Future Voters of America began, officially, as Future Voters of America Party, Incorporated.

Two child therapists, Francine Baras, C.S.W. and Carol S. Michaels, Ph.D., witnessed the youth of New York City being deprived of many things: a healthy educational system, safe streets and a decent manner of respect. They both agreed that the youth of New York had a host of problems that were not being addressed by society. They were motivated to action. In 1995, they incepted FVAP, Inc. as a non-profit organization, and their vision to aid youth became a reality. With Diane Graszik, C.S.W., who was also a psychotherapist, the three women set out to outreach to young people.

In 1997, Ms. Baras and Ms. Graszik spent one afternoon presenting the notion of youth organizing to high school students at another non-profit organization named Prep for Prep. After several meetings, a core group of students from around New York City formed the very first Youth Steering Committee for Future Voters of America that met at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House. This committee developed a generic platform for youth that Future Voters uses to this day. In 1998, a poll was developed by the Steering Committee to identify the most pressing issues of youth. After reaching out to public and parochial high schools and polling youth on the street, subways, parks and department stores, they discovered that the priority for most young people was safety on the streets.

From 1999 to 2000, Future Voters of America launched a Safe Havens project. FVA approached several businesses throughout the Bronx, which was a historically underserved borough, and asked them to allow their business to be a place where young people could seek shelter and assistance in the case of an emergency. With the agreement of delicatessens and Laundromats throughout the Bronx, Future Voters of America, with supporters mobilized through the YMCA, Beacon Leadership Programs, Neighborhood Houses and community police organizations, opened fifty Safe Havens locations. An event was held at Hostos Community College in the Bronx with over one hundred young people to celebrate the success of the Safe Havens project and to raise awareness about safety on the streets.

Landmark Event: on May 18th, 2000, the Steering Committee of FVA reached out to senatorial candidate Hillary Clinton and convinced her to have a town meeting with over one hundred youth from around New York City. The Town Hall exchange with Senator Clinton was absolutely phenomenal. Senator Clinton stated that FVA should become a national youth movement; her support of our organization has been a wellspring of enthusiasm for us to move the organization into the next century.

From 2001 to 2002, FVA collaborated with the Law and Government Program of the YMCAs of Greater New York, a program that has been in place for sixty-five years and is integral to the educational history of New York City. The YMCAs felt that if FVA joined forces with their Law and Government program, both would be able to provide a more active political experience to New York City youth. Unfortunately, due to funding cuts post-September 11th, the integration of FVA and the Law and Government Program fell short. Seeking a more viable and long-term program, Ms. Diane Graszik, intern Ryan Bennett from New York University and student leader Simon Hall from Calhoun High School visited a Youth Congress that took place annually in Olathe, Kansas. Olathe was Mr. Bennett's hometown. There, the three had the opportunity to see a real (as opposed to a mock) Youth Congress firsthand. The resolutions agreed upon by youth at the Olathe Congress were later presented to local officials. After an exciting and positive conversation with the Congress leaders, FVA was given permission to adopt the model and bring it to New York City.

Since 2003, the New York City Youth Congress has become our flagship event. It has integrated youth in New York City in a vibrant and participatory way, simultaneously educating them about political issues and aiding the development of their leadership skills. Adult coordinators have from the very beginning held weekly meetings with our Youth Steering Committee. With the advent of the Youth Congress, these meetings have become dynamic, based on our progress in making the resolutions from previous Congresses a reality.

In early 2004, we began using the name Future Voters of America, thus removing the potentially confusing 'Party' from our name. We continue in this vein as a political home for young people. We do advocacy for youth on issues that concern youth. Our political agenda is renewed each year at the annual Youth Congresses. In this way, what we advocate for politically comes straight from the minds of high school students. Our administrative role is primarily a support role for our Steering Committee. Our team of interns performs outreach to potential members. We also seek funds for FVA to update and expand our office space, to hire our talented and devoted interns as full-time employees, and to provide working students with stipends so that if they wish, instead of working in retail business or a fast food franchise, they can work in youth politics.

As you can see, plenty of exciting things are happening in the world of Youth Politics. Whether you are a student, a parent or a teacher, you can Get Involved with FVA! There is always plenty to do, and we can provide you with community service credits if you are a student who wishes to volunteer. We look forward to hearing from you!

We have been working hard to give youth a voice and a choice in local politics. The past three years have beyond a doubt been our most exciting and our most successful!

Recent Milestones:

June 8th, 2005
We make history! In a joint Press Conference between Future Voters of America and Councilwoman Gale E. Brewer, we announce that a Bill to Lower the Voting Age will be voted on in the City Council by February 2006. Future Voters Jarrett Bell, Anna Robinson-Sweet, Mark Radin and other FVA Leaders passionately made an appeal to the City Council as educated youth for their right to be enfranchised.

For news coverage of this event, see FVA in the News.

April 8th, 2005
Turnout for our Third Annual New York City Youth Congress (3rd Annual NYCYC) was tremendous, with nearly 300 students from thirty high schools across the city! At this Congress, youth decided that New York City will benefit from having more Peer Courts. FVA is now working with the Police Athletic League to implement a pilot Peer Court in the county of Queens.

To see a list of our resolutions from this Congress and previous Congresses, as well as where they are on the road to becoming policy, see our Resolutions page.

May 21st, 2004
We did not know how large the demand for our organization was until our 2nd Annual NYCYC, held downtown at Pace University's campus. We had 268 high school students representing the collective voice of over two-dozen high schools! In this Congress, youth decided that New York City would benefit from lowering the municipal voting age from eighteen to sixteen, making juniors and seniors in high school eligible to vote for Mayor and City Council members. Our FVA Student Leaders have spent the past year pursuing this resolution.

May 10th, 2003
We hold what will become known as our 1st Annual NYCYC at Hostos Community College in the Bronx. With just over ninety participants from more than a dozen high schools, youth in New York City come together for the first time to set their own political agenda. The Congress, unlike others in New York, was not a mock event or a model Congress. Real decisions were made on May 10th to expand Future Voters and to make two resolutions become law with the help of city officials in our form of local government, the City Council.

If you have any questions about our organization, you may contact us at anytime.