The Office of Youth Engagement Teams Up with the Philadelphia Union to Get Out the Youth Vote

PHILADELPHIA — On Friday, October 30, the Office of Youth Engagement (OYE) will be teaming up with the Philadelphia Union for “The GroupChat: First Vote 2020 Edition” as a part of its ongoing efforts to turn out youth voters this election season.

OYE will be joined by Mayor Jim Kenney, the Philadelphia Youth Commission and Philadelphia Union stars Mark McKenzie and Ray Gaddis, for a conversation about voting, youth leadership, and civic participation. Ray is a seasoned veteran both on the field and at the polls, while Mark is a member of Gen-Z and will be voting in his first presidential election.

“We are so excited that the Philadelphia Union is joining us for First Vote 2020! They are such incredible leaders in the community, and dedicate so much of their time off the field to empowering young people. Young athletes all over the nation & in the city are using their voices to bring forth much needed change,” said Jeanette Bavwidinsi, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement. “The influence that organized sports has on young people’s character development, sense of unity and civic pride makes the Philadelphia Union a perfect addition to the First Vote 2020 family.”

“Your vote is your voice, and we want to make sure that as athletes with a platform, we are connecting with and encouraging young voters to be heard in this election,” said Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Union defender. “I am a first time voter myself so I understand how this can be a difficult path to navigate, but young voters can make a difference and will set the stage for future generations.”

Using the hashtag #FirstVote2020PHL, the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement and other First Vote 2020 partners will chronicle the experiences of first-time voters and young Philadelphians as they immerse themselves in the 2020 election and become more civically engaged individuals. Watch what Gen-Z has to say about why Philadelphia should vote here.

For more information about how to get involved with First Vote 2020, please email here or follow OYE on Twitter and Instagram.