Organizing Youth
Kanyinsola Oye (she/her/hers), Julia Allwein (she/her/hers), and Monica Alonso (she/her/hers) are all relational organizers for Ohio Women’s Alliance, activating a new generation of leaders in Ohio and beyond! Brought together by their shared experiences at Columbus City Schools, the trio founded Columbus Police Department out of Columbus City Schools in 2020 amidst the rising public conversation on police abolition. The group is comprised of current and past students who all believe their schools would be safer without police presence. Their collective organizing has already brought about significant change in the district and sparked a larger discussion on the complex impact of policing in our communities!
While they are organizers, all three are also still students continuing their education in college as well. And while their schedules are extremely busy, they still committed time to get out the vote with Ohio Women’s Alliance this electoral cycle. They hosted several text banks to reach young voters in Ohio this cycle and sent a total of 114,187 text messages between them, activating new groups to the electoral space ranging from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to Hidden Dores at Vanderbilt University, a group striving to eliminate barriers surrounding the experience of marginalized communities, particularly people of color. “The part I appreciated most about this experience was connecting with other groups and people doing essential organizing in Ohio and nationwide,” says Julia Allwein. “In the midst of phone and text banking we found ways to connect and support each other beyond the 2 hour sessions that strengthened all our work.”
Their unique perspectives on organizing young people are invaluable to the Ohio Women’s Alliance community. “I think it is easier to convince young people to come out and volunteer when you truly put things into perspective,” says Kanyinsola. “Text banking and phone banking was difficult in the beginning because it is hard to visualize that you are helping someone that does not align with your values win a campaign. But when you emphasize to young people especially that voting is only one tool in the toolbox for a better world it pushes them to want to join in on the fight.”
And while the election is over, these leaders know the fight has just begun. You can learn more and support their work with Columbus City Schools here. Ready to take action yourself? Join our Cooperative to meet other leaders across the state and plug into the work today!