We ignore history when we deny the power of young people.

The Hazen Foundation’s president, Lori Bezahler, and board member, Sanjiv Rao, call on philanthropy and progressive leaders to invest in and resource young people in their opinion piece with The Hill, Secure a progressive America by investing in youth. Young people will guide us to a more just future — if only we follow their lead.

Young people are powerful and effective change agents responsible for decades of progressive movements. Youth have led and continue to lead critical shifts in our society, such as the end of legal segregation in the 1960s South, the turn in public opinion on the Vietnam War that helped to end it, and present-day fights for immigration reform and education justice. Yet, progressive leaders often overlook their power and influence. To build a more equitable society, we must invest in youth!