Below are key messages to use when communicating about the campaign and the importance of student involvement in public life. Each message is supported by additional talking points that can help add depth and meaning to the broader theme.

These talking points are for use by students and young people. We are talking about your generation and your campaign. Other campaign supporters, such as college presidents, can adjust the talking points to fit their unique perspectives.

You should work to integrate these points into all of your communication efforts.


Today’s college students are part of a group that is 40 million strong. The ideas, voices and actions of today’s students are leading this generation and will determine the future of our country.

• Our generation will outnumber the Baby Boomers and Generation X. Our power is already dramatically impacting the marketplace, and by raising our voices together in public life we can have a tremendous influence on the future direction of this country.

• Through our participation in public life now we can build civic skills and develop a sense of how – individually and collectively – we can make an impact.

By coming together to participate in discussions, debates and forums, today’s students are identifying and engaging issues that impact our communities.

• We cannot afford to let people “tell us” what the important issues are today. We need to make our individual voices heard, so that people know that our generation has the knowledge, motivation and skills necessary to be active citizens.

• We are an important part of positive change in our world today, and we need to continue to discuss, debate, volunteer and prepare for the future.

Students’ ideas and actions are already making a difference in communities around the country and throughout the world.

• Students are already actively engaged in volunteer and service work throughout the world. Their work is valuable, necessary and is making a real difference.

• We are already working at the ground level in real-life situations. Our hands-on work is helping to shape communities around the globe and is helping us to find our voice on critical issues.

In the last election, our leaders seemed to be talking to everyone but young people. We need to make our voices heard by advocating for issues, working in our communities and voting. We need to raise our voice.

• A lot of leaders talk about us, but very few talk to us. The Raise Your Voice campaign is about starting a conversation. It’s about making sure that our opinions and ideas our impacting both local and national discussions.

• We don’t have to agree on every issue, but we do have to work together to make sure that people – including our elected officials – know they should be listening to us.