MAYOR RYAN BINGHAM, 22, AND COUNCILMAN ALEX ZIKAS, 19, LEAD NATIONAL CITIZEN ACTION MOVEMENT AMONG YOUTH

For Immediate Release

Contact: James Porter
(212) 254-2390 x.221


* MEDIA ADVISORY *

MAYOR RYAN BINGHAM, 22, AND COUNCILMAN ALEX ZIKAS, 19, LEAD NATIONAL CITIZEN ACTION MOVEMENT AMONG YOUTH

(New York) – On Friday, February 3rd, 22 year old Mayor Ryan Bingham, of Torrington, Connecticut, and 19 year old Councilman Alex Zikas, of Alpha, New Jersey take the lead in a national movement to transform America’s youth into engaged citizens. They help kick off the “Citizen ACTion Challenge” in New York with Do Something, Inc., the premier national youth organization of more than a million active young people.

Mayor Bingham and Councilman Zikas will be taping a PSA to promote Do Something’s “Citizen ACTion Challenge,” encouraging other young people to become active and engaged citizens by attending local town hall or school board meetings.

Only 26% of young people believe that voting and being involved in democracy are extremely important and only 17% of young voters are encouraged by their peers to vote. “These numbers are drastically low! The only way to turn this around is by engaging young people in the democratic process at an early age. The “Citizen ACTion Challenge” is an easy way to engage those not of age to vote,” says Nancy Lublin, Chief Executive Officer of Do Something, Inc.

"Young people are definitely under-represented in the government and there’s only one way to change that; take citizen action - no matter how young we may be. If we’re serious about the change we want to see, people will listen," says Bingham, 22 year old Mayor of Torrington, Connecticut.

The PSA for the “Citizen ACTion Challenge” will air on Channel One during the month of March, reaching 8 million teens in 350,000 classrooms daily.


WHAT: Young political leaders kick off national youth citizen action movement by taping a PSA to encourage teens to become engaged citizens by attending local town hall, school board, and local committee meetings.

WHERE: The office of Do Something, 24-32 Union Square East, 4th Floor south

WHEN: Friday, February 3rd, 2:00-4:00PM




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