Matthew Segal
Encyclopedia
Matthew Segal is an American social entrepreneur, media commentator, and political activist. He is the co-founder and president of Our Time
, a nationwide non-profit network of young Americans promoting economic and voter empowerment.
, and graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College
in 2008. He became an advocate for student voting rights in college after his campus polling place experienced the longest lines in the 2004 presidential election
.
in 2004, Segal provided testimony to the US House Judiciary Committee, which was investigating election irregularities, at the age of 19, noting that “It seems almost hypocritical that a society so focused on the importance of the vote did not concern itself more heavily with the actual process of voting."
When a junior in college, Segal founded Student Association for Voter Empowerment
(SAVE) with the stated aim of "work[ing] to bring young Americans into the political process by breaking down barriers to electoral participation and encouraging youth-led policy solutions." He founded SAVE at age 21, which expanded to 40 college campuses in more than 15 states, and worked on election protection initiatives as well as expanding voter access through initiatives such as the Student VOTER Act.
After the 2008 presidential election
, Segal co-founded the 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs Coalition
, the largest campaign of organizations in the United States that addressed youth unemployment and other economic challenges facing individuals under 30. In this capacity, Segal spearheaded a national jobs summit in the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of young leaders, provided testimony to the House Education and Labor Committee
, and was the only youth representative invited to attend President Barack Obama
’s conference on jobs and economic growth.
, a voter registration non-profit founded by TV producer and director Norman Lear
to form Our Time
with the goal of bringing economic power to his generation, in the midst of the recession and beyond.
As an initiative of Our Time, Segal and his colleagues also launched Buy Young, an online marketplace of businesses founded and run by entrepreneurs under 30, encouraging Americans to purchase products from young companies and support youth job creation. Segal convened more than 125 young CEOs and executives in Washington, D.C.
on July 13, 2011, at the White House
, the Chamber of Commerce
and Capitol Hill to launch the effort and push for greater job creation and economic opportunities for young Americans.
and other TV networks as a correspondent to discuss the political opinions and attitudes as well as consumer behavior of young Americans. Segal has written many editorials about topics pertaining to young Americans, including unemployment and media misrepresentation.
He has publicly called for expanded access to funding for entrepreneurs and increased public service opportunities for young Americans. Segal has been featured on C-SPAN
, MSNBC
, Fox
, and CNN
.
OUR TIME (nonprofit)
Our Time is a membership group for Americans under 30 leveraging strength in numbers in the name of "greater representation of young Americans in all segments of society." The organization descends from Declare Yourself and the Student Association for Voter Empowerment, and began operations as a...
, a nationwide non-profit network of young Americans promoting economic and voter empowerment.
Early life and education
Segal was born in Chicago, Illinois, attended New Trier High SchoolNew Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
, and graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in 2008. He became an advocate for student voting rights in college after his campus polling place experienced the longest lines in the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
Career
After the reported 12 hour-long voting lines at Kenyon CollegeKenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in 2004, Segal provided testimony to the US House Judiciary Committee, which was investigating election irregularities, at the age of 19, noting that “It seems almost hypocritical that a society so focused on the importance of the vote did not concern itself more heavily with the actual process of voting."
When a junior in college, Segal founded Student Association for Voter Empowerment
Student Association for Voter Empowerment
The Student Association for Voter Empowerment is an association of students with the stated aim of "work[ing] to bring young Americans into the political process by breaking down barriers to electoral participation and encouraging youth-led policy solutions."- Student Voter Act :The Student Voter...
(SAVE) with the stated aim of "work[ing] to bring young Americans into the political process by breaking down barriers to electoral participation and encouraging youth-led policy solutions." He founded SAVE at age 21, which expanded to 40 college campuses in more than 15 states, and worked on election protection initiatives as well as expanding voter access through initiatives such as the Student VOTER Act.
After the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Segal co-founded the 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs Coalition
80 Million Strong (for Young American Jobs)
80 Million Strong was a coalition aiming to unite young Americans to own and direct their economic reality. The summit, taking place July 14–15, 2009 in Washington, D.C., looked at the problems that young people face in order to find constructive, long-term solutions...
, the largest campaign of organizations in the United States that addressed youth unemployment and other economic challenges facing individuals under 30. In this capacity, Segal spearheaded a national jobs summit in the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of young leaders, provided testimony to the House Education and Labor Committee
United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce
The Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
, and was the only youth representative invited to attend President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s conference on jobs and economic growth.
Our Time
In 2010, Segal combined SAVE with Declare YourselfDeclare Yourself
Declare Yourself is a campaign initiated during the 2004 United States presidential elections to encourage young people to register to vote. It began as the "Declaration of Independence Road Trip", a 50-city cross-country tour of a rare Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence lasting ...
, a voter registration non-profit founded by TV producer and director Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
to form Our Time
OUR TIME (nonprofit)
Our Time is a membership group for Americans under 30 leveraging strength in numbers in the name of "greater representation of young Americans in all segments of society." The organization descends from Declare Yourself and the Student Association for Voter Empowerment, and began operations as a...
with the goal of bringing economic power to his generation, in the midst of the recession and beyond.
As an initiative of Our Time, Segal and his colleagues also launched Buy Young, an online marketplace of businesses founded and run by entrepreneurs under 30, encouraging Americans to purchase products from young companies and support youth job creation. Segal convened more than 125 young CEOs and executives in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on July 13, 2011, at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and Capitol Hill to launch the effort and push for greater job creation and economic opportunities for young Americans.
Media commentator
Segal is a contributing writer to the Huffington Post, is frequently quoted in the press, and appears regularly on MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and other TV networks as a correspondent to discuss the political opinions and attitudes as well as consumer behavior of young Americans. Segal has written many editorials about topics pertaining to young Americans, including unemployment and media misrepresentation.
He has publicly called for expanded access to funding for entrepreneurs and increased public service opportunities for young Americans. Segal has been featured on C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.