IGNITE's Blog

As I enter into my first 180 days of office as school board trustee, I find myself reflecting on the “how.” How did I get to the day I take the oath of office? There are many life experiences that prepared me but I keep thinking back to my time serving in college student government. The decision to run in college almost mirrored when I first decided to run for office. There was a moment when I just knew that’s what I wanted to do and felt called to serve.

In spring 2024, IGNITE launched the IGNITE the Vote campaign to educate Gen Z women on how elections happen, why they matter,  what is on their ballot, and how to vote. Through this work we could get them into the habit of voting and grow their community knowledge.

IGNITE is thrilled to announce Yasmeen Metellus as the newest member of our Board of Directors. Not only is Yasmeen an IGNITE alumni having served as a Dr. Anne Moses Fellow, she brings to our Board a wealth of experience in law, civic education, and women’s rights.

Without a doubt, the re-election of Donald Trump has sent a loud and clear message: Politics is still a man’s game. This is a message that we at IGNITE refute and have centered our mission around dismantling. Our work centers on breaking barriers and helping young women navigate a system that too often regards them as exceptions rather than the norm. We had hoped that, this election, women and girls everywhere could see for themselves that they have access to the highest office. The missed opportunity is disheartening, but we will nevertheless continue to do the hard work of promoting a vision for our political system that values women and their leadership.  

As a 21-year-old first generation college student in Durham, I want us to do more to make the cost of college affordable for everyone across the state and the country. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been out trying to make sure young people are registered to vote on my campus, because I want our elected representatives to hear from us that crippling student debt when we graduate is compromising our futures. Many of us are struggling to even stay in school with the cost of attending college so high.

IGNITE is thrilled to introduce you to our ninth cohort of Dr. Anne Moses Fellows. Every year, IGNITE recruits a diverse and passionate group of leaders from communities across America and provides them with the resources, training, and networks to flex their political power! Fellows serve as ambassadors for IGNITE’s mission and vision and are tasked with mobilizing Gen Z on college campuses to become civically and politically engaged. They play a valuable role in our efforts to spread a national message that it is time for Gen Z to step into political power. Learn more about this years's Dr. Anne Moses IGNITE Fellows below. 

Meet Jay Fraser, IGNITE's 24-25 DMV Fellow!

Meet Grace Edwards, IGNITE's 24-25 Ohio Fellow!

Meet Jaylen Adams, IGNITE's 24-25 New York Fellow!

Meet Kelsei Scott, IGNITE's 24-25 Chicago Fellow!