This year, middle school students at State College Friends School did more than learn about civic engagement. They practiced it.
Through the year-long, student-driven Changemakers Project, students identified real issues they care about in their school, community, and beyond. They asked thoughtful questions, researched credible sources, and examined who is affected by these issues and who has the power to create change. From there, they developed action steps designed to raise awareness and invite informed, respectful conversation.
The goal of the project was not to solve complex problems, but to help students practice being thoughtful, informed participants in their communities.
Now in the action phase, students have brought their work beyond the classroom. They have created websites, written letters, designed posters, and launched surveys and campaigns to engage real audiences. Their projects reflect a wide range of topics, including healthcare access, workplace equity, environmental health, immigration, fair wages, and community safety.
Over the past several weeks, we have been proud to share their work with the community. We invite you to explore these projects, engage with student research, and consider how these issues connect to your own experiences and perspectives.
Explore the Changemakers Projects:
• Affordable Healthcare Advocacy
Learn about the rising cost of healthcare and find tools to contact elected representatives:
https://sites.google.com/scfriends.org/helppeopleaffordhealthcare
Healthcare survey: https://forms.gle/4LcATVzn5XDD4NrN7
• Workplace Equality and the LGBTQIA+ Community
Explore information about workplace discrimination and ways to support equal protections:
https://sites.google.com/scfriends.org/against-lgbtqia-discrimination/home?
• Rural Healthcare Access
Support awareness efforts and share your experiences with healthcare access:
Support form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzdncqAh4xUbZK2UOeWx6UN9xI0NOtI5safQSrFB-_7cfePg/viewform
Share your story: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHHUYRcze4m3VjferOHQnHN4KU5WtDKJKbWoylC-DFfUc9YQ/viewform
• Fair Wages for Janitorial Staff
Read about a student proposal advocating for increased wages and share your perspective:
Community survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyK8Kyn2GkmClwh8KQrh7FcdfwDoz_60UpEvUNx3IthiPXCg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=100574845675912091235
• Immigration and Community Impact
Learn more about ICE activity and the Moshannon Valley Processing Center:
https://sites.google.com/scfriends.org/ice-and-mvpc
Community survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6Xy6uryiNE2o5bY307rVwNf5F9Hk8DK7UqUGkoankAfB6VA/viewform
• Pedestrian Safety in State College
Support efforts to improve lighting at a local crossing:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pZBTz9pu6rN9hCEXk-QgqetqC4IHZtbuvJ5teFMflzg/edit
• PFAS Awareness and Environmental Health
Read a student-submitted article and take action:
https://www.statecollege.com/centre-county-gazette/stay-healthy-by-staying-away-from-pfas/
Email template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fgFVtRA3ls5SFd0NanQ9fI9ubVPLbk7TzXqAelievd0/
These projects are not about solving complex national or global issues overnight. They are about learning how to participate thoughtfully in a community, how to advocate respectfully, and how to raise awareness using credible information.
We invite our community to continue engaging with this work, explore the ideas our students have developed, and carry these conversations forward at home and beyond.
This is student voice in action. This is civic learning at work. This is what it looks like when young people practice being changemakers.