The Contemporary Generation is the brainchild of me. I'm Amy and I wanted to start a generational movement. I was born, raised, and have spent the majority of my life in Indiana. I moved out to Washington, D.C. a few years ago and was astonished by many things, but most importantly, it is how much influence and control the decision makers in Washington have over my future.
What does Contemporary Generation mean? Contemporary is for modern, current, relevant, new, en vogue, topical, up to date, fashionable, cutting-edge but also about being a peer, coexisting with others and being someone you can trust. Generation is for us. It is for people like me and people to come after me.
I don't know about you, but I am not OK with partisan politics and my grandparents making decisions today that will affect my well being in the future. I feel that I need a voice because I will be the one paying for the decisions (both monetarily and by living with the repercussions).
The purpose of the Contemporary Generation is to examine the issues being discussed in Washington (or the issues not being discussed as it may be) and to provide a generational perspective on the issues. I don't intend to create generational warfare, but it may be necessary. Who can we count on to fight for our right to be a financially secure nation, our ability to breathe clean air, our ability to innovate and keep progressing as a society? I am a firm believer that we can only count on ourselves for this.
I am dedicated that the Contemporary Generation will not examine these issues from a partisan lens (or if we do, to provide a balance of opinions). I want to provide relevant information to my peers and being a movement to protect our generation and the ones to come after us.
My mission is to provide policy information to young professionals from a generational perspective and encouraging action. We will do this by mobilizing Young Professional Voters to engage in the political process and protect the interests of Generations Y, and Z. Our goals are to
- Build Knowledge on Public Policy Issues
- Network with peers and seek their input on our positions
- Counter Effect of AARP and Aging Orgs
- Empower Young Professionals to engage in the political process
You may ask why start the Contemporary Generation. I have a few reasons:
- If people my age understood what was happening, I think they would be engaged.
- I am positioned to provide inside "intelligence" to my peers about what is happening and how it may affect them.
- I am a firm believer that my peers (dare I say Contemporaries) are not willing to idly sit by and let others make decisions for us. I've seen us in action. I've seen how we've harnessed the internet to do thing that no one has thought of before. I've seen us stand up to adversity when someone tells us something is impossible. We are stubborn. We don't give up. And I love every one of those qualities.
- I think that I can recruit others to join me on my mission. If only because I think we want to make the world a better place (and yes... I am still idealistic).
A parting thought... I am a true believer in the following. (Paraphrasing Margaret Mead) I believe that a small group of dedicated people can change the world... because they are the only ones who ever have in the past.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead
— Margaret Mead
