IGNITE's Blog

It’s Gen Z that will likely determine the outcome of the midterm elections. There are over 8 million newly eligible Gen Z voters this year. We already saw young people flex their voting power in the 2018 and 2020 elections by voting at historic rates, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Gen Z and millennials are the fastest growing electorate. Gen Z alone will represent around 20 percent of voters this year. But, the question remains; what will drive this key bloc to the polls?

Kaila Pouncy is IGNITE’s Birmingham Fellow. She is a soon-to-be graduate (May 2023) of The University of Alabama. She will receive her B.A. in Criminology/Criminal...

Representation matters, because if you can see it, you can be it. When Marvel’s Doctor Strange 2 premiered earlier this year, it featured the debut of America Chavez, a Latina LGBTQ+ character. Despite the movie being censored in some countries, fans said they felt empowered and inspired because they saw themselves in the character. That’s the power of representation. And as more people identify as LGBTQ+, we should see even more LGBTQ+ representation across the board, including in politics. 

This month is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Each May, we celebrate the diverse cultures that comprise the AAPI community. Currently, there are over 20 million Asians in the U.S. That number is expected to double by 2060, making them the fastest-growing demographic (and fastest-growing electorate of the major racial and ethnic groups) in the country. Despite making up a sizable portion of the population, there is a lack of AAPI representation from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. The lack of representation is especially significant for AAPI women. 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law on March 28, during the same week as International Transgender Day of Visibility. This bill, officially titled the "Parental Rights in Education" bill, "prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.” Though this bill was passed in Florida, it’s part of a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that were introduced over the past year in states like Alaska, Arizona, Tennessee and more. 

Political representation is crucial to success, and America has been making strides towards gender parity. But did you know that the U.S. ranks 72 in the world for women’s representation in politics? Yes, 72. The U.S. is currently tied with the Dominican Republic. On the flip side, Rwanda sits at the number one spot, followed by Cuba and Nicaragua. 

Black History Month was first celebrated in 1970 at Kent State University, but its origins can be traced further back. Originally, it started as a week to ensure Black history would be preserved through time. This week-long celebration introduced by historian Carter Woodson in 1926 eventually evolved into Black History Month and is now celebrated internationally. 

Celebrities have been getting political this month. Angelina Jolie went to Capitol Hill last week with her 17-year old daughter Zahara. They urged lawmakers to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton's Dollywood will pay full tuition for employees pursuing college, reigniting the conversation about student debt. 

Many young Black women are using their voices to create change across the country, but their stories often go untold. Let’s celebrate these young leaders, today and every day. Keep reading to learn more about some of the young Black women who are making history. 

Did you hear the news? Rihanna is pregnant! The news broke the internet earlier this week, accompanied by some iconic photos. We’re beyond excited that the singer/actress/businesswoman is expecting her first child. But what if RiRi wasn’t RiRi? What if she wasn’t a billionaire? What if she didn’t have the resources, networks and access she has?