The Utah state legislature has zero millennials.

Don Willie has some feelings about that. "We need the perspective and experiences of younger leaders now," he wrote. "We will see the status quo challenged."

"We believe that diversity in government has the potential to bring about meaningful public policy," he added. Willie may have the manpower and momentum to make it happen. He is the founder and chair of the Emerging Leaders Initiative, a Utah organization committed to that get-millennials-involved cause.

Willie pointed out that millennials are the largest voting bloc in Utah (and the nation) and that the Beehive State is first in the United States in millennial population, with millennials soon comprising two-thirds of the state's workforce. "With this type of presence, we are concerned about getting our peers engaged early and ready to take on leadership responsibilities in the public sector," wrote Willie, who ran last year for Utah's Millcreek city council. "Involving these younger generations will allows us to develop public policy that makes sense for out time and for future generations."

Since launching in January, the ELI held a campaign bootcamp and post-legislative session wrap-up and several networking events, Willie wrote. Tomorrow, the organization will host Jennifer Napier-Pearce, the editor of The Salt Lake Tribune, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the University of Utah Student Union building. Napier-Pearce will speak from a media perspective as to why it is important for millennials to get involved.

Change

Willie, the World Trade Center Utah managing director, is confident that the ELI will change Utah politics. "As millennials in Utah get more engaged in government, I believe we will see more collaboration and transparency around issues," he wrote, pointing out that millennials "tend to break rank with older generations and political parties on community issues" and are more issue than platform-based.