Informed Voices

In a world where youth voices are increasingly prominent, their ability to advocate for their opinions is crucial to the development of society. However, in a national survey on civic action by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), only 20% of youth reported engaging in issue advocacy. Education and advocacy are intrinsically linked; a proper understanding of societal issues and information enables the use of that understanding to drive systemic change. Together, they empower individuals to champion equitable policies, hold institutions accountable, and build more inclusive communities. Studies show that 70% to 77% of youth lack the information literacy and critical thinking skills required to conduct proper research, which is why providing accessible, easy-to-understand tutorials on reliable research is crucial.

What is Informed Voices?

 Informed Voices is a youth-focused educational website designed to teach youth how to conduct reliable research and engage in effective advocacy. Through five structured lessons, the site guides users through the research process step-by-step, with each lesson building on the previous one. This helps students develop critical thinking skills, evaluate information for accuracy and bias, and apply their findings to real-world issues. By combining accessible content with interactive elements, the aim is to empower young people to become informed, responsible, and impactful advocates in their communities.

Who Are We?

We are a group of Student Health Advocates at Oregon School-Based Health Alliance, passionate about bringing resources to our community! We decided to take on this project after seeing the amount of misinformation around us, especially as the world becomes more digitized. We wanted to make sure peers and youth are able to learn how to conduct unbiased research and use those findings to form their own opinions and advocate in their communities.