America in One Room: The Youth Vote
In an era of unprecedented polarization, eroding institutional trust, and a growing disconnect between citizens and their elected officials, American democracy stands at a critical crossroads. The resilience of our governing institutions will be contingent on the meaningful and informed participation of a rising generation of constituents – a group that is poised to inherit some of the most consequential challenges in human history.
What this demographic thinks about the issues shaping America’s future, and how they’re empowered to collaborate, will have profound implications for societal health and well-being.
To better understand and activate this critical demographic ahead of a pivotal presidential election, Helena partnered with Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, the Close-Up Foundation, The Generation Lab, and USC’s Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making to engage first-time voters in a powerful exercise in Deliberative Democracy.
America in One Room (A1R): The Youth Vote was the fourth installment in Helena’s groundbreaking America in One Room series, which has addressed issues ranging from climate change to electoral reform. Featured on the cover of The New York Times and lauded by US presidents and other global leaders, past A1R deployments offered striking proof of true democracy in action and demonstrated the power of an active and informed electorate to transform the American political landscape.
The 2024 election cycle highlighted the ideological diversity of a rapidly evolving cohort of young voters that is often treated as a monolith by the media, candidates, and policymakers. Four months before they would cast their first votes, A1R: The Youth Vote platformed the diverse perspectives of these young Americans as they came together to grapple with key issues with nuance and depth across differences. The event garnered widespread media attention.
In interviews with outlets including NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and in The Wall Street Journal, participants spoke eloquently about the importance of engaging with the other side and using your voice in democratic processes. They left equipped with tools and resources to scale the deliberative effect in their schools and communities and foster a culture of solutions-focused political engagement across the nation.
A Microcosm of the Nation
From July 19-22, 2024, 430 rising high school seniors and college freshmen assembled in Washington, D.C. for an historic event. Designed to foster understanding, respect, and informed decision-making across demographic divides, America in One Room: The Youth Vote marked the first-ever representative gathering of first-time voters in U.S. history.
Like previous A1R’s, The Youth Vote utilized a methodology called Deliberative Polling, pioneered by Stanford professor and Helena member James Fishkin. This approach – which brings together representative groups of constituents to discuss issues in extended small group deliberations, with access to balanced, in-depth information and expert perspectives – has been used to meaningfully gauge the “will of the people” and ignite lasting civic engagement in over 110 executions in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Over the course of four days, the Youth Vote participants delved into substantive discussions on four key policy areas:
Energy and the Environment
Healthcare
The Economy and AI
Democracy and Elections
Guided by balanced briefing materials and expert panels, participants grappled with the nuances of each issue, challenging their own preconceptions in dialogue with their peers. Small group deliberations fostered an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect, while town hall discussions with policy experts provided deeper insights into the complexities of the challenges at hand. Participants completed surveys before and after the deliberations, revealing how their views evolved through the process of informed and collaborative reflection.
A Constructive Vision for the Future
The results of the deliberations offer a fascinating glimpse into the priorities, concerns, and aspirations of first-time voters when given the chance to engage deeply in a fact-rich discussion with their fellow Americans. On issues ranging from climate action to electoral reform, participants demonstrated remarkable capacity for nuance, pragmatism, and common ground.
On energy and environmental policies, an overwhelming majority of participants agreed that the U.S. must take bold action to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Support for investments in clean energy research and development, along with incentives for carbon capture and storage, cut across party lines. At the same time, participants recognized the importance of a just transition, with strong backing for measures to support workers and communities impacted by the shift away from fossil fuels.
On healthcare, the deliberations revealed a generation deeply concerned about access, affordability, and equity. Participants expressed strong support for expanding mental health coverage, with a particular emphasis on integrating mental health services into primary care. They also favored measures to protect reproductive rights, including access to contraception and abortion care.
In discussions on the economy and AI, participants grappled with the implications of rapid technological change for jobs, skills, and social inequality. While they recognized the potential of AI and automation to drive innovation and productivity, they also called for proactive policies to ensure that the benefits of these technologies are broadly shared. This included support for investments in education and workforce development, as well as measures to strengthen the social safety net.
Perhaps most strikingly, the deliberations on democracy and elections showcased a generation deeply committed to the health and integrity of our democratic institutions. Participants expressed strong support for measures to expand voter access, including automatic voter registration and the restoration of voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals. They also favored reforms to reduce the influence of money in politics and to ensure fair and impartial redistricting processes.
The discussions in Washington D.C. defied the hyper-partisan rhetoric dominating national discourse and challenged stereotypes of Gen Z as apathetic and politically disengaged. Instead, the event demonstrated that when given meaningful opportunities to participate, this generation stands ready to confront society’s pressing challenges and chart a more inclusive path forward for American democracy.
Creating a Ripple Effect
A1R: The Youth Vote was conceptualized, not just as a one-off event, but as a catalyst for broader democratic revitalization. Outside of the deliberations themselves, participants received in-depth facilitation training, empowering them to carry their experience forward in community-centered discussions. In the months following the event, Helena’s partners at Close-Up and the Deliberative Democracy Lab instituted a slate of national online deliberations, scaling a culture of informed and respectful discourse nationwide.
Post-event surveys confirmed the enduring impact of the experience. Participants reported shifts in their attitudes and a heightened appreciation for political complexity. They expressed greater willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints and renewed faith in the power of democracy to bridge divides.
The project’s impact was amplified in the media. The event garnered national attention, with segments airing on NBC Nightly News and Good Morning America and features in The Wall Street Journal and other publications. In the lead-up to a contentious presidential election, the Youth Vote participants penned op-eds and modeled a more thoughtful, nuanced mode of political engagement on popular podcasts. Their voices served as a reminder that even in times of deep division, good-faith dialogue and collective problem-solving are not only possible but essential for the health and resilience of our democracy.
At its core, America in One Room stands as both a proof of concept and a functional antidote to broken public discourse. The forum underscores the power of citizen deliberation to repair the frayed fabric of our democracy and rebuild the civic bonds that are the foundation of a free and resilient society. It reminds us of the importance of engaging in the challenging work of democratic citizenship—embracing complexity, resisting the allure of oversimplified solutions, and striving for thoughtful compromise. And it calls on us to invest in the civic potential of our citizens by fostering spaces within government, media, and public life where individuals can grapple with the nuanced issues that will determine our collective future.
Helena’s purpose is to identify solutions to global problems and implement them through projects. Each project is a separate, unique effort.
Sometimes, we believe that the most effective method to implement a project is through non-profit action. These projects are designated as “non-profit” on their associated project pages on this website. This page is an example of such a project.
In these cases, Helena operates projects that are led and funded through non-profit entitie(s), including Helena Group Foundation. Helena Group Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization formed to conceive and operate projects that solve important global issues for the benefit of society.