199 --> 01:07.701 VOICES OF A NEW GENERATION, THE 01:07.701 --> 01:09.436 FIRST IN A SERIES OF COMMUNITY 01:09.436 --> 01:11.638 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHY TEXAS 01:11.638 --> 01:13.840 HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF 01:13.840 --> 01:14.941 CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN THE 01:14.941 --> 01:15.141 COUNTRY. 01:15.141 --> 01:17.644 THIS SERIES IS SPONSORED BY KUT, 01:17.644 --> 01:20.180 KLRU, AND THE ANNETTE STRAUSS 01:20.180 --> 01:21.481 INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LIFE. 01:21.481 --> 01:23.283 MY NAME IS ANN BEASON AND I'M 01:23.283 --> 01:25.085 WITH THE ANNETTE STRAUSS 01:25.085 --> 01:25.785 INSTITUTE. 01:25.785 --> 01:27.187 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CIVIC 01:27.187 --> 01:28.788 PARTICIPATION AND CIVIC 01:28.788 --> 01:29.823 ENGAGEMENT? 01:29.823 --> 01:31.524 THE TERMS INCLUDE A BROAD RANGE 01:31.524 --> 01:32.826 OF ACTIVITIES FROM VOLUNTEERING 01:32.826 --> 01:34.627 AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO VOTING 01:34.627 --> 01:37.030 AND LOBBYING ELECTED OFFICIALS. 01:37.030 --> 01:39.132 TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON 01:39.132 --> 01:41.034 WHY SO FEW YOUNG PEOPLE VOTE. 01:41.034 --> 01:42.635 LET'S BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF 01:42.635 --> 01:43.636 WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT YOUTH 01:43.636 --> 01:45.238 ENGAGEMENT TRENDS HERE IN 01:45.238 --> 01:45.338 AUSTIN. 01:45.338 --> 01:47.240 >> TURNOUT IS HIGHLY CORRELATED 01:47.240 --> 01:50.043 WITH HOME OWNERSHIP, EDUCATIONAL 01:50.043 --> 01:53.246 ATTAINMENT, AND TO SOME DEGREE 01:53.246 --> 01:53.646 RACE. 01:53.646 --> 01:56.950 AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE MOST 01:56.950 --> 01:58.952 TYPICAL VOTER IS A WHITE 01:58.952 --> 02:01.287 HOMEOWNER WHO HAS A BACHELOR'S 02:01.287 --> 02:02.789 DEGREE OR MORE. 02:02.789 --> 02:04.991 THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE 02:04.991 --> 02:07.093 BETWEEN THE ELECTORATE FOR 02:07.093 --> 02:08.895 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, LIKE THE 02:08.895 --> 02:10.096 ONE WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE, AND THE 02:10.096 --> 02:12.098 ELECTORATE FOR A MUNICIPAL 02:12.098 --> 02:13.500 ELECTION, LIKE THE ONE THAT WE 02:13.500 --> 02:15.802 HAD IN -- IN MAY. 02:15.802 --> 02:18.505 THE MAPS THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME 02:18.505 --> 02:20.940 THIS AFTERNOON ARE MY STANDARD 02:20.940 --> 02:23.043 PRODUCT AFTER A CITY COUNCIL 02:23.043 --> 02:23.743 ELECTION. 02:23.743 --> 02:25.145 I MAP TWO THINGS. 02:25.145 --> 02:27.547 NOT SO MUCH HOW ONE CANDIDATE 02:27.547 --> 02:28.848 DID AGAINST ANOTHER, BUT WHAT 02:28.848 --> 02:30.550 WAS THE TURNOUT AT THE PRECINCT 02:30.550 --> 02:33.053 LEVEL, BOTH IN TERMS OF PERCENT, 02:33.053 --> 02:33.953 IN OTHER WORDS, HOW MUCH OF 02:33.953 --> 02:36.056 THE -- OF THE BASE OF REGISTERED 02:36.056 --> 02:37.457 VOTERS SHOWED UP AND VOTED? 02:37.457 --> 02:40.493 SO THAT'S THE PERCENT TURNOUT, 02:40.493 --> 02:44.197 AND THEN ALSO ABSOLUTE TURNOUT, 02:44.197 --> 02:49.703 NOT PERCENT TURNOUT. 02:49.703 --> 02:53.206 THE TURNOUT LANDSCAPE IS VERY 02:53.206 --> 02:54.808 TILTED, AND IT'S TILTED VERY, 02:54.808 --> 02:57.210 VERY STRONGLY TO A WESTERN 02:57.210 --> 03:00.213 CRESCENT, TURNOUT IN SOME 03:00.213 --> 03:02.315 NEIGHBORHOODS GOES DOWN TO 2% OF 03:02.315 --> 03:04.718 REGISTERED VOTERS, AND NOT TO 03:04.718 --> 03:06.920 PICK ON DOVE SPRINGS, BUT DOVE 03:06.920 --> 03:09.723 SPRINGS HAS GOT NOTORIOUSLY LOW 03:09.723 --> 03:10.924 TURNOUT, AGAIN, THIS IS 03:10.924 --> 03:12.125 REGISTERED VOTERS. 03:12.125 --> 03:13.960 IT'S NOT SIMPLY A FUNCTION OF 03:13.960 --> 03:16.963 CITIZEN, NONCITIZEN. 03:16.963 --> 03:18.465 EAST RIVERSIDE, THAT'S WHERE YOU 03:18.465 --> 03:19.866 REALLY BEGIN TO GET A REALLY 03:19.866 --> 03:21.401 INTERESTING MIX WHERE YOU HAVE 03:21.401 --> 03:22.802 STILL LOTS OF STUDENTS, 03:22.802 --> 03:23.803 INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANT 03:23.803 --> 03:25.805 HOUSEHOLDS, WORKFORCE HOUSEHOLDS 03:25.805 --> 03:29.342 AND YOU GET A LABOR HOUSEHOLDS. 03:29.342 --> 03:31.644 AND THEN -- AND THEN TO SOME 03:31.644 --> 03:33.346 DEGREE, CERTAINLY WITH THE 03:33.346 --> 03:35.115 STUDENT, SOME MIDDLE, UPPER 03:35.115 --> 03:36.549 MIDDLE CLASS STUDENTS, SO 03:36.549 --> 03:38.651 ANYWAY, EAST RIVERSIDE 03:38.651 --> 03:39.953 COLLECTION, THEY DON'T -- YOU 03:39.953 --> 03:41.955 KNOW, THAT DOESN'T VOTE AT ALL. 03:41.955 --> 03:43.256 AND AGAIN, I DON'T -- NOW, 03:43.256 --> 03:45.458 AGAIN, I WANT TO QUALIFY THIS, 03:45.458 --> 03:46.760 BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SOUND 03:46.760 --> 03:48.661 NEGATIVE, SIMPLY NOT 03:48.661 --> 03:50.163 PARTICIPATING IN MUNICIPAL 03:50.163 --> 03:51.464 ELECTIONS, FOR PRESIDENTIAL 03:51.464 --> 03:53.366 ELECTION, THE TURNOUT IS LIKE 03:53.366 --> 03:54.367 NIGHT AND DAY. 03:54.367 --> 03:56.369 DOVE SPRINGS GOES FROM 2% FOR 03:56.369 --> 03:58.071 MUNICIPAL ELECTION, UP TO 45% 03:58.071 --> 03:59.305 FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 03:59.305 --> 04:01.408 SO THAT TO ME IS WHAT -- WHAT 04:01.408 --> 04:04.110 THIS MAP SERIES SHOWS IS THIS -- 04:04.110 --> 04:06.613 IS THIS SORT OF ENTRENCHED 04:06.613 --> 04:08.815 PATTERN OF TURNOUT. 04:08.815 --> 04:11.317 I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A 04:11.317 --> 04:12.919 PROBLEM WITH YOUNG PEOPLE NOT 04:12.919 --> 04:13.520 CARING. 04:13.520 --> 04:14.721 I BELIEVE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH 04:14.721 --> 04:17.524 ADULTS NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS. 04:17.524 --> 04:18.925 FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TALKED TO 04:18.925 --> 04:20.226 STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM HAVE 04:20.226 --> 04:22.228 NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO 04:22.228 --> 04:24.931 EVER MEET A LOCAL ELECTED 04:24.931 --> 04:25.432 OFFICIAL. 04:25.432 --> 04:26.833 FOR A YOUNG PERSON WHO WANTS TO 04:26.833 --> 04:28.535 ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS, THEY HAVE 04:28.535 --> 04:30.036 TO BE VERY DIRECTED AND VERY 04:30.036 --> 04:31.338 MOTIVATED THEMSELVES. 04:31.338 --> 04:33.039 I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FLIP THAT. 04:33.039 --> 04:34.240 I BELIEVE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ALL 04:34.240 --> 04:35.642 STUDENTS SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO 04:35.642 --> 04:36.543 THE PROCESS. 04:36.543 --> 04:37.844 WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOMETHING THAT 04:37.844 --> 04:39.879 WE CALL THE PUSH-UP EFFECT, 04:39.879 --> 04:41.081 WHICH IS THAT WHEN A YOUNG 04:41.081 --> 04:44.184 PERSON TAKES INTEREST, IN A 04:44.184 --> 04:45.985 RACE, ESPECIALLY A LOCAL RACE, 04:45.985 --> 04:47.187 THAT THAT INFLUENCES THEIR 04:47.187 --> 04:49.389 PARENTS, THEIR UNCLES, THEIR 04:49.389 --> 04:51.391 AUNTS, THEIR GRANDPARENTS TO BE 04:51.391 --> 04:53.193 ENGAGED IN THAT RACE AS WELL. 04:53.193 --> 04:54.794 WE IDENTIFIED THAT DURING A 04:54.794 --> 04:56.896 RECENT BOND ELECTION, BOND 04:56.896 --> 04:58.298 ELECTION TYPICALLY HAVE 04:58.298 --> 05:01.601 OUTRAGEOUSLY LOW VOTER TURNOUT. 05:01.601 --> 05:03.603 VOTER TURNOUT ON THE RANGE OF .5 05:03.603 --> 05:04.804 TO MAYBE 1%. 05:04.804 --> 05:06.206 WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE STARTED TO GET 05:06.206 --> 05:08.108 INVOLVED IN THE BOND ELECTION TO 05:08.108 --> 05:09.809 SAY WHY THEY WERE FOR BOND 05:09.809 --> 05:11.011 MEASURES OR SKEPTICAL ABOUT 05:11.011 --> 05:12.512 OTHERS, AN ENCOURAGE THEIR 05:12.512 --> 05:14.314 COMMUNITY, THEIR PARENTS, THEIR 05:14.314 --> 05:16.216 UNCLES, THEIR AUNTS TO TAKE 05:16.216 --> 05:17.417 INTEREST IN THAT, AND ACTUALLY 05:17.417 --> 05:19.219 BOOSTED VOTER TURNOUT RATES 05:19.219 --> 05:20.553 HIGHER THAN WHAT THE EXPECTATION 05:20.553 --> 05:22.455 WAS, YOUNG PEOPLE DO CARE. 05:22.455 --> 05:23.656 THEY JUST NEED TO BE SHOWN WHAT 05:23.656 --> 05:25.892 THE CONNECTION IS BETWEEN VOTING 05:25.892 --> 05:27.193 AND THEIR OWN PARTICULAR 05:27.193 --> 05:28.995 INTERESTS AND THE INTERESTS OF 05:28.995 --> 05:29.996 THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. 05:29.996 --> 05:31.698 >> WITH THAT FOOD FOR THOUGHT, 05:31.698 --> 05:33.199 WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR REFLECTIONS 05:33.199 --> 05:35.802 ON WHY SO FEW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE 05:35.802 --> 05:36.603 ENGAGED. 05:36.603 --> 05:37.604 WE HAVE THREE WONDERFUL 05:37.604 --> 05:39.005 COMMUNITY LEADERS UP HERE TO 05:39.005 --> 05:40.206 HELP US GET THE CONVERSATION 05:40.206 --> 05:41.641 GOING, AND THEN WE WANT TO HEAR 05:41.641 --> 05:43.543 FROM ALL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. 05:43.543 --> 05:45.845 FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE 05:45.845 --> 05:50.450 PAULINA SOSA, A STUDENT HERE AT 05:50.450 --> 05:51.951 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND SHE 05:51.951 --> 05:53.553 IS CURRENTLY WORKING AS AN 05:53.553 --> 05:55.555 INTERN? 05:55.555 --> 05:57.157 SENATOR CORNYN'S OFFICE, AND 05:57.157 --> 05:58.858 SHE'S ALSO INVOLVED IN -- AND 05:58.858 --> 06:00.460 VERY ACTIVE IN A GLOBAL ANTI 06:00.460 --> 06:02.262 POVERTY CAMPAIGN CALLED THE ONE 06:02.262 --> 06:02.862 CAMPAIGN. 06:02.862 --> 06:04.664 PAULINA, YOU'RE ORIGINALLY FROM 06:04.664 --> 06:05.965 BROWNSVILLE, AND I WOULD LOVE 06:05.965 --> 06:07.200 FOR YOU TO START THE 06:07.200 --> 06:08.201 CONVERSATION BY TELLING US A 06:08.201 --> 06:10.003 LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE 06:10.003 --> 06:11.004 GROWING UP IN THE RIO GRANDE 06:11.004 --> 06:12.706 VALLEY AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO 06:12.706 --> 06:14.708 GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY. 06:14.708 --> 06:15.408 >> SURE. 06:15.408 --> 06:16.910 THANK YOU, ANN. 06:16.910 --> 06:20.146 SO AS ANN MENTIONED, I DID GROW 06:20.146 --> 06:22.082 UP IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, DOWN 06:22.082 --> 06:23.283 IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND TO 06:23.283 --> 06:25.185 BE HONEST, THE POLITICAL 06:25.185 --> 06:26.786 ATMOSPHERE IS SIMPLY PUT VERY 06:26.786 --> 06:28.288 MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT IS HERE 06:28.288 --> 06:29.489 IN AUSTIN. 06:29.489 --> 06:31.791 I GREW UP WITH THE BELIEF THAT 06:31.791 --> 06:34.394 MY OPINION REALLY DID NOT 06:34.394 --> 06:34.794 MATTER. 06:34.794 --> 06:36.696 I GREW UP WITH THE PRESUMPTION 06:36.696 --> 06:38.698 THAT IF I WANTED TO GET ENGAGED 06:38.698 --> 06:40.600 IN ANY WAY POLITICALLY, IT 06:40.600 --> 06:42.602 REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT 06:42.602 --> 06:45.038 OR IMPACT, NOT ONLY ON ME, BUT 06:45.038 --> 06:47.640 ON -- ON THE CITY ITSELF. 06:47.640 --> 06:50.543 SO ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH IN MY -- 06:50.543 --> 06:52.579 IN MY HIGH SCHOOL AND MY MIDDLE 06:52.579 --> 06:54.481 SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WE JUST -- WE 06:54.481 --> 06:57.183 NEVER WERE EDUCATED ON -- ON HOW 06:57.183 --> 06:59.786 YOU COULD BE POLITICALLY ENGAGED 06:59.786 --> 07:01.388 AND HOW YOU COULD REALLY MAKE A 07:01.388 --> 07:02.088 DIFFERENCE IF YOU WERE 07:02.088 --> 07:03.289 POLITICALLY ACTIVE. 07:03.289 --> 07:04.891 AND SO THIS REMAINED THE CASE 07:04.891 --> 07:07.327 UNTIL I ONE DAY REALIZED THAT 07:07.327 --> 07:09.729 THERE WAS REAL POVERTY HAPPENING 07:09.729 --> 07:11.831 ACROSS THE BORDER IN MEXICO. 07:11.831 --> 07:13.333 BROWNSVILLE IS LITERALLY LIKE A 07:13.333 --> 07:16.136 TEN-MINUTE WALK FROM MEXICO, I 07:16.136 --> 07:17.437 MEAN IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE 07:17.437 --> 07:20.173 BORDER, AND I HAD TRAVELED TO A 07:20.173 --> 07:23.777 MEXICAN LANDFILL AND HAD SEEN 07:23.777 --> 07:25.178 REAL EXTREME POVERTY FOR THE 07:25.178 --> 07:27.380 FIRST TIME, AND WHEN I SAW THIS, 07:27.380 --> 07:30.517 I -- I WAS REALLY DISHEARTENED 07:30.517 --> 07:31.918 BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT 07:31.918 --> 07:33.119 THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO AS 07:33.119 --> 07:35.021 A 13-YEAR-OLD AT THE TIME ABOUT 07:35.021 --> 07:36.523 THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND ABOUT 07:36.523 --> 07:39.159 THIS PARTICULAR EXTREMITY. 