With all of the media noise about the 2024 presidential election this fall, it is easy to fall into a state of despair about the current political landscape. As a young person, I want to get involved in our government but struggle to understand how.
I interned this past summer at the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, where Chris Carr, a Marist alumnus, and his incredible team allowed me to learn about their work. There, I realized that there is so much more to our country’s government than just the national headlines.
Carr’s prosecution teams work daily to protect Georgia communities with units dedicated to fighting gang activity, human trafficking, organized retail crime, Medicaid fraud and elder abuse.
“Since its creation in 2019, the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has rescued and assisted nearly 200 victims – that’s nearly 200 lives that will forever be changed,” said Kara Murray, Carr’s Communications Director.
I have always been concerned about human trafficking, but thanks to my internship, I am more aware about this important issue. By doing a little bit of research on issues that you care about, you too can find specific ways that your cities, counties, and states are working to solve them, which can give you hope and inspire you to get involved.
The Politically Georgia podcast, a weekday show broadcast by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, focuses on Georgia politics. It is an amazing resource that helps listeners to understanding the impact of a state senate run-off election or to identifying key political figures in our local communities.
In contrast to national government, state and local politics are far easier to get involved in. Reaching out to a city council member or voting in a local election present unparalleled opportunities for your voice to be heard.
Jordan Watson, Director of External Affairs and Policy at the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, says that he wants young people to know more about their local world. “If they work hard, learn about the issues and get involved, they will be shocked by how many lives they can change for the better,” Watson said.
At Marist School, this involvement is already ingrained by our devotion to community service, but I think our student body could benefit from more education on current events in order to find specific local initiatives to devote our time and energy to.
Amidst the chaos of 2024 politics, action and awareness, particularly on local and state politics, can dispel fear and create ripple effects of change throughout our communities.
