Editor’s note: Youth Politics Collective is not associated or listed as an official club by Coppell High School.

With increasing civil unrest over multiple topics, students at Coppell High School have begun posting their thoughts on social media, hoping to become politically involved and voice their opinions to politicians who can make a difference. 

Coppell High School sophomores Alexis Sibanda, Siya Sangani, Shrayes Gunna, Hunniya Ahmad and Zachary Li founded the Youth Politics Collective (YPC). This club fosters discussion about varying political opinions and works closely with political institutions to host voting drives. With 66 members, the club is growing fast as many recognize its potential. 

“They were quickly able to spread their reach,” YPC member and CHS sophomore William Li said. “They managed to get [Texas State Representative for District 115] Julie Johnson so quickly, and they seem very professional.” 

The YPC founders work closely within the club and during school. 

“All of us do debate and we were introduced to each other through debate,” Sangani said. “We became really good friends and realized that we were all really politically interested.”

The group met with Johnson and began to explore what politics could offer them and how they could be advocates for political involvement. 

“We originally started thinking about doing the YPC when we started our internship with Julie Johnson,” Sibanda said. “She introduced the idea to us and we decided that we really wanted to do it.” 

The YPC had a Zoom forum with Johnson on Sept. 1. 

“A club like the YPC when I was in high school would have been wonderful.” Johnson said. “When I was a senior, in my government class, we went to the capital in Montgomery, Alabama and I played legislature for a weekend, but it was just a one time thing, not an ongoing club opportunity. Opportunities like this for young people are so important.” 

The YPC ensures that all political stances are represented through the club. There is an application process. The form’s main goal is to get to know the personality and perspectives of applicants on varying political issues. 

“At the end of the day, we are all still young because it is a youth politics collective,” Gunna said. “We are being influenced by the ideas we’re hearing from other people, so we really hope our discussions [feature]  different viewpoints and grow politically.” 

Managing a club as fast growing and large as the YPC entails many duties, which are split amongst the leadership of the club. 

“We have a sense of who does what, so we are able to divide up the work so it’s not too much of a burden on one person, and we’re still able to get our schoolwork done,” Ahmad said. 

While the founders’ plans for the future of the YPC are not solidified, they have a vision of what it may become. 

“We really hope to establish more chapters in different schools, expand and move not only within the state, but also nationally,” Gunna said.

Although the club has many differing opinions and ongoing projects, there is one thing that all members have in common.  

“Our ultimate goal is to make a difference,” Li said. “Whether it be locally or in the state, however we go [about] that is up to us.” 

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