The Roosevelt Institution: Where Our Ideas Become Policy

by Rebekah Sills

Most young adults couldn't tell you the definition of a think tank. For review, it is a body of experts providing advice and ideas on a specific economic, political or social problem.

But the Roosevelt Institution is a new kind of think tank that targets college-age students. No longer are young adults limited to door-to-door canvassing and grass roots politics, though both remain essential forms of political involvement. Now they can play a larger role in the policy-making process on the local, state and federal levels.

For those of us whom may need a refresher course on the policy-making process, it is rather complicated with many sides and many voices influencing it. Though only legislative bodies can implement policy, citizens, non-profits and think tanks with convincing reasons and extensive research can influence policy by presenting their arguments in settings such as city council meetings or senate committee hearings.

The Roosevelt Institution, founded in 2004, recognizes that the university is an ideal setting for solving our country's democratic woes. Will Hollingsworth, Director of Communications says that students spend most of their time at school thinking critically, analyzing problems, and drafting solutions. What's stopping them from applying these skills to a real-world setting?

"Before Roosevelt, students were expected to file away those solutions for their grades, and if they wanted to get involved, they should go out and campaign for a candidate. Policymakers wanted our time, and our energy, but there was no infrastructure with which we could contribute to and enrich the actual policy process," Hollingsworth told Geowareness in an interview.

It's a novel idea and it works like this: The Roosevelt Institution provides two ways for students to participate in policy-making. They have chapter organizations on campuses around the country where members meet, hold conferences, do research, write papers; activities typical of student organizations. On a national level, the Roosevelt Institution comes together every year to vote on three "challenges," or pressing policy priorities. The individual chapters and members spend the year researching, analyzing, and debating these challenges in hopes of reaching a viable solution. The following spring, Roosevelt publishes three journals called "25 Ideas" consisting of the top 25 solutions from the members. The three challenges chosen for the 2007-2008 academic year, for example, are community development, the democratic process, and the criminal justice system.

Hollingsworth says Roosevelt focuses on policy-making because youth are "less likely to become mired with problems and processes and more likely to focus keenly on just why we shape our government’s policy to begin with." In doing so, they are altogether better equipped to approach the process.

We also asked Mr. Hollingsworth to respond to the accusation that today's 18-30-year-olds suffer from a serious case of apathy. He responded that today's youth have felt disconnected from the democratic process for a while now. The Roosevelt Institution simply offers students an "efficient way to contribute."

Lesley Nelson, a member of the chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, also offered insight that was equally perceptive "Ours might be the 'look at me' generation but for Roosevelt members, it’s more about 'look at this idea which could really make a positive difference,” she said.

Roosevelt's successes are few but powerful. Members in New Haven and Washington D.C. testified in front of their city councils and members in Wisconsin presented a healthcare proposal to the state legislature.

So far the Institution has more than 80 chapters throughout the country. The average size of each chapter is 20 members, but a group only needs ten members to be considered an official chapter.

To start a chapter, this group of ten students needs the college or university to recognize it as a student organization.

For Ms. Nelson it's about participating in the process. "Roosevelt has really demonstrated how a good idea, when paired with the right advocate and presented under the right conditions, can develop its own momentum and ultimately bring about real changes."

Long-term goals of the organization include adding more schools and more members, but more importantly, Hollingsworth says, ensuring that Roosevelt remains "motivated and passionate—the way young, politically active people always have been."

Ultimately, no matter the age group targeted by the Roosevelt Institution, the organization reminds us "a society is only free when the people can shape their own lives."

If you'd like to learn more about the Roosevelt Institution or would like to start a chapter at your university, visit their website at www.rooseveltinstitution.org, or e-mail Will Hollingsworth at will.hollingsworth@roosevetinstitution.org.