Ashley Officer, Detroit, MI

Ashley Officer, 18, of Detroit is one young American who has been empowered through Project Youth Vote, and she has turned her interest and dedication into a commitment to empowering others. As a senior at the Detroit School of Arts, Asheley registered to vote at a Project Youth Vote event in May, and since graduating in June has become a passionate advocate and spokesperson for youth voting.

Ashley is always available to help out with ACORN voter registration drives, and volunteers to speak to other young people at community events where she talks to them about the issues she sees in her community: the war in Iraq, high gas prices, closing schools, and disappearing jobs. When she meets resistance from young voters who aren’t interested, or don’t think their vote matters, she tells them, “We’re trying to change things, and you’re trying to keep us in the same situation we’re trying to get out of.” 

“I take voting as a privilege,” says Ashley, “and people throw it away. If young people take the opportunity and use it, we’re going to change things.”