07:39.159 --> 07:41.861 AND I TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT 07:41.861 --> 07:44.264 BACK IN MY HOME TOWN, I TALKED 07:44.264 --> 07:45.765 ABOUT IT WITH PEOPLE IN MY 07:45.765 --> 07:46.366 SCHOOL. 07:46.366 --> 07:48.068 AND I WAS KIND OF MET WITH 07:48.068 --> 07:51.871 SHRUGS LIKE, OH, OKAY, THAT'S 07:51.871 --> 07:52.272 BAD. 07:52.272 --> 07:54.307 BUT I SOON REALIZED IF I REALLY 07:54.307 --> 07:55.709 WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 07:55.709 --> 07:57.310 THIS PASSION, IF I REALLY WANTED 07:57.310 --> 07:58.912 TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED AND GET 07:58.912 --> 08:00.413 PEOPLE ACTIVE AND GET MY CITY 08:00.413 --> 08:02.115 ACTIVE, ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS 08:02.115 --> 08:03.516 TALK TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS 08:03.516 --> 08:05.418 AND IT SEEMED VERY INTIMIDATING 08:05.418 --> 08:06.720 AT FIRST, AND IT WAS, ESPECIALLY 08:06.720 --> 08:08.121 AS A TEEN-AGER IN HIGH SCHOOL, 08:08.121 --> 08:10.156 BUT I -- I MADE THAT STEP 08:10.156 --> 08:13.860 FORWARD, AND SURE ENOUGH, AFTER 08:13.860 --> 08:15.662 TALKING TO MY CITY, MY COUNTY 08:15.662 --> 08:17.864 AND EVEN MY STATE ELECTED 08:17.864 --> 08:19.265 OFFICIALS, I GOT THE CITY ON 08:19.265 --> 08:21.301 BOARD WITH FIGHTING THE CAUSE OF 08:21.301 --> 08:23.236 EXTREME POVERTY, NOT ONLY IN 08:23.236 --> 08:26.439 MEXICO, BUT MORE INTENSELY IN 08:26.439 --> 08:28.141 BROWNSVILLE, SO IT WAS AMAZING 08:28.141 --> 08:29.242 TO KIND OF SEE THAT 08:29.242 --> 08:30.844 TRANSFORMATION POLITICALLY. 08:30.844 --> 08:32.445 >> THANKS SO MUCH, PAULINA. 08:32.445 --> 08:34.547 I NOW WANT TO INTRODUCE DARIAN 08:34.547 --> 08:36.850 BORDERS WHO HAS ALSO A VERY 08:36.850 --> 08:38.151 INTERESTING STORY TO SHARE WITH 08:38.151 --> 08:39.519 US AND PERSPECTIVE TO SHARE WITH 08:39.519 --> 08:39.953 US. 08:39.953 --> 08:42.989 DARIAN IS STUDYING PHYSICAL 08:42.989 --> 08:44.391 THERAPY AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY 08:44.391 --> 08:47.594 COLLEGE AND HE IS ALSO A SPOKEN 08:47.594 --> 08:50.397 WORD ARTIST HERE IN AUSTIN, 08:50.397 --> 08:52.198 INVOLVED WITH A HIP HOP PROJECT 08:52.198 --> 08:54.401 THAT ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE USING 08:54.401 --> 08:55.602 MUSIC AND CULTURE. 08:55.602 --> 08:57.404 AND DARIAN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT 08:57.404 --> 08:58.805 ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN 08:58.805 --> 09:01.608 YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE 09:01.608 --> 09:01.708 PROJECT. 09:01.708 --> 09:07.313 >> WELL, THE PROJECT HAS A LOT 09:07.313 --> 09:09.549 TO DO WITH HIP HOP AND RAISING 09:09.549 --> 09:11.251 AWARENESS THROUGH HIP HOP, 09:11.251 --> 09:13.553 THROUGH MUSIC, SO I GUESS IT 09:13.553 --> 09:15.755 CAME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS 09:15.755 --> 09:18.258 JUST A TOPIC, A CAUSE THAT WE 09:18.258 --> 09:23.096 CHOSE TO SPEAK ON, AND I GUESS 09:23.096 --> 09:25.298 MOVING TOWARD SPEAKING IT FOR 09:25.298 --> 09:29.436 US, THIS ISSUE, I WASN'T GETTING 09:29.436 --> 09:31.338 A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, RESPONSE, OR 09:31.338 --> 09:34.741 FEEDBACK FROM MY PEERS, AND MY 09:34.741 --> 09:37.043 NEIGHBORHOOD, OR, YOU KNOW, 09:37.043 --> 09:40.246 QUESTIONS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OR, 09:40.246 --> 09:41.448 YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK 09:41.448 --> 09:43.350 ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS 09:43.350 --> 09:47.187 WHOLE ELECTION, YOU KNOW, I'D 09:47.187 --> 09:50.190 GET LIKE PAULINA'S SHRUGS, YOU 09:50.190 --> 09:52.292 KNOW, LIKE I DON'T REALLY CARE, 09:52.292 --> 09:53.893 LIKE RESPONSES THAT WERE LIKE, 09:53.893 --> 09:55.295 YOU KNOW, DO YOU CARE, OR, YOU 09:55.295 --> 09:57.630 KNOW -- I GUESS IT CAME ABOUT 09:57.630 --> 10:00.333 JUST, YOU KNOW, AS THE YOUTH 10:00.333 --> 10:02.435 SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, ON A WHOLE 10:02.435 --> 10:05.438 'NOTHER LEVEL, NOT BEING VULGAR, 10:05.438 --> 10:07.741 NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, THE TYPICAL 10:07.741 --> 10:10.143 RADIO MUSIC THAT -- THAT WE'RE 10:10.143 --> 10:13.346 ALL EXPOSED TO. 10:13.346 --> 10:15.648 IT JUST -- IT JUST HELPED A LOT 10:15.648 --> 10:18.885 ONCE WE BROUGHT IT TO A LOT OF 10:18.885 --> 10:19.986 YOUTH ATTENTION. 10:19.986 --> 10:23.823 I FEEL LIKE THERE IS WORK TO BE 10:23.823 --> 10:24.024 DONE. 10:24.024 --> 10:24.724 >> UH-HUH. 10:24.724 --> 10:26.326 AND WHAT DO YOU HEAR LIKE NOW 10:26.326 --> 10:28.728 FROM YOUR PEERS IN YOUR 10:28.728 --> 10:29.829 COMMUNITY ABOUT VOTING AND WHY 10:29.829 --> 10:31.531 THEY AREN'T VOTING? 10:31.531 --> 10:33.366 >> WELL, PERSONALLY -- I 10:33.366 --> 10:37.170 LITERALLY HAVE FRIENDS WHO 10:37.170 --> 10:39.172 ARE -- AREN'T -- AREN'T ABLE TO 10:39.172 --> 10:40.373 VOTE, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE THEY 10:40.373 --> 10:42.976 MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, A FELONY, 10:42.976 --> 10:46.179 OR, YOU KNOW, OR THEY JUST -- 10:46.179 --> 10:47.714 THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, 10:47.714 --> 10:49.916 COMPUTER ACCESS SOMETIMES TO 10:49.916 --> 10:52.118 EVEN KNOW THERE'S AN ELECTION 10:52.118 --> 10:54.220 GOING ON, YOU KNOW, OR SIMPLE 10:54.220 --> 10:58.758 MATERIAL THAT AREN'T AVAILABLE, 10:58.758 --> 10:59.259 YOU KNOW. 10:59.259 --> 11:01.861 I'M HEARING, YOU KNOW, THIS 11:01.861 --> 11:04.064 IS -- THIS ISN'T GOING TO 11:04.064 --> 11:04.564 MATTER. 11:04.564 --> 11:09.269 WHAT IS -- WHAT IS MY DECISION 11:09.269 --> 11:10.470 TO THIS HUGE TOPIC. 11:10.470 --> 11:11.171 >> UH-HUH. 11:11.171 --> 11:13.373 AND DO YOU SEE ELECTED OFFICIALS 11:13.373 --> 11:14.874 IN YOUR COMMUNITY VERY OFTEN 11:14.874 --> 11:17.077 TALKING TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE? 11:17.077 --> 11:19.713 >> COMING OUT OF EAST AUSTIN, I 11:19.713 --> 11:26.353 -- I'VE NEVER SEEN NO -- NO -- 11:26.353 --> 11:28.655 WHAT I CONSIDER OFFICIAL, NOT -- 11:28.655 --> 11:30.056 NOT EVEN RUNNING INTO SOMEBODY 11:30.056 --> 11:34.260 AT THE LIBRARY OR, YOU KNOW, THE 11:34.260 --> 11:37.063 GROCERY STORE OR, YOU KNOW, NOT 11:37.063 --> 11:38.665 THERE -- THEY AREN'T AROUND, YOU 11:38.665 --> 11:38.865 KNOW. 11:38.865 --> 11:40.500 >> UH-HUH, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD 11:40.500 --> 11:41.101 MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 11:41.101 --> 11:43.436 >> ME PERSONALLY, I DO BELIEVE 11:43.436 --> 11:46.039 IF I WERE TO JUST, YOU KNOW, I 11:46.039 --> 11:47.340 KNOW IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 11:47.340 --> 11:51.144 IT WOULD HAVE A HUGE AFFECTION 11:51.144 --> 11:52.946 ON, YOU KNOW, MY KNOWLEDGE OF, 11:52.946 --> 11:54.447 YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING 11:54.447 --> 11:55.682 ON IN THE FIRST PLACE, OH, IT'S 11:55.682 --> 11:56.983 GOOD TO KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING FOR 11:56.983 --> 11:57.984 THIS TYPE STUFF. 11:57.984 --> 11:58.885 >> UH-HUH. 11:58.885 --> 11:59.285 SURE. 11:59.285 --> 12:00.887 >> THANKS. 12:00.887 --> 12:02.188 WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? 12:02.188 --> 12:03.089 >> RIGHT. 12:03.089 --> 12:07.327 RIGHT [CHUCKLING] SO IT WOULD 12:07.327 --> 12:10.563 HAVE BEEN A SMART KEY IN THIS 12:10.563 --> 12:14.267 HUGE TOPIC, BUT, YEAH, IT 12:14.267 --> 12:15.969 DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE MADE A 12:15.969 --> 12:16.069 DIFFERENCE. 12:16.069 --> 12:17.470 >> UH-HUH. 12:17.470 --> 12:19.773 ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DARIAN. 12:19.773 --> 12:21.641 I KNOW WANT TO BRING JEANNIE 12:21.641 --> 12:22.542 INTO THE CONVERSATION. 12:22.542 --> 12:24.144 JEANNIE IS A LONG TIME LEADER 12:24.144 --> 12:25.545 HERE IN AUSTIN EDUCATION. 12:25.545 --> 12:26.946 SHE'S CURRENTLY THE PRINCIPAL OF 12:26.946 --> 12:29.349 THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL FOR 12:29.349 --> 12:31.384 YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS, AN JEANNIE, 12:31.384 --> 12:32.886 YOU'RE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE ALL 12:32.886 --> 12:34.888 DAY, SO WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT 12:34.888 --> 12:37.791 YOU HEAR AND OBSERVE THAT COULD 12:37.791 --> 12:39.893 HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY SO FEW 12:39.893 --> 12:41.394 YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED TO 12:41.394 --> 12:43.096 VOTE ONCE THEY TURN 18. 12:43.096 --> 12:44.097 >> THANKS, ANN. 12:44.097 --> 12:45.832 >> UH-HUH. 12:45.832 --> 12:49.636 >> SO THE SCHOOL IS A UNIQUE 12:49.636 --> 12:50.236 PART OF THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT 12:50.236 --> 12:52.172 SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT HAS ONLY 12:52.172 --> 12:53.973 GIRLS AND WE HAVE GRADES 6 12:53.973 --> 12:54.674 THROUGH 12. 12:54.674 --> 12:56.976 THIS YEAR OUR FIRST SENIOR CLASS 12:56.976 --> 12:58.244 AND THEY'RE OF COURSE ALL GOING 12:58.244 --> 12:59.679 TO COLLEGE AND SOME OF THEM ARE 12:59.679 --> 13:01.314 READY TO VOTE. 13:01.314 --> 13:03.316 AND WHAT I HEAR FROM THEM IS 13:03.316 --> 13:04.517 SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR ABOUT A 13:04.517 --> 13:06.119 LOT OF DOUBLE SPEAKING AND BACK 13:06.119 --> 13:08.421 STABBING AND BROKEN PROMISES 13:08.421 --> 13:10.957 FROM OUR POLITICIANS, AND ALSO 13:10.957 --> 13:15.562 THEY ARE FEELING UNINFORMED, AND 13:15.562 --> 13:18.465 I MET AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO 13:18.465 --> 13:20.800 SAID -- WHO IS VERY AVID ABOUT 13:20.800 --> 13:22.836 VOTING-- REGISTERING VOTERS AND 13:22.836 --> 13:23.837 HE WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF 13:23.837 --> 13:25.438 TEXAS, AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET 13:25.438 --> 13:26.639 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENTS TO 13:26.639 --> 13:29.642 REGISTER TO VOTE AND TWO UT 13:29.642 --> 13:32.045 STUDENTS SAID WELL, I JUST DON'T 13:32.045 --> 13:33.947 KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO 13:33.947 --> 13:37.150 VOTE, HE TRIED TO DISABUSE HIM 13:37.150 --> 13:39.686 OF THIS NOTION, BUT I DO THINK 13:39.686 --> 13:42.689 VERY MUCH WE ARE AN UNINFORMED 13:42.689 --> 13:44.791 PUBLIC AND WE NEED TO CRITICALLY 13:44.791 --> 13:46.092 THINK TO PROBLEM SOLVE, BUT THAT 13:46.092 --> 13:47.293 IS JUST THAT GENERAL STATEMENT, 13:47.293 --> 13:48.895 BUT AS FAR AS OUR SCHOOL IS 13:48.895 --> 13:50.497 CONCERNED, I HAVE AN OBSERVATION 13:50.497 --> 13:53.299 THAT I -- THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE 13:53.299 --> 13:55.201 VALID, BUT REMEMBER WHEN WE USED 13:55.201 --> 13:56.936 TO READ HARRY POTTER BOOKS AND 13:56.936 --> 13:58.838 THERE WAS A LOT OF HOPE AND -- 13:58.838 --> 14:00.040 AND EVEN THOUGH HARRY POTTER HAD 14:00.040 --> 14:03.943 TO FIGHT THE EVIL, HE HAD HIS 14:03.943 --> 14:05.145 GANG AND THERE WAS AN 14:05.145 --> 14:06.746 ESTABLISHMENT THEY BELIEVED IN 14:06.746 --> 14:08.748 AND THERE WERE ADULT HEROS, AND 14:08.748 --> 14:10.784 NOW I SEE OUR GIRLS WHO ARE ALL 14:10.784 --> 14:13.586 VERY GOOD READERS READING A LOT 14:13.586 --> 14:17.390 OF BOCHES ABOUT DYSTOPIA AND 14:17.390 --> 14:18.792 THERE'S ANTI ESTABLISHMENT, AND 14:18.792 --> 14:20.527 THERE ARE NO HEROS THAT ARE 14:20.527 --> 14:21.828 ADULTS AND YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE 14:21.828 --> 14:24.030 TO TAKE ON THE EVIL ALL BY 14:24.030 --> 14:26.332 YOURSELF, I'M NOT A SOCIOLOGIST 14:26.332 --> 14:28.535 OR ANTHROPOLOGIST THAT CAN DO 14:28.535 --> 14:30.236 ANY KIND OF GROUNDED RESEARCH ON 14:30.236 --> 14:31.938 THAT, BUT IT GIVES ME PAUSE TO 14:31.938 --> 14:33.473 WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHY THE 14:33.473 --> 14:35.575 ATTRACTION OF READING SOME VERY, 14:35.575 --> 14:38.178 VERY DISMAL BOOKS WHERE TRULY 14:38.178 --> 14:40.013 THE INDIVIDUAL DOES EMERGE AS A 14:40.013 --> 14:41.614 HERO, BUT HAS TO DO IT ALL BY 14:41.614 --> 14:42.549 ONE'S SELF. 14:42.549 --> 14:45.151 SO I DO WONDER IF OUR YOUTH IS 14:45.151 --> 14:47.454 GETTING SO DISCONNECTED WITH 14:47.454 --> 14:49.055 WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE OLD ONES, 14:49.055 --> 14:51.991 THAT THEY HAVE FOUND ANOTHER 14:51.991 --> 14:55.729 TYPE OF LITERATURE TO READ. 14:55.729 --> 14:57.530 AND MY HUSBAND REMINDED ME THAT 14:57.530 --> 14:59.065 WE, OF OUR GENERATION, WE HAVE 14:59.065 --> 15:00.467 MOVEMENT POLITICS. 