Every adult has been a teen once. They have passed through that awkward period of growth, both physically and mentally. It is a very vulnerable stage of life. Shifting social dynamics, rushing hormones, and struggling through academics make it a less than ideal situation. On top of that chaos though, there is an overarching idea that teens are immune to things outside of their local circle. I’m sure many, if not most of you, reading this right now have been told at some point in your life that you are “too young” to comprehend certain issues in society. This idea of “grown up talk” has been ingrained in society and normalized throughout adults, especially today.
The notion that “children are the future” has become a popular slogan, but it has also become an excuse on both ends of the generational spectrum. Adults see it as a way to excuse their inaction. It allows them to feel secure when passing today’s issues down to the next generation for it to be their problem. On the other end, young people hear the word “future” and think that it implies that there is time. This leads to the procrastination of change. The statement also dismisses young people as an active part of society.
Children are, in reality, the present. Children are living alongside adults in society right now. While they may not be grown professionals or be able to vote, they are still affected by societal changes and core issues of social inequity.
It is imperative that we stop accepting this “children are the future” way of procrastination. It is time for teens to come together and work to fix problems in society now, before they get any worse. This work does not exclude adults though. Collectively, we need to find ways to have intergenerational dialogue so that teens and adults can work together on making change.
Teens Be Heard (TBH) is a newly formed organization that is formulating a response to this exact issue. As a completely student-led organization, TBH strives to create an empowered community of teens that can come together to formulate productive approaches to activism and create societal change. Over the last year, the organization has held events surrounding police brutality, youth food insecurity, and even coordinated efforts to staff polling places for the November 2020 election.
Going forward the organization is looking to facilitate spaces where teens can express their concerns and passions about what social justice issues are most pressing. This goal led to the creation of a new, bi-monthly event: the TBH Teen Activism Open Mic Night. A safe space for teens to express their opinions and experiences on social justice issues and share with their peers. Teen speakers will present art, essays, poetry, songs, and more about various issues in society. Following each presentation, there will be time for discussion and the presentation of an actionable item related to the topic. This will allow teens to come up with new ways to tackle these issues and make small steps toward a more sustainable and equitable society.
The first event will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 7:00 CST over zoom. To learn more, or if you are interested in speaking, visit teensbeheard.orgor visit the TBH instagram @teensbeheard. TBH hopes that this event series will be the next step for teens to be heard and create important and much needed change.
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