- October 9, 2024
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Cameron Driggers, a 2023 Flagler Palm Coast High School graduate and a student activist, has seen firsthand the problems that younger political activists face.
So, he has started an organization to help progressive Gen Z activists carry out campaigns in their communities.
The Youth Action Fund will help organizers under the age of 24 who live in Florida with stipends and advice.
“Throughout our experience in activism, we’ve encountered a lot of problems, a lot of patronization and lack of support [in favor of] more established organizations,” Driggers said. “And so we are coming in to fill the void that exists right now where so many Gen Zers are passionate about making change, but they simply don’t have the resources to do so, especially in communities that are more marginalized.”
Driggers, 18, is the Youth Action Fund’s executive director. Other board members include fellow 2023 FPC grads Jack Petocz and Alysa Vidal, South Florida activist Maxx Fenning and Orlando activist Will Larkins. All five are college students.
The Youth Action Fund has secured a seed grant of $350,000 from the Jonathan David Wayne Lewis Foundation of Miami. That includes $25,000 for the rest of 2023 for their stipends programs and then upwards of $100,000 next year for stipends, Driggers said.
The organization has two stipend programs. The individual stipend provides $500 for organizers struggling with their incomes who need support to continue their advocacies. The campaign stipend of $1,000 is reserved for a small group of students acting together toward a common goal.
The advising program matches seasoned campaigners with youth groups to assist with developing campaign strategies, including defining goals and crafting persuasive messages.
The Youth Action Fund launched publicly two weeks ago with the board approving its first three applications, Driggers said. It is supporting a voter registration drive across Orange County Public Schools that began on Nov. 13. And it has also funded projects in rural areas “that have been left behind by more established foundations,” Driggers said.
To learn more, visit youthactionfund.org.
