On November 9th, NYRA-DC chapter President and NYRA Director Laura Finstad appeared on National Public Radio’s “That Democracy Show” in Washington. The show featured young people discussing the benefits of working outside of the system versus working within the system. NYRA believes that a balance should be struck between the two. Laura managed to get…
On September 17 NYRA made an unexpected appearance as part of the top news story on America Online’s welcome screen. NYRA-DC President, Laura Finstad, and NYRA Executive Director, Alex Koroknay-Palicz were both interviewed for an ABCnews.com article about lowering the voting age that appeared on the 17th. AOL news picked up the story and used…
NYRA-Montgomery County’s “Petition of Voices” has begun circulation for the 03-04 school year. This petition, first started last year, calls upon all high schools in the Maryland county to create a student advocate position. This faculty member will defend students accused of violating school rules. In half-an-hour of petitioning the chapter collected 140 signatures outside…
NYRA has joined the campaign to amend North Carolina’s constitution to allow candidates under 21 to run for local office. Attempts by Zach Medford and Jonus Nobles, both under 21, to run for local office in North Carolina have attracted a good deal of media attention to the state’s prohibition on candidates under 21. NYRA’s…
Soon to join the strong DC Area NYRA network, a Montgomery County, Maryland chapter is in the works. NYRA member, Chris Apple, is finding support and setting up the inaugural meeting of NYRA-MC now. Chris began a petition drive this year called the Petition of Voices to push the Board of Education for adequate representation…
Joining NYRA’s ongoing campaign against age discrimination, NYRA-DC, NYRA-American University, and NYRA-High Point are joining together to protest the ageist policy outside of a Washington, DC 7-11. Despite the fact that adults are responsible for twice as much shoplifting as youth, this policy prohibits more than 2 students inside at any one time. Many NYRA-DC…
With an energetic rally on Saturday May 17, the Lower the Vote Coalition began its campaign to lower the voting age to 16 in the Maryland city of Takoma Park. Local TV was present to video tape the entire rally. A NYRA copy of the rally was made as well and will be made available…
NYRA-Mizzou member, John Wells, joined more than a dozen individuals in speaking out in opposition to a proposed curfew law in Columbia, Missouri. Under the proposed law, curfews would affect people under 17 and last between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, they would be between midnight and 5:30…
The DC chapter of NYRA is busy at work preparing for their May 17 rally on the steps of Takoma Park, Maryland’s city hall that will launch their campaign to lower the voting age to 16 in this city. The chapter is reaching out to high schools and non-profits all through the area to gain…
At their monthly chapter meeting on March 1st, President Laura Finstad outlined an ambitious year of youth rights activism. NYRA-DC has taken its first step toward lowering the voting age in the area by contacting area city councils. The chapter has also begun inquiries into establishing a Youth Center for the city. Several fundraising concerts…
