If you care about climate change, equity and alternative policing, the local election this April 4 matters.

We at Youth Committee for Change, an independent group of student activists, strongly encourage you to vote.

Specifically, for those in Oak Park, we endorse Brian Straw for trustee.

Straw wants to make Oak Park a better place for everyone, not only now but for the next 50 years. If Straw gets elected, he will use his platform to include youth in politics; he has already done this by reaching out to our youth group and working with us so we could support his campaign. Straw values equity, sustainability and public safety, and will use these values to guide him in his work as trustee.

One way Straw has already been working to make our community a better place is on the Oak Park Transportation Commission, where he has been advocating for safer streets for biking and walking. Too many of us have stories of being hit by cars–or near misses–as we walk or bike to school each day. Straw is working to keep us safe (while reducing carbon emissions at the same time).

Finally, Straw is willing to get feedback from the community and change his mind accordingly. Straw wants to work with the community to make Oak Park a better place.

We strongly encourage you to vote for Straw–but even if you choose another candidate, we hope you will take this opportunity to vote.

For all the hype that national elections receive, your vote has the biggest impact in local elections.

In 2019, the difference between winning and losing the Oak Park trustee race was 52 votes. That’s roughly two senior English classes.

Furthermore, these elections affect us. We aren’t electing leaders to a faraway office in Springfield or Washington. On the ballot is who will run our village and our school. We are literally the most affected people by who is elected to the District 200 school board, and yet, too often we pass up the chance.

According to a 2015-2016 study conducted by Portland State University, in the 30 biggest cities in America, “Those 65+ are seven times more likely to vote in local elections than voters aged 18 to 34.” We are allowing long-term policy to be made by those who will be least affected by it. And that’s not right.

If you are 18 by April 4, you can vote in Oak Park or River Forest’s local election! You can even register on election day, with two pieces of ID, including one with proof of address (for example a drivers license or piece of personal mail). You must go to your home polling place to register. Find it by scanning the QR code below or going to this link: https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/elections/your-voter-information

Youth Committee for Change (YC4C) is a group of mostly Oak Park and River Forest High School students politically organizing for progressive change on issues like climate change and equity. We are not a school sponsored club. Before supporting Straw for Oak Park Trustee, many of the current members joined to work on Kina Collins’ campaign for Congress in 2022.

YC4C meets virtually at 8pm on Thursdays, in addition to various campaign events. If you are interested in joining, or have any questions, please email us at [email protected].