An Experiment in “Crowd-Sourcing” Democracy for Florida’s Children

Nonprofit coalition brings “American Idol”-style voting to Influence Florida Debates

Florida – A group of child and youth organizations has an innovative, interactive tool to let Floridians influence the upcoming debates, “American Idol” style. http://sparkaction.org/kids2012/florida

America’s children are a quarter of the population and 100 percent of its future, but so far have commanded less than two percent of the debates.

The Kids 2012 Campaign – a nonprofit, nonpartisan collective effort of several leading child and youth organizations – is working to change that in Florida. Its interactive “crowd-sourcing” tool, Florida’s Debates: Ask the Right Questions, Demand Real Answers, invites Florida residents to submit the questions they’d like the candidates to answer. Users then vote for their 5 favorites.

The top-voted questions will be presented to each candidate and the debate hosts before the debates on Jan. 23 and 26.

“We’re calling on all presidential candidates, debate moderators, and state and local campaigns to put Florida’s four million children into the spotlight,” said Roy Miller, president of The Children’s Campaign in Florida.

This appears to be the first time a group of child and youth organizations are using crowd-sourcing technology to help real people’s voices be heard.

The tool was developed by SparkAction.org, a collaborative online journalism and advocacy site to mobilize action by and for young people. SparkAction is managed by the Forum for Youth Investment.

Kids 2012 is a partnership of several leading child and youth organizations, including Voices for America’s Children, the Children’s Leadership Council, the National Collaboration for Youth and the Campaign for Youth.

http://sparkaction.org/kids2012/florida

Twitter hashtag #kids2012

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