05 Nov Van Jones Encourages Titans to Engage, Empower, and Unite in 2024 Election
American lawyer, author, TV show host and civil rights advocate Van Jones joined Titans at Associated Students Inc. (ASI) for an in-depth conversation regarding the 2024 presidential election. The first of its type at ASI, the Behind the Ballot event centered on promoting ethical voting practices, civil discourse and emphasized the importance of Gen Z’s civic engagement.
Jones, a New York Times best-selling author and Emmy award winner, is known for his appearances on CNN, role in the Obama administration and non-profit initiatives. Throughout his career, Jones’s advocacy for social legislation and commitment to inclusivity has left a lasting mark on America’s political landscape.
Programming student Kayla Lam leads the interview with Van Jones / Credit: ASICSUF Flickr
During the discussion, Jones shared his journey into politics, detailing his personal and professional challenges. He emphasized the importance of inclusivity in education, inspiring students to take risks and use their voices to create change.
Recalling his upbringing, Jones shared a special message with Titans that he received from his mother. “Nobody is smarter than you; Nobody is better than you. You can do whatever you want,” Jones expressed.
The message reminded students that obstacles are necessary in college environments. With facing hardships comes creating a story that is special and molded to one’s individual experiences.
Empowering Titans to Lead: Community-Driven Change
CSUF students take in Van Jones’s memorable message / Credit: ASICSUF Flickr
Serving a diverse community of over 40,000 students at CSUF, this message is important for Titans as they recognize shared experiences and listen to stories that promote the expression of their voices.
Jones’s historical impact on politics and his diverse view on civic engagement inspired students to create trailblazing efforts in this upcoming election. Stressing that there are multiple pathways to generate change in political spaces, he encouraged Titans to unify their communities through voting efforts.
“If you get involved in your community, it’s impossible to volunteer and not wind up getting way more than you put into it,” he shared, urging students to find purpose in community engagement.
“You can’t vote and get everything you want. But you cannot vote and lose what you got…If you really want to make a community successful, voting is just one of the many things you have to do,” he shared.
Jones’s message to Titans was clear: it is essential to create a sense of community and encourage each student to engage in the voting process actively.
Jones’s Call for Unity
Van Jones engages with CSUF students through storytelling / Credit: ASICSUF Flickr
The conversation shifted to Jones’s dedication to social and economic justice, where he expressed his aspirations for all Americans despite current national division.
Reflecting on his past social justice work, he noted, “I’m not going to put people in these different boxes, segregating who I love and who I care about. I don’t care who you vote for, but I won’t let anyone suffer by themselves.”
Jones then shared a powerful story that mirrored his dedication to improving spaces for all Americans. He recalled participating in a protest that helped coal miners receive livable work benefits.
“The last time I went to jail, I wasn’t marching with Black Lives Matter, police brutality, or for criminal justice. The last time I went to jail, I was marching with white coal miners in Appalachia, who I found out had their pensions stolen from them,” he remarked
Upon trying to march and shout with the coal miners, Jones was shocked to discover that the coal miners couldn’t advocate for themselves due to health issues caused by years of working in the mines. That’s when he realized that viewing others as humans should be the number one contributor as to why we march and vote for others.
“I marched with the guys, went to jail and we ultimately won that fight…No one is ever going to trick me now into hating somebody because of who they voted for. You can’t trick me now because they’re in my heart,” he said. Despite the workers’ opposing political views, Jones’s dedication was evident as he sought to bring awareness to the injustices he saw and became a voice for the undermined.
For students at CSUF, Jones’s perspective emphasized that politics goes beyond elections, stressing that it is a force that shapes lives and unifies generational voices.
Jones delivered a powerful message to Titans, inspiring students to improve their communities and uplift their peers regardless of differences.
Jones’s Hopes for Politics and Future Generations
Jones listens closely to moderator Kayla Lam’s questions / Credit: ASICSUF Flickr
As the conversation drew to a close, Jones reminded the audience of politics’ role for younger generations.
“To solve any problem, you’re going to need a lot of people who do not look like you, who do not pray like you, vote like you, love like you, or you’re not solving a real problem,” he said, reflecting on his role in the Obama administration. Acknowledging today’s societal divides, Jones left Titans with a message of hope: by putting aside differences, they could create a more united and stronger America.
For Alexis Cuevas, ASI’s Student Programming and Engagement graduate assistant, Jones’s message represents a powerful beacon of hope for students on campus.
“We are that target demographic within 18- to 25-year-olds who are experiencing their first presidential election. Being able to emphasize the importance of why voting matters is impactful to our students on the biggest CSU campus,” Cuevas shared.
Jones’s words resonated as a powerful call for students to empower one another. The discussion emphasized that each voice could contribute to an impactful change, sending a message of optimism that students can carry on for ages to come.