The Græy Area

The problem I am looking to address is the lack of education and resources for young adults in the area of current events and global politics.

How might we create an informed youth of current global events in a productive and engaging way?

As the political space becomes more polarized, rhetoric continues to become more harmful. Many people are turned off by this and are choosing to stay away from news regarding current events, leading to less people being informed and less people willing to stand up for change where it is needed.

I gained inspiration for this project when I began my minor in Global and International Studies during my sophomore year of college at IUPUI. During these classes I learned about events and issues happening around the world that I was not exposed to through my media environment and that I felt were very important for more young people to understand.

I felt that creating a platform for young adults to learn about these important events would benefit not only the direct user, but also the entirety of our generation to create a more informed future of participants in society.

“Despite making up more than half of the population in many countries, young people (ages 18-30) often find themselves marginalized from mainstream politics and decision making. They struggle to gain the respect of public officials and are seen as lacking the skills and experience to engage in political activity and lead positive change in their communities. This exclusion, combined with limited educational and economic opportunities, can leave young people both idle and frustrated with the status quo.”

- National Democratic Institute

This finding above is the central reason why I decided to follow this subject for my project: to create a space for the youth to be educated of current events in a digestible and inclusive way.

My solution was to create a platform where current events are broken down into the facts and fiction of the matter. This acknowledgment of the black and the white creates a gray space where conversation takes place between differing standpoints. Explanation of the gray space is what will help young adults feel more educated and engaged with current events, leading to more community action and positive change.