By: Grace Engelman Last week, I attended the 6th Congressional Candidate Forum at Kentucky State University along with a few other KSEC members. As a part of KSEC’s Political Working Group, I feel a personal duty to not only keep tabs on Kentucky politics, but also to ensure that the concerns of young Kentuckians are a part of our political dialogue. Most of the 6th District Congressional candidates were in attendance, including Democrats Jim Gray and Reggie Thomas. While the forum was certainly informative, it was a reminder that we, the public, are often unable to control the political narrative. Not only was the audience prohibited from taking photos or videos; audience members’ opportunity to contribute to the discussion was limited to submitting notecards that were drawn at random. I had gone into the forum with the hopes of contributing to the discussion. Instead, the event seemed to be more for the candidates’ stump speeches than it was for the voters. Politics is no longer a dialogue between voter and candidate; it feels as though the electorate is being talked at, not talked to.
This is a common theme in today’s political climate. Sure, many of us may be able to cast a vote. But, only the media and the politicians themselves control the narrative. In my experience, every candidate event is just another opportunity to outline their platform on social welfare or the pension or the budget or taxes. All of these issues are obviously important, but they are not the only issues that concern Kentuckians. As a young Kentuckian, I would like to know these politicians’ plans for coal severance and a just transition; I would like to know how they will take action to mitigate the effects of climate change; I would like to know if and how they plan to address the growing socioeconomic inequality faced by millions of Americans. When these candidates do discuss the environment, they say that it must be protected, but very little is said on how we will take action to save our planet. When they do talk about the rights of people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and other oppressed groups, they go on about equality, but rarely do they offer specific policy proposals to promote this equality. We won’t settle for the mere mention of “environmental protection” and “equal rights” when these candidates won’t propose actual political solutions. It is time for us to demand our voices to be heard, to make a place for ourselves in today’s political discourse, and to change the narrative. It is time that young Kentuckians have a seat at the table. We will no longer be ignored.
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DESTINE
Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I am located in Louisville, particularly in the Southend. Most definitely, my favorite thing to do is visit the falls of the Ohio. I especially loved crawling through the caves and taking as many rocks as I could fit in my pockets home as child. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? Previously, I have been a delegate for my school. Two things really drive me to do this, first being how educational the experience is. I have learned so much about the issues and people of Kentucky throughout my term that I no longer hold certain biases and can hold educated conversations about the future of my state. Second, it has made me feel that I am a part of something larger than myself and my school. This immensely motivating for me to continue the battle that is social justice. What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? I am looking forward to attaining more skills that will shape me into a proactive organizer so that no matter where I end up for college or adulthood, I know that I can take a stand against injustice around me. What is your favorite hobby or activity? Despite its seamless lack of purpose, I love reading mangas and manhwas (Japanese and Korean comics). What’s your favorite food? It changes every time I am asked, but right now it is Kroger brand coffee flavor ice cream. If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? I would love to go to Ecuador. My close friend is Ecuadorian and she tells amazing stories about their markets, the city life, and the beautiful rainforests. CACI Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I live in London. When the weather is nice, we like to go out walking and get some fresh air. We split our time between Main Street, Levi Jackson Park, and the Veteran's Park in town. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? I work full-time as the Eastern Kentucky Organizer. I spend my time working on just transition issues and providing support to Eastern Kentucky campuses. I'm from Bell County, and I've spent my life hearing about how we'll never have jobs here and we'll never have a future. I grew up, like most of my peers, planning to leave as soon as possible. But now I believe that there is a future for Kentucky and for Appalachia, and I'm excited to be a part of the solution. What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? I'm excited to work with other young people, to feel connected to the community, and to help other young people feel that they can have a future in Kentucky. I love being in a room filled with KSEC members who feel hopeful and energized. What is your favorite hobby or activity? I love any sort of creative pursuit, especially if it has a result I can share with my friends. I spend a lot of time cooking, writing, and playing Dungeons & Dragons on the weekends. What’s your favorite food? I'm a huge fan of anything cinnamon, and will never turn down cinnamon rolls or French toast. If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? I'd love to visit all of America's National Parks, but honestly I'd probably just disappear up into the Smokies and spend the day reading and hiking. CARA Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I live in Lexington and my favorite thing to do is to go out dancing. We have a great music scene and several really fun venues. Al's Bar is probably my favorite place to go because they have cheap cocktails , has an awesome Caribbean restaurant inside (Fida's) and it's walking distance from my house. