Gen-Z is, without a doubt, the activist generation. You see it on your Instagram, where your friends and peers repost in support of Black Lives Matter and educate their followers on everything from Roe Vs. Wade to The Paris Climate Accords. You see it in the streets, too, according to Business Insider, nearly 77% of our generation participated in a protest this summer after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police. 

Maybe you want to get more involved, but when it seems like there are a million organizations addressing a million issues, you are overwhelmed by the noise? Maybe it is just too hard to find the time? Or maybe you care deeply about political issues, but you are worried that immersing yourself in the bleakness of our current situation will negatively affect your mental health?

If any of those concerns resonate with you, the Sunrise Movement might be a good fit. An unabashedly progressive organization spearheaded by young people, the Sunrise Movement has over 400 “hubs” across the country and is committed to passing a Green New Deal. (For those who are confused about what the Green New Deal actually entails, it is a congressional resolution – not a bill – aimed at transitioning America to net neutral carbon emissions by 2030, and ensuring good-paying jobs, especially for marginalized communities, in the process). With national recognition – the New York Times named Sunrise as one of two groups that “most represent the next generation of left-wing activists,” Sunrise has proven its ability to get stuff done; it was integral to the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, and others to Congress, and has set standards for the progressive movement. 

This fall, Sunrise facilitated Wide Awake protests, channeling the spirit of the abolitionist movement to raucously hold corrupt politicians accountable, sometimes standing outside of their homes in the middle of the night, banging on pots and pans. Currently, Sunrise is putting pressure on Biden to pick progressive, diverse Cabinet secretaries with no ties to fossil fuels companies. 

Sunrise has also cultivated a culture of optimism. One of its twelve core principles is that “we shine bright”  and “we bring a spirit of positivity and hope to everything we do.” That inclusivity and joy is evident on any Sunrise training or Zoom, where high-school and college-aged leaders enthusiastically introduce themselves, invite attendees to pick their favorite kitchen appliance, play socially conscious music, and ask participants to share which Indigenous land they live on, to honor that we are all on stolen land. 

If any of this sounds of interest to you, consider getting involved with the Sunrise Lancaster High School hub. With about 40 members and several allies, the hub is thriving. Recently, it organized a Count Every Vote rally and then a dance party after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election – but the spirit of that event, while jubilant, was also one of consternation – Biden was a lesser-of-two-evils candidate, and young activists will push him left. 

“Being involved with Sunrise over the past few months has given me hope” says Clara North, a freshman at Manheim Township High School and a member of the Lancaster hub. “As a high schooler, it is hard to feel like you can make a difference, but every time I join a Sunrise meeting, I know that I am working towards a better future for us all. Sunrise allowed me to get to know people right here in Lancaster who share [my] values, and I can not wait to continue to work with everyone.” 

The Lancaster High School hub meets for an hour on Zoom every Friday. If you would like to get involved, email sunriselanchs@gmail.com.