15:00.467 --> 15:02.168 SO WE HAVE THE CIVIL RIGHTS, AND 15:02.168 --> 15:04.471 WE HAD THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WE 15:04.471 --> 15:07.073 HAD THE VIETNAM WAR, AND THAT 15:07.073 --> 15:09.075 GALVANIZED US TO WORK TOGETHER 15:09.075 --> 15:11.511 AND TO PROTEST TOGETHER, AND WE 15:11.511 --> 15:12.812 FOUND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF 15:12.812 --> 15:13.613 SUCCESS. 15:13.613 --> 15:14.114 >> UH-HUH. 15:14.114 --> 15:17.751 >> AND SO JUST LOOKING AT OCCUPY 15:17.751 --> 15:20.687 AUSTIN AND WALL STREET, VERY 15:20.687 --> 15:22.188 MUCH INSPIRATIONAL, I JUST 15:22.188 --> 15:23.990 REALLY LOVE THAT MOVEMENT AND I 15:23.990 --> 15:26.192 LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY EXPOSED 15:26.192 --> 15:28.728 ALL THE CORRUPTION OF CORPORATE 15:28.728 --> 15:29.829 AMERICA, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, 15:29.829 --> 15:31.931 YOU HAVE TO QUESTION WHETHER OR 15:31.931 --> 15:34.534 NOT THEY DID ANYTHING TO CHANGE 15:34.534 --> 15:35.835 THE SYSTEM. 15:35.835 --> 15:39.339 SO WHEN WE HAVE THIS HAPPEN, AND 15:39.339 --> 15:40.940 THANKFULLY WE HAVE YOU TWO THAT 15:40.940 --> 15:42.542 ARE MAKING THE DIFFERENCE, IT 15:42.542 --> 15:44.444 MUST BECOME VERY DISCOURAGING TO 15:44.444 --> 15:45.679 GO AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT, 15:45.679 --> 15:48.782 AND GET SO LITTLE FROM YOUR 15:48.782 --> 15:49.482 SUCCESS. 15:49.482 --> 15:51.084 >> UH-HUH. 15:51.084 --> 15:52.886 THANK YOU SO MUCH. 15:52.886 --> 15:55.088 YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM 15:55.088 --> 15:57.490 PAULINA AND DARIAN AND JEANNIE 15:57.490 --> 15:59.492 ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AND 15:59.492 --> 16:00.593 HEARING AND WHAT COULD BE SOME 16:00.593 --> 16:01.695 OF THE CAUSES OF LOW 16:01.695 --> 16:02.595 PARTICIPATION. 16:02.595 --> 16:04.831 WE'RE NOW GOING TO TALK TO JOY 16:04.831 --> 16:09.035 DIAZ WITH KUT NEWS, SHE'S BEEN 16:09.035 --> 16:10.637 REPORTING ON THE ISSUE FOR THE 16:10.637 --> 16:11.137 PAST MONTH. 16:11.137 --> 16:12.872 I HOPE MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD 16:12.872 --> 16:15.175 HER STORIES ON KUT AND SHE IS IN 16:15.175 --> 16:16.676 OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT. 16:16.676 --> 16:17.077 JOY? 16:17.077 --> 16:18.178 >> THANK YOU, ANN. 16:18.178 --> 16:20.513 FRANCESCA IS HERE WITH ME AND 16:20.513 --> 16:22.515 SHE'S ONLY 17 YEARS OLD, BUT SHE 16:22.515 --> 16:23.817 HAS A VERY INTERESTING ROLE IN 16:23.817 --> 16:25.118 OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE SHE WORKS 16:25.118 --> 16:26.419 WITH THE YOUTH COUNCIL AND I 16:26.419 --> 16:28.355 WILL LET HER TALK ABOUT THAT. 16:28.355 --> 16:31.057 FRANCESCA? 16:31.057 --> 16:31.958 HI. 16:31.958 --> 16:33.460 I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE YOUTH 16:33.460 --> 16:34.761 COUNCIL FOR ABOUT PROBABLY A 16:34.761 --> 16:36.763 YEAR, IT'S BASICALLY A DIVISION 16:36.763 --> 16:39.265 OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT 16:39.265 --> 16:42.769 ESSENTIALLY ADMINISTRATORS OR 16:42.769 --> 16:44.170 COUNSELORS ESSENTIALLY LIKE 16:44.170 --> 16:45.572 SUPERIORS OF HIGH SCHOOLS, 16:45.572 --> 16:47.874 CHOOSE A COUPLE OF STUDENTS WHO 16:47.874 --> 16:49.075 THEY FEEL WOULD BE GOOD 16:49.075 --> 16:50.877 REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CITY AND 16:50.877 --> 16:52.212 THEN THEY GO THROUGH ELECTIONS 16:52.212 --> 16:53.913 AND IT'S BASICALLY A PROCESS 16:53.913 --> 16:55.315 WHERE YOU GO THROUGH ELECTIONS 16:55.315 --> 16:56.983 AND YOU GO, AND YOU GET ELECTED 16:56.983 --> 16:58.018 ON TO THE COUNCIL. 16:58.018 --> 16:59.719 BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE COUNCIL 16:59.719 --> 17:01.221 DOES IS IT GIVES A 17:01.221 --> 17:02.222 REPRESENTATIVE VOICE FOR HIGH 17:02.222 --> 17:03.523 SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR 17:03.523 --> 17:04.924 COMMUNITY AND IT'S REALLY -- 17:04.924 --> 17:07.127 IT'S ACTUALLY -- IT'S VERY -- 17:07.127 --> 17:08.928 IT'S VERY UNIQUE, BECAUSE I'VE 17:08.928 --> 17:10.130 NEVER BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY 17:10.130 --> 17:12.232 LIKE THIS BEFORE, IT'S -- YOU 17:12.232 --> 17:14.534 KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE 17:14.534 --> 17:15.268 OFTEN REALLY. 17:15.268 --> 17:16.670 IT'S VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE I 17:16.670 --> 17:18.171 THINK A LOT OF STUDENTS AND A 17:18.171 --> 17:19.372 LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T FEEL 17:19.372 --> 17:21.007 LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE, AND THIS 17:21.007 --> 17:23.410 IS KIND OF ONE OF THOSE WAYS 17:23.410 --> 17:24.811 THAT THEY CAN REALLY GET A 17:24.811 --> 17:25.011 VOICE. 17:25.011 --> 17:26.813 AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, A 17:26.813 --> 17:28.148 LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE I'VE 17:28.148 --> 17:30.250 TALKED TO DON'T FEEL LIKE WHAT 17:30.250 --> 17:31.351 THEY HAVE TO SAY IS GOING TO 17:31.351 --> 17:32.652 IMPACT ANYONE. 17:32.652 --> 17:34.054 THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR VOTE IS 17:34.054 --> 17:36.256 ISN'T GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 17:36.256 --> 17:36.956 IN THE ELECTION. 17:36.956 --> 17:38.658 LIKE WHO THEY CHOOSE ISN'T GOING 17:38.658 --> 17:39.759 TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR 17:39.759 --> 17:40.060 COUNTRY. 17:40.060 --> 17:41.861 THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING 17:41.861 --> 17:42.762 TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 17:42.762 --> 17:44.264 DON'T REALLY FEEL, EVEN IF THEY 17:44.264 --> 17:45.965 ARE INVOLVED, THAT IT'S REALLY 17:45.965 --> 17:46.866 GOING TO IMPACT THE COUNTRY. 17:46.866 --> 17:48.568 I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A BIG 17:48.568 --> 17:49.536 PART OF IT. 17:49.536 --> 17:51.671 >> UH-HUH. 17:51.671 --> 17:53.373 GREAT. 17:53.373 --> 17:54.274 THANKS SO MUCH. 17:54.274 --> 17:56.376 FRANCESCA, FOR SHARING YOUR 17:56.376 --> 17:58.278 THOUGHTS WITH US, AND I WONDER, 17:58.278 --> 17:59.913 ACTUALLY, PAULINA, I KNOW THAT 17:59.913 --> 18:01.414 YOU GOT INVOLVED YESTERDAY WHILE 18:01.414 --> 18:02.716 YOU WERE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, 18:02.716 --> 18:03.817 AND WHETHER YOU THINK PROGRAMS 18:03.817 --> 18:05.218 LIKE THAT THAT ENCOURAGE YOUNG 18:05.218 --> 18:07.520 PEOPLE TO HAVE SOME EXPOSURE TO 18:07.520 --> 18:09.322 ELECTED OFFICIALS COULD MAKE A 18:09.322 --> 18:10.724 DIFFERENCE IF THEY WERE MORE 18:10.724 --> 18:12.025 WIDELY AVAILABLE? 18:12.025 --> 18:15.028 >> I ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR 18:15.028 --> 18:17.831 THE COMMENTS, FRANCESCA, WE 18:17.831 --> 18:18.932 REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 18:18.932 --> 18:20.367 SO I PERSONALLY DO BELIEVE THAT 18:20.367 --> 18:23.069 IF YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN 18:23.069 --> 18:26.773 HIGH SCHOOL, ARE -- ARE EXPOSED 18:26.773 --> 18:29.776 TO THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE AND 18:29.776 --> 18:31.077 BASICALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY 18:31.077 --> 18:33.313 TO SPEAK TO ELECTED OFFICIALS 18:33.313 --> 18:35.615 DIRECTLY, AND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE 18:35.615 --> 18:37.617 BEING HEARD AND THEY'RE BEING 18:37.617 --> 18:39.519 LISTENED TO, IF THEY FEEL LIKE 18:39.519 --> 18:40.920 WHAT THEY ARE SAYING WILL 18:40.920 --> 18:43.523 POSSIBLY MAKE SOME SLIGHT 18:43.523 --> 18:45.125 DIFFERENCE, THEN, YES, I THINK 18:45.125 --> 18:47.927 THAT THEY WOULD BECOME MORE 18:47.927 --> 18:49.262 INVOLVED, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY 18:49.262 --> 18:50.663 WHAT DID IT FOR ME AND THAT'S 18:50.663 --> 18:51.965 WHAT DID IT FOR A LOT OF 18:51.965 --> 18:53.867 INDIVIDUALS THEY TALKED TO IN MY 18:53.867 --> 18:54.167 HIGH SCHOOL. 18:54.167 --> 18:56.069 I TOLD THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE 18:56.069 --> 18:57.971 SHOULD GO TALK TO OUR ELECTED 18:57.971 --> 18:59.439 OFFICIALS AND SURE ENOUGH, AFTER 18:59.439 --> 19:01.274 THAT, THEY'VE STAYED AND THEY'VE 19:01.274 --> 19:04.277 REMAINED POLITICALLY EDGE GAUGED 19:04.277 --> 19:06.212 AND POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN THEIR 19:06.212 --> 19:07.414 COMMUNITY, WHEREVER THAT. 19:07.414 --> 19:09.115 SO I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT 19:09.115 --> 19:10.216 HAVING ELECTED OFFICIALS 19:10.216 --> 19:11.217 DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE 19:11.217 --> 19:12.719 YOUTH, WHETHER THEY ARE OF 19:12.719 --> 19:14.521 VOTING AGE YET OR NOT, IS 19:14.521 --> 19:16.222 VITALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THE 19:16.222 --> 19:18.158 END WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE THE 19:18.158 --> 19:19.159 OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE. 19:19.159 --> 19:19.659 >> UH-HUH. 19:19.659 --> 19:21.194 >> SO LET'S GET EVERYONE 19:21.194 --> 19:22.796 INVOLVED AND LET'S GET 19:22.796 --> 19:24.597 EVERYONE... 19:24.597 --> 19:25.699 >> THANK YOU. 19:25.699 --> 19:29.202 WELL DUNBAR IS WITH KUT NEWS, 19:29.202 --> 19:30.103 HE'S BEEN MANAGING THIS 19:30.103 --> 19:32.205 CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA 19:32.205 --> 19:38.111 AROUND WHYBOTHERTEXAS.ORG . 19:38.111 --> 19:41.915 >> I'M HERE WITH AMALIA, SHE 19:41.915 --> 19:44.017 RAISED A POINT DIRECTING US TO A 19:44.017 --> 19:45.819 BLOG POST SHE WROTE ON TWITTER. 19:45.819 --> 19:46.619 WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION 19:46.619 --> 19:48.722 ABOUT TRYING TO BRING MORE YOUNG 19:48.722 --> 19:50.657 VOTERS INTO THE FOLD, BUT SHE 19:50.657 --> 19:52.258 HAD A PROBLEM JUST REGISTERING 19:52.258 --> 19:53.660 AND GOING THROUGH THE STEPS 19:53.660 --> 19:55.562 ONLINE THAT SHE'D LIKE TO TELL 19:55.562 --> 19:56.563 Y'ALL ABOUT. 19:56.563 --> 19:59.265 >> THANKS, YEAH. 19:59.265 --> 20:02.569 SO SO FAR WE'VE KIND OF COME TO 20:02.569 --> 20:05.572 THE CONSENSUS THAT APATHY OR A 20:05.572 --> 20:07.474 LACK OF HOPE IS THE PROBLEM, AND 20:07.474 --> 20:11.077 THE SOLUTION IS EXPOSURE, BUT 20:11.077 --> 20:13.480 WHENEVER I HEARD ABOUT -- ABOUT 20:13.480 --> 20:16.783 THIS FORUM, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, 20:16.783 --> 20:19.486 BUT WHAT IF I AM MOTIVATED? 20:19.486 --> 20:21.955 MY FACEBOOK FEED HAS BEEN VERY 20:21.955 --> 20:22.956 POLITICAL LATELY. 20:22.956 --> 20:25.258 WHAT IF I WERE MOTIVATED TO GO 20:25.258 --> 20:27.060 OUT AND ACTUALLY REGISTER AND 20:27.060 --> 20:27.560 VOTE? 20:27.560 --> 20:29.763 SO I DID A LITTLE UNSCIENTIFIC 20:29.763 --> 20:32.766 EXPERIMENT TODAY, AND WENT TO 20:32.766 --> 20:35.468 GOOGLE, AS I IMAGINE MOST PEOPLE 20:35.468 --> 20:37.237 WOULD DO, AND JUST TYPED IN HOW 20:37.237 --> 20:38.772 TO VOTE AUSTIN TEXAS. 20:38.772 --> 20:40.774 THE TOP SEARCH RESULT WAS THE 20:40.774 --> 20:43.376 AUSTIN CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 20:43.376 --> 20:45.378 WHICH DIDN'T REALLY HAVE 20:45.378 --> 20:46.680 ANYTHING ON THE PAGE, BUT 20:46.680 --> 20:48.815 REFERRED ME TO ANOTHER CITY 20:48.815 --> 20:50.417 PAGE, WHICH REFERRED ME TO 20:50.417 --> 20:51.418 ANOTHER CITY PAGE. 20:51.418 --> 20:53.420 I BASICALLY FOLLOWED -- TOOK A 20:53.420 --> 20:56.022 TOUR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN 20:56.022 --> 20:58.224 GOVERNMENT WEBSITE, SIX PAGES 20:58.224 --> 21:00.126 AROUND, BEFORE FINALLY ARRIVING 21:00.126 --> 21:03.129 AT A DEAD END, AND THAT POINT, 21:03.129 --> 21:05.331 AS MOTIVATED AS I WAS GOING IN, 21:05.331 --> 21:07.734 I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY 21:07.734 --> 21:09.836 DISCOURAGED COMING OUT. 21:09.836 --> 21:13.073 AND AS FAR AS THE BIG GAP 21:13.073 --> 21:14.574 BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 21:14.574 --> 21:16.676 AND THEN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 21:16.676 --> 21:18.978 GOES, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF 21:18.978 --> 21:20.313 ACCIDENTAL VOTERS AT 21:20.313 --> 21:22.115 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 21:22.115 --> 21:24.217 DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, 21:24.217 --> 21:26.720 THEY'LL BE VOTING BOOTHS AT THE 21:26.720 --> 21:28.722 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, AT GROCERY 21:28.722 --> 21:30.623 STORES, SO EVEN IF YOU COULDN'T 21:30.623 --> 21:32.726 FIGURE OUT HOW TO VOTE, YOU'LL 21:32.726 --> 21:35.328 SEE A BOOTH AND, OH, OKAY, I 21:35.328 --> 21:37.063 GUESS I'LL DO IT, AND YOU'LL 21:37.063 --> 21:37.864 STUMBLE IN. 21:37.864 --> 21:39.466 BUT WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, I 21:39.466 --> 21:41.167 DON'T SEE HOW THERE'S ANY WAY 21:41.167 --> 21:43.069 YOU'D PIECE IT TOGETHER UNLESS 21:43.069 --> 21:44.971 YOU PERSONALLY KNEW A GOVERNMENT 21:44.971 --> 21:47.273 OFFICIAL THAT I COULD JUST ASK. 21:47.273 --> 21:47.974 >> UH-HUH. 21:47.974 --> 21:48.575 >> 21:48.575 --> 21:50.210 [APPLAUSE] 21:50.210 --> 21:52.312 [CHUCKLING] THANK YOU SO MUCH 21:52.312 --> 21:54.314 FOR BRINGING IN THAT VERY OTHER 21:54.314 --> 21:55.815 IMPORTANT DIMENSION WHICH ARE 21:55.815 --> 21:57.417 WHAT ARE THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS 21:57.417 --> 21:58.718 TO VOTING AND REGISTERING TO 21:58.718 --> 21:59.119 VOTE. 21:59.119 --> 22:00.420 I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK 22:00.420 --> 22:02.522 OVER TO JOY NOW, WHO HAS ANOTHER 22:02.522 --> 22:02.722 COMMENT. 