FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 26, 2014
Contacts: Sarah Lovenheim: Sarah.Lovenheim@
Tim Price: tprice@
[CHICAGO] — Governor Pat Quinn and Republican opponent Bruce Rauner will address 1500 young adults from across Illinois at a first-of-its-kind Convention in Chicago tomorrow. Young adults, concerned about major issues facing the state, such as unemployment, civil rights and rising education costs, are coming together to vote on a policy agenda for 2015 that would address these problems and more.
Both gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to speak about the importance of including Millennial voices in the political future of Illinois. Bruce Rauner will deliver remarks at 10 a.m.; Governor Pat Quinn will address the audience at noon.
The Convention marks the culmination of nearly 60 caucuses held by young Illinoisans this past summer who exchanged policy ideas under the umbrella of a new Millennial movement called NextGen Illinois. The movement, started by Young Invincibles and the Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network — in partnership with community organizations — drew more than 700 young adults to bars, community centers and parks to exchange ideas around issues, such as political reform, education and civil rights.
More than 50 young Illinoisans will present ideas that emerged at caucuses during Saturday’s Convention and at the end of the day, attendees will vote on a cohesive ten-item policy agenda, designed to represent the top political priorities of their generation.
WHEN: Saturday, September 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: UIC Forum, 725 W Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Illinois 60607
WHO: 1500 Millennials, joined by gubernatorial candidates Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner
WHAT: Young Illinoisans vote on a state policy agenda for their generation
Historically, young Illinoisans have voted at disproportionately low rates during midterm election cycles, according to reports by CIRCLE, but the Convention has the potential to change this.
“With just one quarter of young adults in Illinois voting in past midterm elections, our state ranks 47th in the nation, in terms of how frequently our generation turns out to vote statewide. This Convention bringing Millennials together to vote on a policy agenda for 2015 could help change this; the message that all attendees will hear is that their voice counts,” said Eve Rips, Midwest Director of Young Invincibles.