activism

The Kony 2012 Sensation

Like millions of her peers, Julijana was horrified by "Kony 2012," the viral video about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. She wonders why many adults weren't similarly moved, and digs deeper into the story behind the video. (full text)

Saving Yearbook

When school budget cuts threaten the yearbook program, the author rallies to save it and discovers her inner activist in the process. (full text)

Straight Girl Stands Up for Gays

Kelly joins her high school's Gay-Straight Alliance. Despite unpleasant reactions from some peers, she participates in annual awareness-raising events. (full text)

Occupy the Classroom

Julieta's passionate Spanish teacher inspires her to learn about Latin America, get involved in politics, and stand up against injustice.
(full text)

Can We ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ Our Way to a Better World?

Julijana is horrified by "Kony 2012," a video about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, and immediately shares the link on Facebook. However, after learning more about the viral video, she wonders if social media is an effective tool for activism. (full text)

Occupy Wall Street: What They're Yelling About

This teen-friendly guide to the Occupy Wall Street movement—with accompanying videos—explains the financial inequality that activists are protesting. (full text)

What They’re Yelling About on Wall Street

This teen-friendly guide to the Occupy Wall Street movement—with accompanying videos—explains the financial inequality that activists are protesting. (full text)

It’s Easy Being Green

Teen activist Hannah Gross explains why she's committed to eliminating the use of harmful chemicals in everyday products—and gives us tips on what we can do to help.
(full text)

Sisterhood of the Karate Champs

At her karate school, Suzy learns more than self-defense. Her experiences there convince her that women need to stand up for themselves and each other. (full text)

Fighting Prejudice One Teen at a Time

Nesshell admires the Anti-Defamation League's message of tolerance. But in attempting to spread this message, she learns that she won't always meet with like-minded people.

Why Race (Still) Matters

YCteen interviews three experts on race: Rinku Sen, a racial justice activist; Lasana Harris, a neuroscientist who studies how our brains process race; and Dalton Conley, a sociologist and author of the memoir "Honky."

Prevention, Not Detention

Olivia issues a call for New York State to reform its juvenile justice system, by fixing underlying problems in impoverished high-crime neighborhoods, and by providing alternatives to incarceration that address the deeper issues, usually untreated in prison, that drive youth to commit crime.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

According to police records, the NYPD stopped 508,540 pedestrians in 2006 for questioning or frisking. The vast majority of those stopped were black or Latino, and 90% weren’t found to be doing anything wrong. Sidebar to previous article.

We Fought the Law and—We Won!

Getting stopped by the police is common in minority neighborhoods, but when 50 kids get arrested in Bushwick, Brooklyn just for walking down the street, they decide to take action. Helped by an activist curriculum at their alternative school, they successfully sue the police.

My Peers in Prison

Outraged by the unfairness of the juvenile justice system, Olivia embarks on a campaign to educate people.

Acting Is My Activism

Marsha joins THEO (Teens Helping Each Other), a peer education project on HIV and STDs.

Rising Up Against Polluters

UPROSE (United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park) organizes youth to fight for social and environmental justice. Youth are trying to prevent construction of a polluting power plant and are pushing for a new park where there's now a garbage-strewn lot.

Taking Back Neighborhood Parks

Open Road of New York, a nonprofit group, organizes young people to work on environmental improvement projects in the city, such as creating new parks and improving existing ones.

Wake-Up Call in Another World

When she visits her native Pakistan, Maria is appalled by the poverty she sees and decides to become involved in fighting it.

The Undercover Teens of Tobacco Youth

Teens go undercover to expose store owners who sell cigarettes to minors.

Sticking Up for Bushwick

The youth group Make the Road by Walking has lobbied city council representatives to fund a program for homeless teens and a performing arts center for young people.

Washington Heights Is the Bomb

At the activist organization Fresh Youth Initiatives (FYI) in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights, young people help improve conditions by cleaning parks, painting murals, tutoring younger kids, working in a food bank, and doing other community service projects.

A Little Piece of Haiti

Natalie attends a Haitian rally protesting the torture of Abner Louima and feels a new sense of pride in her culture.

Teen Environmentalists

Renu interviews four teens who have become environmental activists, fighting litter, air pollution, lead poisoning, and other problems in their neighborhoods.

The Young Lords: Rebels with a Cause

The Young Lords, an activist Latino group from the ’60s, made people proud to be Puerto Rican.

Who Was Harvey Milk?

A short profile of Harvey Milk, the country’s first openly gay elected official.

Making Change

Youth Power! is a peer advocacy group for youth in the foster care, mental health, juvenile justice, and other systems that make people feel stigmatized. (full text)

Having Their Say

The Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) is a group of youth and adults working to improve foster care in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In one of their projects, young people are trained to go into homes and talk privately with kids about their concerns. (full text)

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