22:02.722 --> 22:03.456 >> YES. 22:03.456 --> 22:06.860 I AM WITH GEORGE AND HE IS 58. 22:06.860 --> 22:09.662 HE HAS BEEN VOTING SINCE HE WAS 22:09.662 --> 22:10.063 18. 22:10.063 --> 22:12.165 IF YOU DO THE MATH, IT'S BEEN 22:12.165 --> 22:13.266 FOR 40 YEARS. 22:13.266 --> 22:14.801 YOU KNOW WHAT, AT TIMES HE'S 22:14.801 --> 22:17.337 BEEN DISCOURAGED, NOT TODAY, 22:17.337 --> 22:18.772 THOUGH, TELL US WHY, GEORGE. 22:18.772 --> 22:20.907 >> YEAH, I USED TO BE PART OF A 22:20.907 --> 22:23.743 YOUTH MOVEMENT A LONG, LONG TIME 22:23.743 --> 22:25.445 AGO, I HAVE TO ADMIT ESPECIALLY 22:25.445 --> 22:26.846 NOW WITH THE ADVENT OF SUPER 22:26.846 --> 22:28.748 PACKS AND THE CONTROL OF MONEY 22:28.748 --> 22:30.383 ON NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND THE 22:30.383 --> 22:32.686 FACT THAT WE'RE SO ABLE TO SEE 22:32.686 --> 22:34.387 MEDIA PORTRAYING THAT IN THAT 22:34.387 --> 22:35.989 LIGHT THAT IT'S VERY EASY FOR US 22:35.989 --> 22:38.124 TO GET DISCOURAGED AND I HAVE TO 22:38.124 --> 22:40.226 TELL YOU I'M MUCH MORE HEARTENED 22:40.226 --> 22:42.529 ABOUT THAT NOW, THESE PEOPLE 22:42.529 --> 22:44.230 GETTING INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL 22:44.230 --> 22:47.033 LEVEL, I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT 22:47.033 --> 22:49.069 CAN BE COMBATED IS TO START AT 22:49.069 --> 22:50.737 THIS LEVEL AND FIND ITS WAY UP 22:50.737 --> 22:51.571 TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL. 22:51.571 --> 22:52.672 >> THANKS SO MUCH. 22:52.672 --> 22:54.240 ACTUALLY WANTED TO SEE IF ONE OF 22:54.240 --> 22:55.875 OUR GUESTS UP HERE WANTED TO 22:55.875 --> 22:57.110 COMMENT ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL 22:57.110 --> 22:58.111 BARRIERS ISSUE. 22:58.111 --> 23:00.914 DARIAN, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED 23:00.914 --> 23:03.316 TOO, IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU MAY 23:03.316 --> 23:05.952 NOT HAVE A COMPUTER OR ACCESS TO 23:05.952 --> 23:08.254 GOOGLE, SO THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER 23:08.254 --> 23:09.255 LEVEL OF PROBLEMS. 23:09.255 --> 23:11.391 DO YOU WANT TO SAY A LITTLE 23:11.391 --> 23:11.791 ABOUT THAT. 23:11.791 --> 23:13.493 >> CORRECT, LIKE LITERALLY, IF I 23:13.493 --> 23:16.429 WERE TO RUN INTO AN ELECTED 23:16.429 --> 23:19.532 OFFICIAL, I MIGHT -- MIGHT NOT 23:19.532 --> 23:21.668 EVEN RECOGNIZE HIM, LIKE HE 23:21.668 --> 23:25.572 MIGHT BE SOMEWHERE SPEAKING ON, 23:25.572 --> 23:29.576 YOU KNOW, HIS BEHALF ABOUT HIS 23:29.576 --> 23:32.779 BEING ELECTED AND, YOU KNOW, BUT 23:32.779 --> 23:35.982 I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW UNLESS 23:35.982 --> 23:38.585 SOMEONE HANDED ME A PAMPHLET OR 23:38.585 --> 23:40.186 SOMETHING WITH HIS FACE ON IT. 23:40.186 --> 23:40.687 >> UH-HUH. 23:40.687 --> 23:44.391 >> WHICH I FIND KIND OF, HEY, 23:44.391 --> 23:46.793 WHY DON'T I KNOW THIS. 23:46.793 --> 23:48.495 IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME, YOU 23:48.495 --> 23:50.296 KNOW, BUT IF I ASK SOME OF MY 23:50.296 --> 23:52.098 FRIENDS, THEY -- THEY ARE NOT 23:52.098 --> 23:55.101 WORRIED THAT THEY DON'T KNOW. 23:55.101 --> 23:57.303 THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT, YOU 23:57.303 --> 23:59.939 KNOW, IF THEY DON'T GET TO VOTE, 23:59.939 --> 24:01.441 THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE THEIR 24:01.441 --> 24:03.643 LIVES, HOW THEY LIVE IT, AND 24:03.643 --> 24:05.445 SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THEY'RE 24:05.445 --> 24:07.847 LIVING IT, SO I FIGURE THE 24:07.847 --> 24:10.050 STRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, THE 24:10.050 --> 24:11.351 KNOWLEDGE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS 24:11.351 --> 24:13.453 ACTUALLY GOING ON NEEDS TO 24:13.453 --> 24:16.256 CHANGE. 24:16.256 --> 24:17.057 WE NEED DIFFERENCE. 24:17.057 --> 24:17.957 >> UH-HUH. 24:17.957 --> 24:18.158 THANK YOU. 24:18.158 --> 24:19.459 AND NOW I THINK WE HAVE SOME 24:19.459 --> 24:21.361 MORE COMMENTS FROM OUR YOUNGEST 24:21.361 --> 24:22.462 CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE OVER 24:22.462 --> 24:24.364 HERE. 24:24.364 --> 24:25.865 >> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE 24:25.865 --> 24:30.270 VOTING AGE YET, BUT IT'S GREAT 24:30.270 --> 24:33.773 TO SEE AN INTERESTED GROUP. 24:33.773 --> 24:35.475 LET'S START WITH YOU, CEANNA. 24:35.475 --> 24:38.678 >> I WAS WONDERING HOW PEOPLE 24:38.678 --> 24:40.180 IMPACT OUR FUTURE BY VOTING, 24:40.180 --> 24:40.780 YOUNG PEOPLE. 24:40.780 --> 24:41.681 >> UH-HUH. 24:41.681 --> 24:42.182 OKAY. 24:42.182 --> 24:47.120 DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A STAB. 24:47.120 --> 24:49.022 >> WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS NOW 24:49.022 --> 24:50.924 FOR YOU ALL DOESN'T SEEM VERY 24:50.924 --> 24:51.224 RIGHT. 24:51.224 --> 24:52.826 IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ALL NEED TO BE 24:52.826 --> 24:53.927 MAKING YOUR DECISIONS FOR THE 24:53.927 --> 24:55.328 FUTURE, AND I DO THINK THAT WHAT 24:55.328 --> 24:58.331 WE LOSE SOMETIMES IS THAT IT'S 24:58.331 --> 25:00.133 JUST SORT OF AN ADULT WORLD, 25:00.133 --> 25:02.035 LIKE TAXES AND MEDICARE, AND 25:02.035 --> 25:04.237 MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY, 25:04.237 --> 25:06.740 THAT REALLY HAVE NO VALIDITY TO 25:06.740 --> 25:09.042 YOUR LIVES RIGHT NOW, AND I 25:09.042 --> 25:11.244 THINK WE NEED TO MAKE POLITICS 25:11.244 --> 25:13.446 MORE REAL TO YOU THAT YOU SEE 25:13.446 --> 25:16.049 VALUE, AND VOTING AND 25:16.049 --> 25:19.352 CAMPAIGNING AND ADVOCATING FOR 25:19.352 --> 25:21.388 THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE IN YOUR 25:21.388 --> 25:22.689 BACK YARD. 25:22.689 --> 25:23.690 >> UH-HUH. 25:23.690 --> 25:25.325 >> AND CAMERON? 25:25.325 --> 25:27.927 >> I WAS WONDERING, DO YOU THINK 25:27.927 --> 25:30.230 YOUNG VOTERS ARE MATURE ENOUGH 25:30.230 --> 25:31.531 TO VOTE ON SOMETHING MOST OF 25:31.531 --> 25:32.832 THEM DON'T EVEN FULLY 25:32.832 --> 25:33.233 UNDERSTAND? 25:33.233 --> 25:35.335 >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 25:35.335 --> 25:38.238 PAULINA, OR DARIAN, DO YOU WANT 25:38.238 --> 25:39.339 TO JUMP IN. 25:39.339 --> 25:40.340 >> I WOULD. 25:40.340 --> 25:43.343 I THINK -- COULD YOU ASK THAT 25:43.343 --> 25:44.344 QUESTION ONE MORE TIME? 25:44.344 --> 25:46.146 >> DO YOU REALLY THINK YOUNG 25:46.146 --> 25:48.048 VOTERS ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO VOTE 25:48.048 --> 25:50.150 ON SOMETHING MOST OF THEM DON'T 25:50.150 --> 25:51.251 EVEN FULLY UNDERSTAND? 25:51.251 --> 25:53.253 >> I THINK YOUNG VOTERS HAVE THE 25:53.253 --> 25:56.656 POTENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN 25:56.656 --> 25:58.858 THOUGH IT'S WAY -- MAYBE WAY OUT 25:58.858 --> 26:03.363 OF OUR LEAGUE, NO WAY IN 26:03.363 --> 26:04.964 RELATING TO WHAT YOU REALLY CARE 26:04.964 --> 26:07.667 ABOUT, MAYBE, BUT I THINK AT 26:07.667 --> 26:10.270 SOME POINT WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE 26:10.270 --> 26:13.273 OF, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES IN YOUR 26:13.273 --> 26:14.674 COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT YOU CAN, 26:14.674 --> 26:17.977 YOU KNOW, APPLY YOUR STRUGGLES, 26:17.977 --> 26:19.979 AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR HARDSHIPS TO 26:19.979 --> 26:24.918 THE ACTUAL CAUSE, AND, YOU KNOW, 26:24.918 --> 26:27.320 GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT, AND BE 26:27.320 --> 26:28.021 ABLE TO MAKE A ZIG. 26:28.021 --> 26:29.322 >> UH-HUH, GREAT. 26:29.322 --> 26:31.024 >> AND PAULINA? 26:31.024 --> 26:32.726 >> WELL, BASICALLY, I FEEL JUST 26:32.726 --> 26:34.527 LIKE HE WAS SAYING THAT WE CAN 26:34.527 --> 26:35.862 EDUCATE OURSELVES. 26:35.862 --> 26:37.464 WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A 26:37.464 --> 26:38.064 WAY, RIGHT? 26:38.064 --> 26:39.265 SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, 26:39.265 --> 26:41.167 THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT WE KNOW IS 26:41.167 --> 26:42.569 GOING TO AFFECT US IN THE NEAR 26:42.569 --> 26:44.070 FUTURE OR WILL AFFECT US NOW, 26:44.070 --> 26:46.673 AND WE JUST EDUCATE OURSELVES OR 26:46.673 --> 26:48.074 TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS, YOU 26:48.074 --> 26:51.478 KNOW, MAKE IT INTERESTING TO US. 26:51.478 --> 26:53.279 YEAH, LET'S VOTE, BECAUSE WE 26:53.279 --> 26:55.281 HAVE THAT VOICE AND WE SHOULD 26:55.281 --> 26:57.083 VOTE SO THAT'S -- THAT'S 26:57.083 --> 26:58.885 DEFINITELY MY ENCOURAGEMENT. 26:58.885 --> 26:59.586 >> GREAT. 26:59.586 --> 26:59.886 THANK YOU. 26:59.886 --> 27:01.388 SO WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT 27:01.388 --> 27:03.690 ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. 27:03.690 --> 27:06.893 SOME APATHY WE'VE HEARD ABOUT. 27:06.893 --> 27:09.195 WE'VE HEARD ABOUT CYNICISM, 27:09.195 --> 27:10.397 ABOUT WHETHER YOUR VOTE COUNTS 27:10.397 --> 27:11.498 OR WHETHER THIS ELECTED 27:11.498 --> 27:12.699 OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO 27:12.699 --> 27:13.733 YOU, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT 27:13.733 --> 27:15.235 STRUCTURAL BARRIERS. 27:15.235 --> 27:16.936 NOW LET'S MOVE TOWARD SOME 27:16.936 --> 27:19.039 POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AND LET'S 27:19.039 --> 27:20.273 BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT ONE GROUP 27:20.273 --> 27:21.775 THAT'S WORKING HERE IN AUSTIN TO 27:21.775 --> 27:23.176 GET MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE. 27:23.176 --> 27:25.178 >> WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT IS A 27:25.178 --> 27:26.780 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, 27:26.780 --> 27:28.581 NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT 27:28.581 --> 27:30.483 ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF LOW WAGE 27:30.483 --> 27:32.185 WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 27:32.185 --> 27:33.486 WE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT 27:33.486 --> 27:37.590 THEIR RIGHTS AS WORKERS AND WE 27:37.590 --> 27:39.192 RECENTLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A 27:39.192 --> 27:40.794 WE COUNT VOTER ENGAGEMENT 27:40.794 --> 27:42.796 CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO 27:42.796 --> 27:45.832 GENERALLY ARE UNDERREPRESENTED 27:45.832 --> 27:47.233 IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TO 27:47.233 --> 27:49.336 PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. 27:49.336 --> 27:50.837 THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH 27:50.837 --> 27:52.238 DONE THAT SHOWS THAT YOUNG 27:52.238 --> 27:54.741 VOTERS TEND TO TURN OUT IN LOWER 27:54.741 --> 27:55.241 NUMBERS. 27:55.241 --> 27:57.444 THAT LATINO -- I THINK A LOT OF 27:57.444 --> 27:58.845 TIMES PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS 27:58.845 --> 28:00.280 REALIZE HOW THE DECISIONS OF 28:00.280 --> 28:02.382 LOCAL POLICY MAKERS IMPACT THEIR 28:02.382 --> 28:02.982 LIVES. 28:02.982 --> 28:04.484 WE DON'T ADVOCATE FOR ANY 28:04.484 --> 28:05.585 PARTICULAR POSITION OR ANY 28:05.585 --> 28:06.886 PARTICULAR CANDIDATE. 28:06.886 --> 28:08.288 WE'RE A NONPARTISAN 28:08.288 --> 28:10.190 ORGANIZATION, BUT WE DO TALK TO 28:10.190 --> 28:11.791 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT 28:11.791 --> 28:13.093 THEIR CONCERNS ARE. 28:13.093 --> 28:14.794 SO SOMEONE SAYS I'M REALLY 28:14.794 --> 28:16.096 CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION, WE 28:16.096 --> 28:17.397 WOULD SAY, WELL, LET'S TAKE A 28:17.397 --> 28:19.199 LOOK AT -- THERE'S IMPORTANT 28:19.199 --> 28:21.034 VOTES COMING UP ON ELECTION, AND 28:21.034 --> 28:22.535 OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, 28:22.535 --> 28:25.638 THERE'S -- THOSE SORTS OF THINGS 28:25.638 --> 28:26.840 THAT ARE LIKE THERE ARE 28:26.840 --> 28:28.341 DECISIONS BEING MADE ABOUT THESE 28:28.341 --> 28:30.243 TOPICS THAT YOU'RE TELLING US 28:30.243 --> 28:31.044 THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR 28:31.044 --> 28:31.745 LIVES. 