Maryland State Senate candidate Jamie Raskin today announced plans for his surging grassroots campaign to organize a "Democracy Summer" for college, graduate and high school students who want to volunteer to help.

"Young people have always been in the forefront of exciting and important political changes in our country, from the American Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement" Raskin said. "This is a campaign to revitalize the Democratic Party, bring in hundreds of new voters, and take back Maryland from Ehrlich and his party. We say to young people that if they will give us their idealism, their energy and their passion, we will teach them all of the skills of political campaigning and bring them into contact with many of the most exciting thinkers and activists in the Democratic Party."

In Democracy Summer, students will be put into different teams that will be rotated through all aspects of the campaign, from door-to-door canvassing to fundraising to direct mail to neighborhood organizing to issue and policy research to advance work.

"You will learn about every aspect and facet of a progressive political campaign," Jamie said. He also announced that there would be regular weekly meetings with notable political thinkers, activists and strategists to further"enrich and deepen the experience."

"We want to help produce young people who are ready to take back America and not just fold letters and lick stamps. There is enormous responsibility that rests with the next generation, and we're going to get these young people ready to lead."

Democracy Summer is open to young people who are in at least ninth grade and are high school, college or graduate students. The teams will include young people of different ages and backgrounds.

Those interested may apply on-line and will hear back from the campaign immediately.

The campaign has already attracted eight full-time volunteers for the summer and has received dozens of inquiries, including from as far away as Seattle, Washington.

The coordinators of Democracy Summer will be Rebecca Lord and Gina Angiola.

Download a Democracy Summer application [HERE].