9 Ways to Do More in Your Community: Advice from Youth
It can be easy to feel like you’re just one person in a sea of millions, but everyone has the power to make a difference — even kids and teens. In fact, young people today are especially committed to societal change: over 80% of Boys & Girls Club kids surveyed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America feel they can make a difference in their community.
Through models like Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC), Club members are put at the center of their own advocacy experiences with ongoing, active engagement. TLC is part of BGCA’s 10-year partnership with Family Dollar to ensure Club kids have the youth advocacy tools and resources, and opportunities to do more in their communities.
We spoke to Ja’Brandon from Boys & Girls Club of Deep East Texas, Lilliany from Boys & Girls Club of Milford, CT, and Nikki from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada about what community engagement means to them. They all took part in the TLC program and traveled to Washington, D.C., to present their advocacy projects at BGCA’s annual Summit for America’s Youth.
Here’s what they had to say about engaging in your community and making a real difference.
9 Ways to Do More in Your Community
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Get Involved in Causes You Care About
This could mean running for student government, where you can influence school policies and activities. You can also volunteer at a local organization or join an after-school club that supports issues you care about, whether it’s environmental sustainability, social justice or creating safer communities.
“It’s important that you feel a sense of community because that opens you up to bigger and brighter ideas,” says Ja’Brandon.
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Pinpoint an Issue in Your Community to Solve
Issues like hunger or climate change can be overwhelming when you think about it globally. Instead, consider how these challenges impact your community. By focusing on a particular area, you can develop targeted solutions that address real needs in your community.
“Erosion has been impacting our beaches. It causes flooding. It causes property damage. It harms the sea life. We figured, ‘Let’s find a solution.’ And that’s exactly what we did,” said Lilliany, who helped lead her Club’s TLC project to plant a salt marsh to address local erosion.
In rural Texas, Ja’Brandon and his Boys & Girls Club focused on creating economic opportunity for youth, while Nikki’s Club aided youth experiencing homelessness in her hometown of Las Vegas, NV.
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Roll Up Your Sleeves
Sometimes, making a difference requires hands-on work. Volunteering your time and energy for local projects can have a big impact. Participate in neighborhood clean-ups, help out at local shelters or join community gardening projects. Getting personally involved allows you to see the immediate impact of your work and fosters a sense of accomplishment and connection to your community.
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Support Your Peers
Think about issues impacting your peers and people in your age group. Then, create a supportive network. You don’t need to lead a big, organized effort to make a difference. Small gestures are some of the best ways to build a sense of support and community.
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Work with Others
By collaborating with community organizations, you can maximize your collective impact. If you’re a member of a club, consider partnering with local nonprofits, schools or community centers on larger-scale initiatives. Partnerships can also help you build valuable relationships and networks within your community.
“Both our Club CEO and grant writer had connections that allowed us to reach outside of the Club. We spoke with our mayor and connected with local representatives and business owners to support our cause,” said Ja’Brandon.
Lilliany and Nikki also shared how partnerships with local organizations helped take their community projects to the next level.
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Share Your Knowledge
If you have expertise or a particular skill, use it to benefit others. Offer to lead workshops or create informational materials to educate your peers and community. Sharing your knowledge can spread awareness and empower others to take action.
“These issues are not just in my city, but all over America. Educating people and making problems known gives me a good feeling,” said Nikki.
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Become an Advocate
Being an advocate means using your voice to support causes and issues you care about. Speak out at school board meetings, write letters to your representatives or participate in advocacy campaigns.
“I’m a huge believer in the power of voice for our young people,” says Missy Dugan, Vice President of Government Relations at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, “I think that when we encourage them to use theirs, they can move mountains.”
Boys & Girls Clubs help young people realize their potential as advocates for causes they care about. From local projects and advocacy campaigns to meeting with their representatives at BGCA’s annual Summit for America’s Youth in Washington, D.C., Clubs support young people’s leadership and raise youth voices.
“We often don’t hear about teenagers going to meet with their state representatives about something they’re passionate about,” said Lilliany. “I’m grateful that I was able to have that opportunity at my Boys & Girls Club.”
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Show Up
Just as Nikki says, “By showing up, I’m making some form of change.”
And it’s true — simply being present when it matters can have a big impact. Attend community events, town hall meetings or neighborhood cleanup days to show your support. Your presence not only demonstrates commitment, but encourages others to participate in community engagement and contribute, too.
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Don’t Overlook Small Things
Small acts of kindness can make a big difference: like helping younger kids cross the street, holding doors for others, shoveling snow off a neighbor’s driveway or watering plants for a friend. These small actions build a culture of care and community spirit, showing that everyone’s contributions matter.
There are so many ways to make a positive impact in your community. With Family Dollar’s support, youth at over 5,400 Boys & Girls Clubs have the resources, opportunities and support to Do More in their communities.
Since 2014, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with Family Dollar, and in 2023 Family Dollar began supporting Clubs to engage in the TLC model nationwide, empowering Club youth to act on critical issues by providing the resources, opportunities and support to Do More and become change agents. Through Family Dollar’s support, Boys & Girls Club youth and their advisors also have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to present their advocacy projects to their peers while participating in BGCA’s Summit for America’s Youth.
Helping Today’s Kids Become Tomorrow’s Leaders
Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides safe spaces, supportive mentors and programs that help young people succeed. Our leadership programs empower kids and teens to gain self-awareness and confidence and speak up about things they care about. Help support the great futures of America’s youth:
