Five on Friday: April 27
Happy Friday! MAP’s Five on Friday kicks off the weekend by sharing five things we loved this week. Join in with us by sharing five things you’re loving in the comments below!
{{№1: Inspiring}}
Since the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, all eyes have been on America’s youth who are raising their voices and amplifying their power to create positive change. Last week, a bipartisan group of North Carolina lawmakers—including Future Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Jay Chaudhuri—turned the tables by holding a “reverse townhall” in which they asked a panel of students tough questions about school safety.
Rep. Chaudhuri stated, “These students don’t feel safe in their schools and I think they want the General Assembly to take action and my sense is they’re going to be very committed to this issue until we pass common sense gun reform.”
Students’ call to action isn’t just all talk, it’s producing substantive, lasting change—and, more importantly, proves that regardless of age, your voice matters and can make a real difference.
{{№2: Heartwarming}}
Last year Congressional Future Caucus members Reps. Will Hurd and Beto O’Rourke took bipartisanship to a new level by embarking on an unprecedented 25-hour, livestreamed road trip. Not only is this a heartwarming example that civility still exists in the most divisive times, it’s also a glimpse at the future of American government and the ability of next-generation leadership to challenge the status quo and place relationships over party politics.
“Part of the reason that video, as goofy as it was or as boring as some of those portions may be, hit such a chord is … that civility that we rely on to make this democracy work has been absent,” O’Rourke said. “In Will, I have found not just a very good friend but a partner. … We’ll vote differently on some significant issues but we will find the common ground.”
{{№3: Watching}}
Flint Town, a docu-series that premiered on Netflix last month, is a compelling look into a town that has been ravaged by tragedy and contempt. The series follows the Flint police department for over a year, showing the struggles and successes of a 98-person police team protecting a community of over 100,000 people. Flint Town is a thought-provoking piece on the human spirit’s ability—against all odds—to find connection and understanding.
{{№4: Highlighting}
MAP’s COO Layla Zaidane is listed among Preet Bharara’s Cafe 100’s list of extraordinary change makers who are stepping up to address our world’s most pressing issues. Check out the full list for inspiration from an incredible, diverse list of young people who are taking action to create thoughtful impact!
{{№5: Discovering}}
According to Harvard IOP’s Spring 2018 Youth Poll, 12.1% of millennials have been directly impacted by the opioid crisis. What’s more, this issue is one that stretches political and socio-economic groups with 14% of Republican participants having been affected and 10% of Democrats.
Next Generation Nebraska members Senators Sara Howard and Brett Lindstrom created a generational, bipartisan partnership to tackle Nebraska’s opioid crisis. This month, their teamwork led to a tangible solution when a major opioid prevention measure was signed into law.
