As America celebrates 250 years, many are looking back on our nation\u2019s history. But Heather Walker shines the 7Spotlight on a group of young people who are looking forward, working to shape the country\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
At a civics summit at Miami Dade College, a young voice commands the attention of the room.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cThat day changed the trajectory of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
But this isn\u2019t a college student or local politician captivating the audience while he introduces Miami Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 15-year-old Clint John, a high school freshman.<\/p>\n
The son of a Jamaican immigrant, Clint says he heard a lot about the promise of the American dream growing up.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cI wanted figure out whether the American dream was something that you just talk about, or is it something that you can live.\u201d<\/p>\n
He decided to get involved, interning with the City of Miami Gardens at just 11 years old.<\/p>\n
Now he leads the nonprofit Virtutem Populo, which is Latin for \u201cpower to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s goal is to get students interested in participating in democracy \u2014 not just studying it in the classroom.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cIf we prepare civic leaders at 14, we\u2019ll have executives, nonprofit executives, presidents, Supreme Court justices at 40, who know what they\u2019re doing and who know what it means to be left out of the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while most of the members aren\u2019t old enough to vote or even drive yet, they\u2019re not waiting to make their voices heard.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cGovernment was never designed to work without you. It was designed for you to engineer it, it was designed for you to get in the driver\u2019s seat and drive the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group holds events to teach kids about the constitution, civics and community engagement.<\/p>\n
They also have a \u201cMayor for a Day\u201d program \u2013 which 19 municipalities currently participate in \u2013 as well as an economic fellowship, where students learn about government and the business community.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cU.S. Congress, our city council, our state legislature, our U.S. legislature, every single issue that goes before them affects us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group is also pushing to get seats at the table in areas that matter to them most right now \u2013 the classroom, working to get a student advisor on every school board across the state.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cFive out of 67 counties in the State of Florida have a student advisor for the school board. In South Florida, those counties include Miami-Dade and Broward County. They are in the schools every single day. They know what students want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clint says the goal is to instill the importance of being involved in democracy on his generation and future generations so they\u2019re equipped to shape America\u2019s next 250 years.<\/p>\n
Clint John: \u201cI see America at 500, where democracy and participation is for everyone, young or old. We are the future and we gotta build the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather Walker, 7News.<\/p>\n
The group also asks adults to serve as mentors, sponsors, or volunteers.<\/p>\n