One in four Texans is under the age of 18. That means they can’t cast a ballot, but it doesn’t mean they can make their voices heard.
We found a couple of young Texans doing just that.
Kyra Newton says she used to be afraid to speak up even among her peers, but gained confidence at a camp and even went on to testify before the Texas Legislature about the CROWN Act, which bans race-based hair discrimination.
David Lauer first became interested in politics around the age of 10 while studying history – especially World War II.
They both say it’s okay they can’t vote yet – they can still be engaged and influence outcomes. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.
This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:
David Lauer (third from left) poses with (from left) Mann Middle School Positive Behavior Liaison Randy Jackson, Mann Middle School 8th Grade Vice Principal Katy Roberts, and former Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams.
Texas Standard: Well, what level of government are you both interested in? I mean, do you think it’s just as important to care about your local school board as, say, what our U.S. senators are up to? What do you, David?
David Lauer: Well, I think it is absolutely important for you to focus on all levels of government and I would like to say that schools and local education is very important to kids because it affects them the most deeply.
Very true.
David Lauer: But there are other issues that are on the state and national level that also affect them a lot.
What about you, Kyra? Is there a specific level of government that you watch most closely or do you think it all matters?
Kyra Newton: I think it definitely all matters because on a local level, those are the things that directly affect you and your community.
I mainly focus on Congress – like in Texas, of course, at the Capitol – because that’s the work that I started doing. And I’m used to those spaces.
But obviously being engaged in your local city council meetings or going to your school board meetings, even emailing them just to see what’s up is obviously very important, especially to students.
Well, hopefully most grownups are supportive of your curiosity and passion, but some might not understand. What would you say to someone who says, “hey David, you can’t vote yet. You don’t pay property taxes. Just be a kid.”
David, how would you respond to that?
David Lauer: Well, to me, I got very interested in it and wanted to make change.
And to those adults who think, “Hey, just be a kid.” I am just being a kid, that’s the thing. Being a kid is like being interested in what you want to be interested in. Me? It’s politics.
I love the way you said that. What about you Kyra? What would you say to someone who doesn’t understand your interests?
Kyra Newton: I would say that if I’m able to speak, I’m able to voice my own opinion and that’s valid and important.
I don’t think that because of your age that you have to wait because we already have what it takes to make change. Everyone has their own drives and ambitions and I think if we were more accepting of everyone’s walk in life and everyone’s goals then we would be better as a society.
Okay, now let’s speak directly to Texas kids, who I hope are listening right now. Kyra, what would you say to encourage kids to pay a bit more attention, or even get involved in an issue they’re passionate about?
Courtesy Kyra Newton.
Kyra Newton: I would say that they should speak up about things that directly impact them and that are important to them and their community. Advocacy isn’t one big moment, it’s lots of little ones.
Definitely learn the facts about what’s going on, but also find your friends, your clubs and organizations that will help support you in that. Use your skills, definitely.
What things are special to you? Whether it’s writing or speaking or just organizing things that can help make change, start small. And as you find your voice, things will start to make more sense and be more clear to what kind of advocacy matters to you specifically.
But definitely always stay confident. You know, our voices reflect real life and we’ve all lived our own personal struggles, but that’s what makes our stories powerful, especially as youth. When we speak up together, we’re impossible to silence.
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What about you, David? What’s your advice to kids who haven’t dipped their toe into politics yet?
David Lauer: Well, politics, it’s not what everyone thinks it is. Politics is the process of, and this is just my opinion, it is the process of change and government and in government it’s not just a whole bunch of arguing is the thing.
You can do it one time and try it out. That’s the thing – you don’t have to be like dedicated to it. And talking to a local official, it helps a lot and maybe it will help the future even. Sometimes it’s like a domino effect.
You’re getting to a point that I wanted to ask you about, which is, what do you do when you’re advocating for something or you’re pushing back against something and you don’t get your way?
The politicians might say, “well, thank you for sharing that with me,” and then they vote and do it the other way. I mean, that must be disappointing, but how do you keep going?
David Lauer: What keeps you going is the fact that there is always a chance.
Kyra, how about you? What keeps you going when you don’t get the outcome you wanted?
Kyra Newton: I definitely got some pushback whenever I spoke about the ban on DEI, which is something obviously important to me as a student of color.
I had to wait five hours just to speak and testify that day, and I was one of the youngest people in the room – me and my co-founder of Beyond Boundaries, who were the youngest people there – and we definitely got looks after I testified. This older woman edited her own testimony to say “stop turning children into radical activists” and I think that when older people see children in a space like that, it definitely scares them because whenever children have to be involved in those kind of spaces, it definitely speaks volumes.
What I did, I stayed grounded in my own personal story. And while they were speaking those things and while I was waiting for those five hours, I edited my own testimony to sort of debunk those things that they were trying to say with real facts. And I spoke about how removing those DEI spaces impacts student safety and learning and sense of belonging.
I used my voice even when it felt scary, knowing that it wasn’t just about me, but it was about protecting my friends and future teens, too.
Well, I know you guys have a lot of interest in working towards issues that you care about and making your communities better.
David, do you have a specific ambition in mind? Is it gonna be “David Lauer for mayor,” or something else?
David Lauer: I met former mayor Anthony Williams. He’s a former mayor of Abilene in case y’all were wondering. And it expanded me to local politics.
This conversation with him… My life’s gonna have to change, that’s the thing. But my ambition’s right now that I wanna be a city council member and then mayor. And then I might upgrade or like expand on to a representative, even – maybe. And all that.
I like politics – that’s the thing. And I want to enter it and I’ve been into it for a long time.
Well, I think that’s very exciting. And of course, you definitely have plenty of time to change your mind or your plans as you go along the way.
Kyra, what do you think? I mean, is being a politician what you want? Or is there something else? Or are you going to be maybe just an engaged adult in no matter what you pursue as a career?
Kyra Newton: Yes, so I’m 17, so that’s definitely a question I’ve been thinking about a lot, especially with choosing a college major. But I definitely will be civically engaged throughout my life, especially being exposed to it at a younger age.
I plan on majoring in political science or public policy and going the pre-law route. And definitely going to Congress and becoming a senator is definitely my goal.
