Local legislation, explained
Our video series takes one item in front of a city council, a school board or a statehouse and explains it in a few minutes: what it does, why it exists, who is for it and who is against it.
The person on camera is a member who lives where the decision lands and has read the item. We always include the case against it, in the words its opponents would use.
The first episodes
Our New York and Texas chapters have committed to film the first two episodes. We will post them on Instagram at @youthcivicengagementinitiative and on TikTok at @youthcivicengagem as they are finished, and they will be listed here.
How an episode is made
None of this needs a budget or equipment you do not already have.
- Pick one item. Something a named body near you is about to decide, off your own city council, school board or statehouse agenda.
- Read it. The text itself and the staff report behind it, all the way through.
- Write about three minutes. Plain English. What it does, why it exists, who is for it and who is against it.
- Film it once. One take. It does not need to be polished.
- Post it. Cut it into three parts and put them out over three days. Send it to us and we post it from our accounts as well.
Film one with your chapter
Any chapter can make an episode, and so can a student who has not started one yet. Tell us the item you want to explain and which body decides it, and we will help you find the text and the staff report and read your script before you record.