28:31.745 --> 28:33.279 WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON THE 28:33.279 --> 28:34.681 IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY WHERE OUR 28:34.681 --> 28:36.282 COMMUNITY CENTER IS LOCATED. 28:36.282 --> 28:37.684 WE'RE GOING OUT AND KNOCKING ON 28:37.684 --> 28:39.285 PEOPLE'S DOORS. 28:39.285 --> 28:40.687 WE'RE GOING TO BE KNOCKING ON 28:40.687 --> 28:42.088 PEOPLE'S DOORS AND CALLING 28:42.088 --> 28:44.190 PEOPLE WHO ARE REGISTERED TO 28:44.190 --> 28:46.292 VOTE OR WHO MIGHT BE -- BE 28:46.292 --> 28:47.494 INTERESTED IN REGISTERING TO 28:47.494 --> 28:48.595 VOTE AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT 28:48.595 --> 28:50.797 THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, MAKING 28:50.797 --> 28:51.798 SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY 28:51.798 --> 28:52.599 NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 28:52.599 --> 28:54.401 ELECTIONS, THEY KNOW WHERE TO 28:54.401 --> 28:55.702 VOTE, HOW TO VOTE, WHAT IS GOING 28:55.702 --> 28:58.204 TO BE ON THE BALLOT, AND TO 28:58.204 --> 28:59.806 REALLY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO 28:59.806 --> 29:01.608 GET OUT THERE AND KNOW THAT IT'S 29:01.608 --> 29:03.410 AN IMPORTANT PART OF HAVING AN 29:03.410 --> 29:05.145 IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY, AND 29:05.145 --> 29:06.746 THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO 29:06.746 --> 29:07.447 LIVE IN. 29:07.447 --> 29:12.252 >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, 29:12.252 --> 29:14.654 ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THEIR 29:14.654 --> 29:16.256 OWN INTERESTS. 29:16.256 --> 29:17.457 START WHERE THEY'RE AT. 29:17.457 --> 29:19.459 FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT IS 29:19.459 --> 29:21.094 PREVENTING THEM FROM VOTING AND 29:21.094 --> 29:22.796 TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THAT, WHY 29:22.796 --> 29:24.798 THAT MAY EXIST, WHY THEY MAY 29:24.798 --> 29:25.999 HAVE THIS FEELING AND I THINK 29:25.999 --> 29:27.200 IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO GIVE 29:27.200 --> 29:28.301 ALTERNATIVES. 29:28.301 --> 29:30.403 SO VOTING IS JUST ONE PART OF 29:30.403 --> 29:33.406 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, BUT THERE'S 29:33.406 --> 29:34.808 OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED IN 29:34.808 --> 29:36.009 THE POLITICAL SYSTEM TO IMPROVE 29:36.009 --> 29:37.811 IT, AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, 29:37.811 --> 29:39.412 PART OF IT IS LETTING THEM KNOW 29:39.412 --> 29:41.314 THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR 29:41.314 --> 29:42.716 FRUSTRATION COMES FROM, AND THEN 29:42.716 --> 29:44.150 PART OF IT IS ALSO GIVING THEM 29:44.150 --> 29:46.052 OPTIONS OF WAYS THAT THEY CAN 29:46.052 --> 29:47.654 GET INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE. 29:47.654 --> 29:49.356 SO THESE BLOCK WALKS HAVE BEEN A 29:49.356 --> 29:51.358 GREAT WAY FOR US TO REACH OUT TO 29:51.358 --> 29:52.659 YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE UT CAMPUS 29:52.659 --> 29:53.960 AND IN THE AUSTIN AREA IN 29:53.960 --> 29:55.562 GENERAL TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS 29:55.562 --> 29:56.563 IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN GET 29:56.563 --> 29:57.163 INVOLVED. 29:57.163 --> 30:01.067 YOU CAN PARTICIPATE CIVICALLY IN 30:01.067 --> 30:02.268 POLITICS. 30:02.268 --> 30:03.269 YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT 30:03.269 --> 30:06.172 TO ENGAGE IN OUR ELECTORAL 30:06.172 --> 30:07.474 SYSTEM, IN OUR POLITICAL 30:07.474 --> 30:09.676 PROCESS, BECAUSE THESE DECISIONS 30:09.676 --> 30:11.277 THAT ARE BEING MADE NOW ARE 30:11.277 --> 30:12.679 GOING TO END UP AFFECTING US 30:12.679 --> 30:16.082 MORE THAN ANY OTHER GENERATION, 30:16.082 --> 30:17.984 BEING GENERATION X WE HAVE BEEN 30:17.984 --> 30:19.586 BROUGHT UP IN THIS DIFFERENT 30:19.586 --> 30:21.621 AREA THAT -- ERA THAT HAS 30:21.621 --> 30:23.757 DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS AND 30:23.757 --> 30:24.858 CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE, AND SO 30:24.858 --> 30:26.960 WE MAYBE HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF 30:26.960 --> 30:28.361 LOOKING AT THINGS THAT COULD 30:28.361 --> 30:31.564 INCREASE THE ABILITY OF OUR 30:31.564 --> 30:33.166 POLICY MAKERS TO ACTUALLY 30:33.166 --> 30:35.068 REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, 30:35.068 --> 30:36.469 SO I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A 30:36.469 --> 30:38.271 UNIQUE VOICE THAT SHOULD BE 30:38.271 --> 30:39.205 CONTRIBUTED TO. 30:39.205 --> 30:41.808 >> DARIAN, YOU SAID A LITTLE BIT 30:41.808 --> 30:43.510 EARLIER ABOUT HOW YOU GOT 30:43.510 --> 30:45.612 INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND THE 30:45.612 --> 30:47.714 WAY THAT YOU'RE USING HIP HOP TO 30:47.714 --> 30:49.115 MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE YOUNG 30:49.115 --> 30:49.616 PEOPLE. 30:49.616 --> 30:52.218 I WANT TO ACTUALLY RAISE AN 30:52.218 --> 30:53.520 ISSUE THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE 30:53.520 --> 30:56.222 BEEN FOLLOWING AND MY GUESS IS 30:56.222 --> 30:57.724 THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF HIP HOP 30:57.724 --> 30:59.025 FANS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND 30:59.025 --> 31:00.427 SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE HEARD 31:00.427 --> 31:01.628 ABOUT THIS TOO. 31:01.628 --> 31:02.629 THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME 31:02.629 --> 31:04.431 CELEBRITIES IN THE HIP HOP WORLD 31:04.431 --> 31:06.332 WHO ARE ON VERY OPPOSITE SIDES 31:06.332 --> 31:07.434 OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE 31:07.434 --> 31:08.635 HAVING TONIGHT AND I WOULD LOVE 31:08.635 --> 31:10.870 TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT 31:10.870 --> 31:12.472 AND WHAT ROLE YOU THINK THAT HIP 31:12.472 --> 31:14.674 HOP CAN PLAY, AND JUST TO BE 31:14.674 --> 31:15.775 MORE SPECIFIC, WHAT I'M 31:15.775 --> 31:19.079 REFERRING TO IS LUPE WHO IS A 31:19.079 --> 31:21.314 VERY WELL-KNOWN HIP HOP ARTIST 31:21.314 --> 31:23.016 COMING OUT AGAINST VOTING AND 31:23.016 --> 31:24.317 THEN THERE WERE MANY OTHER 31:24.317 --> 31:27.120 CELEBRITIES THAT CAME OUT AND 31:27.120 --> 31:29.022 REALLY SPOKE OUT AGAINST HIM. 31:29.022 --> 31:30.824 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND 31:30.824 --> 31:33.226 HOW CAN HIP HOP BE A POSITIVE 31:33.226 --> 31:33.927 INFLUENCE? 31:33.927 --> 31:36.229 >> I THINK AS AN ARTIST, I THINK 31:36.229 --> 31:38.531 YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN 31:38.531 --> 31:41.434 SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT, BUT TO 31:41.434 --> 31:44.637 BE ON THE OPPOSING SIDE AND NOT 31:44.637 --> 31:48.942 FOR CHANGE OR TO MAKE A 31:48.942 --> 31:50.577 DIFFERENCE, IS VERY LIKE 31:50.577 --> 31:52.979 STRIKING TO ME, BUT AT THE SAME 31:52.979 --> 31:55.882 TIME, ALL I CAN DO IS RESPECT -- 31:55.882 --> 31:58.485 RESPECT HIS DECISIONS AND HIS 31:58.485 --> 32:01.187 OPINIONS, IT'S LIKE ALL YOU CAN 32:01.187 --> 32:03.590 DO IS -- ALL I CAN DO IS SALUTE 32:03.590 --> 32:05.792 THAT AND CONTINUE WITH -- WITH 32:05.792 --> 32:09.696 MY PATH, BUT DEFINITELY USE WHAT 32:09.696 --> 32:11.831 HE'S SAYING AS A -- AS A TOOL 32:11.831 --> 32:16.636 MOSTLY TO ENCOURAGE MY PEERS TO 32:16.636 --> 32:19.039 SPEAK THEIR MIND AND USE -- USE 32:19.039 --> 32:22.676 YOUR VOICE, YOUR MIND, AS A -- 32:22.676 --> 32:25.879 YOU KNOW, AS A TOOL TO BE HEARD. 32:25.879 --> 32:29.282 WITH MY MUSIC, WE USE -- I USE 32:29.282 --> 32:32.585 MY MUSIC AS, YOU KNOW, TO -- 32:32.585 --> 32:33.887 JUST FOR MY OWN VOICE. 32:33.887 --> 32:35.488 MY OWNERSHIP TO EVEN HAVE 32:35.488 --> 32:39.292 OWNERSHIP OF MY VOICE, MY WORDS 32:39.292 --> 32:41.895 IS -- IS MAGIC TO ME, YOU KNOW, 32:41.895 --> 32:46.599 SO I USE -- I USE THAT AND PITCH 32:46.599 --> 32:50.303 IT TO MY PEERS, IT'S LIKE THEY 32:50.303 --> 32:51.304 CAN RELATE. 32:51.304 --> 32:52.305 THEY -- THEY UNDERSTAND THE 32:52.305 --> 32:56.509 LINGO, MY SLANG, IF I HAVE ANY. 32:56.509 --> 32:59.212 IT'S LIKE WE -- WE GENERATION X. 32:59.212 --> 33:01.114 LIKE -- LIKE YOUNG LADY WAS 33:01.114 --> 33:04.417 SAYING, WE -- WE ARE NOT 33:04.417 --> 33:07.520 OUTCASTS, BUT WE -- WE HAVE A 33:07.520 --> 33:09.823 CERTAIN WAY OF COMMUNICATING. 33:09.823 --> 33:12.559 IT'S SUCH A, YOU KNOW, WE ALL 33:12.559 --> 33:14.861 ABOUT MEDIA NOW AND LIKE HIGH 33:14.861 --> 33:16.563 TECH TOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, 33:16.563 --> 33:18.365 EVERYTHING, IT'S JUST -- IT'S 33:18.365 --> 33:21.001 DIFFERENT FROM THE '60s, PUT 33:21.001 --> 33:22.602 IT THAT WAY. 33:22.602 --> 33:23.203 >> UH-HUH. 33:23.203 --> 33:25.305 >> I'M A '90s BABY. 33:25.305 --> 33:27.207 SO HOW DIFFERENT DOES THAT 33:27.207 --> 33:27.507 SOUND? 33:27.507 --> 33:28.942 THAT SOUNDS DIFFERENT. 33:28.942 --> 33:31.044 IT DON'T EVEN -- IT DON'T EVEN 33:31.044 --> 33:33.947 MATCH, YOU KNOW, SO... THERE'S A 33:33.947 --> 33:36.349 LOT OF ADJUSTING THAT WE HAVE TO 33:36.349 --> 33:40.954 DO WHEN IT COMES TO THE OLDER -- 33:40.954 --> 33:42.055 OLDER GENERATION. 33:42.055 --> 33:45.158 THERE'S -- THERE'S SHOWS I DO, 33:45.158 --> 33:48.461 YOU KNOW, AND THERE MAY BE YOUTH 33:48.461 --> 33:50.063 OR YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE CROWD 33:50.063 --> 33:52.465 OR, YOU KNOW, JUST MAINLY OLDER 33:52.465 --> 33:54.668 HIP HOP FANS. 33:54.668 --> 33:55.368 >> UH-HUH. 33:55.368 --> 33:56.870 >> WHO ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY, 33:56.870 --> 34:00.573 BUT THAT MESSAGE WE ARE PUTTING 34:00.573 --> 34:02.475 OUT, IT STILL -- IT TENDS TO 34:02.475 --> 34:04.577 TRAVEL, IT TENDS TO, YOU KNOW, 34:04.577 --> 34:05.879 KIND OF SPREAD THROUGH THAT ONE 34:05.879 --> 34:06.880 PERSON, YOU KNOW. 34:06.880 --> 34:10.417 YOU GET A MESSAGE, YOU DON'T 34:10.417 --> 34:12.118 JUST SIT ON IT, ESPECIALLY IF 34:12.118 --> 34:13.520 IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS UP 34:13.520 --> 34:15.622 LIFTING AND IT HAD YOU THINKING 34:15.622 --> 34:18.224 ABOUT IT ALL DAY, SO THAT'S -- 34:18.224 --> 34:20.026 THAT'S LIKE THE MAGIC AND THE 34:20.026 --> 34:22.729 POWER IN, YOU KNOW, USING HIP 34:22.729 --> 34:24.531 HOP, AND SPOKEN WORD. 34:24.531 --> 34:26.232 IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HIP HOP. 34:26.232 --> 34:27.867 IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST MY 34:27.867 --> 34:30.470 VOICE, ME SPEAKING IS A WEAPON 34:30.470 --> 34:33.073 OF ME, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WOULD 34:33.073 --> 34:36.676 BE MY -- MY AIM IN THIS. 34:36.676 --> 34:38.378 USE WHAT YOU THINK YOU CAN DO 34:38.378 --> 34:41.781 THE BEST TO OVERCOME, YOU KNOW, 34:41.781 --> 34:44.284 YOUR CHALLENGE. 34:44.284 --> 34:46.486 I FEEL I CAN SPEAK AT ANY TIME 34:46.486 --> 34:48.688 UNDER ANY TYPE OF PRESSURE AS 34:48.688 --> 34:55.295 CALM WITH NO PROBLEM AND RELATE 34:55.295 --> 34:57.097 TO SOMEONE AND REACH THEM AND 34:57.097 --> 34:59.599 ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO GO ON AND, 34:59.599 --> 35:01.901 YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GO PICK UP 35:01.901 --> 35:03.403 THEIR PEN OR SOMETHING, YOU 35:03.403 --> 35:04.404 KNOW, AND WRITE A VERSE. 35:04.404 --> 35:04.904 >> UH-HUH. 35:04.904 --> 35:05.605 >> SO -- 35:05.605 --> 35:07.007 >> THAT'S BEAUTIFULLY PUT. 35:07.007 --> 35:08.508 THANK YOU, DARIAN. 35:08.508 --> 35:10.844 PAULINA, YOU TOLD US EARLIER 35:10.844 --> 35:12.545 ABOUT HOW YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN 35:12.545 --> 35:15.048 BROWNSVILLE, AND THE ANTI 35:15.048 --> 35:16.249 POVERTY CAMPAIGN. 35:16.249 --> 35:17.550 TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT 35:17.550 --> 35:19.052 HOW OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CARE 35:19.052 --> 35:21.488 ABOUT A PARTICULAR CAUSE OR AN 35:21.488 --> 35:23.723 ISSUE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY 35:23.723 --> 35:25.025 GETTING INVOLVED IN VOTING. 