The idea behind the online organizing movement is simple:  go where the people are.

Thanks in part to YouTube, video functions as the communication tool of choice for young activists seeking to raise awareness around issues of public concern.

New Voices for Youth, an outreach project of the Leagues of Women Voters of Palo Alto and South San Mateo County, partnered with the Computer Academy at Menlo-Atherton High School to support student-produced videos that promote civic engagement.  40 juniors delivered their stories via a Ning.com site, which functions as part newspaper, part social network, and part community service center.

“New Voices youth serve as ‘messengers’ to peers, to the community, and to the public-at-large,” said Kathleen Weisenberg, co-chair of New Voices for Youth.

While nothing can take the place of door-to-door canvassing or house calls, neighborhood blogs function as virtual public squares where residents hash out hyper-local issues.

“I think one of the problems impacting East Palo Alto is its reputation. I have heard people say that East Palo Alto is the worst place to live,” wrote Francisco Toribio, 16, on EastPaloAlto.Ning.com.  “I can remember times when people would ask where I live, and … I would say East Palo Alto, but the reaction I would get would be, ‘Aren't you scared of living there?’ or ‘I heard a lot of people get shot in East Palo Alto.’”

Student videos, like Brenda Mederos’, delve into issues openly debated in online forums.

“My video mainly focused on the reputation of East Palo Alto, from when it was known as the murder capital in 1992,” said Brenda, 16.  A surge in violence resulted in six shootings and 67 homicides in 2006.

“I’ve known most of the people who have passed away from East Palo Alto....”

Brenda, who has lived in the city all her life, based her five-minute video on an interview with longtime resident and 1990 drug-shooting victim Mrs. C.W. Roddy.

“I believe some things have changed,” said Mrs. Roddy, 79.  “But I believe the root of the problem, which is drugs, is still prevalent.”

Taking the conversation offline and on-camera “made people’s stories get heard,” said Brenda.

Spreading the word and getting heard by decision-makers is the goal if you want of affect change, like reversing a bike ban at Burgess Skate Park in Menlo Park.

“Our video addressed the social issue of allowing bikers the same freedom that skateboarders and roller-bladers have in the Burgess Skate Park. Our main goal is to encourage the City of Menlo Park to change the rule regarding bicycles in the skate park. There is no clear reason why they exclude bicycles from the park,” wrote Tom Mitchell, 16, on EastMenloPark.Ning.com.

Despite repeated attempts, students were unable to get an on-camera interview with an official from the City of Menlo Park.

Former Palo Alto Mayor Sandy Eakins suggested that the Menlo Park students get on the agenda at the next city council meeting and present their video.  Eakins, co-chair of New Voices for Youth, helped set up Brenda Mederos’ interview with Mrs. Roddy.

“We hoped that posting the video on YouTube will get their attention,” Nick Church, 16, responded.

A compromise was reached – upping the ante on traditional organizing tactics:  “How about sending an e-mail to the council with a link to the YouTube video?  I know, as a former official, I paid attention to my e-mails,” Eakins said.

An outreach project of the Leagues of Women Voters of Palo Alto and San Mateo County, New Voices for Youth gives students a voice through broadcast media to encourage their civic engagement. This community work project is both non-partisan and non-advocacy.