Young Members of Tennessee Legislature Form Bipartisan Caucus to Address Issues Most Important to Millennials

Nashville, TN – Today, Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-29) and Representative Michael Curcio (R-69) announced the creation of the Tennessee Future Caucus, a new, bipartisan caucus comprised of legislators ages 45 and under. The announcement is part of a nationwide movement in state houses across the country where millennial legislators are seeking to find common ground in an era of hyper-partisanship. With today’s launch, Tennessee becomes the 29th state to join Millennial Action Project’s (MAP) national State Future Caucus Network.

 Tennessee’s Future Caucus will be part of the Millennial Action Project’s national effort to support young elected officials as they work to break through partisan gridlock and reestablish political cooperation.

“Across the country, young legislators are putting party aside and working together to create bipartisan solution to our most pressing policy challenges,” said Steven Olikara, founder and president of the Millennial Action Project. “We are thrilled to see Senator Akbari and Representative Curcio leading this movement in Tennessee.”

While the national dialogue continues to focus on dysfunction and gridlock in government, millennials are leading a countermovement to disrupt the status quo. Millennial Action Project believes that young state legislators can transcend that partisanship and bring a spirit of collaboration to Washington. Currently, 15 millennial members of the U.S. Congress launched their legislative careers in state houses. 

Sen. Raumesh Akbari said, “As young leaders, we have an opportunity shape the future of our state and address the issues that millennial Tennesseans care about – from criminal justice reform to job creation to education and more. I’m looking forward to partnering with Rep. Curcio and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build a Tennessee that works for everyone, for generations to come.”

Rep. Michael Curcio noted, “Young Tennesseans are concerned for the future, and we must make sure their voices are heard. It’s an honor to co-chair the Tennessee Future Caucus, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with Sen. Akbari and other young legislators on policies that will help us build a stronger state.”

The Millennial Action Project (MAP) is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to activating young policymakers to bridge the partisan divide and lead a new era of collaborative governance. In 2013, MAP organized America’s first-ever bipartisan caucus for young members of Congress, the Congressional Future Caucus. Shaping the next generation of leadership, MAP’s Future Caucus Network has expanded into 29 state legislatures and grown into the largest nonpartisan organization of Millennial elected officials in the U.S. More info available at: futurecaucus.org.