Organizing Students and Young People around Transit

1. Organizing Students and Young People around Transit Danny Katz – Director of CoPIRG, former Field Director for CALPIRG’s Prop 1A High Speed Rail Campaign

2. CoPIRG – Colorado Public Interest Research Group • Statewide, non-partisan public interest advocacy group • Started by college students in 1974 – still have vibrant college student organizing program • Across country – 26 State PIRG’s make up a Federation or USPIRG • Forefront of many local transportation ballot initiatives and statewide rail work

3. Agenda • Why organize students? • What resources can they bring? • Best ways to mobilize them • Challenges

4. Why Organize Students? • Young people leading the trend away from driving according to CoPIRG report – Transportation and the New Generation • Between 2000-2010 we’ve seen VMT peak in America and begin to decline. In last five years, average American drove 6% fewer miles than in 2004 • In 2009, young people (16-34) drove 20% fewer miles than 2001. • Between 2001-2009, young people rode public transit 40% more, travelled via bike 24% more and walked 16% more to destination.

5. Transportation for a New Generation – Why? • Gas prices and cost • Though less than you think • Changes in driving laws • Technology • Social networking replaces car trip • Transit aps on smart phones make accessing transit easier • Rise of car share/bike share programs • Rather be on computer/phone than driving

6. Beyond our report • According to research firm Gartner, 46% of drivers between 18-24 would choose internet access over owning a car • In a survey by MTV of 3,000 “millennials” – born 1981-2000, about preferred brands, no carmaker made it into the top 10. Replaced by Google and Nike.

7. Organizing Young People • Two Basic Groupings • College Students • Non-College Students • College students tend to be a lot easier to organize and bring more resources so CoPIRG has mainly focused efforts on organizing them.

8. College Student Resources • Volunteer pool/People power • Time/Energy - (despite misconception) • Idealism/Forefront of social change • Money – 20,000 small donors adds up • Access to university resources – faculty expertise, rooms, technology (video cameras and editing rooms), free printing • Centralized voting bloc – steady increase in youth vote since 2000 – but they need a reason

9. College Student Resources (contd) • Youth are hip and cool and attract VIPs • Social media leaders (don’t overrate this). • College students often have free/discounted bus passes and use transit so have stories/good spokespeople • College students come from everywhere • Many commute to school or commute home so have friends/family in other places of the city/state/country

10. Mobilizing Young People • Peer to peer • Be visionary • Don’t underestimate the power of a map • Cast a wide net • Go to campus – table, poster, use social media, present in classes • Don’t forget community colleges • Provide real leadership opportunities • Don’t forget the social in “social change” • Work through existing friend networks first • 9pm-11pm is the new 9to5 • Tactics can be fun with a little creativity

11. Case Study CALPIRG – Prop 1A – California High Speed Rail - 2008 • November of 2008 vote • $9 billion bond to pay for start of $45 billion project to connect California with high speed rail • 30+ years to build • Grasstops support but no campaign money – “distractions” = Obama/McCain, Prop 8 gay rights initiative • No paid media • Economy begins to tank

12. Campaign’s Best Tool

13. Alternative Spring Break Tour • 50 students travelled the state by car and bike stopping at the proposed stations along the way • Raised awareness for HSR – message = I’d Rather Be Riding High Speed Rail • Press events at each stop = 11 in total generating 43 stories • VIPs came and spoke at events – Congressmembers, mayors, legislators, Governor’s staff • Totally fun – Giant train costume, camping

14. Day 1

15. Day 2-3

16. Day 3-4

17. Tell Kevin Bacon to Vote Yes • October 28th – Social Network Day of Action • Play off Six Degrees of Separation and Kevin Bacon game • If we can get to Kevin Bacon, then we’ll wind up educating millions of people on the way there so forward this until Kevin Bacon gets it • Use all forms of social networking – spread the simple message to your friends and family. • Facebook • Email • Text/call • Events on campus

18. Results from Kevin Bacon Action • 500 College students on 15 campuses sent initial message via their networks • First Degree • 166,014 emailed • 47,384 contacted via Facebook • 5,871 text messages • 3,529 conversations at table or over phone • Failed to track Second, Third, Fourth degree BUT • Generated more media • Anecdotally know that lots of people outside the network got the messages that had been forwarded.

19. Challenges • Reward comes with risk • For every student who comes through, some will bag • Money has begun to outweigh grassroots – devalues students’ strength • Students on the move • Need to constantly register them to vote, replace with new volunteers • Social media is still unproven as vote tools • Volunteer-driven can get “messy” • Cost of higher education = students can’t vol. • Campus red tape