Washington Bus Education Fund

Mission Statement 

The Washington Bus Education Fund is a statewide movement organization that increases political access and participation amongst young people in Washington State and develops the next generation of leaders and organizers. The Bus serves young people ages 18-35 from historically disenfranchised communities including people of of color, women and gender non-conforming folks, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrant and refugee communities, working class, and first generation college students in Washington State. Our work gives young people who have traditionally been left out of political processes opportunities to develop their organizing and leadership skills, thus providing them with the tools needed to support their career trajectory and make a positive change in their communities.

Description

For 17 years, the Washington Bus Education Fund has been a recognized expert in our state for increasing the participation of young and historically disenfranchised youth through robust paid leadership development programs, non-partisan voter registration, and voter education which includes Get-Out-the Vote (GOTV) efforts. Since our inception we have registered over 80,000 young people and graduated over 300, primarily Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color (BIPOC), through our Fellowship and Internship Programs. 

Our Summer Fellowship program is one of the most comprehensive social justice and political organizing programs available to young people in our state. Fellowship cohorts explore the issues of race and equity in civics, practice community organizing strategies, and lead their own voter registration and education efforts. Our Fellows take the skills learned during the summer and put them into practice to make real change. This summer, we are excited to bring on 12 incredible young people onto the Bus team and we need your help to make this happen!

The Washington Bus Education Fund knows that young people hold the power to make positive changes in our state, and resources that power by giving historically disenfranchised youth access to education and resources that they may not have had otherwise. By providing young people with paid leadership development opportunities, we are ensuring a learning environment where our young people can grow, develop, and thrive alongside the Bus, and go on to work in positions of power where they can truly make a difference in our state. GiveBIG will raise financial support for our Summer Fellowship -- by helping us to meet our goal of $5,000, you are providing funding to 1 of our 12 Fellows so they can participate in this program!

As the continued effects of COVID-19, climate change, and financial uncertainty are compounded by existing systemic inequities, we need young, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, poor and working class, and immigrant and refugee communities to have a voice at the table more than ever. The Bus envisions a larger and more powerful youth constituency, creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable democracy for ALL. Donate today to help us achieve this mission.