Teens Leading The Way

About Us

Teens Leading The Way (TLTW) is a statewide, youth-led coalition which seeks to empower young people to create lasting change through policy-making. TLTW youth (ages 15-20) create and maintain campaigns to bring about social change on the state-wide level. The coalition includes young people from the communities of Cambridge/Boston, Lowell, Worcester, Everett, Haverhill, and Springfield. Lead partner agencies in these communities include: Young People’s Project (YPP), HOPE Coalition, Haverhill’s Violence Intervention Program, Everett Boys and Girls Club, and Alliance to Develop Power (ADP). The United Teen Equality Center (Lowell) serves as the lead coordinating agency for TLTW.

Our Civics Campaign: A New Civics Class in All Massachusetts High Schools!

Campaign Goal - TLTW values activism, education, and the well-being of our communities. Our campaign goal is to develop and begin piloting a new civics course by the 2012 academic year; and implementing this course as a high school graduation requirement in all Massachusetts high schools by the 2014-2015 academic year.

Contents of a new civics class - After significant research, teens have outlined a possible course model that would include a focus in the following areas: understanding of the three branches and legislative process, youth rights, history of youth and social movements, and a very strong applied learning component that emphasizes how to create change in one’s community through an understanding of the legislative or other governmental processes (i.e. community action projects/service learning).

Benefits of a new civics class - Our campaign was sparked in direct response to problems in our communities such as: low youth voter turnout, disengaged youth and citizens, and an increasing dropout rate. Through statewide implementation of a civics class, we expect the following benefits:

1. Increased Voter Turnout
Research shows that students who take civics classes are 23% more likely to believe they are responsible for improving society and 14% more likely to vote in upcoming elections: municipal, statewide and federal. (Carnegie/CIRCLE, 2003)

2. Creates Lifelong Civic Habits
Research shows that if a young person is exposed to civic engagement education and service learning opportunities, there is a significant and measurable increase in civic behavior which is carried with that citizen for years to come. (Carnegie/CIRCLE, 2003)

3. Lower the High School Dropout rate
Interviewed dropouts indicated that clear supports provided within a school environment and also from the community would improve a potential dropout’s chance for staying in school. 81% of dropouts said there should be more opportunities for “real-world” learning.

For more info on bills led by young people to increase civic engagement in all Massachusetts high schools, please click on the thumbnails below!

Click the button to sign up for our petition!

Contact us at: teenorganizers@gmail.com  or 978.930.9436