6 Times Young People Changed Illinois

Across the state, young Illinoisans are standing up for what they believe in and making a difference. How would YOU change Illinois?

1. When Student Leaders Tackled Low High School Graduation Rates

thenation.com / Via thenation.com

Young people conducted a yearlong survey to get to the root of the high school dropout problem in Chicago. Then they created a solutions-based report to address it.

2. When Middle Schoolers Created their own Anti-Bullying Workshops

mikvachallenge.org / Via mikvachallenge.org

8 Middle School students created an entirely student-led workshop on how to prevent and intervene in bullying.

3. When Young Immigrants Fought for the Passage of the IL Dream Act

iyjl.org / Via iyjl.org

Undocumented students and their allies successfully lobbied the Illinois General Assembly to pass the IL Dream Act, which helped create opportunities for immigrant youth to go to college.

4. When Youth Activists Campaigned for Humane Juvenile Detention Center Conditions

i.ytimg.com / Via stopchicago.org

After young people documented and protested living standards at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, the detention center administrators improved some of the inhumane conditions and allowed the activists to conduct regular monitoring tours.

5. When 600 Teens Helped Keep Chicago’s Bicyclists Moving

cityofchicago.org / Via chi.streetsblog.org

As part of an apprenticeship program that taught them mechanical and horticultural skills, they maintained community gardens and offered bike repairs to garden visitors.

6. When YOU Take Action to Change Illinois!

nextgenil.org / Via nextgenil.org

Inspired by all the young people transforming Illinois? Now is the time for YOU to get involved in the political issues that you care about. Submit your policy idea to the NextGen IL August contest! Winner gets $100 and the chance to present their idea at the NextGen IL convention.

Speaking of NextGen IL convention, RSVP now! 1500 young people from all over Illinois will come together to vote on a policy agenda for our state on September 27th. Help show Illinois’ elected officials that young people care about our state, and that we have great ideas for improving it!