| Campaign for a Presidential Commission on Youth and Intergenerational Partnerships |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has this proposal been endorsed by President Obama or his Cabinet?
Not yet. We're working on it. We have some good connections but need more.
How do we define youth?
Youth is a state of mind, dude! No, seriously speaking, there are nearly 350 programs in the US federal government that work with young people and many of them use different age ranges for their target groups. For this reason "now" is not the time to answer this question. By some measure youth are as young as 13. By another measure they're as old as somewhere in their 30s.
What will we see five years from now as a result of the commission?
Young people are the world's greatest untapped resource, according to the Union of International Associations. If we increase investment in young people, globally, then we will see a rapid increase in political participation which will lead to greater government accountability and less corruption. At the same time we will see greater participation in the resolution of social envirionmental problems, leading to a more sustinable world with less suffering. Soon we'll write something more specific to answer this question.
How do Presidential Commissions get created?
By Executive Order of the President.
What are some examples of past Presidential Commissions?
Search for the phrase on wikipedia or go here.
What other proposals are out there that are kindred to the Commission?
www.whitehouseofficeonchildrenandyouth.org
Our campaign supports the proposed White House Office on Children and
Youth which is open for review and needs (as the organizers agree) to
include questions of
technology participation and international youth as well as many other ideas, which are up for you to decide.
Will the Commission be run by young poeple?
We want it to be! But that depends on you!
How does a Presidential Commission work?
Traditionally there are a few super-qualified people who are selected. Then there are public hearings, conferences, reports, policy recommendations etc. We want that stuff, but a lot more as well. While it is important to gather experts, perhaps the most important work of this Commission will be to gather diverse stakeholders and facilitate their dialogue. People change through dialogue and often consensus results. When all sides agree on a solution then, usually, a solution is much wiser and much more effective, because everyone has ownership of it. So we envision a Commission with widespread public participation, both in the form of face-to-face gatherings, but also through a mass online social network, like Facebook, but geared towards youth servie and intergenertional partnerships.
How many people will be on the Commission?
Picture concentric circles... A few "Commissioners" who are selected for whatever reasons (criteria which still need to be elaborated) and then picture working groups surrounding and supportin them. Picture working groups with dozens of people focused on issues of youth and health, youth and education, youth and rites of passage, youth and media production, etc... Then picture thousands of people in grassroots level consultations and then millions of people connecting online.
Who will be on the Commission?
That's for you to decide too!
Who are some candidate Commission members?
Young people who have developed promising organizations and groups, experts on youth, politicians, philanthropists, wise highschool studets, etc. We will put up some names in a little while. Why don't you recommend someone?
What has the response to date been about the idea?
Very positive. We've had a little media, but need more. The political winds seem favorable. Both sides of the aisle seem supportive. We'll give more specifics soon.
Where does your funding come from?
We have a few small donations from individuals. We're talking donations less than $50, each. No institutional funders are on board, yet. That being said, we have good relationships with funders, but we need your help!
Are you aligned with a particular political party?
Yes, all of them.
Are you aligned with a particular religious faith?
Yes, all of them.
Will the commssion be focused just on the United States?
This is a good question. In the eyes of some, yes, or at least at the start. But, Americans are so interdependent these days. You can't solve problems here without looking overseas, so our goal is for this commission to be global in scope. Finally, many of he most innovative youth programs in the world are overseas, so we have to take a look at them. At the same time there is something very powerful about international youth exchanges, so we have to go there too.
What role can foreign countries play in the Commission?
Let's create equivalent research and consultative mechanisms in every multi-lateral institution we can get our hands on like the UN, WTO, World Bank... and if such mechanisms already exist then let's mobilize greater numbers of people to participate in them and demand results from them. More eyes demands more transparency and more accountability. Finally, let's create equivalent commissions in state and local governments as well. Our campaign seeks a temporary national platform to create a permanent one. We urge you to help us demand the same at other levels. What is your mayor doing about youth issues?
What role can local citizens and governments play in the Commission?
There exist dozens of ways in involve young people in local government. Begin by mapping all of the programs that exist, governmental and non-governmental. Next, gather them and figure out what the pulse is on young people's issues locally. Build concensus around those issues and bring innovators and investors to together to invest in new solutions. Get more people involved. Facilitate greater collaboration. Want methodologies? Email us to ask. And finally, lobby your political representatives to demand the creation of a Presidential Commission. Oh, and also, get your local media to cover this campaign.
What law(s) governs Presidential Commissions?
The Federal Advisory Committe Act: www.gsa.gov/faca There are others as well, but that's a starting point.
What celebrities and politicans are champions or at least in touch with this campaign?
None yet, officially, though historicaly we've had relationships with some big names that we hope to tap for this.
How much will the Commission cost?
We hope that this will be one of the best examples of public-private partnership ever. A minimal commission would cost around $1 million in public funding, but if Obama convenes a gathering of citizens and people are invited to pay their own way, then many investors will open their pocket books and contribute to the cause. That's our goal.
Can foreign donors support the Commission?
Sure. As long as we're not lobbying with your money.
Are donations to the campaign for the Commission tax deductible?
For the most part, yes. The Global Youth Action Network is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. There are certain restrictions when related to lobbying, but we're no where near that point yet.
Can I translate the website into my own language?
Yes, go for it! Send us a link when you're done.
Where is your blog?
Coming soon.
What is your facebook group link?
What is your youtube channel?
Coming soon.
What is your flickr address?
Wow, you have a lot of questions. Coming soon.
I want to see some photos, where are you photos?
Coming soon.
I want my organization to become part of the coalition. How does that work?
We're going to formalize this process in the very near future. At the moment simply send us an email saying, "Hey, Count us In!"
What is the decision-making structure of the campaign?
Flat. At the moment we support the entrepreneurship of anyone and everyone involved. Join us and make your mark!
Why should I give my time to this project, especially when I can do so many other interesting things with my time?
We always ask that question ourselves. In a nutshell, we believe that young people are THE channel to make change. An investment in youth is an investment in the future. If you change the way by which young citizens are cultivated and integrated into society then you change society. This is about transformation. Also, sure there are many youth programs out there, but we've never had an opportunity, as we do now, to lift them on to the world stage so that they get the investment and visibility they need to scale up. Barack could actually create this Commission if he really wanted to. Some people think his wife will be the one to make it happen. But the point is that if it was actually created, with wide public support, then it could create a new culture. How? First of all, if more people believed in young people then we'd see many fewer young people in prison. There'd be a lot less suffering. Second, if more young people got more involved with service work, our society would get cleaner and healthier. Third, as more and more young people participate in the decision-making and policy-making process of the country, we will see greater government accountability. Finally, if existing service programs came together, with investors, discovered what they have in common as well as their opportunities for collaboration, then old programs could be improved and new programs could be created to ensure holistic development of young citizens and integral programs that benfit them. This process could transform the social fabric of our country and foster a lot more trust, a lot more celebration of diversity, and a lot more social and economic development.