35:25.025 --> 35:25.725 >> SURE. 35:25.725 --> 35:26.126 SURE. 35:26.126 --> 35:29.529 SO THE -- THAT ACTUALLY BRINGS 35:29.529 --> 35:31.731 ME TO A QUOTE THAT HAS REALLY 35:31.731 --> 35:33.433 MOTIVATED ME TO THIS DAY AND 35:33.433 --> 35:35.535 IT'S BY BARBARA JORDAN, AND AS 35:35.535 --> 35:39.239 HE SAID, ENLIGHTENED CITIZEN IS 35:39.239 --> 35:41.641 AN INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT IN 35:41.641 --> 35:43.443 THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY. 35:43.443 --> 35:46.746 AND SO BASICALLY, LIKE WHAT THIS 35:46.746 --> 35:49.049 MEANS TO ME IS THAT THIS IS THE 35:49.049 --> 35:49.949 ROOT OF ADVOCACY. 35:49.949 --> 35:52.552 THIS IS THE ROOT OF WHAT IT 35:52.552 --> 35:53.953 MEANS TO BE AN ENGAGED CITIZEN. 35:53.953 --> 35:55.488 IF YOU'RE ENLIGHTENED. 35:55.488 --> 35:56.890 IF YOU'RE EDUCATED ON THE 35:56.890 --> 35:57.490 ISSUES. 35:57.490 --> 35:58.892 LIKE YOU PARTICULARLY CARE 35:58.892 --> 36:01.494 ABOUT, AND YOU GO OUT AND YOU 36:01.494 --> 36:04.097 USE YOUR VOICE, IN WHATEVER WAY 36:04.097 --> 36:05.699 THAT -- THAT IS, AND YOU MAKE 36:05.699 --> 36:07.701 YOUR SENSE KNOWN. 36:07.701 --> 36:09.903 YOU REALLY CAN MAKE A 36:09.903 --> 36:11.705 DIFFERENCE, AND ALL OF US, EVERY 36:11.705 --> 36:12.906 SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM TODAY 36:12.906 --> 36:14.808 HAS A PARTICULAR CAUSE, HAS A 36:14.808 --> 36:16.109 PARTICULAR PASSION THAT THEY 36:16.109 --> 36:18.111 REALLY DO CARE ABOUT, THAT 36:18.111 --> 36:19.512 THEY'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT, 36:19.512 --> 36:21.047 AND THAT THEY REALLY DO KNOW A 36:21.047 --> 36:21.548 LOT ABOUT. 36:21.548 --> 36:22.082 >> UH-HUH. 36:22.082 --> 36:26.186 >> AND REALLY MY -- MY 36:26.186 --> 36:28.088 EXPERIENCE IN USING MY VOICE TO 36:28.088 --> 36:30.390 NOT ONLY RAISE AWARENESS IN MY 36:30.390 --> 36:33.293 COMMUNITY, AND MY -- AND MY 36:33.293 --> 36:34.294 UNIVERSITY AND TO MY ELECTED 36:34.294 --> 36:35.762 OFFICIALS AND REALLY SEEING HOW 36:35.762 --> 36:37.597 THAT HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN 36:37.597 --> 36:40.100 MOBILIZING A MOVEMENT AROUND 36:40.100 --> 36:42.002 FIGHTING EXTREME POVERTY, WHICH 36:42.002 --> 36:43.903 IS MY -- MY PASSION, YOU KNOW, 36:43.903 --> 36:45.905 THAT IS THE SAME EXACT THING 36:45.905 --> 36:47.407 THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US 36:47.407 --> 36:49.209 CAN DO AND SHOULD DO, BECAUSE IF 36:49.209 --> 36:51.544 YOU HAVE THE POWER TO REALLY 36:51.544 --> 36:52.846 MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR 36:52.846 --> 36:54.147 VOICE, USE IT. 36:54.147 --> 36:56.049 YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE A 36:56.049 --> 36:56.549 VOICE. 36:56.549 --> 36:58.051 ALL OF US HAVE A PASSION, AND 36:58.051 --> 37:00.253 ALL OF US REALLY SHOULD 37:00.253 --> 37:02.455 BASICALLY TAKE THAT INITIATIVE 37:02.455 --> 37:04.257 TO MAKE THAT MOVEMENT AND PUT 37:04.257 --> 37:05.859 THAT MOVEMENT INTO MOTION. 37:05.859 --> 37:08.361 SO THAT IS -- THAT -- THAT'S MY 37:08.361 --> 37:09.262 ENCOURAGEMENT. 37:09.262 --> 37:11.264 THAT'S MY MOTIVATION TO EACH AND 37:11.264 --> 37:13.566 EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND REALLY 37:13.566 --> 37:14.868 FIND AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR 37:14.868 --> 37:16.169 CAUSE AND WHAT YOUR PASSION IS, 37:16.169 --> 37:18.271 AND RUN WITH IT, BECAUSE NO 37:18.271 --> 37:22.108 MATTER HOW LITTLE YOU THINK YOUR 37:22.108 --> 37:23.610 VOICE CAN -- CAN MAKE A 37:23.610 --> 37:24.911 DIFFERENCE IN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS 37:24.911 --> 37:27.313 REALLY JUST -- THAT IS REALLY A 37:27.313 --> 37:28.648 DOUBT AND THAT IS A LIE THAT YOU 37:28.648 --> 37:30.450 HAVE WITHIN YOU, BECAUSE YOUR 37:30.450 --> 37:31.851 VOICE CAN AND WILL MAKE A 37:31.851 --> 37:33.053 DIFFERENCE, SO, YOU KNOW, 37:33.053 --> 37:34.654 PLEASE, YOU KNOW, KEEP THIS IN 37:34.654 --> 37:36.756 MIND THAT WHATEVER YOUR PASSION 37:36.756 --> 37:38.858 IS, IT MATTERS AND YOU CAN MAKE 37:38.858 --> 37:40.860 A DIFFERENCE. 37:40.860 --> 37:42.362 >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, 37:42.362 --> 37:43.563 PAULINA. 37:43.563 --> 37:46.066 I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO JOY DIAZ 37:46.066 --> 37:46.866 AND OUR AUDIENCE. 37:46.866 --> 37:47.967 >> THANK YOU, ANN. 37:47.967 --> 37:50.070 I'M HERE WITH KATY POWERS AND 37:50.070 --> 37:52.172 SHE'S 23, AND AS SOON AS WE 37:52.172 --> 37:53.907 TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, 37:53.907 --> 37:55.809 SHE JUST JUMPED TO THE 37:55.809 --> 37:57.110 OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE SHE HAS 37:57.110 --> 37:58.111 SOME IDEAS HERE. 37:58.111 --> 37:59.112 HERE WE GO. 37:59.112 --> 38:01.414 >> HI, I JUST WANTED TO TELL 38:01.414 --> 38:04.918 EVERYONE THAT MILLENNIALS, THOSE 38:04.918 --> 38:07.120 OF US WHO ARE AGE ABOUT 13 TO 38:07.120 --> 38:09.422 30, WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE LARGEST 38:09.422 --> 38:10.924 VOTING BLOCK IN AMERICA RIGHT 38:10.924 --> 38:12.325 NOW, BUT ACCORDING TO PUGH 38:12.325 --> 38:13.827 RESEARCH CENTER, WE'RE ALSO THE 38:13.827 --> 38:16.529 MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND 38:16.529 --> 38:18.732 IMPLICITLY PROGRESSIVE AND 38:18.732 --> 38:20.767 PAULINA'S QUOTE MADE ME REMEMBER 38:20.767 --> 38:22.168 ANOTHER QUOTE BY ALZHEIMER 38:22.168 --> 38:23.870 WALKER THAT SAYS THE MOST COMMON 38:23.870 --> 38:25.372 WAY PEOPLE GIVE UP THEIR POWER 38:25.372 --> 38:27.474 IS BY BELIEVING THEY DON'T HAVE 38:27.474 --> 38:27.640 ANY. 38:27.640 --> 38:29.376 SO THAT VOTING BLOCK IS A LOT OF 38:29.376 --> 38:30.010 POWER. 38:30.010 --> 38:31.611 PLEASE USE YOUR VOICE. 38:31.611 --> 38:33.413 AND I WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT WHY 38:33.413 --> 38:34.714 THIS ELECTION IN PARTICULAR IS 38:34.714 --> 38:35.715 IMPORTANT TO ME AS A WOMAN. 38:35.715 --> 38:37.317 A LOT OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE 38:37.317 --> 38:38.918 UNDER ATTACK AND THAT IS AN 38:38.918 --> 38:40.020 IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ISSUE. 38:40.020 --> 38:41.421 THAT AFFECTS YOUR MOTHERS, YOUR 38:41.421 --> 38:43.023 DAUGHTERS, YOUR SISTERS, YOUR 38:43.023 --> 38:43.623 FRIENDS. 38:43.623 --> 38:45.525 SO PLEASE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR 38:45.525 --> 38:47.160 STANCE, GET OUT AND VOTE, YOU 38:47.160 --> 38:48.661 HAVE POWER WITH YOUR VOTE. 38:48.661 --> 38:49.462 >> WONDERFUL. 38:49.462 --> 38:50.263 THANK YOU SO MUCH. 38:50.263 --> 38:50.964 [APPLAUSE] 38:50.964 --> 38:55.268 >> AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE 38:55.268 --> 38:56.636 SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE 38:56.636 --> 38:57.671 THAT WANT TO COMMENT. 38:57.671 --> 38:59.673 I'M GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK OVER 38:59.673 --> 39:00.140 TO WELLS. 39:00.140 --> 39:02.475 >> I'M HERE WITH BRIDGET HALL 39:02.475 --> 39:04.878 WHO IS WITH THE WORKERS DEFENSE 39:04.878 --> 39:06.179 PROGRAM WHO WE HEARD WITH 39:06.179 --> 39:06.546 EARLIER. 39:06.546 --> 39:07.981 THEY'RE PUSHING SOME SOLUTIONS 39:07.981 --> 39:09.516 OF THEIR OWN IN THE WAY OF VOTER 39:09.516 --> 39:10.617 INFORMATION AND GETTING 39:10.617 --> 39:12.218 INFORMATION IN VOTER'S HANDS BUT 39:12.218 --> 39:14.120 YOU WANTED TO TELL US SOME ABOUT 39:14.120 --> 39:15.221 YOUR EXPERIENCE AND SETBACKS 39:15.221 --> 39:15.922 THERE, I GUESS. 39:15.922 --> 39:17.223 >> YES, SO I AM WITH THE 39:17.223 --> 39:19.025 WORKER'S DEFENSE PROJECT AND I 39:19.025 --> 39:20.827 WAS ACTUALLY JUST IN THAT VIDEO, 39:20.827 --> 39:22.962 SO FUNNY TIMING, BUT I ALSO JUST 39:22.962 --> 39:24.264 WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP ON A FEW 39:24.264 --> 39:25.565 THINGS I SAID IN THAT VIDEO 39:25.565 --> 39:26.766 ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO GET 39:26.766 --> 39:29.502 CIVICALLY ENGAGED. 39:29.502 --> 39:31.204 THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT IS 39:31.204 --> 39:32.405 ADVOCACY WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR 39:32.405 --> 39:33.506 WORKING MEMBERS AND SO FOR 39:33.506 --> 39:36.409 EXAMPLE, TODAY WE WERE AT THE 39:36.409 --> 39:37.811 COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT 39:37.811 --> 39:39.412 TRYING TO LOBBY FOR LIVING WAGES 39:39.412 --> 39:41.014 FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FOR 39:41.014 --> 39:42.415 HUGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT 39:42.415 --> 39:43.216 COME INTO AUSTIN. 39:43.216 --> 39:45.118 WE FREQUENTLY GO TO CITY COUNCIL 39:45.118 --> 39:46.619 MEETINGS TO LOBBY ON BEHALF OF 39:46.619 --> 39:48.521 OUR WORKERS, SO, YOU KNOW, 39:48.521 --> 39:50.724 VOTING IS ONE IMPORTANT PART, 39:50.724 --> 39:52.225 BUT THERE'S ALSO WAYS THAT YOU 39:52.225 --> 39:54.127 CAN BE MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN 39:54.127 --> 39:55.528 THE SYSTEM AND ADVOCATE FOR THE 39:55.528 --> 39:56.429 NEEDS OF PEOPLE. 39:56.429 --> 39:58.231 ALSO WITH THE WORKER'S DEFENSE 39:58.231 --> 40:00.333 PROJECT, I AM WORKING ON PUTTING 40:00.333 --> 40:02.335 TOGETHER A VOTER GUIDE, WITH, 40:02.335 --> 40:03.937 YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT OUT A LIST 40:03.937 --> 40:05.872 OF QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES IN 40:05.872 --> 40:07.474 RACES THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN, 40:07.474 --> 40:09.075 AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME 40:09.075 --> 40:10.877 RESPONSES TO THEN GIVE THAT 40:10.877 --> 40:12.779 INFORMATION TO VOTERS, AND IT'S 40:12.779 --> 40:15.582 BEEN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING, ONE 40:15.582 --> 40:17.183 JUST TO EVEN GET IN TOUCH WITH 40:17.183 --> 40:18.785 ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES, AND 40:18.785 --> 40:20.320 THEN, TWO, TO ACTUALLY GET 40:20.320 --> 40:21.821 RESPONSES BACK FROM THEM, SO I 40:21.821 --> 40:23.156 JUST WANTED TO ASK THE PANEL, 40:23.156 --> 40:24.657 YOU KNOW, I HEARD A COUPLE OF 40:24.657 --> 40:26.159 PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE 40:26.159 --> 40:28.061 OF EDUCATING AND EDUCATING 40:28.061 --> 40:29.863 VOTERS AND BEING INFORMED ABOUT 40:29.863 --> 40:31.264 WHAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT, 40:31.264 --> 40:32.866 AND I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF 40:32.866 --> 40:34.467 YOU MAYBE HAD SOME SUGGESTIONS 40:34.467 --> 40:37.070 OR INSIGHTS ON -- ON OTHER WAYS 40:37.070 --> 40:38.872 THAT COULD HAPPEN, VOTER GUIDES 40:38.872 --> 40:40.874 SEEM TO BE A REALLY COMMON WAY, 40:40.874 --> 40:43.276 BUT IT'S A VERY TIME INTENSIVE, 40:43.276 --> 40:46.312 PERSON-POWER-INTENSIVE PROCESS. 40:46.312 --> 40:47.714 SO MAYBE YOU ALL HAVE SOME OTHER 40:47.714 --> 40:49.315 ADVICE ON THAT. 40:49.315 --> 40:51.017 >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRIDGET, 40:51.017 --> 40:52.519 AND I THINK BECAUSE WE WANT TO 40:52.519 --> 40:54.120 GET AS MANY COMMENTS IN AS 40:54.120 --> 40:56.322 POSSIBLE, I'D LOVE TO GO BACK TO 40:56.322 --> 40:58.324 JOY GET A FEW MORE COMMENTS AND 40:58.324 --> 41:00.527 THEN WE'LL ASK OUR PANELISTS TO 41:00.527 --> 41:02.462 COMMENT, OR ANSWER BACK. 41:02.462 --> 41:03.163 OKAY? 41:03.163 --> 41:03.463 JOY. 41:03.463 --> 41:06.366 >> YOU KNOW, MOHAMMED IS 19 41:06.366 --> 41:07.767 YEARS OLD AND ONE OF THE 41:07.767 --> 41:09.469 CHALLENGES THAT HE FACES IS THE 41:09.469 --> 41:11.971 DISCOURAGEMENT OF HAVING TWO 41:11.971 --> 41:12.872 CHOICES ONLY. 41:12.872 --> 41:13.973 >> UH-HUH. 41:13.973 --> 41:17.177 >> SO KIND OF CAME UP WITH THIS 41:17.177 --> 41:19.979 CRIP AND BLOOD THEORY, TWO 41:19.979 --> 41:21.014 DIFFERENT GANG ORGANIZATIONS 41:21.014 --> 41:22.415 KIND OF GOING FOR THE SAME 41:22.415 --> 41:24.617 THING, ONE IS RED AND ONE BLUE. 41:24.617 --> 41:26.019 I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M A PART OF 41:26.019 --> 41:26.186 THEM. 41:26.186 --> 41:27.520 I DON'T GO TO THEIR MONTHLY 41:27.520 --> 41:29.122 MEETINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 41:29.122 --> 41:30.824 AND THEY'RE JUST FIGHTING EACH 41:30.824 --> 41:31.825 OTHER FOR THE SAME THING. 41:31.825 --> 41:33.226 I KIND OF SEE THAT IN THE 41:33.226 --> 41:35.028 DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES. 41:35.028 --> 41:36.196 FOR INSTANCE, THEY'RE PLAYING 41:36.196 --> 41:37.731 THIS NAME GAME. 41:37.731 --> 41:39.833 THEY CALL EACH OTHER OUT. 41:39.833 --> 41:41.968 YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, MCCAIN, WHAT 41:41.968 --> 41:43.770 ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO CUT THE 41:43.770 --> 41:44.871 TAXES. 