Today's young people are tomorrow's hope for a strong and vibrant democracy. But citizens are made, not born. That's why we must continue to invest in our young people so they will actively participate in the life of our local, national and global community.

To reverse the dismal trends in youth civic engagement will take nothing short of a broad and sustained commitment from all segments of society, and each of us individually. We must work together to help restore the civic mission of education. If we're serious about addressing the issue of civic engagement, we must restore civics to its rightful place in a well-rounded education and understand that skills for democratic living are as essential as reading and math.

There is no quick fix for voter apathy but with a collective long-term effort we can influence voter participation and our future by teaching our children about democracy, freedom, human rights and the value of the individual. At Kids Voting USA we are moving toward this vision by building programs in more communities, collaborating with other civic organizations, and continuing to offer America's youth the lifelong experience of active and spirited citizenship.

Paula Case
Director of Communications
Kids Voting USA