So, I realize I may be backpedaling a bit, with this being my 3rd post and all...but I realized I never actually introduced myself to the Amplify community- a community which for now contains may people I know from Advocates for Youth, but will hopefully grow beyond that, thus needing this intro =).

My name is Ben. I am a Senior in High School in Bowie, MD. I am entering  my second year with Advocates for Youth's High School Organizing program, and ridiculously excited about that. I'm a member of the Unitarian Universalist faith, and will be happy to delve into how that impacts my activist career in another post (someday....for now, google it?) I enjoy long walks on the beach, a good milkshake, an even better laugh, and advocating social justice (especially comprehensive sexual education funding!)

So,  fresh out of this years Urban Retreat, I'm trying to develop some goals for what I plan on doing this year. So far, I've developed the following (though I may very well add at a later date:

HSO Goals for the Year:

-Getting condoms in my school! -just because we're in high school doesn't mean we're not sexually active. I'm sick of controversy keeping my peers from contraception

-Vlogging- Blogging is a great outlet, and a great way to keep in touch and vent and explore the intricacies of my own/my readers' minds, but I'd love to be Amplify's first active vlogger. I think it's an entertaining way to express my views. Once I figured out this new-fangled technology, I'm hoping to get a "once a week" vlog schedule. Accompanied by some more frequent blogs, of course.

-Stopping my capitalization of "comprehensive sexuality education"- pretty obvious. Though it's definitely important, I've got to start remembering that it doesn't grammatically warrant it's own capitalization

-Planning a lobby day...of some sort...- with this Congress coming to an end, I'm not exactly sure if a federal lobby day (like was attempted last year to no avail..) would be the most successful. I've recently discovered some of the policies in Maryland could use some legislative correction, and it'd be lovely if Governor O'Malley would reject Title V funding..This could also be tied in with my responsibilites as the Social Action Coordinator for my District Youth Steering Committee.

-Letter/Email Campaign- On the same sorts of issues as mentioned above, but made 23423241252 times easier by Amplify!

Helping recruit an incredible HSO team for next year!- It's hard to believe that in a little less than a year, I'll be starting college! Though my future with Advocates is unknown, I want to insure that the prorgram that has given me so much will continue to have successful organizers. I already know that Keelei and Cristina will be great organizers should the continue once I'm gone (which I certainly hope they will..Keelei, you've gotta go for 4 years!), but I hope to help find terrific colleagues for them. I especially hope to find some  male identifying HSOs- I've been the only one for the past 2 years!

It's gonna be a great year, and I can't wait to keep you, the Amplify community, updated on my success!