OKLAHOMA CITY – House Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after receiving the Community Changemaker Award from Generation Citizen on Civics Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

“This week, I had the honor of participating in Civics Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol, hosted by Generation Citizen—an experience that reaffirmed my deepest beliefs about youth engagement and the power of civic participation.

“Generation Citizen's Civics Day is more than just a showcase of student research; it's a testament to the incredible potential of young people to drive meaningful change. When I was invited to deliver the keynote speech, I spoke directly to a generation, my generation, that isn't just dreaming about the future, but actively working to shape it. To my surprise, I was deeply humbled to receive the ‘Community Changemaker Award’ for the work I had done in engaging young people this year.

“This recognition isn't just about me, it's about the belief that young voices matter. It's about breaking down the barriers that tell our youth they're too young to make a difference or that politics is a distant, complicated world beyond their reach.

“This fall semester, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Principal Gina Villalva from Emerson South High School on an innovative ‘Pathways to Politics’ course. The program was designed to do something crucial: demystify the political process and show students that civic engagement isn't just a possibility, but a powerful tool for creating real change.

“Through this course, we brought in elected officials from various levels of government—from school board to city council, state legislature, and federal representatives too. The goal was to show these young people that their voices aren't just heard, they're essential.

“Our youth aren't just the future of our democracy, they are its present. They possess an incredible capacity to dream big, challenge the status quo, and imagine solutions that previous generations might have considered impossible. By providing platforms for civic education and engagement, we're not just teaching them about government—we're empowering them to become the leaders our community needs, now more than ever.

“As the youngest state legislator in Oklahoma, I'm committed to continuing this work. Because when we invest in our young people's civic education and engagement, we're investing in the very foundation of our democratic process.

“Thank you for reminding me why I do this work. Thank you for giving me hope. The future is ours!”

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