About 65 high school students from across Minnesota gathered at the Minnesota House of Representatives on Nov. 23 for the Catalyst for Systems Change (CSC) changemakers program, an event designed to empower young people to shape the Minnesota youth agenda in 2025.
Students, ages 16 to 24, went beyond conversations to create action plans, including drafting issue briefs, collaborating with legislators, and laying the groundwork for proposed legislation. Over the years, CSC has successfully worked with Minnesota youth to help pass several pieces of legislation.
Among them: Getting $20 million allocated for youth and family homelessness leading to permanent housing. Securing an additional $4 million for the Youth Build program that teaches the construction trades in schools. And amending a law to make grants up to $100,000 available through MN Housing for schools to purchase supplies and other resources required for building homes through Youth Build.
“We hope that the community and young people can see their creativity and insights are valuable,” said Khalique Rogers, executive director of Catalyst for Systems Change. “We’re creating a youth-leg[islature] agenda — and the needs are urgent.”
Since 1988, Catalyst for Systems Change has been “in the difference-making business.” It works with educators, families, business people, students, policymakers, and others concerned with making important, measurable differences in young people’s lives. This includes:
- Increasing student achievement.
- Raising high school and post-secondary graduation rates.
- Improving student attitudes toward learning, their schools, and being positive, active, contributing members of their community.
- Promoting greater understanding that young people can and should be encouraged to help make a positive difference in their communities by combining classroom instruction with community service.
- Strengthening communities by building stronger working relationships among educators, parents, students, and community members.
With a bipartisan group of state legislators, this year’s program addressed critical topics such as youth and family homelessness, mental health challenges, and affordable housing solutions. The students represented 24 schools across suburban, rural and urban communities, including Apple Valley, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, St. Paul, Shakopee, Stillwater, Willmar and Woodbury.
Partnering with a coalition of currently and formerly homeless youth and families, Catalyst for Systems Change is working to dramatically reduce youth and family homelessness in Minnesota.
“This is a chance for young people to lead and be heard,” said Rogers, who’s been active with the group since he was 17 and was named executive director in September. “We’re not just teaching students about policy. We’re empowering them to shape it. To be proactive, not reactive, to crises.”
Catalyst for Systems Change has provided grants and technical assistance to Minnesota schools and communities wishing to make comprehensive changes in their educational programs. Projects were funded through the Blandin Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, and the Minnesota Initiative Funds.
Although each project was unique, they all had the same basic intent: strengthening the social and economic vitality of their communities; planning and implementing a broad-based team of educators, students, and community representatives; encouraging greater community use of school facilities, equipment, and educator expertise; promoting a multicultural, gender-fair curriculum; and creating individualized or personalized learning plans for students.
To date, more than 80 Minnesota communities have been given planning or implementation grants to develop new models for public education.
Cynthia Moothart welcomes reader responses at cmoothart@spokesman-recorder.com.