Five Promises to Make on the Eve of the Inauguration

Tomorrow, the United States of America’s 45th president takes office.

It’s a serious moment for us. Our generation overwhelmingly chose inclusivity and progress at the ballot box — and more than any other voting age bloc, we voted for candidates who ultimately did not win.

So while the country’s new president prepares to stand before the nation making promises of his leadership, here are five promises that we can make to each other and to ourselves as we keep moving forward in pursuit of a future that reflects our values:

We promise…

…to keep listening

We are the largest and most diverse generation in the history of our country. Each of us has a story with distinct experiences. We will hear each other, knowing that our differences are often times our strengths.

…to keep learning

We are the most educated generation in the history of our country, but we know that learning how to affect change is a continuous process. We will expand our understanding of the world through new sources, experts, and proposals that challenge or increase our existing knowledge in order to champion the issues that we care about and to hold our institutions and elected officials accountable.

…to stay vigilant

Our generation is united around values of civil rights and social justice. We will remain committed to ensuring that Americans are not divided or marginalized based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, or immigration status. We will speak up in the face of discrimination, and we will band together to protect the right to vote. We will not allow our voices — or the voices of any American — to be silenced.

…to stay outraged

Regardless of political affiliation, our generation shares important and fertile common ground. Our elected officials refusing to acknowledge realities like climate change or popular support for campaign finance reform is unacceptable and does not reflect the will of the people. We will not become desensitized or distracted. We will speak Truth to Power.

…to embrace and build our power

We will show up. We will work to make our communities stronger and our voices louder. We will vote in every election, and we will call, email, and write to our representatives. We will sign petitions. We will attend community meetings. We will organize. We will protest. We will encourage others to join in our movement, and we will create the country that we want for ourselves and for future generations.

Our work is not just about casting a ballot in presidential election years — it’s about building power for ourselves as the youngest generation of voters leading our country’s march toward progress.

In moments like this, I’ve found inspiration in these words from Dr. King: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

We must keep moving forward. Our future depends on it.

Carolyn DeWitt
President, Rock the Vote