No Age Requirement for Advocacy

By Lisa Sieren

Remember that kid in school who was always picked on? Everyone always laughed at him, making school unbearable. And then one day, you had enough and stood up for him, telling the other kids to stop being mean. That day, you were being an advocate.

The moral of this story is that no one is ever too young to advocate. Too often, young adults are under the impression (or given the impression) that we are too young to speak out on behalf of something we believe in. At 26 years old, I have certainly experienced my share of this. But in reality, young adults have just as much cause to advocate as any other age group.

The decisions made today directly impact our future, and the future of those we care about. Legislation at the federal level on social security is a great example —decisions made today will impact us as we grow older. In Iowa, legislation regarding child care quality will impact those of us who have or plan to have children. Beyond public policy, decisions in our workplace and communities impact us as well, such as the availability of workplace wellness programs or the proposal to have a weekly farmer’s market.

Being an advocate does not have an age requirement. Just as we spoke up for the kid who was always picked on in school, we can advocate at work, in our communities and in government for what we believe in.