Ali Sabir receives the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award

We are kicking off the New Year with congratulations to Ali Sabir for receiving the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award by Lt. Governor Tahesha Way! He and Author Rashanna James-Frison of Newark, received this nationally recognized award, honoring outstanding civic engagement initiatives. Created by the National Association of State Secretaries, the award commemorates the legacy of civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, who began his activism at 21 as a Freedom Rider and later helped organize the March on Washington and the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge march, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

Born to a family that immigrated from Kashmir, Ali grew up with a profound understanding of how civic participation can change lives. In 2022 he partnered with his school’s history department to create a Civic Education Presentation for ninth graders. The program is now an official part of the school’s curriculum and is expanding into neighboring districts. By engaging fellow students as instructors, Ali established a peer-to-peer model that broadened the program’s reach and demonstrated his ability to turn his initiatives into movements that empower others.

To address local disparities in voter turnout – particularly along the lines of race and class - Ali met with our Founder Nancy Youngkin and based on our mission, became a member of or Advisory Board, and kicked off our Youth Ambassador program. His involvement with our program provides a solid platform for him to impact adult populations—notably through the "Homeless Not Voteless" initiative. He will also be instrumental in adapting his curriculum to help Prepare2Vote create a presentation that will help diverse communities of voting age navigate the democratic process!

We are so proud of you Ali! And we can’t wait to work with you in 2026!