The youth (yes, you!)

Today's young people are true superheroes. Hi {NAME} – Across the country, students are making their voices heard. From protesting police violence against Black communities, to holding lawmakers accountable for failing to prevent gun violence in schools, to rallying for their peers who came to this country as Dreamers – young people have made it clear they will not tolerate injustice. [It’s clear, the next generation of leaders is here, and the ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. (July 18 – 25) is ready to help them develop the tools they need to change the world.]( We can’t afford to ignore the activism of our youth. In fact, we should encourage it: some of life’s best lessons come outside of the classroom, especially from young people organizing for issues they’re passionate about. These young activists are turning what many think of as fiction into reality. And after all, some of the greatest heroes, like Spider-Man, Luke Skywalker, and Ms. Marvel, started saving the world in their teens. It was in the fictional stories of young heroes in comics like Peter Parker, or the original Star Wars films, that I found the courage to fight for issues that affect youth living with, or at risk for, HIV. Activism was the best outlet to put into practice what I learned in the classroom, while also working to improve the lives of youth like me. That is why I’m excited for the ACLU’s Summer Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. this summer. Rising high school juniors and seniors will learn from some of the country’s leading civil rights activists, and ACLU experts – and will even meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Summer Advocacy Institute alumni have become fierce advocates and leaders in their communities, underscoring the fact that young people are a great force of positive change in our country. The idea that young people can change the world isn’t just something that exists in the fictional worlds of Marvel comics or Star Wars – it is very much real and happening now. If you know a young person who might be interested in the ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute, please encourage them to apply. And if you’re a young activist yourself, then I hope you’ll join us! Space is limited and applications [must be submitted by March 30th, 2018.]( For more information, please visit [www.aclu.org/institute](. Generous scholarships are available. Thanks for building the next generation of community leaders. May the Force be with you. [D'Angelo Cameron] D'Angelo Cameron ACLU Digital Team Member and Activist [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [RSS]( [DONATE]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [RSS]( [BBB]( Please note: If you forward or distribute, the links will open a page with your information filled in. This email was sent to: {EMAIL} This email was sent by: American Civil Liberties Union 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004, USA [Unsubscribe]( We respect your right to privacy - [view our policy](.