When we talk about sustainability, it’s easy to focus on climate, policy, and activism in the here and now. But true, long-term sustainability is impossible without the next generation of leaders—youth voices rising up to shape the world they will inherit. At Sustainable Action Now, we believe investing in youth is essential to building a more just, equitable, and resilient future for all.
And history proves it.
👉 Explore more youth-centered stories, actions, and campaigns here: https://sustainableactionnow.org/our-youth/
America Was Built by Young Leaders
Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how many influential American leaders stepped into public service before the age of 35:
- ⭐ Abraham Lincoln was elected to the Illinois legislature at just 25.
- ⭐ John F. Kennedy entered Congress at age 29.
- ⭐ Lyndon B. Johnson won his first congressional race at 28.
- ⭐ Barack Obama was only 35 when he was elected to the Illinois Senate.
- ⭐ Stacey Abrams began her legislative career in Georgia at just 32.
These are not just milestones; they’re blueprints. And they tell us something important: transformative leadership starts young. That’s why we’re supporting bold initiatives that empower young changemakers—because the leaders of tomorrow are stepping up today.
The Future Is Voting, Organizing, and Leading
At the heart of youth engagement is political power. Across the country and around the world, young people are not waiting for permission—they’re organizing, voting, suing governments, running for office, and driving change. Here are some of the powerful movements and initiatives shaping that future:
🌎 Youth v. Government: 169 Plaintiffs, One Mission
Our Children’s Trust is leading a groundbreaking legal movement, representing 169 youth plaintiffs in 12 active cases across four countries. These brave young people are taking governments to court, demanding that their constitutional rights to a safe climate and a livable future be protected.
By supporting Our Children’s Trust, you’re not only standing with these youth leaders—you’re honoring their vision and investing in their constitutional right to a future. These cases are about science, sustainability, and systemic accountability. Most importantly, they’re about recognizing that young people are not just victims of climate injustice—they’re agents of change.
🗳️ FutureVoter: Empowering Youth to Vote Before They Can
Did you know that in every U.S. state except North Dakota, you can pre-register to vote before you turn 18?
Thanks to initiatives like FutureVoter, young Americans are learning how to claim their electoral power early. Whether it’s registering the moment you’re eligible or understanding how your state handles pre-registration, this movement is about making sure youth voices are ready to be heard on November 5, 2024—and beyond.
📌 Pro tip: Have your driver’s license or state ID handy when registering!
🔬 VoteAmerica Research Center: Science-Backed Voter Engagement
We love a good data dive—and VoteAmerica is all about it. Through their VoteAmerica Research Center, the organization has created a deep reservoir of academic studies analyzing what works (and what doesn’t) in getting people to the polls.
From studying the impact of universal vote-by-mail to testing the effectiveness of text reminders and robocalls, this research doesn’t just support voter engagement—it sharpens it. Young organizers and campaigners can use these findings to boost turnout and make smarter, evidence-based decisions.
This is what it looks like when science meets civic action.
✊ Leaders We Deserve: Powering the Next Generation in Office
Born from the courage of two Parkland school shooting survivors, David Hogg and Kevin Lata, Leaders We Deserve is a youth-led grassroots organization that exists to elect young, progressive candidates to state legislatures and Congress.
Their mission is simple but profound: challenge the far-right agenda, push for bold, progressive solutions, and elevate young voices where they matter most—in office.
Through strategic support, mentorship, and campaign infrastructure, they’re helping youth candidates who are ready to lead on:
- Gun safety
- Climate justice
- Racial and economic equity
- Reproductive rights
- Education reform
By backing youth candidates from diverse communities and backgrounds, they’re creating a more inclusive and representative democracy. And they’re showing that young doesn’t mean inexperienced—it means fearless, future-facing, and unafraid to shake the system.
The Takeaway: Invest in Youth, Invest in the Future
Whether it’s through organizing, litigating, registering, or running, youth leadership is not just something we admire—it’s something we need. From classrooms to courtrooms to capitols, young people are taking their seat at the table and building a future that works for all of us.
We invite you to support these movements, engage with these leaders, and share the stories of youth rising. Visit our dedicated youth empowerment section to learn more:
👉 https://sustainableactionnow.org/our-youth/
🌱 How You Can Take Action Right Now
✅ Donate to groups like Our Children’s Trust, VoteAmerica, and Leaders We Deserve
✅ Pre-register to vote or help a young person do it
✅ Share this article and raise awareness of youth-led change
✅ Mentor or amplify young voices in your own community
✅ Follow young candidates and causes on social media and help them reach a wider audience
Our youth aren’t just the future. They are the now. And they deserve our full support, our respect, and our partnership.
Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s keep building a world where every young person can lead with purpose.
🗳️🌎💪 #YouthLeadTheWay #FutureVoter #ClimateJusticeNow
https://sustainableactionnow.org/our-youth/
