by Colin Koffel · January 29, 2014 11:28 AM

As part of National Journal’s The Next America series, LaunchProgress Co-Founder Poy Winichakul contributed an op-ed arguing that it’s time to support a new generation of leaders who look like America and will stand for America’s future.

We encourage young progressives—America’s most diverse, tech-savvy, solution-oriented demographic—to run for office and change the conversation from talking about problems to solving them.

A key part of that goal is finding people who can represent our changing America—women, people of color, people from lower-income families, people who are disabled. Millennials make up 30 percent of the LGBT population. Forty percent are people of color. These voices are diverse, abundant, and educated, but they are not being represented in politics.

Many lack the funds necessary to mount a big campaign. They don’t have connections to the big donors or power brokers needed to win elected office. That’s why LaunchProgress is encouraging young people to run for state and local office. There, a few thousand dollars can win a race. Savvy social-media strategy can turn out young people in every district. And little by little, these young progressives can build a new generation of leaders to run for higher office.

Read the full piece over at National Journal.