BLOOM Rio Grande Valley offers three different types of programs created to engage young people in civic participation. Our approach is targeted, creative, and data-driven. We draw on a combination of on-campus and community programming that is youth-led and energizes first-time voters and their peers. Our programs build on one another, creating multiple opportunities for students to plug into our work and remain involved with BLOOM.

• Partners with high schools in the Rio Grande Valley to provide eligible students with the opportunity to register to vote. 
• Integrates voter registration into existing activities such as government classes and conduct presentations on upcoming elections. 
• Educates students learn about the role of their local, state, and federal government and the tangible ways in which it impacts their communities. 
• Provides students receive access to resources such as ID assistance, nonpartisan student-friendly voter guides, and rides to the polls. 

• Cultivates rising student leaders ages 18-24 and equips them with essential organizing skills such as public speaking, research and goal setting, social media advocacy, and campaign planning.
• Incentivizes students to pursue organizing work by paying participants a stipend. 
• Develops capacity-building by preparing students to apply to BLOOM RGV’s Better 956 Initiative, our advanced youth-led advocacy program.

• Investigates issues of importance to young people via youth-led research. Based on results, students decide on a focus area and create an issue-based campaign.
• Equips 18-24-year-olds with the leadership platform to advocate for their communities via youth-led digital storytelling projects, youth-led town halls, and public forums.
• Encourages young people to pursue organizing work by hiring them to work with BLOOM.