Young adult leaders from The Collective Blueprint have launched an unprecedented effort to engage voters aged 18-30 in the upcoming Memphis Mayoral Election. Through videos telling the stories of residents and an expansive digital media effort, the campaign will lead conversations on issues that are critical to young people and encourage high participation in the October 5th election. 

While more than 100,000 Memphis residents ages 18-34 are registered to vote, pollsters predict merely 10% of them will vote by October 5th. The Blueprint for Change is a targeted effort to change that outcome. 

“If we work together to exercise our political power through voting and action we can push policies that benefit us, rather than putting money in the pockets of people that view us as the problem,” shared Chrishaun Crump, a graduate of The Collective Blueprint’s Tech Collective Program and a 22-year-old Memphis resident. “As the father of a three-year-old son, I want a mayor who will increase pay for teachers, create safe educational spaces, who will raise wages, and build programs for working families.“ 

In August 2023, the campaign polled more than 300 adults ages 18-30 in Memphis to understand the issues that matter most and to assess their voting behaviors. Four key issues were identified to address the needs of young residents:

  • Education and Safe spaces for youth
  • Job training and career opportunities
  • Wages and working conditions in Memphis 
  • Predatory policies that take advantage of poor people

“I joined the Blueprint for Change campaign because too many candidates don’t care about the needs of young people in Memphis,” commented Jamitrius Lewis, a South Memphis native who earned her medical billing and coding certification through The Collective Blueprint. “Our next mayor needs to create more opportunities for youth- whether that’s college prep or trade schools or programs that give us a safe place to be, and young voters can be part of making that happen.”

They also invited current mayoral candidates to respond to the issues elevated by the research. To date, six candidates have submitted videos or text responses sharing their vision for meeting the needs of young Memphis voters. 

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The Blueprint for Change is a social impact campaign aimed at increasing turnout among registered voters aged 18-34 on October 5th. Beginning the week of September 11th, and continuing through election day, The Collective Blueprint and its partners will share, through its social media platforms, non-partisan information, including videos and short statements, about where the candidates stand on issues important to young adults. Learn more about the Blueprint for Change campaign here: https://www.ourblueprintforchange.org/