Youth Engagement in Local Politics: An Ann Arbor Success Story

By: Jack Brady

I wrote an article a few weeks ago sharing my thoughts on why Gen Z doesn’t engage in local government. I suggested that people my age have a narrow view of politics, focusing primarily on the national and state levels. They aren’t apathetic toward city hall; rather, they’re unaware of its function. They haven’t been sufficiently exposed to it to want to participate. 

To reverse this trend, I encouraged local leaders to meet young people where they are and educate them—to go to high school classrooms and explain who handles the wastewater, pays first responders, and maintains the parks. A recent story from Ann Arbor shows how successful this can be. 

City officials invited eight students from Community High School’s “Youth Civic & Community Engagement” class to the City Council Chamber, where the two groups conversed about the rising cost of living, slow downtown development, and more. The results were fantastic. After the conversation, 18-year-old Izzie Jacob told MLive, “in order to organize and make change, you have to understand local government,” and that “before this class I didn’t know how to share my voice.” Now she does, and she’s more likely to cast her vote in November as a result. 

Gen Zs want to make a positive difference in their communities, but they don’t have the know-how. A report by the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) on youth engagement in local government suggest that, at the state’s peril, most civics textbooks don’t spend nearly enough time covering the function and importance of local politics. I’d add that the same issue exists on social media, which young people use religiously. They see on their phones a long list of problems that they have no ability to solve. The consequence, according to the MTA, is that “the entire concept of government seem[s] detached from citizens and their everyday lives.” 

Local leaders can close this gap with outreach, and the Ann Arbor example demonstrates how easy the process can be. In a single afternoon, city staff changed eight young people’s perspectives for the better. These students didn’t complain about being bored, they said give us more. They suggested, as I did, that city officials hold assemblies in schools and communicate more with schools in general.  

Another idea the students put forward is for local leaders to become more active on social media. Like I said, young people learn from what they see on their phones, whether the information is accurate or not. A mayor or city councilmember going online to combat false narratives about politics—stating that, yes, local government does matter, and if you want to make change, this is where you do it—would benefit everyone. Students could start to understand what city officials do on a day-to-day basis, and city officials could gain valuable insights into what their younger constituents want from them. Sites like Instagram, Facebook, X, and especially Reddit provide local leaders the opportunity to easily reach Gen Z and receive feedback in a low stakes environment. 

Questions like, “What do you wish our town had that it doesn’t?” or “What could our city be doing better?” make young people feel heard, and their answers could put city officials onto new ideas they’d never considered before. More specific questions work too: “What should go in the vacant lot on Main Street?” and “We have x dollars left in the budget, what should we do with it?” 

City staff may be impressed with the returns they see. While social media can be a toxic, unproductive place, it can also be a valuable forum for constructive dialogue, especially at the local level. People don’t feel connected to the federal government because they can’t see it in action. Local government is different—constituents experience both the highs and lows of their community every day, and they often know their elected officials personally. This creates a connection between residents and their town or city that makes them treat it with a certain level of respect. 

A quick scroll through r/AnnArbor, r/Detroit, r/Marquette, r/Ludington, etc. on Reddit reveals countless Michiganders explaining what they love and what could be better about these places. Local leaders should probe these conversations and take the good ideas they see seriously. If your town or city doesn’t have a subreddit, you can easily set one up. They’re free to run and require very little maintenance. The only cost is the time it takes to pose questions and read the responses.  

Residents can pose their own questions too. The “Ask Me Anything” trend is big on social media right now. A person, typically a celebrity but not always, goes on Reddit or X, says “ask me anything,” and responds to whatever people want to know. Mayors and city council members should do the same! It’s a fun and relevant way to educate Gen Zs about what’s happening in their communities.  

Communities across the state should heed the advice of Ann Arbor’s students. If engaging young people in local government is the goal, I can think of no better time to announce a new social media program than at a high school assembly.  

Jack Brady is sharing his talents and perspectives with the Michigan Municipal League this summer as an intern. He is a junior at the University of Michigan, studying political science and English, and the summer editorial page editor at the Michigan Daily.