The new Young People’s Alliance (YPA) on campus recently opened applications. The organization is a youth political organization that aims to highlight overlooked issues and advocate for policy solutions.
The YPA was founded in North Carolina by two high school students, Sam Hiner and Mick Tobin, and has since expanded nationally. The founders recognized the limited political power young people hold when it comes to advocacy, so it became their goal to have a platform where young people can civically engage and be a part of the political process. Now, young people all over the country have a chance to be involved with this, including Howard University.
Safiatou Doukoure, a senior political science major, economics minor from San Diego, California, serves as one of the founding members of the chapter at Howard.
“It’s important that Howard has a place where we can all come together and fight for our future outside of party lines and allegiance,” Doukoure said.
She said that this organization is for all majors, not just politically involved ones.
“I encourage getting this type of exposure to all students because, at the end of the day, we’re all going to be affected by whatever our Congress legislates,” she said.
According to the organization’s website, the YPA has a team based on Capitol Hill and has chapters across 26 campuses nationwide to empower young people in politics. They engage with students through voter registration and mobilization events. Through community events, the YPA has a chance to connect with students and advocate for leading issues on their campus.
“We are solely focusing on Howard issues at least for right now,” Doukoure said. “We want to build our base with the students first.”
However, she said that she eventually would like the group to expand so that they can collaborate with other groups like DC Youth.
Another chapter member, Lauren Hatten, a junior, legal strategic communications major, psychology minor from Detroit, Michigan, said she feels passionate about the new chapter.
“The time is now. For so long, our generation has been forced to sit by and watch our future burn to the ground,” Hatten said.
She believes that as Howard students, we can create the change that we want to see — and the YPA is the platform to do so.
“As Black students, especially, we aren’t afforded the privilege of sitting by while issues like AI, affordability and opportunity continue to pass our generation by,” Hatten said. “This is our moment to lead, to organize and to make sure our voices are heard.”
Both members acknowledged the challenges of getting students to join the organization.
“I’ll admit I’ve had a little trouble getting applicants for YPA,” Doukoure said. “When I go up to people and want to talk about a political organization on campus, they kind of get a little shy.”
She said that she knows politics can be a touchy topic, and so she is cautious of how she approaches people.
“They’re scared that you’ll attack them for their beliefs in this climate. However, when you approach it in a way that showcases that they won’t be attacked for what they believe, they’re more open to signing up,” Doukoure said.
Hatten also backed that point.
“We knew that it was instrumental to have Bison’s voices heard, so we didn’t give up. We’re working to create spaces that feel approachable, engaging, and reflective of students’ diverse interests,” Hatten said.
Doukoure has high hopes and expectations for the future of YPA.
“YPA is the only place that I’ve seen where our generation can actually influence the outcome of our future,” she said.
Hatten emphasized how these issues affect all of the student body, so it’s important that students have shared interests in their future.
“Whether that’s AI taking over various job markets, the rising cost of living, or post-graduation affordability, we all have a shared interest in our future,” Hatten said. “That’s what unites us all.”
Doukoure encourages students to join so that students can have a chance at being their own force in creating the change they want to see.
“YPA is the place to build that power. Come collaborate with us, and we’ll give you the tools to succeed,” she said.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