41:44.871 --> 41:47.574 WELL, BARAK OBAMA IS GOING TO DO 41:47.574 --> 41:48.074 THIS. 41:48.074 --> 41:49.676 YOU ASK BARAK OBAMA THE SAME 41:49.676 --> 41:51.144 QUESTION, HE GOES, WELL, MCCAIN 41:51.144 --> 41:52.779 IS GOING TO DO THIS. 41:52.779 --> 41:54.481 THIS WHOLE GANG THEORY OF TWO 41:54.481 --> 41:55.515 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS GOING 41:55.515 --> 41:57.217 AGAINST EACH OTHER MAKES IT HARD 41:57.217 --> 41:58.718 SAY I WANT TO VOTE FOR WHAT IS 41:58.718 --> 41:59.919 BETTER FOR AMERICA. 41:59.919 --> 42:02.522 I DON'T WANT TO VOTE AS DEMOCRAT 42:02.522 --> 42:03.823 OR REPUBLICAN. 42:03.823 --> 42:05.825 DISCOURAGING US, WE'RE NOT PART 42:05.825 --> 42:07.327 OF THESE PEOPLE, WE DON'T EVEN 42:07.327 --> 42:08.828 AGREE WITH THEM, AND LIKE THE 42:08.828 --> 42:10.730 WHOLE, AGAIN, THE NAME GAME, 42:10.730 --> 42:13.366 NEWS AND MEDIA, HEY REPUBLICANS, 42:13.366 --> 42:15.068 DEMOCRATS, DO THIS, IT'S ALL 42:15.068 --> 42:16.169 LIKE ONE STRAIGHT LINE. 42:16.169 --> 42:17.704 WHAT IF I'M NOT PART OF THAT 42:17.704 --> 42:18.004 LINE? 42:18.004 --> 42:19.839 AND VOTING MAKES ME KIND OF FEEL 42:19.839 --> 42:21.675 LIKE YOU'RE PAYING THEIR GAME. 42:21.675 --> 42:23.576 WHICH GANG ARE YOU WITH. 42:23.576 --> 42:25.979 WHICH CREW ARE YOU HANGING OUT 42:25.979 --> 42:26.279 WITH. 42:26.279 --> 42:27.380 IT'S DISCOURAGING. 42:27.380 --> 42:29.382 I THINK THAT WHOLE DEMOCRAT, 42:29.382 --> 42:31.384 REPUBLICAN, THAT NAME GAME MAKES 42:31.384 --> 42:33.119 IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE AND 42:33.119 --> 42:34.320 PICK WHICH GROUP THEY'RE WITH. 42:34.320 --> 42:36.122 >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. 42:36.122 --> 42:38.124 I THINK IT'S A -- 42:38.124 --> 42:38.925 [APPLAUSE] 42:38.925 --> 42:41.428 -- A SENTIMENT THAT MANY OTHERS 42:41.428 --> 42:43.263 WOULD SHARE IN THE ROOM, AND 42:43.263 --> 42:44.698 AGAIN I THINK WE WANT TO JUST 42:44.698 --> 42:46.232 KEEP GOING AND HEAR SOME MORE 42:46.232 --> 42:47.834 COMMENTS AND MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL 42:47.834 --> 42:48.935 HAVE A COMMENT BACK TO 42:48.935 --> 42:50.036 MOHAMMED'S POINT. 42:50.036 --> 42:53.239 SO IF WE COULD GO BACK TO YOU, 42:53.239 --> 42:53.640 WELLS. 42:53.640 --> 42:54.240 >> OKAY. 42:54.240 --> 42:54.641 TERRIFIC. 42:54.641 --> 42:56.876 I'M HERE WITH ROCHELLE 42:56.876 --> 43:02.582 CHAMBERLAIN, SHE HAS WHAT SOUNDS 43:02.582 --> 43:03.883 LIKE A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS FOR 43:03.883 --> 43:05.585 HOW TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN VOTING 43:05.585 --> 43:06.886 AND MORE DIRECT CIVIC 43:06.886 --> 43:07.587 PARTICIPATION. 43:07.587 --> 43:09.923 >> OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, 43:09.923 --> 43:11.725 EVERYBODY IS KIND OF APATHETIC 43:11.725 --> 43:13.626 THESE DAYS, I KNOW THAT I AM. 43:13.626 --> 43:15.228 AND I KNOW THAT KNOWLEDGE EQUALS 43:15.228 --> 43:17.130 POWER, THAT IF YOU KNOW, YOU 43:17.130 --> 43:18.231 KNOW WHAT THE CANDIDATES ARE 43:18.231 --> 43:19.833 SAYING, AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS 43:19.833 --> 43:21.401 GOING ON IN THE ELECTIONS, THEN 43:21.401 --> 43:22.602 YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A 43:22.602 --> 43:24.804 DIFFERENCE, AND I JUST RECENTLY 43:24.804 --> 43:26.606 STARTED TO LISTEN TO NPR ALMOST 43:26.606 --> 43:27.107 DAILY. 43:27.107 --> 43:29.709 AT FIRST IT WAS SO INTIMIDATING. 43:29.709 --> 43:31.611 NOW I FEEL LIKE, OKAY, I KNOW 43:31.611 --> 43:32.912 WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S NOT THAT 43:32.912 --> 43:34.314 HARD, YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE IT 43:34.314 --> 43:34.614 THE TIME. 43:34.614 --> 43:36.416 BUT I DID FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A 43:36.416 --> 43:37.717 LOT OF SUGGESTIONS THAT WE COULD 43:37.717 --> 43:39.119 DO PERSONALLY. 43:39.119 --> 43:40.553 I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING DOWN TO 43:40.553 --> 43:41.955 THE POST OFFICE AND GRABBING A 43:41.955 --> 43:43.256 STACK OF VOTER REGISTRATION 43:43.256 --> 43:44.958 FORMS AND PUTTING THEM IN MY 43:44.958 --> 43:46.459 PURSE, SAYING TO EVERY PERSON 43:46.459 --> 43:47.360 THAT I MET, ARE YOU REGISTERED 43:47.360 --> 43:49.262 TO VOTE, ARE YOU REGISTERED TO 43:49.262 --> 43:49.662 VOTE. 43:49.662 --> 43:51.364 THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER IS 43:51.364 --> 43:54.067 OCTOBER 9th, DO YOU KNOW THAT? 43:54.067 --> 43:56.269 AND I FOUND THIS ON THE WAY IN. 43:56.269 --> 43:58.471 VOTER SELF DEFENSE MANUAL, GO TO 43:58.471 --> 44:00.573 VOTESMART.ORG . 44:00.573 --> 44:02.575 I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. 44:02.575 --> 44:04.277 WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS? 44:04.277 --> 44:05.578 WHY AREN'T THESE THINGS ALL OVER 44:05.578 --> 44:06.279 THE PLACE? 44:06.279 --> 44:07.881 I WISH THAT I SAW, YOU KNOW, A 44:07.881 --> 44:09.582 HUGE POSTER ON THE SIDE OF A 44:09.582 --> 44:11.718 BUILDING THAT HAD MITT ROMNEY 44:11.718 --> 44:14.020 AND OBAMA AND THREE OF THE 44:14.020 --> 44:15.522 INDEPENDENT PARTIES WITH ALL OF 44:15.522 --> 44:17.123 THEIR VIEWS THAT I COULD JUST 44:17.123 --> 44:19.426 LOOK AT WHILE I'M SITTING THERE 44:19.426 --> 44:21.327 AT 8 A.M. TRAFFIC. 44:21.327 --> 44:22.929 YOU KNOW, I MEAN MAYBE THAT 44:22.929 --> 44:24.531 REACHES A SMALL PORTION, BUT IF 44:24.531 --> 44:26.132 WE COULD GET INTO GROCERY 44:26.132 --> 44:26.933 STORES. 44:26.933 --> 44:28.935 IF WE COULD GET INTO PEOPLE ON 44:28.935 --> 44:29.469 THE STREET. 44:29.469 --> 44:30.770 YOU CAN GO DOWN TO THE POST 44:30.770 --> 44:31.971 OFFICE AND PICK UP VOTER 44:31.971 --> 44:33.473 REGISTRATION FORMS AND PASS THEM 44:33.473 --> 44:34.574 OUT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. 44:34.574 --> 44:35.175 >> THAT'S WONDERFUL. 44:35.175 --> 44:36.476 THANK YOU SO MUCH. 44:36.476 --> 44:37.877 [APPLAUSE] 44:37.877 --> 44:39.879 >> AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A 44:39.879 --> 44:42.082 NUMBER OF GROUPS HERE THAT 44:42.082 --> 44:43.783 REGISTER VOTERS, AND THEY'RE 44:43.783 --> 44:45.485 PROBABLY ALL GOING TO BE WANT TO 44:45.485 --> 44:47.787 SIGN YOU UP AS THEIR VOLUNTEER 44:47.787 --> 44:48.788 RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW. 44:48.788 --> 44:50.290 SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO JOY AND 44:50.290 --> 44:51.491 WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT AND 44:51.491 --> 44:52.992 THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO OUR 44:52.992 --> 44:53.093 PANEL. 44:53.093 --> 44:55.195 >> YES, CARMEN, 27 YEARS OLD, 44:55.195 --> 44:58.598 AND SHE HAS GREAT IDEAS FOR US 44:58.598 --> 44:59.599 TO GET INVOLVED. 44:59.599 --> 44:59.899 CARMEN? 44:59.899 --> 45:00.700 >> THANKS. 45:00.700 --> 45:01.901 I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THE 45:01.901 --> 45:03.403 PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE AND HOW 45:03.403 --> 45:05.005 PLUGGED IN WE ARE ON A LOCAL 45:05.005 --> 45:05.505 LEVEL. 45:05.505 --> 45:06.806 WHEN OCCUPY WAS MENTIONED, I 45:06.806 --> 45:09.809 THOUGHT OF A MESSAGE THAT GRACE, 45:09.809 --> 45:12.212 96-YEAR-OLD ACTIVIST AND 45:12.212 --> 45:14.114 ACADEMIC AND ADVOCATE IN DETROIT 45:14.114 --> 45:15.815 GAVE TO THE YOUNG OCCUPIERS, AND 45:15.815 --> 45:17.417 SHE SAID, "DO SOMETHING LOCAL 45:17.417 --> 45:19.019 AND DON'T DISS THE POLITICAL 45:19.019 --> 45:20.754 SYSTEMS, BUT UNDERSTAND THEIR 45:20.754 --> 45:22.188 LIMITATIONS" AND I THINK WHEN 45:22.188 --> 45:23.490 YOU START TO TALK TO YOUNG 45:23.490 --> 45:24.491 PEOPLE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT 45:24.491 --> 45:25.892 DIRECTLY AFFECT THEM LOCALLY AND 45:25.892 --> 45:27.293 THEY GET ENGAGED IN ANY AVENUE, 45:27.293 --> 45:28.895 WE BEGIN TO SEE THAT VOTING IS 45:28.895 --> 45:30.997 REALLY A PIECE IN THIS HUGE 45:30.997 --> 45:33.800 PUZZLE OF CIVIL ENGAGEMENT THAT 45:33.800 --> 45:35.201 INVOLVES A LOT MORE TIME AND 45:35.201 --> 45:36.102 COMMITMENT AND IF YOU HAVEN'T 45:36.102 --> 45:39.005 BEEN ENGAGED IN THOSE LOCAL 45:39.005 --> 45:41.107 ACTIVITIES AND CHALLENGES, THEN 45:41.107 --> 45:43.109 YOU GET TO THE POLLING PLACE AND 45:43.109 --> 45:44.611 YOU'RE COMPLETELY CONFUSED BY 45:44.611 --> 45:46.513 THESE PROPOSITIONS AND THESE 45:46.513 --> 45:48.314 LONG, LENGTHY WORDY THINGS AND 45:48.314 --> 45:49.516 YOU FEEL LEFT OUT. 45:49.516 --> 45:51.317 BUT WHEN YOU DO START GETTING 45:51.317 --> 45:53.219 INVOLVED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, YOU 45:53.219 --> 45:54.320 START TO LEARN THINGS, LIKE THAT 45:54.320 --> 45:56.122 YOU HAVE STATE LEGISLATORS THAT 45:56.122 --> 45:58.124 WERE ELECTED BY 15 OR 20 VOTES, 45:58.124 --> 46:00.226 SO, YES, OUR VOTE DOES COUNT. 46:00.226 --> 46:02.429 YOU START LEARNING THAT AUSTIN 46:02.429 --> 46:05.865 IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE 46:05.865 --> 46:07.267 COUNTRY WITHOUT GEOGRAPHIC 46:07.267 --> 46:08.568 REPRESENTATION, YOU DON'T SEE 46:08.568 --> 46:10.170 LOCAL OFFICIALS IN YOUR GROCERY 46:10.170 --> 46:11.271 STORE OR ON THE STREET, BECAUSE 46:11.271 --> 46:14.274 THEY LIVE IN THREE ZIP CODES, 46:14.274 --> 46:15.275 THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN GET 46:15.275 --> 46:17.677 INVOLVED IN AND CHANGE, YOU ALSO 46:17.677 --> 46:18.978 COMMIT YOURSELF TO A STRUGGLE 46:18.978 --> 46:20.714 ONLY TO SEE ALL THIS WORK GO 46:20.714 --> 46:22.415 FORWARD AND A COUPLE OF CROOKED 46:22.415 --> 46:24.050 POLITICIANS MIGHT SWEEP IT OUT 46:24.050 --> 46:25.518 FROM UNDER YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT, 46:25.518 --> 46:27.153 YOU KEEP VOTING, BECAUSE YOU 46:27.153 --> 46:28.955 KNOW IT'S A PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE 46:28.955 --> 46:31.157 AND THERE ALWAYS IS A WAY TO DO 46:31.157 --> 46:32.759 THAT, THE BEST WAY TO PEG 46:32.759 --> 46:34.961 INTEGRATE THAT INTO OUR CULTURE 46:34.961 --> 46:37.364 IS THROUGH DIALOGUE, THROUGH 46:37.364 --> 46:38.865 TAKING OUR KIDS WITH US TO THE 46:38.865 --> 46:39.966 POLLING PLACE AND TAKING THIS 46:39.966 --> 46:41.267 CONVERSATION BACK TO THE LOCAL 46:41.267 --> 46:42.769 LEVEL WHERE IT'S NOT ALWAYS 46:42.769 --> 46:44.771 PARTISAN POLITICS AND SOMETIMES 46:44.771 --> 46:46.740 IT REAL I IS A HANDFUL OF VOTES 46:46.740 --> 46:47.874 THAT CHANGES THE FUTURE FOR ALL 46:47.874 --> 46:48.174 OF US. 46:48.174 --> 46:48.908 >> WONDERFUL. 46:48.908 --> 46:49.709 THANKS SO MUCH. 46:49.709 --> 46:50.310 [APPLAUSE] 46:50.310 --> 46:54.514 >> WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER 46:54.514 --> 46:55.315 COMMENT FOR US? 46:55.315 --> 46:56.616 >> SURE. 46:56.616 --> 46:58.218 I'M HERE WITH STEVEN. 46:58.218 --> 46:59.519 HE'S A 17-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL 46:59.519 --> 47:01.021 SENIOR, I THINK HE WANTS TO TALK 47:01.021 --> 47:02.622 SOME ABOUT THE REAL LIFE 47:02.622 --> 47:04.324 PRESSURES THAT STUDENTS IN HIGH 47:04.324 --> 47:06.526 SCHOOL FACE THAT MAY IMPEDE THEM 47:06.526 --> 47:07.227 FROM VOTING. 47:07.227 --> 47:08.428 >> UH-HUH. 47:08.428 --> 47:09.829 >> SO I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT 47:09.829 --> 47:11.131 NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE -- AND 47:11.131 --> 47:12.532 BECAUSE I'M IN SPEECH AND 47:12.532 --> 47:14.134 DEBATE, I FEEL THAT THAT MAY BE 47:14.134 --> 47:15.735 THE ONLY REASON WHY I KNOW SO 47:15.735 --> 47:18.838 MUCH ABOUT POLITICS, BECAUSE IN 47:18.838 --> 47:20.473 MY SCHOOL, THERE'S A LOT OF 47:20.473 --> 47:21.975 PRESSURE WITH WORK, AND HOME 47:21.975 --> 47:23.576 WORK AND TESTS AND THINGS, AND 47:23.576 --> 47:26.479 SO I DON'T THINK WE EVER HAVE 47:26.479 --> 47:28.581 THE TIME TO ACTUALLY LIKE STUDY 47:28.581 --> 47:31.384 ANYTHING REGARDING THE POLITICS 47:31.384 --> 47:34.187 AND SO EVERY -- ALL OF OUR FOCUS 47:34.187 --> 47:35.488 IS ON HOME WORK AND SCHOOL WORK 47:35.488 --> 47:37.190 AND SO A LOT OF THE -- A LOT OF 47:37.190 --> 47:38.992 THE POLITICAL ISSUES ARE THROWN 47:38.992 --> 47:41.494 TO THE WAYSIDE WHILE WE -- AND 47:41.494 --> 47:44.798 THE ONLY REASON THAT -- AND THE 47:44.798 --> 47:45.999 ONLY REASON THAT I'M ABLE TO 47:45.999 --> 47:47.400 KNOW THIS IS BECAUSE I DO 47:47.400 --> 47:49.102 RESEARCH ON THESE KIND OF 47:49.102 --> 47:52.205 THINGS, AND I THINK THAT 47:52.205 --> 47:55.108 MAYBE -- MAKING -- MAKING LIKE 47:55.108 --> 47:58.712 ELECTIONS AND POLITICS MORE LIKE 47:58.712 --> 48:00.647 MORE INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S LIVES 48:00.647 --> 48:03.049 AND MORE IMPACTFUL MAY GET 48:03.049 --> 48:05.552 PEOPLE TO LIKE LOOK AT STUFF, 48:05.552 --> 48:07.354 EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE OTHER 48:07.354 --> 48:08.355 THINGS ON THEIR PLATE. 