Some ideas for what your community might be include:

• School Community: Addressing issues within your school, such as bullying prevention, mental health support, or improving extracurricular activities.
• Local Neighborhood: Initiatives to enhance safety, cleanliness, and community engagement in your neighborhood.
• Environmental Community: Efforts to combat climate change, reduce pollution, or promote sustainable living practices.
• Cultural or Ethnic Community: Celebrating and preserving cultural heritage, promoting diversity and inclusion, or addressing challenges faced by specific cultural or ethnic groups.
• Senior Citizen Community: Programs to combat loneliness and support the elderly, such as senior center activities or technology training
• Immigrant or Refugee Community: Offering support services, language assistance, or cultural integration programs for newcomers
• Gender or LGBTQ+ Community: Advocating for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and creating safe spaces for marginalized individuals
• Rural or Farming Community: Addressing rural challenges like access to education, healthcare, or sustainable agriculture practices.
• Digital Community: Promoting online safety, combating cyberbullying, or raising awareness about digital literacy.

There are lots of ways to discover a problem that affects a community you care deeply about. In addition to your own life, here are some ideas:

• Environmental Concerns: Pay close attention to your surroundings, both within your school and in your local neighborhood. Notice any recurring issues, challenges, or areas of improvement.
• Engage with Community Members: Talk to neighbors, friends, family, teachers, and community leaders. Ask them about the challenges they face or the issues they are concerned about in the community.
• Participate in Local Activities: Get involved in community events, volunteering opportunities, or neighborhood associations. This provides firsthand experience and insights into community needs.
• Research Local News and Reports: Stay informed about local news and government reports. Local newspapers, websites, and government publications can highlight ongoing issues and concerns.
• Utilize Social Media and Online Platforms: Join community groups and follow local organizations on social media. Engaging in online discussions can reveal community issues and interests.
• Attend Town Hall Meetings: Participate in town hall meetings, community forums, or city council meetings. These gatherings often address local concerns and provide a platform for residents to voice their opinions.

No idea is too big or too small! Here are some ideas of projects based on different issue areas:

Climate Change & Environmental Justice

• Launch a recycling program in school and advocate for sustainable practices.
• Organize a community clean-up day where students can pick up litter on their school premises or nearby public spaces.

Literacy & Reading

• Start a free little library in your neighborhood or school with used books for students to read.
• Create a reading buddy program for older students to read to younger students once a week.

Education Equity

• Establish a peer tutoring program within the school, where older students can volunteer their time to help younger students with their academic subjects.
• Establish a pen pal program between students from different schools or even across different communities.

Racism, Xenophobia & Inclusion

• Organize a cultural awareness fair to celebrate diversity and educate the community about diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Homophobia & Queer Rights

• Establish a safe space club or support group for LGBTQ+ students.
• Collaborate with local organizations to raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes.

Food Insecurity & Food Access

• Start a school-based food pantry or organize food drives to support local families in need.
• Create a community garden to grow fresh produce for donation to local food banks.

Homelessness & Housing

• Collaborate with local shelters to organize donation drives for essential items.
• Volunteer at homeless shelters and initiate campaigns to destigmatize homelessness.

Animal Cruelty & Animal Rights

• Raise awareness about responsible pet ownership through informational campaigns.
• Advocate for stronger animal welfare laws by writing letters to policymakers.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

• Conduct workshops or seminars on effective time management and self-care techniques for students.
• Create a support network or buddy system to promote peer support and mental well-being.

Here are some ideas on next steps you can take:

• Research and Understand the Issue: Begin by thoroughly researching the issue you want to address in your community. Understand its root causes, the people it affects, and existing efforts to address it.
• Your Goals: Clearly define your project's goals and objectives. What specific change do you want to achieve? Having a clear vision will guide your efforts.
• Identify Local Partners: Reach out to local organizations, schools, community centers, or businesses that may share your interest in addressing the issue. Partnerships can provide resources and support.
• Form a Team: Recruit friends, classmates, or community members who are passionate about your cause. A team can help distribute the workload and bring diverse skills to the project.
• Create a Project Plan: Develop a simple project plan that outlines the steps you need to take, a timeline, and a budget if applicable.
• Engage the Community: Start conversations within your community to gauge interest and gather input. Hosting a community meeting or survey can be a great way to involve residents.
• Start Small: Launch a pilot or small-scale version of your project to test its feasibility and gather feedback before scaling up.
• Network and Collaborate: Connect with other youth leaders and organizations working on similar issues.
• Learn from Others: Seek advice and inspiration from individuals who have undertaken similar projects or community initiatives.
• Promote Your Project: Use social media, local newspapers, and community bulletin boards to raise awareness about your project and recruit volunteers or supporters.

Sometimes the best ideas are when you remove any possible barriers. There are no guidelines for this question – be bold.

Here are some different roles we see on youth-led changemaking projects:

• Treasure or Finance Manager: for budgeting, fundraising, and money management.
• Outreach Coordinator: for generating awareness about your project and building relationships with community members.
• Technology Expert: Manages the project's website, app, or digital tools.
• Event Planner: Organizes and manages events related to the project, such as fundraisers, awareness campaigns, or workshops.
• Communications Coordinator: Manages the team's communication strategy, including social media, email newsletters, and public relations.
• Diversity and Inclusion Advocate: Promotes diversity and inclusion within the team and the project.
• Design and Media Specialist: Handles graphic design, video editing, and other multimedia aspects of the project's communication strategy.
• Adult Ally: Adults who can offer a different set of expertise, such as helping with logistics, mentoring team members, managing conflict, and networking.

Here are some ways we see young people engage others to take action:

• Changemaker Storytelling: Craft and share stories that humanize the issue and make it relatable to a broad audience. Share real stories of individuals affected by the problem to evoke empathy and emotional connection.
• Social Media Campaigns: Use popular social media platforms to launch awareness campaigns. Create your own social media strategy that encourages others to get involved and create their own content.
• Collaborations and Partnerships: Identify who you can partner with, such as influencers, organizations, and community leaders, who share an interest in the problem.
• Community Engagement: Organize community events, workshops, and town hall meetings to engage your neighbors and community members.
• Advocacy and Policy Change: Brainstorm how you can involve others to advocate for policy changes or legislative actions (think within your city, school, district, county, township, state, or nationally) that address the problem.