Oklahoma Youth for Change discusses avenues to information and platforms for voices among local students

A new group geared at informing college students and getting them more involved in local issues has been born in the Lawton Community. The Oklahoma Youth for Change, which just began in September, is planning to start holding regular meetings with presentations and talking points that educate young people about politics.

The first meeting will take place October 3 at Viridian Coffee on 2nd Street. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. and requires participants to sign up.

Group founders, Saige and Robert met at the Citizens Academy and quickly found that they had shared concerns about the lack of young people involved in their communities in Southwest Oklahoma. They decided to do something about this, beginning with open-forum type meetings where people could come learn, voice their opinions, and broaden their perspectives. 

They said they’re specifically focused on students and youths because they are the most greatly impacted by the long-term effects of politics. That said, they seldom see young people at city council meetings or other events that provide the community an opportunity to share their perspectives. They said they welcome young people with any range of views – even those with no opinion on local issues, because a variety of perspectives is the best way for people to learn.

“We want to find other people like us and have a platform for community,” Robert said. 

The first meeting is titled “The First Amendment: Foundation and Rights” and is focused on current issues and policies and how they relate to those of the past. The focus on history stems from the need to learn from the past, something they feel is especially important in a time when a lot of information is being censored. Saige and Robert hope the event can serve as a safe space for students to feel vulnerable and open to learning new things, connecting with others, and working toward goals that benefit them all. 

They said they hope this first meeting can be a conversation about the basics that sets the stage for future meetings. Future meetings will be divided into two categories: those focused on more controversial issues and those focused on informing. In addition, they’re hoping to be able to partner with Cameron University to host future meetings. 

“We are so divided by technology,” Saige said. “I just wanted to get that out of the way and start having conversations.”

Robert and Saige both expressed concerns about how the current political climate impacts the mental health of young people. They said they believe that providing a community setting to discuss what’s going on is a form of healing and perseverance that can help people push through. 

They are hopeful people will attend the first event and future events to foster a sense of togetherness in the Lawton community. They expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received from the community so far but hope those numbers grow, as they recognize strength is greater in numbers.