48:08.355 --> 48:09.255 >> UH-HUH. 48:09.255 --> 48:09.756 WONDERFUL. 48:09.756 --> 48:10.657 THANKS SO MUCH. 48:10.657 --> 48:13.760 I WANT TO NOW ASK OUR PANELISTS 48:13.760 --> 48:15.795 TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE 48:15.795 --> 48:16.896 COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD. 48:16.896 --> 48:18.598 THERE'S SO MUCH EXPERTISE IN THE 48:18.598 --> 48:19.699 ROOM, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I 48:19.699 --> 48:22.135 WANT TO SAY, AND -- AND IF WE 48:22.135 --> 48:23.436 COULD JUST HAVE CONVERSATIONS 48:23.436 --> 48:25.338 LIKE THIS MORE OFTEN, I THINK WE 48:25.338 --> 48:27.140 WOULD LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT HOW TO 48:27.140 --> 48:27.741 DO BETTER. 48:27.741 --> 48:28.942 BUT WHAT COMES TO MIND IN 48:28.942 --> 48:31.044 HEARING THESE -- THESE -- THESE 48:31.044 --> 48:32.145 VOICES OUT HERE? 48:32.145 --> 48:33.813 WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSES? 48:33.813 --> 48:36.649 >> WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND -- 48:36.649 --> 48:39.652 >> GO AHEAD, PAULINA. 48:39.652 --> 48:41.955 >> SO KIND OF GATHERING FROM A 48:41.955 --> 48:43.556 GENERAL CONSENSUS FROM THE 48:43.556 --> 48:45.558 COMMENTS THAT I HEARD JUST NOW, 48:45.558 --> 48:47.660 IT SEEMS LIKE, ONE, THERE'S A 48:47.660 --> 48:49.963 LOT OF DIFFERENT REFORM THAT 48:49.963 --> 48:51.765 SHOULD BE MADE WHEN IT COMES TO 48:51.765 --> 48:53.566 VOTING AND WHEN IT COMES TO 48:53.566 --> 48:55.268 BEING EDUCATED ON THE POLITICAL 48:55.268 --> 48:56.369 ISSUES AND ON THE POLITICAL 48:56.369 --> 48:57.771 SYSTEM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I 48:57.771 --> 48:58.872 THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT 48:58.872 --> 49:01.608 I WANT TO POSE OUT THERE IS 49:01.608 --> 49:03.009 OKAY, LIKE, WE HAVE THESE IDEAS, 49:03.009 --> 49:05.278 WE HAVE THESE SUGGESTIONS, SO, 49:05.278 --> 49:09.616 YOU KNOW, ONE, CAN WE FEASIBLY 49:09.616 --> 49:10.116 IMPLEMENT ANY OF THESE 49:10.116 --> 49:11.117 SUGGESTIONS IN OUR CITY, WHETHER 49:11.117 --> 49:12.919 IT'S -- WHETHER IT'S LOCAL OR 49:12.919 --> 49:15.221 STATE OR IT COULD BECOME 49:15.221 --> 49:15.722 NATIONAL. 49:15.722 --> 49:17.957 SO THAT IS THE FIRST QUESTION: 49:17.957 --> 49:19.559 HOW CAN WE FEASIBLY AND 49:19.559 --> 49:21.094 PRACTICALLY SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS 49:21.094 --> 49:22.696 AND SOLVE THESE SOLUTIONS? 49:22.696 --> 49:24.497 AND AGAIN, I THINK IT GOES BACK 49:24.497 --> 49:26.399 TO MAYBE ENGAGING OUR ELECTED 49:26.399 --> 49:28.001 OFFICIALS ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND 49:28.001 --> 49:29.803 MAYBE HAVING A ROUND TABLE 49:29.803 --> 49:30.904 DISCUSSION WITH THEM AND BEING 49:30.904 --> 49:32.605 LIKE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE 49:32.605 --> 49:34.407 SUGGESTIONS, THESE ARE OUR 49:34.407 --> 49:36.309 FEELINGS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE 49:36.309 --> 49:37.711 YOUR SUGGESTIONS FROM BEING IN 49:37.711 --> 49:39.713 THE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND FROM 49:39.713 --> 49:41.214 BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS. 49:41.214 --> 49:42.716 MY QUESTION IS MORE GEARED 49:42.716 --> 49:44.017 TOWARD, YOU KNOW, OKAY, WE HAVE 49:44.017 --> 49:46.720 THESE -- OR WE HAVE A LOT OF 49:46.720 --> 49:47.921 THESE -- A LOT OF THESE 49:47.921 --> 49:49.923 QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF THESE 49:49.923 --> 49:52.625 CLEAVES TO MAKE CHANGES, SO HOW 49:52.625 --> 49:54.327 CAN WE MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND 49:54.327 --> 49:56.629 IMPLEMENT THEM FOR OUR FUTURE 49:56.629 --> 49:57.764 GENERATIONS TO COME? 49:57.764 --> 50:00.066 THIS COULD BE OUR IMPACT. 50:00.066 --> 50:01.568 THIS COULD BE OUR LEGACY. 50:01.568 --> 50:03.870 LET'S START BEING ABOUT FEASIBLE 50:03.870 --> 50:05.872 SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 50:05.872 --> 50:07.173 >> AND JEANNIE, HOW DO YOU THINK 50:07.173 --> 50:08.675 THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD 50:08.675 --> 50:10.176 HELP TO DO MORE TO KIND OF GET 50:10.176 --> 50:11.878 YOUNG PEOPLE TALKING LIKE WE ARE 50:11.878 --> 50:12.278 TONIGHT? 50:12.278 --> 50:14.214 >> SO I SEE A LOT OF HOPE HERE. 50:14.214 --> 50:15.015 I REALLY DO. 50:15.015 --> 50:16.683 I'M REALLY FEELING VERY INSPIRED 50:16.683 --> 50:17.617 BY ALL OF YOU, FIRST OF ALL, 50:17.617 --> 50:19.819 WITH PAULINA AND DARIAN, AND 50:19.819 --> 50:21.154 THEN I SEE THIS WHOLE AUDIENCE 50:21.154 --> 50:23.256 FULL OF ACTIVISTS, NOT JUST 50:23.256 --> 50:25.558 VOTERS, BUT ACTIVISTS AND THEN I 50:25.558 --> 50:27.160 EVEN HAVE A STUDENT HERE, SO I'M 50:27.160 --> 50:28.261 VERY PROUD OF HER TOO. 50:28.261 --> 50:30.463 AT THE ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL, 50:30.463 --> 50:32.065 SERVICE LEARNING IS VERY MUCH A 50:32.065 --> 50:33.667 PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND 50:33.667 --> 50:35.268 LAST FRIDAY, ALL OF THE HIGH 50:35.268 --> 50:38.071 SCHOOLERS WENT TO NONPROFIT -- 50:38.071 --> 50:39.873 NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCIES AND 50:39.873 --> 50:44.077 WORKED AND THIS LUNCHTIME, THESE 50:44.077 --> 50:45.812 GIRLS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID 50:45.812 --> 50:47.914 WE'D LIKE TO USE OUR LUNCHTIME 50:47.914 --> 50:50.817 TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE AND HELP 50:50.817 --> 50:54.821 THEM OUT, AND SO WHAT I SAW WAS 50:54.821 --> 50:56.423 JUST NOT SOMETHING CONSIDERED A 50:56.423 --> 50:58.324 CHORE BUT INSTEAD AN OPPORTUNITY 50:58.324 --> 50:59.926 TO GET ENGAGED IN SOMETHING THEY 50:59.926 --> 51:00.927 WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND 51:00.927 --> 51:02.729 THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 51:02.729 --> 51:04.431 IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GRAB ON TO 51:04.431 --> 51:06.032 A CAUSE AND YOU'VE GOT TO FEEL 51:06.032 --> 51:07.534 PASSION ABOUT IT, AND THEN THAT 51:07.534 --> 51:09.536 WAY, THAT LAUNCHES YOU INTO 51:09.536 --> 51:11.371 BECOMING AN ACTIVIST AND THEN 51:11.371 --> 51:12.972 EVEN A VOICE AND A VOTER. 51:12.972 --> 51:15.575 SO SEEING A LOT OF HOPE HERE. 51:15.575 --> 51:17.777 I DID POLL MY STUDENTS. 51:17.777 --> 51:19.879 REMEMBER, I HAVE GRADE 6 TO 12, 51:19.879 --> 51:21.414 SO I PUT THEM ALL ON STAGE AND 51:21.414 --> 51:22.315 ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WERE 51:22.315 --> 51:24.117 PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THEY SAID 51:24.117 --> 51:26.419 HEALTH CARE, TAKING CARE OF THE 51:26.419 --> 51:28.321 DISABILITY -- DISABLED. 51:28.321 --> 51:30.123 TAKING CARE OF THE HOMELESS. 51:30.123 --> 51:31.725 GIVING OPPORTUNITY AND VOICE TO 51:31.725 --> 51:34.027 THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND 51:34.027 --> 51:35.228 CERTAINLY THEY WERE AGAINST 51:35.228 --> 51:36.930 ANIMAL CRUELTY. 51:36.930 --> 51:39.032 SO -- BUT ANYWAY, TO SEE THAT 51:39.032 --> 51:40.467 PASSION THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE 51:40.467 --> 51:42.769 AT THIS AGE, JUST -- I JUST KNOW 51:42.769 --> 51:44.070 THAT THEY WILL THEN TAKE IT TO 51:44.070 --> 51:45.372 THE POLL. 51:45.372 --> 51:46.072 >> UH-HUH. 51:46.072 --> 51:46.873 THANK YOU, JEANNIE. 51:46.873 --> 51:48.775 AND I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE 51:48.775 --> 51:50.377 MORE AUDIENCE COMMENT, SO I'M 51:50.377 --> 51:52.979 GOING TO GO BACK TO JOY DIAZ. 51:52.979 --> 51:54.481 >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 51:54.481 --> 51:56.483 RAY IS 19 YEARS OLD AND HE HAS A 51:56.483 --> 51:58.084 GREAT QUESTION FOR ALL OF US, 51:58.084 --> 51:58.985 SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. 51:58.985 --> 52:01.087 >> WELL, ON THE TOPIC OF 52:01.087 --> 52:02.689 PERSUADING YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOTE, 52:02.689 --> 52:04.924 HOW CAN WE PERSUADE YOUNG 52:04.924 --> 52:06.526 MINORITIES TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY 52:06.526 --> 52:08.628 AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS, 52:08.628 --> 52:09.929 BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THESE GROUPS 52:09.929 --> 52:11.431 FEEL THE MOST DISCOURAGED WHEN 52:11.431 --> 52:12.532 IT COMES TO VOTING. 52:12.532 --> 52:13.233 >> UH-HUH. 52:13.233 --> 52:14.334 UH-HUH. 52:14.334 --> 52:15.635 I THINK WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO 52:15.635 --> 52:16.236 THAT. 52:16.236 --> 52:18.138 DARIAN, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN. 52:18.138 --> 52:19.539 >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK 52:19.539 --> 52:23.610 WHEN IT COMES TO MINORITY, AND 52:23.610 --> 52:26.913 ANYBODY, CULTURE IS A HUGE, HUGE 52:26.913 --> 52:30.817 ASSET IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, IT'S 52:30.817 --> 52:34.120 LIKE CULTURE AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, 52:34.120 --> 52:38.024 RELIGION ALSO, BUT CULTURE IS 52:38.024 --> 52:41.227 A -- IS AN ATTENTION GRABBER. 52:41.227 --> 52:43.029 IT'S LIKE IF YOU CAN AT LEAST 52:43.029 --> 52:46.733 UNDERSTAND WHAT MY CULTURE IS 52:46.733 --> 52:50.437 ABOUT, OR -- JUST IF YOU CAN 52:50.437 --> 52:54.341 RESPECT IT, I CAN PARTICIPATE 52:54.341 --> 52:56.042 WITH YOU, OR, YOU KNOW, I 52:56.042 --> 52:58.645 COULD -- I COULD -- I WOULD BE A 52:58.645 --> 53:01.147 VOLUNTEER, AS A MATTER OF FACT. 53:01.147 --> 53:02.949 IT'S JUST LIKE, IF YOU CAN 53:02.949 --> 53:06.553 SOMEHOW RELATE TO THE WAY -- THE 53:06.553 --> 53:10.857 WAY I LIVE, MY LIFESTYLE, YOU 53:10.857 --> 53:12.459 GOT ME. 53:12.459 --> 53:14.260 >> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. 53:14.260 --> 53:15.762 BEAUTIFULLY SAID, THANK YOU, 53:15.762 --> 53:16.863 DARIAN. 53:16.863 --> 53:19.265 WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR 53:19.265 --> 53:20.100 TIME THIS EVENING. 53:20.100 --> 53:21.401 BUT WE HOPE THIS IS JUST THE 53:21.401 --> 53:22.602 BEGINNING OF WHAT WILL BECOME AN 53:22.602 --> 53:25.105 ONGOING CONVERSATION HERE IN 53:25.105 --> 53:25.505 AUSTIN. 53:25.505 --> 53:26.606 WE NEED YOUR HELP IN CONTINUING 53:26.606 --> 53:27.907 TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE 53:27.907 --> 53:29.509 LACK OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN 53:29.509 --> 53:29.909 AUSTIN. 53:29.909 --> 53:30.844 HERE ARE FIVE THINGS THAT YOU 53:30.844 --> 53:32.846 CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE YOUR 53:32.846 --> 53:34.047 FRIENDS, FAMILY AND WORK 53:34.047 --> 53:35.749 COLLEAGUES TO GET ENGAGED. 53:35.749 --> 53:37.250 NUMBER ONE, PLAN A DEBATE WATCH 53:37.250 --> 53:38.752 OR ELECTION NIGHT PARTY, AND 53:38.752 --> 53:40.754 THAT IS AN EMPHASIS ON THE 53:40.754 --> 53:41.654 PARTY. 53:41.654 --> 53:43.857 NUMBER TWO, GET SAVVY ABOUT THE 53:43.857 --> 53:45.258 CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES. 53:45.258 --> 53:47.460 NUMBER THREE, START A 53:47.460 --> 53:48.762 CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ELECTION 53:48.762 --> 53:51.064 WITH SOMEONE UNEXPECTED. 53:51.064 --> 53:52.966 NUMBER FOUR, REMIND YOUR FRIENDS 53:52.966 --> 53:55.201 TO VOTE EARLY OR ON ELECTION 53:55.201 --> 53:57.203 DAY, NOVEMBER 6th. 53:57.203 --> 53:59.506 AND NUMBER FIVE, HELP A FRIEND 53:59.506 --> 54:01.107 FIND THEIR POLLING PLACE AND GET 54:01.107 --> 54:02.108 TO THE POLLS. 54:02.108 --> 54:03.610 AND I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH TWO 54:03.610 --> 54:06.112 IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: 54:06.112 --> 54:08.014 THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE 54:08.014 --> 54:09.816 HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY IS 54:09.816 --> 54:11.618 OCTOBER 9th AND EARLY VOTING 54:11.618 --> 54:13.920 BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 22ND. 54:13.920 --> 54:15.321 TO KEEP INFORMED ABOUT THIS 54:15.321 --> 54:17.123 PROJECT AND TO LEARN ABOUT THE 54:17.123 --> 54:19.459 NEXT EVENT IN OUR SERIES, PLEASE 54:19.459 --> 54:24.264 VISIT WHYBOTHERTEXAS.ORG . 54:24.264 --> 54:25.865 ON BEHALF OF KUT. 54:25.865 --> 54:27.667 KLRU, THE ANNETTE STRAUSS 54:27.667 --> 54:29.336 INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LIFE, THANK 54:29.336 --> 54:30.970 YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. 54:30.970 --> 54:32.772 GOOD EVENING. 54:32.772 --> 54:36.772 [APPLAUSE]