Happy National Pollinator Week!

I remember being terrified of bees growing up. I loved feeling grass between my toes, but my grandmother would lecture continuously about walking around with bare feet. The first time I was stung by a bee, I was wearing shoes. Turns out, he thought my red shirt was a flower. I don't have the highest tolerance for pain, but it wasn't so bad. This doesn't mean I enjoy it, though, and I still run in fear when I hear that ominous buzzing.


When I learned a few years ago that bees were going extinct, there was a part of me that was relieved, I'm not going to lie. No more running and ducking and embarrassing myself, and I could walk barefoot all day. But as I learned more about how important bees are to the planet-- and to humans-- I changed my tone.  

Did you know that bees are responsible for a third of the world's food supply? (Click here to learn more) They are disappearing and we are to blame. Pesticides don't just kill the bugs that eat your crops! Support ecological farming and the use of natural pesticides!

Tough Love: It's your fault the government doesn't care about you

Student loans are a hot topic this week. Unfortunately, this conversation will go no where. Your representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, don't care about your student loans, about the air you will breathe in 40 years, or the Social Security that won't be there for you. And it's your fault. Here are some reasons the government doesn't care about you:

Millennials don't have party allegiances; they don't trust or like the party system. Party direction is determined by the coalitions it builds. Interest groups find their power in being co-opted by parties. Since we aren't partisan, Millennial interest groups are left with no allies. Why would the Democratic Party build a coalition that fights for a demographic that is not loyal to the Democrats? 

Here's the thing, I don't like parties either. There is really nothing about our current system that I like, but I understand that in order to have any influence on our system, I have to be civically engaged.

Second, politics is not future-based. No one wants to hurt a little now to help a lot later. This is especially true for the deepest pockets in politics. Corporations and their shareholders won't make sustainable sacrifices if it means hurting the profit margin. Older Americans freak out when we talk about reforming Medicare and Social Security, even if it won't affect them. Politicians are in the game of getting elected next term, not making the world a better place. The sooner we recognize this, the better off we will be.

When we make this realization, we understand that we have to make our interests relevant now in order to be heard. But we are a terrible political investment. Campaigns and candidates are concerned primarily with pushing their base to vote, meaning in order to get attention, you first have to be a voter! The base for both parties is thirty to fifty years older than you!

We don't stand up for ourselves, even when it's in our best interest. We take out higher and higher loans every year without pushing our schools to keep them down, or our government to invest in higher ed so we don't have to pay exponentially more. We don't vote, parties can't reach us, and we don't have the money to donate to campaigns or interest groups yet.

Finally, Congress is over 50% millionaires (NYTimes). Barely any of them had to worry about taking out loans to pay for college, and none have had to contend with tuition at its current rates. They won't develop any sympathy for you on their own, you have to make them understand by getting in front of them and demonstrating that you are important for their job security.

Want the government to give a crap about your interests? The first step is toregister to vote. Next, educate yourself and get involved with groups that share your interests. OurTime.org is a great place to get started.

*This piece is full of generalizations, and I am thrilled to find exceptions to these rules every day. Some young people do vote and organize, some corporations are concerned with sustainability, and some grandmas support reforming Social Security. Creating a world where these people are the norm, that's our job. 

Please Help!

Hello all! I am writing my final paper for my Master's program on millennial civic engagement. If you are a millennial, please take my survey. It would really help me out!

Find it by clicking here!!!


Thank you!

What Do You Want?!

I'm sensing a trend that may really harm millennials entering the workforce. No one seems to have a conceptualization of their long-term goals. We are lacking vision when our potential employers are demanding it.

The recession taught us one important thing- that we can't be too sure of ourselves. Many of us “did everything right”-- we made good grades, graduated from college, and still stumbled into a job market that didn't want us. Those of us who had it hardest learned very quickly to stop being picky. Personally, I had to beg for a job at a coffee shop in order to keep my bills paid. Minimum wage doughnut slinging is not what dreams are made of, unless you're into that sort of thing.

There is a fascinating mental default that young adults tend to share. In studies that directed twenty-somebodies to play games that force them to choose between accruing wealth or maintaining options, overwhelmingly they choose to maintain options (Check out the article here). This is a BIG problem when you are carving out your career path. Imagine paving one road that must lead directly to every home in a city. It can't be done. This cannot be done in your life, either.

As I have pursued a job, I have constantly been faced with questions about my goals. It's the first question you will be asked in any job interview- why do you want to work here? Tell me which is a better answer: 1. “I need money to make rent and your organization seems to have pretty low standards.” Or 2. “I have dedicated my educational and work life to engaging youth to get involved in their communities, and this position will allow me to utilize this knowledge and further my goal of ultimately opening a nonprofit dedicated to youth civic leadership.”

I get that you may not have a viable version of answer #2 on hand, but don't let that stop you. We really can solve this articulation problem! Truthfully, it's easy if you're willing to take some time to reflect and ponder. Here is how I have managed to form my vision:

Knowing I am worth doing something I love. The job market may not agree right away, but you need to be in a position to thrive, and you won't be until you are doing what you love.

Saying Yes! I spent a lot of time doing things that scared me. Since high school, my philosophy has been never to pass on an opportunity. I am a little more discriminating than I used to be, but that comes with increased focus and commitments. Face fear until you are fearless!

Being mindful of tasks that energize me. You probably know by now how to figure out whether you are introverted or extroverted-- do you become energized from being by yourself or with others? Bring this thinking into the various tasks you perform throughout the day. For example, I hate managing spreadsheets! But I get a ton of energy from building educational curricula because I like thinking about the learning process. Study yourself!

Thinking about how I define success. This is so important! Success is not just determined by work. Work is only 1/3 of your life. Think about the lifestyle you want and construct a life plan before you build out a career plan.

Getting strategic. Think of a big, grand movement or phenomenon that you want to be a part of, and narrow from there based on your skills and interests. Talk to people who work in relevant sectors, ask tough questions, and know that the most important thing you will bring to a movement is your passion.

And then, articulate it! Let it evolve and grow, but keep it relevant and visible. This is your life's mission statement!