Tom Quinn is a Social Studies teacher at Central High School and Organizer of Philly Youth Vote! He is passionate about youth leadership and works tirelessly volunteering his time towards building the voice and civic engagement of young people in Philadelphia. Without the support of school administration, Tom has created robust voter registration efforts across multiple Philadelphia public schools that are now attracting attention and support. He authored a step-by-step guide for teachers with instructions on how to sort students by birthdate, download paper registration forms and start a classroom conversation about voting. This work has thrust him into a city-wide leadership role where he is also working on professional development with other teachers. Despite criticism and bureaucratic roadblocks, Tom persisted and has set up a program that is well documented, clear and available to all high schools. In large part because of Tom’s advocacy and work, Philadelphia schools continue to improve student civic engagement programming. “Integrity means knowing something needs to be done, and doing it. There is a DIY element to it that involves taking initiative. Integrity means working with other people to make a community better, even despite the existing power structures that may work to block action.”
