What makes us different

We want to turn good ideas into good policy – to build a Virginia that we will be proud to call our home. Virginia21 is different because we know the issues matter. We aren’t particularly interested in ‘rocking the vote’ or ‘declaring ourselves,’ and we don’t know many young voters who are. We care about issues like education, economic development and good government – issues that affect our lives every day. So we tell Virginia’s next generation of leaders about these issues and why they matter. We give them the facts, show them how to impact the process, and point them in the right direction. A voter that’s informed about the issues and voting because they have a stake in those issues has become more than just a voter – they’re an active citizen.

We’re looking for a few good ideas, and we don’t really care if you’re Republican, Democrat, or neither. Young voters may not like partisanship, but we know that politics is not a dirty word; politics is how you change things in this country. We want to turn good ideas into good policy – to build a Virginia that we will be proud to call our home. Virginia21 is here to make sure that the young voter is heard above all the name-calling and bickering that goes on in our state capitol. We’re here to represent our generation because decisions are made by the people who show up.

In political-ese

Virginia21 is a political education group involving young people across the Commonwealth in the political process by providing information, spotlighting policy, promoting active citizenship, and voter registration with a non-partisan agenda.

Virginia21 is the Commonwealth’s and the country’s first true generational advocate for young people. We’ve been called the “AARP of the next generation.” Virginia21 focuses beyond the next election cycle, on policies that matter to building a better future for Virginia.

We are acting today to shape tomorrow.

A Grassroots Approach

Political power rests not in the ability of one organization to give out lots of money, but on the ballots of an active group of informed voters. Virginia21 rests its activism on the shoulders of the students at Virginia public colleges and universities, their parents, family, and friends.  Virginia21’s technology-based grassroots action techniques reach out and engage young people through the “Online Action Center”

A Political Strategy

18-24 year olds are a truly bipartisan generation, with the vast majority identifying as moderate, independent voters. Thus, Virginia21 can be a true bipartisan organization, whose only affiliation is its constituency and its issues. Virginia21, then, is non-partisan, but not non-political. Activism without an agenda may involve a young person for one election cycle, but a directed, issue-oriented organization will keep participants engaged for the long-term. Thus, the Virginia21 voter is a consistent and dependable force when voting in their home district for candidates that support mainstream issues and core services. Additionally, the technology-focused education and engagement methods used for the General Assembly legislative session are tailored for our targeted user, whom is as comfortable using e-mail, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook as their parents were with the telephone and newspaper.

The Leadership

Virginia21 maintains a steering committee of the student body presidents of the Virginia public colleges and universities to provide policy guidance and connection to our campus chapters. Our Board of Directors includes prominent business and community leaders providing support as well as political guidance. Virginia21’s full-time professional staff maintains the day-to-day political, communications and fundraising operations of the organization.