Meet The Millennial Women Shaping Politics

Update: From the moment we walk through the doors at school to the moment we finish, the structures and systems behind our education are shaping us — for better or worse. The women you’ll meet today are doing their best to ensure that those systems are doing all they can for their students. For one, that means better funding for public education at the state level, providing more support to the children of Mississippi, which is ranked last in the nation for education. For two more, it means making sure that those who want to pursue college don’t have to sacrifice their hopes and dreams after graduation in order to pay for it. Click through to meet the three amazing women of this 10th installment of Fusion’s “30 Under 30.”

This story was originally published on January 28, 2016.

The 2016 election feels like the official Election of the Millennial Generation. And it’s not just because certain politicians are working hard to attract young voters.

Young people — and particularly young women — are involved not just in supporting candidates with their votes, they're actually key players behind the scenes. Fusion is bringing these influencers center stage, with a new, all-women, all-political “30 Under 30” video list.

In the site's rundown of the project, Rebekah Dryden, the director of elections coverage, discusses the importance of not limiting the pool to those working within the political machine.

“We didn’t want to limit our roster to campaign staffers and Washington types. Those people are hugely important, of course. But there are other people in the game, too. People working in outside groups — or even getting elected themselves. And, of course, there are incredibly influential people working entirely outside the system. For example, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has unquestionably pushed the Democratic candidates for president to address social justice and policing in ways that they simply weren’t before.”

If you think it sounds like a project that can't be done justice in just a few videos, you’re right. Fusion will be releasing the videos in bursts of two or three per week over the next few months, so you can check back weekly to see the next set of incredible women.

Amber Thomas is putting all her money on education. “What we pour into the reservoirs of tiny humans comes out as they grow.”

Sarah Badawi and Kayla Wingbermuehle are fulfilling the dreams of students across the country by working to find routes to a debt-free college education.

“We’re working with state legislators now to ensure that we’re getting resolutions introduced at the local level, so that it’s not only something that’s at the top of the ticket, but it’s being actively campaigned on up and down the ticket.”

Kimmie DeVries started working in early childhood education to bring a social justice perspective to her students — and then got a new perspective herself. “I work really hard, and I can’t pay all of my bills. That’s wrong.”

Tatiana Anderson is a home healthcare worker who organizes for a living wage with Fight for $15. “We’re raising a lot of awareness!” she said. “I’m very proud of the progression that we’re making.”

Tori Taylor, manager for state and local campaigns for Emily’s List, wants to see more women at the highest levels of public office. “I think 2016 is going to be our biggest year yet,” she says.

Missayr Boker, assistant political director at NARAL Pro-Choice America, believes that a woman’s right to abortion care is a human rights issue. “Not having access to really being in control of your body and your own reproductive choices has a rippling effect on your status in society.”

“I hope that I’m always continuing to grow and that my views continually evolve and I learn something new,” says Parker Molloy, writer at Upworthy. She is changing the face of news and how we talk about the world.

Julia Porterfield started a blog as a college freshman — and changed the media landscape. Now, she runs and edits an influential website for young Republicans and is heading toward her college graduation.

Carolina Hurley, the national communications director of the College Republican National Committee, is working to change the reputation of the Republican party to better reflect its investment in the issues that matter to young people.

Layla Zaidane, the managing director of Generation Progress, is doing her best to mobilize, engage, and educate young people around the issues that matter to them.

Roosevelt Networks' national director, Joelle Gamble, and vice president Taylor Jo Isenberg are changing the way we think about what it means to be a citizen.

Nina Morency-Brassard works with the International Rescue Committee. “People just want safety, health, opportunities for their children. Literally everywhere I’ve worked in the world, it’s boiled down to that,” she says.

Greisa Martinez has a personal reason for advocating immigration reform. Seven years ago, her own father was deported. “Migration is a human right,” she says.

Sarah McBride is working to keep the "T" in LGBTQ more visible.

Alwiyah Shariff is bringing an interracial approach to issues of social, economic, and racial justice.

Yong Jung Cho is taking candidates to task on their plans to deal with climate change.

Yvonne Dean-Bailey is only 19, but she’s representing herself and her community in the New Hampshire House.

Dionna Langford is the youngest member of the Des Moines School Board, and she's helping to bring an awareness of race and youth issues in the classroom.