Youth Engagement (with video contest)
At all levels — local, state, and national — the League of Women Voters believes maintaining a healthy democracy requires educating and empowering youth. We offer programs to inform and motivate young voters about how our democracy works — initiatives designed to encourage young people to make their voices heard, to engage their peers, and to increase turnout among citizens in their first decade of eligibility to vote, and thereafter..
Quick Links to content below
Voting Video Contest for Local High School Students (Pilot)
Our League is piloting a contest with a $500 first prize for high school students. Contestants will submit videos on the topic of voting, from 30 seconds to 3:45 minutes, targeted to appeal to young adults aged 16 to 25.
A LWVPWM committee will select at least one winning video that we will promote on League-controlled platforms and social media (our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and to sister Leagues for their platforms). We will announce the winner(s) before National Voter Registration Day in September. Depending on the number of quality entries we receive, we may award additional cash prizes and/or honorable mentions. Questions are welcome: email LWVPortWashingtonManhasset@gmail.com
Goals:
- Motivate HS students to engage on a topic central to our mission: voting
- Promote National Voter Registration Day locally — both with celebration of the winning entry and the winning student(s)
- Produce for League use one or more videos suitable for social media that have been created by and targeted toward young voters
Timing
- Announcement in mid-May, with all information on our website
- Deadline for submissions: July 15, 2022
- Informing winners: before August 25, 2022
- Public announcement will promote Voter Registration Day (September 20, 2022)
Eligibility
- Any sophomore, junior, or senior, age 16-19, enrolled in a high school in our LWV of PWM area on May 31, 2022
- Videos may be submitted by individuals or teams of students, all of whom must meet all the above requirements.
Learn More About Selection Criteria HERE
Application Form & Releases: Cover page + Team Application + Individual Releases for Each Key Contributor
Students Inside Albany Conference (SIA) — Sadly, Spring 2022 SIA has been cancelled
This Conference is an intensive four-day training experience. Held in the spring, it immerses students in how public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State, educating them in how they can influence and affect this process. Albany insiders discuss the operations of New York State government, focused on the disparate forces that shape policy as it is enacted. Students also observe Assembly and Senate sessions and shadow their Assembly Members and Senators.
The LWVNYS provides not only the administration of this program, but also pays the entire cost of the four-day program for one student from each League, not including travel costs to and from Albany. PWM often chooses to send a 2nd student, taking on approximately $650.00 to cover the expense.
What SIA alums say about this program
What one SIA alum said in 2021
What another SIA alum said in 2021
LWV of PWM Participation in Government Awards
Each year we offer awards to current high school seniors. More information will be posted in the next weeks.
ASK US, JOIN US
Whether you have a couple hours a month (or much more), whether you know engaging our youth in Making Democracy Work is something you care about, or whether there is some other aspect of youth engagement you want to spend time on — we’d love to hear from you.