#TalkRadio – January 2: The Challenges Facing Young Voters in 2024

SPEAKERS:

Webertline Dorlus: 12:00 PM – 12:28 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition Fellow, Class of September 2023; Works as an educator; Student at the University of Florida, pursuing an MBA 

Jovan Mickens: 12:00 PM – 12:28 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition Fellow, Class of September 2023; Graduate of Florida A & M; During his last semester, he followed the format of the GenZ and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training and held a non-partisan training on his campus. 

Dy’Lana Hamilton: 12:30 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition Fellow, Class of September 2022; Transformative Justice Coalition Freedom Rider during TJC’s GOTV campaigns in Kentucky and Ohio, November 2023; Student at Sam Houston University 

Kayden Skeete: 12:30 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition Fellow, Class of September 2023; Student at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “The Challenges Facing Young Voters in 2024”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and guests Dy’Lana Hamilton, Webertline Dorlus, Jovan Mickens, and Kayden Skeete. Today’s show will focus on one of TJC’s major initiatives: the enhancement of voting rights leadership skills for young African American and People of Color leaders. Since 2016, TJC has held numerous training events including virtual ones during the height of COVID. However, in the last 2 years, post-the shutdowns, these trainings have reached a new pinnacle. Our guests are all very talented individuals who have participated in the Trainings and have taken their lessons back to their colleges and communities to assist with voter support, assistance, mobilization, and protection. As we look to the major issues of 2024, nothing will be more important than the vote of the new dominant cohort of voters from ages 18-35. Our guests will share their perspectives on what they think will be the major issues that will determine turnout and participation of this new dominant cohort. They will also share their ideas of what activations will be required in 2024 to support the engagement and participation of young voters.

QUESTIONS:

SEGMENTS ONE AND TWO

• [At the top of segment one, Barbara and Daryl will give a brief reminder about the US Department of Agriculture’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. The Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023. To learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program or receive assistance in English or Spanish, visit www.22007apply.gov, email info@22007apply.gov or contact the national call center at 1-800-721-0970 from 8 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT, every day except federal holidays. If you use sign language to communicate, you can use the 711 relay service to call. You may also email or contact the national call center if you have a disability and need another accommodation. Information about the program, resources, recent office openings and local events across the country is also available through a weekly e-newsletter.]
• [Barbara and Daryl will remind the audience of the upcoming JANUARY 26TH DEADLINE to apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, April 3 – April 8, 2024. People may can find the application link to apply at tjcoalition.org]
• What has motivated you to become involved in voting rights?
• In September 2023, you both graduated from the Transformative Justice Coalition’s Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training. What motivated you to attend the Training?
• What were the most important things that you learned from the Training?
• Jovan, during your last semester at Florida A&M, you followed the format of TJC’s Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training and held a non-partisan training on your campus. Please share with our audience about that training.
• Webertline, you joined the Communications Committee addressing the horrible opinion of the Federal Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, saying that private groups and individuals cannot sue under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Why did you join?
• What do you think are going to be the major issues that will impact young voter turnout in 2024?
• [Barbara and Daryl will remind the audience of the upcoming JANUARY 26TH DEADLINE to apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, April 3 – April 8, 2024. People may can find the application link to apply at tjcoalition.org]
• What do you have to say to people who are considering attending the Phoenix Training who don’t know if they should take the time to participate?
• What do you have to say to people who are considering attending the Phoenix Training who don’t know if they should take the time to participate?
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENTS THREE AND FOUR

• [Barbara and Daryl will remind the audience of the upcoming JANUARY 26TH DEADLINE to apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, April 3 – April 8, 2024. People may can find the application link to apply at tjcoalition.org]
• What has motivated you to become involved in voting rights?
• Dy’Lana, you graduated in September 2022 and Kayden, you graduated in September 2023 from the Transformative Justice Coalition’s Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training. What motivated you to attend the Training?
• What were the most important things that you learned from the Training?
• Dy’Lana, you were a Transformative Justice Coalition Freedom Rider during TJC’s GOTV campaigns in Kentucky and Ohio in November 2023. How has your participation in these events affected your perspectives on what is going to be required in 2024 to assist young voters?
• Kayden, your home is in Georgia, but you go to college in North Carolina, making you closely associated with two states where people are fighting voter suppression, especially with redistricting. How has the Training impacted your work?
• What do you think are going to be the major issues that will impact young voter turnout in 2024?
• [Barbara and Daryl will remind the audience of the upcoming JANUARY 26TH DEADLINE to apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, April 3 – April 8, 2024. People may can find the application link to apply at tjcoalition.org]
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?