With an April 6 voter registration deadline approaching, this moment calls us to invest in young people — and take ownership of our shared future.
You’ve heard this before: this upcoming election is the most important election of our lifetime. The hyperbole may be familiar, but the urgency is real. This is an important election season — and yes, it is the most important of my lifetime.
Admittedly, the 2027 election season will feel just as important, and so will 2028.
The pressing needs of our communities are not shrinking — yet voter participation is. Trust in our systems and elected officials continues to wane, while housing prices and concerns about crime continue to rise. We are stuck in a cycle of incongruence … a widening gap between what we experience and how we respond. This imbalance creates tension, both physically and culturally. How do we begin to break this cycle?
We start by investing trust in young people. Turning to our youth — from those newly eligible to vote to those stepping into young adulthood — gives me a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
It challenges us to hold two truths at once: to stay grounded in the present while keeping our eyes on the future. We cannot give up, nor can we concede. We must amplify our collective efforts to reimagine what it means to be a Hoosier — and an American. The experiment we have engaged in over the past 249 years has created opportunity for some, while leaving many still striving toward the promise of happiness.
Whenever I ask people what gives them hope, their answers often point to family or faith. My three children present countless opportunities for me to grow, as a man, a father, a husband and a leader. Each interaction invites reflection … on how to prepare them for success without burdening them with doubt, insecurity or entitlement.
Across Indianapolis, there are powerful programs and initiatives engaging young people in civic life. From voter registration drives to youth-focused candidate forums, the time is now to ensure our youth are not just participants, but co-authors of the narrative shaping our city.
How do young people perceive crime and safety? What careers are they drawn to, and how are they pursuing them? What are their views on data centers and economic development? What kind of neighborhoods help them feel connected, and what would it take to strengthen that sense of belonging?
I have my own assumptions about how they might answer these questions. But this moment calls us to set those assumptions aside and listen directly. The Indianapolis Foundation is well positioned to help convene these voices — amplifying the work already underway while inviting new ideas into the ecosystem. Our communities will be stronger and more inclusive when we listen, empower, and create space for young people to lead.
And that work connects directly to this election season. In Indiana, the deadline to register to vote is April 6. That date is more than a line on a calendar — it is an invitation. An invitation to participate, to be heard and to help shape the direction of our communities.
If we are serious about building a vibrant Indianapolis, one where everyone can thrive, no matter race, place or identity, then participation matters. Not just in spirit, but in action.
This election, like the ones that will follow, is not just about outcomes. It is about ownership. It is about whether we choose to engage — or sit on the sidelines.
Our young people are watching. The question is: what will we show them?
April 6th is the deadline to register to vote in Indiana. Thriving communities are built by people who choose to engage. This is one of those moments.
Ahmed Young is the CEO of the Indianapolis Foundation. Learn more at indianapolisfoundation.org.
For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
