Actual Productive Political Solutions By Youth
WE(fillintheblank) is a non-profit, non-partisan, student run organization that aims to inspire and engage an untapped resource in modern politics: the high school student. WE aims to provide actual productive political solutions by youth to the Border Region, giving high school students a legitimate voice that is respected. To this end, WE(fillintheblank) has hosted political debates and forums, conducted city-wide exit polling, encouraged voter participation, hosted presidential debate viewing parties, conducted congressional teleconferences, hosted the annual BORDERiZE Youth Symposium, and engaged with elementary students to teach them the value of civic engagement through our Breaking Apathy Series.
WE(fillintheblank) operates under the umbrella of the Paso Del Norte Charitable Foundation.
Our History
WE(fillintheblank) was officially created in 2012 by students at Coronado High School. It previously existed in a less formal version as early as the mid 1990's, initiated by teacher Gary Berglund. Since its creation it has expanded from merely an organization with members centralized on the west side, to an organization with members spanning the entire El Paso community. The members of our organization are all currently high school students at various local high schools.
Community Testimonials
WE(fillintheblank)
Mission Statement:
WE aims to inspire and engage an untapped resource in modern politics—the
high school student. WE, a student organization, promotes the youth to take
power of their political now. WE aims to be the vehicle for progression for
youth involvement in politics in America, giving high school students a
legitimate voice that will be respected nationwide.
WE Involve
WE is a student-generated, non-partisan organization that allows the youth to interact in an environment open to innovative political thought. WE upholds the
importance of the youth perspective and their ability to influence their communities. With WE, students take responsibility and accountability for their political now and future.
Democracy should never encourage its citizens to be spectators. It becomes the duty of the youth to prevent democracy from becoming a spectator sport
through political activism. By doing so, the youth build a foundation that may be perpetuated into the future.
WE Inspire
Voting ,while the most simple form of political engagement, is not the only way to influence politics. Voting provides no insurance that the goals of the
voter will be acted upon. The most effective form of political engagement is direct involvement, and WE encourages its members to become direct participants
in the political process. By doing so, the youth show that they refuse to allow politicians to ignore important issues and demand effective action.
WE aims to create a generation that is proactive, not reactive. The youth need to bring their ideas to the playing field where they can be acted upon and
be made concrete.
WE Impact
People do not become politically wise at age 18 when they gain the right to vote. It takes years of cultivating understanding before they are able to
appreciate and act on their self-interest. WE gives the student the environment needed to develop and advocate their self-interest-- a collective self-interest
WE believes will advance our society.