The Kids are Better than Alright!

The Midcoast Youth Activists

By Karen Levine Egee

I was standing outdoors in the ice and snow not long ago, in early February, in a crowd of (mostly) Boomers like me. There we were, hundreds of us, strung along the Bath bridge. Protesting ICE. Again. It was cold, and the wind was fierce. And I’d say we were — or at least I was — feeling a little discouraged about humankind and life under Trump.

Then suddenly, young people — high schoolers of some kind — began streaming by, mingling among us and moving farther out onto the bridge. First by ones and twos, then by the dozens and dozens — until we were awash in nearly two hundred boisterous young souls holding signs that called out fascism, ICE’s cruelty, and threats to civil rights.

And then there were even more. From the heights of the bridge, we could see all the way across downtown Bath and watch students pouring down a hill toward us from Morse High School.

We’d heard rumors that students were planning a walkout and might join us — and they did. It was amazing! My heart just completely filled.

One boy next to me wearing a sweatshirt hopped high onto the railing between the sidewalk and the cars, wrapped himself around a streetlamp, and waved his sign for passing drivers to see. My hair stood on end. Forgetting myself, I called out, “Be careful up there!” and “Where’s your coat?” He just smiled. I guess I sounded like someone’s worried old grandmother….

I asked several of the kids about their group. They seemed happy to stop on the bridge and talk with us. Charlie Thelen, one of the group’s founding leaders, told us they are called the Midcoast Youth Activists and are organized across six area high schools — Morse, Brunswick, Freeport, Mt. Ararat, Lincoln, and Greely. One student said, “We can’t tolerate so much that is so completely unconstitutional!” Several said they were old enough to vote, and others soon would be.

My friends and I were moved to tears by the energy, passion, and sheer number of these young people. Maybe there’s hope for our country after all. I wanted to know more. How had they organized so effectively? And what made them care so much about our country’s — their country’s — future?

After the rally, I contacted student leaders Olivia “Liv” Drewniak and Charlie Thelen, along with their youth advisor, Marcy Leger, to learn how the group formed and what drives it.

Charlie said the group began in the early days of Trump’s second term, when a wave of executive orders left him reading the news in frustration and complaining with friends. Eventually, he said, he “got tired of being powerless and doing nothing.”

With guidance from Marcy, he helped found the Sagadahoc Youth Democrats at Morse High School, later renaming the group the Midcoast Youth Activists to make it more inclusive. Knowing politically engaged students at other schools through sports and clubs, he reached out to help them form chapters of their own.

The group expanded quickly and now has about 150–200 members across five schools. The growth, he believes, reflects the same feeling he once had: students following the news, feeling unsettled, and looking for a way to act. “It has been incredibly powerful to see students unite and organize [today’s] walkout,” he said, adding that recruiting hasn’t been necessary, because motivated students tend to find the group on their own.

Liv said their involvement in athletics, academics, and school organizations helped them build connections across student groups. And their academic standing reassured peers that the group would be serious and worthwhile. “Having recognizable and trusted names helped generate initial interest,” she said, “but it’s the shared passion and community that sustained its growth.”

She described her own political engagement as the result of accumulated events. “When I see the rights, protections, and lives of people trying to live authentically and safely being stripped away, it becomes impossible for me to stay silent,” she said, adding that the current climate has pushed many young people to become more informed and engaged.

Liv said the school maintains a nonpartisan stance, but its emphasis on inclusion, civic engagement, and critical thinking aligns with many of the group’s values. While some criticism exists among students, she said they respond respectfully to thoughtful disagreement and ignore dismissive attacks. “We understand there are a range of perspectives within any school community,” she said, “and part of our responsibility as student activists is to operate respectfully within that space.”

Charlie credited advisor Marcy, who is Secretary of the Sagadahoc Dems and also a member of Sagadahoc Indivisible, with helping the group connect to the broader community and prioritize its efforts. She is helping the students plan voter registration drives and explore collaborations with other youth advocacy organizations.

Liv said activism can feel vulnerable, particularly for young people who are sometimes dismissed as “uneducated kids,” but she believes the benefits far outweigh the risks. “I’ve found the entire experience to be incredibly empowering,” she said. “It’s easy for young people to feel powerless in the face of everything happening around us, but coming together with others our age and seeing real support from the community reminds us we’re not alone.” The experience, she added, has strengthened her confidence not only in her beliefs but in the ability of young people to create meaningful change.

Both seniors see activism shaping their futures. Liv plans to study policy and environmental science at Boston College, while Charlie hopes to pursue diplomacy through international relations.

All three leaders emphasized that sustaining the organization beyond this year’s seniors has been a priority from the start. Liv, Charlie, and Marcy are working to help younger members step into leadership roles so the group can continue to grow. “From the beginning, one of our main goals was to build something sustainable,” Liv said. “Seeing younger members take initiative reassures me the Midcoast Youth Activists will not only outlast us, but continue to make an impact.”

As my friends and I left the bridge that morning, we felt a lot more hope than we had when we arrived. The students we met were thoughtful, organized, and determined — not just protesting the present, but preparing for the future. Listening to them, I felt both a renewed faith in the goodness of our species, and a new sense of optimism about our country’s future.