PROGRAM

President Obama’s election in 2008 cemented the importance of the youth vote. As the largest and most diverse voting bloc in the country, Millennials are a political powerhouse that are increasingly shaping the American political landscape. Coming of age in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, there are many issues – from persistent underemployment to the cost of higher education to police brutality in communities of color – uniquely impacting Millennials that have broad political, economic, and social implications as the country prepares to elect its next president. 

Join the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College and Young Invincibles for a discussion on the impact that Millennials will have on the 2016 election, and the issues that matter most to this increasingly important generation. Panelists include:

  • Emily Shire, Politics Editor, Bustle
  • Joelle Gamble, National Director, Network at the Roosevelt Network
  • Kevin Stump, Northeast Director, Young Invincibles
  • Natalia Aristizabal, Lead Organizer, Make the Road.

Nisha Chittal, Manager of Social Media & Community at MSNBC, will moderate this discussion. 

PRESENTED WITH


SPEAKERS

Natalia Aristizabal  Lead Organizer, Make the Road

Originally from Medellin, Colombia she came to the United States when she was twelve. Natalia is a Lead Organizer at Make the Road New York, where after almost a decade of organizing Youth Power Project immigrant youth to fight for the federal and NY DREAM Act, Immigration Reform and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. She now supports the LGBTQ project, which is composed mainly of people of color, undocumented immigrants, transgender and gender non-conforming community members of Queens and Brooklyn. Additionally she has lead the Arts & Media programming, which seeks to develop the art, critical thinking skills and leadership development of the members while strengthening the organizing campaigns. In the previous years she has developed curriculum for Youth Power Project summer programs, and led canvassing efforts to register and activate non-partisan voters. Natalia holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies and Media Communication Studies from Queens College City University of New York.


Nisha Chittal  Manager of Social Media & Community at MSNBC

Nisha Chittal is a journalist and social media strategist who is Manager of Social Media & Community at MSNBC. In this role, she supervises day-to-day social media operations with the goal of driving MSNBC’s traffic, audience growth, and audience engagement. She also writes about social media and digital trends for MSNBC.com and is a frequent presence on air at MSNBC analyzing social media news, trends, and the role of social in the 2016 elections. In January 2016, she was named to Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Media.

Nisha is a seasoned digital strategist who previously led social media strategy at Travel Channel in Washington, DC, and also worked at digital agency MXM Social, advising Fortune 500 brands on audience growth and engagement.

Nisha has also written about women’s issues, politics, and technology for a variety of publications, including Elle Magazine, the Huffington Post, Poynter Online, Ms Magazine, The American Prospect, Jezebel, and others. She has also had essays published in three anthologies, including the Amazon Kindle Serial “The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women.”


Joelle Gamble  National Director, Network at the Roosevelt Institute

Joelle Gamble is the Director of the Roosevelt Institute’s national network of emerging thinkers and doers. Under Joelle’s leadership, Roosevelt has dramatically increased the number of student policy change efforts it supports. The network has also seen a marked increase in the racial, socioeconomic and gender diversity of its national student leadership—with chapters at both four-year institutions and community colleges. Prior to coming to the Roosevelt Institute, Joelle, as a student organizer in the University of California Student Association, worked on political campaigns related to tax reform and budgetary priorities. Joelle also writes on topics of race and economics. Her work can be found in places such at The Nation, Salon, The Hill, The Huffington Post and NextCity.


Emily Shire  Politics Editor, Bustle

Emily Shire is the politics editor at Bustle, the largest digital platform targeting millennial women. Specifically within the politics beat, she specializes in abortion and reproductive rights and millennial voters. Prior to joining Bustle, she worked at The Daily Beast and The Week. Her work has appeared on Salon, Slate, The Guardian, and The Atlantic.


Kevin Stump  Northeast Director, Young Invincibles

Kevin Stump is a native New Yorker. He is currently responsible for advancing the organization’s work in the state of New York. Prior to joining Young Invincibles, Kevin served as a board member and later interim Executive Director of an immigrant and labor rights organization in New York City and Long Island. Before then, he was part of the Roosevelt Institute where he worked with young adults across the country to address local challenges by research, writing, and advocating for progressive policy solutions.

Kevin spent four years at the New York Public Interest Research Group where he was responsible for leading its higher education policy work. This included budgetary and policy issues involving SUNY and CUNY, opportunity programs, community colleges, student loan debt, and more. During his time at NYPIRG, Kevin started and led the Coalition to Reform the NY Tuition Assistance Program that had two statewide legislative victories in its first year.

He has testified before the New York State Legislature, Board of Regents, and the New York City Council and has written several issue reports and policy briefs. Kevin has appeared in the Gotham Gazette, Next New Deal, Truthout, Daily News, New York Post, Newsday, and others. He has also appeared on the Regional News Network and CBS Evening News as well as NPR. He received a B.S. from SUNY Plattsburgh in Community Organization & Advocacy and is half way through his MPA at the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College. Follow him at @KevinStump.




Millennials and the 2016 Election | Posted on April 6th, 2016 | Human Rights Program Events, Public Policy Program Events, Public Programs