The Network Effect: How High Schoolers are Finding Purpose through Civic Leadership

We know that real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when people, programs, and purpose align.

On the morning of New Voters’ first-ever voter registration drive, we were not a national nonprofit but a small high school club. I was seventeen and remember passing out manilla folders to my classmates in our cafeteria, getting ready to interrupt senior classes that morning. Three days later, 85% of our senior class was registered to vote.

That feeling of accomplishment and making a difference in our school happened not despite, but because of our youth. It instilled in us the lifelong belief that we could act on the problems we saw, and to mobilize those around us to do the same.

Eight years later, New Voters is now a national nonprofit upholding that very belief, empowering student leaders to mobilize their classmates to vote, conduct research on civic possibilities in their schools, and run over 1,000 registration drives. When students see their efforts in action, they find confidence, purpose, and ability to build the future they dream of. They just need to be prepared for and given the opportunity to do so.

Centering Youth Voice Is Not Our Slogan. It’s Our Structure.

At New Voters, having youth lead every aspect of our work not only gives that opportunity, but it strengthens our programs. We equip high school students to go into their own schools and register their peers with the support of a recent graduate mentor, because we know young people can get the job done better than any outside organization. On our national team, our outreach strategies, partnerships, and external messaging are powered by our youth interns, many of whom joined the organization at fourteen years old and now lead national teams.

It comes down to young people as the architects of our work, because they know what works best for themselves. They know which teammate on the track team will convince others to register and what prizes will incentivize other students to sign up. They do not need more motivation, but more meaningful opportunities to lead, and to see the results of those efforts.

“[New Voters] has given me the confidence that there are ways for people my age to make a difference.” - New Voters Student

Breaking Down Barriers to Purpose Through Real Experience

Most high school students are never trusted with this kind of leadership. A 2017 Universum survey found that one in three members of Gen Z lacked confidence in their ability to lead. A 2020 Deloitte study showed that less than forty percent felt optimistic about the future. These numbers reflect more than pessimism. They point to a crisis of agency. When young people do not see pathways to create impact, when they cannot see a future that accurately reflects their vision, they begin to believe their voice does not matter.

The answer? Trust them with real work, real leadership, and invest in the training and resources for them to flourish. When a student runs a voter registration drive, they are not just registering voters. They are building teams, setting goals, communicating across differences, and seeing the results of their leadership in real time. They are being instilled with the confidence to do more.

These experiences build purpose. In turn, that purpose strengthens agency and becomes the foundation for lifelong civic power and leaders who not only care, but take action.

Research as Civic Participation

Running a voter registration drive is not the only way to take action, and students have endless skills that can be funnelled into change. That’s why we started the New Voters Research Network and the New Researchers Summer Program in partnership with the Center for Rising Generations at The Aspen Institute, to train students to think of research as more than a resume booster, but as a critical tool to create change.

Research programs in high school are often costly, selective, and limited to STEM, keeping them out of reach for those already underrepresented in civic spaces. Our programs are designed to change that. Over an eight week period in the summer, students learn how to build surveys, analyze findings, and interpret data, with the purpose of making an impact. A student who studies barriers to voter registration in their school is not just completing a project, but identifying gaps in information, analyzing systems, and organizing their peers around solutions. Turning research into a form of civic leadership.

“I view research more as a way to make change. It’s empowering to think that what we study could actually influence something real.” - New Voters Student

Through this work students develop civic skills that last. They learn to use evidence to strengthen arguments, counter misinformation, and advocate for change starting in their schools. For many, this is the first time they see how their voice can influence public decisions. It’s about building agency and showcasing data as a tool for impact and a pathway into civic life.

From Participation to Lasting Impact

The future of democracy must be built with young people, because they are the ones inheriting it, and the ones best poised to shape it. When students lead, they identify barriers adults miss and create solutions rooted in the realities of their own schools and communities. With active participation in democracy, they build the knowledge that it’s not some out-of-control or dying entity, but something they can shape for the better, for the future.

“This program has definitely changed how I view leadership… it’s not just about taking charge, but helping others find their voice.” - New Voters Student

Our theory of change is simple. When young people have clear pathways into civic leadership, access to training and mentorship, and meaningful purpose tied to real impact, they build lifelong civic power.

New Voters has never been about a single election. It has always been about building the resources, skills, and networks that keep young people engaged in civic life for the rest of their lives.

The views and opinions expressed in community-contributed articles published on this Substack are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Rising Generations.

CRG is committed to providing a platform for a wide range of voices and experiences. Some posts may address complex issues, personal stories, or calls to action meant to inspire reflection and community engagement. We encourage respectful dialogue and learning across generations.