First National Youth Summit to be held in Chicago

Chicago will serve as the pioneer host for the National Youth Summit, a three day political seminar for youths from all over the country.

The National Youth Summit is a collaborative project between Mobilize.org and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (PGPF). Both organizations aim to increase awareness about public policy and the Youth Summit aims to do the same.

“It's not enough for us to identify our most pressing individual issues, we must take the lead and work collaboratively to propose solutions and then obtain the resources needed to implement and institutionalize those solutions. We believe this Youth Summit will be a key catalyst in this process," said Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org.

The summit is designed to aid youths in creating a solid financial plan for their futures, according to a press release. It will examine the holes in the financial health of today’s youth and find solutions to fill them.

People between the ages of 18 and 34 are eligible to attend the summit and attendees are expected to help provide solutions for economic issues that currently exist. Both organizers have applications for people interested in participating.

Grants totaling up to $25,000 will be awarded to groups that provide the best solutions throughout the summit. In addition, Mobilize.org and its partner organizations will provide twelve months of support for winning solutions to grow and become concrete.

Mobilize.org has had experience with youths interested in politics previous to the upcoming summit. This past summer, the organization helped coordinate an event similar to the youth summit, according to a press release from the organization ‘80 Million Strong’.

The event was held in Washington D.C. and about 100 young adults from all over the nation attended to find solutions for unemployment in America.

PGPF constantly aims to open the eyes of young adults to economic policies in America. It has partnered with the InDebtEd campaign to educate youths about economic problems that face Americans today.

Dave Walker, president and CEO of PGPF, feels that today’s young adults are ignored when it comes to voicing opinions on political policies.

“The Peterson Foundation and Mobilize.org recognize that young Americans must become more active in protecting their economic futures. They represent a significant group in America, but are too often ignored because of more organized and vocal constituencies,” Walker said. “We are providing support for various tools, resources, and forums necessary to enable today's Millennial (youth) leaders to work collaboratively and develop solutions to the fiscal and selected other economic challenges facing our nation and their generation."