CULTURED's 2026 Young Activists List Features 13 Nominees by Steinem, Abrams, Burke
CULTURED magazine published its inaugural Young Activists list, featuring 13 organizers under 35 nominated by prominent figures including Gloria Steinem, Stacey Abrams, Tarana Burke, David Hogg, Raquel Willis, John Feinblatt, Allison Sesso, Omar Jadwat, Chris Smalls, Julie Burkhart, Amanda Nguyen, Derrick Johnson, and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. The list, released ahead of the US's 250th anniversary, profiles activists such as Ayisha Siddiqa, Daniel Trujillo, Elisha McDowell, Jennifer Holloway, Justin J. Pearson, Kshithij Shrinath, Leila Khader, Louisa Richardson-Deppe, Melody Oliphant, Nikita Mitchell, Rebecca Grone, Synclaire Warren, and Tylik McMillan. The article contextualizes Gen Z activism amid high burnout rates (83 percent) and low trust in institutions, citing David Hogg's quote: 'I'm not powered by hope. I'm powered by the fact that I have no other choice.' Tylik McMillan, newly appointed NAACP youth director, stated: 'Feeling tired does not make you weak... exhaustion does not cancel your power.'
Key facts
- CULTURED magazine published its inaugural Young Activists list on July 2, 2026.
- The list features 13 organizers under 35 nominated by figures including Gloria Steinem, Stacey Abrams, and Tarana Burke.
- Nominees include Ayisha Siddiqa, Daniel Trujillo, Elisha McDowell, Jennifer Holloway, Justin J. Pearson, Kshithij Shrinath, Leila Khader, Louisa Richardson-Deppe, Melody Oliphant, Nikita Mitchell, Rebecca Grone, Synclaire Warren, and Tylik McMillan.
- The article references the 2018 Parkland shooting and David Hogg's activism.
- 83 percent of Gen Z report burnout, and only 3 percent have great trust in Congress.
- David Hogg is quoted: 'I'm not powered by hope. I'm powered by the fact that I have no other choice.'
- Tylik McMillan is the newly appointed NAACP youth director.
- The list was published ahead of the US's 250th anniversary.
Entities
Artists
- Ayisha Siddiqa
- Daniel Trujillo
- Elisha McDowell
- Jennifer Holloway
- Justin J. Pearson
- Kshithij Shrinath
- Leila Khader
- Louisa Richardson-Deppe
- Melody Oliphant
- Nikita Mitchell
- Rebecca Grone
- Synclaire Warren
- Tylik McMillan
- David Hogg
- Gloria Steinem
- Stacey Abrams
- Tarana Burke
- Raquel Willis
- John Feinblatt
- Allison Sesso
- Omar Jadwat
- Chris Smalls
- Julie Burkhart
- Amanda Nguyen
- Derrick Johnson
- Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Institutions
- CULTURED
- NAACP
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
- CNN
- March For Our Lives
Locations
- Parkland
- United States