<p>My son has a career as an activist - that is, all of his employment has been working for nonprofit or political agencies doing fundraising or recruitment, mostly focusing on environmental issues. Both kids do also participate in political events -- for example, they were both at the huge immigrant right's march on Monday. </p>
<p>I've never pushed them to do this sort of thing, but I have supported them. For one thing, my daughter knows that it is o.k. with me if she leaves school to participate in something like this -- obviously a parent who wants activist kids has got to expect a few missed days of school. In general, my daughter has left campus to participate in large, well-publicized events so I assume that teachers plan around them as well. </p>
<p>Since neither kid is currently in college, I can't comment on campus activism. My son was participating in anti-war activities when he was at college, but I have no clue as to whether others from his campus were active - that was during the time when there were huge anti-war rallies before the Iraq invasion, generally on weekends, and my son was leaving campus to participate. </p>
<p>I do think that the internet has displaced some of the more visible types of activism. A lot of fundraising & communications on various issues is done by email, and kids could be in their dorm rooms organizing a meetup or making phone calls for a cause - and you never see them. It is quieter, but at least where money is being raised to support a cause, sometimes a lot more efficient -- I have seen thousands of dollars raised very quickly through ad hoc email loops on internet forums. And then there are the political bloggers--- doesn't seem like "activisim", but a site like Daily Kos certainly has a lot of impact.</p>