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Kathleen O’Neal
Bio Statement
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My name is Kathleen Nicole O’Neal. I graduated from Baker High School in 2005 and from Florida State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science, history, and religion. I am currently studying for a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management at American University. From the time of my elementary school years in the public school system of rural Northern Florida, I was angered by the lack of due process experienced by myself and other young people at school. It always stung that while our textbooks celebrated freedom fighters that stood up to racism, sexism, and imperialism, we as young people were expected to submit to any request by an adult no matter how arbitrary or wrongheaded. I believe that a youth rights emphasis is the key component missing from mainstream analysis of every major social, cultural, economic, and political issue affecting young Americans from “educational reform” to “teen pregnancy”, “gang violence” to “bullying.” In the past year my involvement with NYRA has deepened as I have volunteered with the organization and come to understand the commitment and passion of those involved with it. I know my knowledge of and strong feelings about youth rights issues, combined with my background in nonprofit management, campaigns, and activism, will make me an asset to this fine organization.
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Questionnaire
1. Why do you want to run for the NYRA Board of Directors?
Since becoming involved with NYRA, I have been impressed personally and politically with those I have met in the organization. I feel that the work NYRA does fills an important gap in our society’s political discourse. There are many political and social issues I have involved myself with over the years on campaigns, committees, and caucuses. I have cared deeply about all of them. However I have always known that for almost all of these other issues, there were plenty of other intelligent, committed people to advance the agenda should I fall away from the cause. Although there are many committed youth rights activists in our society, there are not nearly enough. It is almost impossible to find youth rights viewpoints represented on television news, in magazines and newspapers, in libraries, or even in conversations with fellow citizens. I want to be part of the solution.
2. Are you familiar with the responsibilities of a non-profit board member? What prior experience do you have that you believe qualifies you to hold the position of director on our board?
I am very much familiar with the requirements of membership on the board of a nonprofit organization. In my MPA program, I am concentrating in Nonprofit Management which has given me the opportunity to understand in depth the responsibilities of board members, staff, and executive leadership in organizations such as NYRA.
3. What have you personally done to advance NYRA?
Since moving to the DC area, I have become quite involved with NYRA. I have recruited new members to the organization and volunteered at the office stuffing envelopes, making phone calls to potential members, and doing anything else I could to help the organization sustain and grow its operations. I have also served as a resource for those leading the organization when questions about nonprofit management issues have arisen. Finally, I wrote a detailed case study of NYRA for my introductory nonprofit management class, providing suggestions to the organization for how to maximize its potential. Additionally this project introduced a class full of fellow American University graduate students to NYRA and the youth rights cause.
4. What are your short and long term goals for NYRA? How do we reach those goals?
In the short term, NYRA should focus on making sure a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, and experiences are represented in the organization’s leadership while maintaining cohesiveness. We must recognize that geography, socioeconomic status, sex, race, family structure, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity can impact the ways in which youth experience discrimination. We must also remember that youth should maintain a united front to combat their shared oppression as youth. Another important short term goal for NYRA should be increased fundraising. THE important long term goal of NYRA that we can start working towards in the short term (and indeed already have) is making sure the language and concepts of youth rights become a common feature of political discourse at all levels of society. And it is important that in the process we do not water down our message and demands to mere “youth empowerment.”
5. What do you believe is NYRA's biggest challenge or weakness, and what will you do, personally, to help address it. Please be specific and realistic.
NYRA’s biggest challenge is that its important message does not yet have the sort of mainstream exposure it deserves. I believe that NYRA should be involved with more efforts to bring the youth rights message to a wider audience and I want to help do that by writing and speaking out in various forums for change. Our organization has to be bolder in protesting the evils of an ageist society. I will use my seat on the Board to propose and support ways of doing this.
6. If elected, what will you personally do for the national organization? What projects or activities will you take leadership of? Please be specific and realistic.
If elected, I would make it a priority to lead on projects that center the voices of youth. I would also be willing to take a lead in writing newspaper articles, blog posts, and other printed material that explain the organization’s values. Finally, I would like to take a leadership role in NYRA’s ongoing campaign for student rights. It is the most serious, widespread, and pervasive abuse of constitutional rights in this country and it is nowhere on our nation’s radar.
7. In your view, how is the role of a board member different than that of an active member or chapter leader? How would your involvement be affected if you weren't elected this year?
Chapter leaders and active local members steer NYRA at the local level. However, national leaders steer the organization as a whole. Board members must be sensitive to the concerns of those around the country who work for youth rights under NYRA’s banner. It is important that we represent them in a way they can be proud of. Were I not involved with NYRA as a board member this year, I would stay involved as a volunteer and continue to promote the organization’s cause. However, I feel that my talents could best be utilized on the NYRA Board.
8. If you served on the board last year, how would you assess your level of involvement? Did you follow through on promises you made during last year's election?
I did not serve on the Board last year.
9. Define "youth rights". Describe our mission and our vision in your own words.
Youth rights is about taking the thoughts, feelings, aspirations, and dignity of young persons seriously. It is about being willing to see that what is often injustice when done to older Americans is often just as much or even more of an injustice when done to young Americans. It is about celebrating intelligence, savvy, strength, and self-respect in people of all ages, not terming it valor when it comes from middle-aged business and political leaders and insubordination when it comes from elementary, middle, and high school students. It is about recognizing that our differences mean our struggle for youth rights is not identical but that we all share an interest in tearing down ageist oppression.
10. With many qualified members running for the Board, what sets you apart? Why should you be elected?
My nonprofit management background would allow me to help elevate NYRA’s status to one more befitting a national organization. Due to my involvement with NYRA and current Board members, I know what Board membership entails. Having seen NYRA warts and all, I am still excited to serve.
I grew up in a rural community on the Florida-Alabama border. My parents are teachers. While I admire their dedication to their students, I know there are systemic problems not even the most right-minded teachers can fix alone. I am female and bisexual. I do not believe these things qualify me in and of themselves. However, I know my life experiences represent a unique, needed perspective in NYRA.
Most importantly I have spent much time thinking, discussing, and studying youth rights. I would not run for the Board if I did not know I could make a consequential, positive difference.
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