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? I work with KSEC's State Network, Political Working Group, Gas and Pipelines Working Group, and our summer camp, Catalyst. I feel really lucky to do this work because I believe that young people have the power to create a better, more just and sustainable future. KSEC allows me to connect young Kentuckians to grassroots organizing skills and a supportive network so that they can be a part of the movement. What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? I look forward to meeting even more awesome and inspiring young Kentuckians and helping to build a bigger, more inclusive state network. What is your favorite hobby or activity? I love to grow, cook and share food with my friends and neighbors. What’s your favorite food? This question is too hard. Depends on the day and the season! If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? I've been thinking a lot about visiting Glacier National Park lately. Ya know, before all the glaciers melt MEAGAN Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I am located in Paducah Kentucky and my favorite thing to do is take my niece to the park. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? I am in an internship as a student to give political workshops, host events, and recruit people to build a long term partnership on campus. I am passionate about this because I feel like many people my age would like to stand for something bigger than themselves and I am excited to be able to show them the tools to do that and make friends with like minded people along the way. What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? Bird dogging politicians. What is your favorite hobby or activity? My favorite hobby is hiking and going on nature walks and learning about plants. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is Pizza. If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? If I could go anywhere for a day I would go to Bhutan. OLIVIA Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I am located in Hazard Kentucky. Things I like to do in my town is a lot of community gardening, I am a member of Grow Appalachia and I'm starting to think that may be my dream job. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? The work that I'm doing in KSEC, is an internship to build grassroots leadership and political engagement in my area and especially my community college. What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? The thing I look forward to most working with KSEC is that, though I preach against littering I don't really make that much of a difference, I want to produce change in my area. I want to spread awareness and help bring information to those who it normally wouldn't reach. What is your favorite hobby or activity? My favorite hobby would definitely have to be gardening, along with painting and creating a tiny house. What’s your favorite food? My favorite food is hard to choose, type of food would definitely be Indian food. If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? If I could go anywhere today, it would be to Ireland, or Iceland. ALLISON Where are you located and what’s your favorite thing to do there? I am from Murray but I live in Lexington to work for KSEC! I love going to the climbing gym, which is only a few blocks from my apartment. What work are you doing within KSEC and what drives your passion for it? I am serving as KSECs Communications and Development Director as an Americorps VISTA ( Americorps is a national service program, you should look into it!). I plan fundraisers, seek out and apply for grants, and work with members on KSEC communications stuff like blogs, letters to the editor, news interviews, social media, and more. I am passionate about empowering young Kentuckians to take a stand for the issues they care about. When we work together, I know we can create a more just and sustainable Kentucky. Communications and fundraising is essential to ensuring KSEC can continue empowering young Kentuckians to pursue their vision for a brighter future. I am so grateful I get to work for an organization I love while nerding out on communications and fundraising! What are you most looking forward to in your work with KSEC? I look forward to amplifying the voices of our incredible KSEC members. I am also excited about ensuring organizational resiliency through fundraising and grant writing! What is your favorite hobby or activity? Hanging out with friends and the amazing folks I know through KSEC makes pretty much anything amazing. Top of the activity list for me, though, is climbing out in the beauty of the Red River Gorge (thanks to the Cumberland Chapter of the Sierra Club for saving it from being dammed up!). What’s your favorite food? If I weren’t trying to minimize my consumption of animal products, I’d say cheese tots from Sonic. But since I’m trying to be more a more ethical eater, my new favorite food is homemade TVP tacos! If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? Idaho hot springs somewhere off the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Or San Francisco. Or Vancouver. Or Yosemite. Idk. |
AboutThe Young Kentuckian is a blog of the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition where youth share their work and ideas for Kentucky's bright future. Follow The Young Kentuckian on Facebook!
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