Fiscal Lookouts are Super Advocates
In cities and towns across America, Fiscal Lookouts are the faces of Concord Action’s growing movement, and the front line in the fight to get our unsustainable national debt under control. Fiscal Lookouts meet directly with members of Congress and key staff to urge leaders in Washington to return fiscal responsibility to the federal budget process.
Engaging Communities
Fiscal Lookouts are hosting educational, interactive events such as Concord’s Principles & Priorities exercise, which brings together individuals across the political spectrum to find common ground on ways to move forward on tackling our $37 trillion national debt.
Engaging the Next Generation at American University
Training Future Fiscal Leaders
Engaging the Next Generation at American University
Engaging the Next Generation on America’s Fiscal Future
By Zachary Meisel
On September 12 and 15, I had the privilege of joining Phil Smith, The Concord Coalition’s National Field Director, Bob Zahradnik, the National Policy Director, on the campus of American University along with AU alumnus Kyle Duffy who serves as Concord’s Policy Analyst and Staff Assistant. Together, we introduced students from across the country to The Concord Coalition’s approach to public education, highlighting a hard-hitting fiscal reality and facilitating hands-on problem-solving.
Phil opened with our Chart Talk presentation, which lays out the unsustainable trajectory of federal spending and debt and underscores the urgency of action. From there, students broke out into groups to participate in Concord’s federal budget exercise, Principles & Priorities.
The students understood both the difficulty and the importance of the trade-offs involved in federal budget decisions. Working in teams, they debated priorities, weighed reforms, and impressively identified trillions of dollars in savings over the next decade. Many were invigorated after seeing firsthand that solutions exist when we are willing to engage with them honestly.
The participants represented not only American University but also Hood College, Providence College, Williams College, Santa Clara University, and Mount Holyoke College, among others. Many are now preparing to host Principles & Priorities exercises back on their home campuses, and some even plan to launch new Concord Coalition chapters. That ripple effect is exactly why this work matters, especially when it comes to young people.
Federal budget policy decisions (and indecisions) disproportionately affect younger generations. The choices Congress makes in the coming years will shape the opportunities and burdens they inherit. That’s why it is great to see students energized, informed, and ready to carry this conversation forward.
On a personal note, moving from New York City to Washington, D.C. was about getting closer to policymakers and learning more about the federal budget process. In my time here, I’ve been encouraged by The Concord Coalition’s national grassroots efforts as the organization re-launches and recruits volunteers across the country.
The issues we face are serious, but the options for reform are right in front of us if we are brave enough to take them on. After all, when it comes to our nation’s fiscal future, doing nothing might be the worst option of all.
Zachery Meisel serves as The Concord Coalition’s Fiscal Lookout for the District of Columbia
Training Future Fiscal Leaders
Olu Rouse Brings Fiscal Policy to Life at HBCU Think Tank
July 29, 2025
The Concord Coalition’s Fiscal Lookout program is making waves in communities across the country—and thanks to the leadership of student leader Olu Rouse, those waves are now reaching campuses across North Carolina and South Carolina.
On Tuesday, July 29, Olu facilitated the Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities federal budget exercise at the HBCU Think Tank conference in North Carolina. This wasn’t just another presentation—it was an interactive, role-playing simulation that put participants in the driver’s seat of the federal budget, challenging them to grapple with real-world decisions about taxes, spending, debt, and deficits.
Training Future Fiscal Leaders
In addition to leading the simulation, Olu trained HBCU leaders from multiple campuses in North Carolina and South Carolina on how to run the exercise themselves—planting the seeds for continued engagement well beyond this one event.
This initiative was made possible through Olu’s close work with Concord’s National Field Director Phil Smith, as well as his collaboration with the North Carolina Black Alliance and the NC Budget & Tax Center.
Campus Representation
Students and leaders came from a range of schools, including:
- Winston-Salem State University
- NC A&T State University (Olu’s home campus)
- Wake Technical Community College
- NC Central University
- Elizabeth City State University
- South Carolina State University
The Impact in Their Own Words
As Olu shared in his recap:
“We were able to successfully facilitate the Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities Budget Exercise with students from across North Carolina HBCUs and community colleges as well as South Carolina State University! The event was a huge success with students being extremely engaged with the exercise and eager to learn about budgets and taxes. Before the activities, only a handful of students had deep knowledge of national debt, tax policy, and the federal budget—by the end, the majority did. We also saw significant increases in students’ understanding of state and local budgets. Thank you for everyone’s support on this event. I am super excited about future events!”
Looking Ahead
Olu’s commitment to bringing fiscal education to his peers doesn’t stop here. He is continuing his campus outreach well into the future through his participation in the John Lewis Young Leaders’ Fellowship Program. This connection has special meaning for The Concord Coalition—years ago, the late Congressman John Lewis himself hosted our Principles and Priorities budget exercise as part of our bipartisan work with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.
The enthusiasm from this event makes it clear—students are eager to engage with fiscal issues when given the chance to learn in an interactive, collaborative environment. Olu’s work is a powerful example of how young leaders can help build a more informed and engaged electorate, and we are excited to support his future events.
Stay tuned for more updates from our Fiscal Lookout network as we continue to expand our reach on campuses and in communities nationwide.
Building A Movement
Fiscal Lookouts are organizing communities across the country to tell Congress that our unsustainable national debt threatens our national security, our economic well-being, and the economic prospects of the next generation.
Click the link below to download our PDF with questions you can ask your Congressional members and candidates about our policy agenda for restoring fiscal responsibility.
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