Quinten Gaines, Illinois

Capital Area Career Center | Springfield, IL

What if teenagers felt they had a voice in the future of our country? This election season, the Student Reporting Labs network of more than 100 schools across the country asked middle and high school students to talk to the next president about the issues they feel need to be addressed.

For many people unable to attend college, manufacturing and industrial jobs offered a dependable and comfortable living. With the decline of American manufacturing, however, students like Quinten Gines are concerned about options after high school.

Produced by Seth Ostrowsky, Ashley Schweigert and Evan Webb, students of Capital Area Career Center in Springfield, Illinois. Instruction provided by SRL Connected Educator Paul LaMantia. Mentor support provided by PBS NewsHour.