I will fight to ensure the youth have a permanent seat at the table, because, after all, they are the future. I could drone ad nauseum about the power of young voices, but I will keep it short. This message is more powerful straight from a young voice, and I will introduce you to one who is working alongside me to fight for a better Oklahoma. She was a part of something truly special this summer, an experience that allowed her to connect with Oklahoma in a unique way. Hear more about her experience and what she has to say about the need for younger voices in this fight for Democracy in her blog post. Meet Valarie.

Imagine waking up one day and realizing the rules that protect you no longer apply. Unfortunately, no imagination is necessary because we are living in that reality. A reality where many elected officials have lost sight of what the Constitution stands for. A reality that leaves us questioning whether they’ve even read this sacred document, understand the depth it holds, and what is at stake. Does the law even matter to our current administration? It seems that our leaders are focused on their own self-interest, without a single regard for people like you and me. This is not the America I fought for, and this is not the America you deserve.

The Civil Rights Movement, Suffrage, the Farm Workers Movement, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the MeToo Movement, and Occupy Wall Street. These movements all have one thing in common: they started with ordinary people. Ordinary people who decided that enough was enough. Ordinary people who decided that they had the power to change the world. Ordinary people who rose to the challenge of their time. Ordinary people just like you. These movements teach us that each of us has the power to create change by simply showing up for a cause and communicating with our community.