Editor's note: Erica Williams is deputy director of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based organization that describes itself as dedicated to progressive causes. She works to engage the millennial generation and other underrepresented communities in the political process. She can be found at ericawilliamsonline.com and on twitter at @ericawilliamsdc. Erica Williams says Ted Kennedy consistently exemplified the hope for an open, just and inclusive America. (CNN) -- Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy may have been 77 years old, but he embodied the spirit, determination and core values of my generation -- the millenials -- in a way that no other senator has in our lifetime. How ironic that the passing of one of the oldest and longest serving senators has left me, a 25-year-old woman, frantically searching for a fierce, dedicated ally for causes that concern young Americans.
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Erica Williams says, "Kennedy embodied core values of my generation"
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Williams notes Kennedy's work to lower voting age to 18, pass Pell Grants
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Current generation identified with and appreciated Kennedy's work, she says
When I first began working in politics, advocating for the political empowerment and representation of young people, I quickly learned that @placeholder not only fought for us, but also eagerly and wholeheartedly worked with us.