TWELVE STEPS TO YOUTH ACTIVISM

Inspirational books, educational texts, and motivational speeches are worthless changeagents unless they illuminate a clear path to action. From our combined experiences with youth activism, we hope the following twelve steps serve as a useful roadmap to making the transition from getting upset about an issue to changing the world.

Below we have summarized each of the Twelve Steps that are included in each chapter. We hope you enjoyed the examples of youth activists who are using these twelve steps as well as the organizations in each chapter that are our there to help you become a successful young activist. Now it is your turn! Follow these steps and you will be on your way.

1. Find an Issue that Upsets You
      You wake up one morning and find the world is somehow different to you. You realize that you can no longer sit by and passively participate in life, especially when there is so much that we need to fix. Mastering video games, going to band camp, and playing soccer are no longer fulfilling your mission in life. It is time for you to take action. So, what are you passionate about? Getting upset is the first step to becoming an activist! You cannot stop there though; you have a ways to go…

2. Educate Yourself
      We are the most educated generation in the history of the world. We have access to more information than the Rhodes Scholars of previous generations; all we need to do is tap into it and be able to comprehend it. After you’ve identified an issue you care about, the next step is to learn the various sides of the argument. Read, listen, argue, absorb, become an expert on the issue you care about and never stop learning about it. However, beware of the “perfect information” argument – you can never know everything about an issue. At some point, you must take your knowledge, your gut instinct, your faith, and the courage of your convictions and go to step number three …

3. Take Action
A. Join a Group
      Now it is time to get involved. Is there a group out there addressing the issue you care about? If so, then get involved, get your feet wet, and learn the ropes of effecting social change. Try out different kinds of activism through the group and you’ll learn the ropes. The rest of these twelve steps will be informative to you, but even more so for those of you who are planning to …

B. Start a New Organization
      Perhaps the issue you care about is not being addressed by anyone else. For instance, you care about drug testing, but no one is organizing in your high school. In that case, it is time to start a new group. These next steps will certainly help …

4. Find Your Vision
      How will the world look when you’ve changed it? You know what upsets you, and you’ve gotten started, but where are you headed? Draft your mission statement. Define what success means to you. What are your personal (and organizational) goals? How will you make your mark? How will you evaluate your progress? Don’t forget this important step, then …

5. Recruit Your Friends
      Tell everyone about your vision – your friends, family, possible allies, and even complete strangers. As you give voice to your vision, you will recruit the necessary support to be successful. Some people will disagree, others will even fight against you, but with some effort you can find hundreds, and then thousands, who care. Remember what Margaret Mead taught us: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Embrace her optimism, and take her ‘group’ emphasis to heart…

6. Get Organized
      Once you have the leadership of your team, you’ve got to get organized. Have your first meeting, set out a timeline, create a budget, detail your needs, write your strategic plan, and delegate responsibilities to accomplish your goal. Changing the world will take a lot of work, so you’d better get organized …

7. Build a Coalition
      Think back to step number three. Were there organizations that you considered joining before you launched your own group? Go back to those organizations and build a strong coalition to achieve a common goal. Always network, since there are organizations, adults, and other Millennials who share your vision. Collaborate rather than compete to achieve success together, then …

8. Invite the Public and Press on Board
      Use your age to your advantage. At first, people may not take you seriously, but you will get noticed because you are a “youth activist.” Be professional and persuasive. Get the press – even your school paper – on board with your cause. Create blogs and collect emails for your e-newsletter. Put meetings times on an online calendar. You have an interesting story that should be told. It is now time to …

9. Hold an Event
      You’ve done the legwork, and now it’s time for your first major event. Lead a sit-in, launch your website, start a boycott, make a speech, begin a dialogue, promote a fundraiser, hold a news conference, stage a walkout, and get everyone involved. You’ve been working toward this day; so make it as successful as possible! Be sure to also …

10. Maintain Momentum
      Remember that your guiding goal is not an event, but a movement – so keep moving! You should have already planned what the next event will be, so announce it at your big event. Be sure to also meet with your team after your kick-off to evaluate the first event. Learn from your mistakes and then get back out there. Know when to push forward and when to regroup. There is more work to do …

11. Develop a Community of Support
      Start surrounding yourself with other activists, including people working on other issues. These will be friends who will support you personally and keep you motivated and inspired even after months on a campaign or years fighting for social justice. This community is different than a coalition that is project- or goal- oriented. This is to keep you, as a person, going strong. A solid community of support will make it a lot easier to keep going and avoid burnout…

12. Follow Through and Change the World.
      World-changing youth activists are not sprinters; they are marathon runners. So follow up and follow through. Stay committed to your cause and keep advancing to the next stage. Include young members in your group to pass on leadership. Connect your volunteerism to your activism and your activism to your politics. Serve your community, fight for justice, and vote your conscious. Keep an eye on the prize and be ready to accept that you’re in it for the long run. Success can be slow and incremental, but still gratifying and effective. Luckily you are young, so you have a lifetime to achieve your goals!