Organizing young people off campus presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities that are very different from on-campus work. On the one hand, it can be more difficult, since you are not working with defined and organized campus groups. On the other hand, it can be easier, because non-college youth often identify with the struggles of obtaining affordable health coverage in a more immediate way.

Identify your audience and go to them

Think about who you are trying to reach and where you can find them. Aaron Smith of Young Invincibles stresses finding the right networks, similar to campus organizing. While you can pursue a variety of avenues, it’s helpful to identif y who you are organizing, and then tailor your outreach to that individual or group. Groups we talked to had a variety of approaches to off-campus organizing, such as targeting networks of young professionals, or targeting faith communities to reach communities of color.

Get in line

Once you identify your target audience, organizers recommend finding “clearinghouses,” or popular places where youth congregate. Matt Singer of the Bus Federation has had success running street canvasses in local downtown hotspots, such as coffee shops or farmers’ markets. He also recommends going to places with lines of people waiting, such as ice cream parlors or concerts. Find people where they are hanging around with some time on their hands and encourage them to sign up.

Host high-energy social events

Similar to campus organizing, use dynamic events to attract people to your campaign. Sam Menefee-Libey of Campus Progress suggests pulling people in through eventcentered outreach. Examples include concerts, film screenings, and events at bars. For off-campus youth, offering opportunities for networking and social interaction can be the best way get people involved.

Use community connections

Non-college youth often have much stronger ties to their local communities than campus youth. Take advantage of this by identifying their self-interests and building stronger community bonds. Sam Menefee-Libey with Campus Progress has found success with strengthening these connections by engaging older, more established community members in organizing and mentoring younger people.

[Return to the top]