YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE POLITICS -- THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN.

Virginia21 works to impact the future of the Commonwealth by empowering young Virginian's with the skills and opportunities to promote policy related to college affordability, student rights, election access, campus safety, and economic opportunity. 

 

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Virginia21 Content...

 Issues and Updates Blog

Featured
2018 Midterm Election Analysis: Young Voting is Way Up!
2018 Midterm Election Analysis: Young Voting is Way Up!

Democrats might point to the results in the House of Representatives to say that last night was a good night. Republicans might point to the results in the Senate and say the exact same thing. But regardless of your party label (or lack thereof), if you’re a young voter in Virginia, last night was a GREAT night. A higher percentage of young voters from the 2016 presidential election came back out to vote in a midterm election than did the state’s voters as a whole.

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Tuition and Fee Accounts Sent to Debt Collections…. Explained
Tuition and Fee Accounts Sent to Debt Collections…. Explained

The state’s steadying disinvestment is one of the leading causes of the rising cost of public higher education in Virginia. This decline has resulted in shifting the responsibility for education-related costs at public institutions to students and their families, and sometimes causing them to struggle to meet their tuition needs without taking on large amounts of student debt...

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What to Expect When You're Electing: Virginia Edition
What to Expect When You're Electing: Virginia Edition

Voting may seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. This election-- like every other one-- is constantly called “the most important election of our lifetime.” It’s certainly true that every election plays a vital role in our everyday lives, but you don’t let the pressure sway you from participating. Here’s everything you need to know about voting in Virginia…

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Your Voice Counts-- The Numbers prove it
Your Voice Counts-- The Numbers prove it

How do we know your vote matters in Virginia? Our Elections are ALWAYS close.

What’s the difference between a voter and a nonvoter? A voter’s voice counts more.

The midterm elections are less than a month away, and, like every election, the stakes are high. Despite some positive efforts, a lot of issues plaguing our nation seem stuck. This problem may be the result of low voter turnout…

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Virginia's Student Debt Crisis: What Is It, How We Got Here, and What’s Next?
Virginia's Student Debt Crisis: What Is It, How We Got Here, and What’s Next?

Student debt is currently one of the major focal points in the larger conversation about the cost of college. To make college more accessible, students and their families have relied on loans to help finance their educations leading to what is now being described as the “student debt crisis”. At $1.5 trillion, student loan debt is now the second-largest source of consumer debt, behind home mortgages, surpassing credit card debt in the United States. The average bachelor’s degree graduate at one of Virginia’s four-year public institutions will walk away with approximately $30,000 in student loans. As startling as these number are, they do not tell the whole story of student loans or the student debt crisis.

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2018 College Tuition and Fees-- A Breakdown
2018 College Tuition and Fees-- A Breakdown

Higher education is considered both a public and a private good and its cost is shared between the state, students, and their families, however there has been a consistent shift in funding, and students and families are now responsible for a larger portion of the cost.

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VA21 In The News

Featured
Radford University students petition city council for closer polling location
Radford University students petition city council for closer polling location

"I believe that moving this closer to campus will allow for better access for young people, our students to vote, as well as help local and lifelong community members," John Register, a Virginia 21 advocacy group representative and RU senior, said.

Virginians to vote on two ballot measures: Proposed amendments would provide tax breaks
Virginians to vote on two ballot measures: Proposed amendments would provide tax breaks

“Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which is kind of a wonky term, but essentially that just means that the Virginia Legislature, the state Legislature, holds all the authority, and the only powers that localities hold are those that the Legislature delegates to them,” President of Virginia21 William Parada ’19 said.

Swinging the Vote- Richmond Magazin
Swinging the Vote- Richmond Magazin

Richmond’s student voting population has the potential to sway the partisan pendulum during the gubernatorial election on Nov. 7. There’s just one caveat: They need to show up.

Virginia Politics Podcast: Young voters and Corey Stewart vs. Tim Kaine
Virginia Politics Podcast: Young voters and Corey Stewart vs. Tim Kaine
House Republicans introduce bill to ease costs of college savings plans
House Republicans introduce bill to ease costs of college savings plans

From the Daily Press—
A bill introduced Wednesday would limit the extra dollars Virginians must pay to fund prepaid college savings plans — an attempt by two House Republicans to make college slightly more affordable... Gerica Goodman, policy director for Virginia21, welcomed the bill.

Students push for on-campus voting precincts at CNU, William and Mary
Students push for on-campus voting precincts at CNU, William and Mary

From the Daily Press..

A great profile on the work of two Virginia21 student leaders to enhance democracy on their campus.

“Godsoe and Parada are the presidents of their respective student chapters of Virginia21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that aims to get more students and young professionals to the polls and involved with policymaking decisions. “

Millennial infusion: Virginia's statehouse takes a slightly younger turn
Millennial infusion: Virginia's statehouse takes a slightly younger turn

From The Roanoke Times: "Our whole lives we’ve been told 'you’re the future,' and now we’re seeing this wave of young folks getting directly involved because they’re tired of waiting their turn to make an impact and they’re tired of others speaking on their behalf," Cywinski said. "I think and I hope that this wave signals to all millennials that the future is now."

Millennials make up one-third of eligible voters in Virginia ahead of statewide elections
Millennials make up one-third of eligible voters in Virginia ahead of statewide elections

Will Millennials make a difference in the Gubernatorial election? Our Director of Engagement argues they will in this article from the Commonwealth Times.  

Richmond Times Dispatch- Jared Calfee: Listen to the millennials
Richmond Times Dispatch- Jared Calfee: Listen to the millennials

The 2017 Gubernatorial election is quickly approaching. Unfortunately, the issues of young people have been noticeably missing from the political debate this year. Our Executive Director, Jared Calfee writes to the Richmond Times-Dispatch on why Millennials should be heard in this and every election cycle.

ABC 8 News: Virginia21 writes letters to the ‘future governor’
ABC 8 News: Virginia21 writes letters to the ‘future governor’

Our new policy director was invited to talk about #The30Percent and the power of millennials in this election on ABC 8! Watch the full interview here!