Millennial Generation

Last fall, I taught a Learning for Life course at the First Presbyterian Church in Plainfield called “Introduction to Generation X,” to learn more about my cohort – people born approximately between 1961 and 1981 – and to give interested Boomer, GI and Silent folks a look behind the stereotypes of GenXers. Planning the classes, I learned about the generational cycle theory of William Strauss and Neil Howe. There’s a Wikipedia entry on this topic here.

Today, I met some of the Millennial Generation – young people born after 1981 – who are, according to the theory, likely to be extremely engaged in their communities as organizers, activists and leaders. I think the theory may well prove true – these kids – many of whom are students or recent graduates of North Plainfield High School – are full of energy, enthusiasm and connectedness.

The photo shows Drew Smith (tall guy in the back and a GenXer), who’s running for NP School Board on the Smith-Estevez-Thompson ticket, with some of the young volunteer crew, during a lunch break at Tia Rosa’s on Somerset. They stopped in to eat, rest and regroup during a day of door-to-door fliering for the April 17 election, on behalf of the Community Education Coalition, “active citizens, community members, students, parents and educators…who seek to create a dynamic multicultural collaboration between the students, parents, educators, citizens and school board members of North Plainfield, in order to best serve all community members though a strong public school system.”

Tomorrow, they’ll be out at Green Acres Park for a Soccer Day from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about the campaign, Drew can be reached at cecnpnj@yahoo.com