How to Build a Legacy of Change

As DoSomething commemorates three decades of fueling young people to create positive change, it's time to give a shout-out to the incredible strength and impact of youth-led collective action. Young people have risen to the forefront of global activism, fearlessly tackling social, environmental, and political issues head-on. From the trailblazers of the Civil Rights Movement to the present-day game-changers transforming our world for the better, young people have truly shaped the course of history. And guess what? So can you!

Youth-Led Impact 101

It’s nothing new that young people are often the first to challenge norms, break barriers, and push the boundaries of what's possible. The relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and a sustainable future creates a ripple effect that lasts for generations to come, and youth-led movements from the past are hugely responsible for the progress we’re building on today.

There’s a reason why big rallying cries for change are called movements. Making progress can’t only happen on an individual level but requires the collective effort of many. Ever heard, “It takes a village”? That’s because it truly does when considering social change!

In the spirit of our 30th, here’s a look at youth-led activism throughout recent history. From before DoSomething got started all the way to now it’s all about the journey, ya’ll:

1963: The Children’s Crusade

Did you know that young people were also a huge part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s?

On May 2, 1963, over a thousand schoolchildren of all ages organized a march in Birmingham, Alabama, to support the ongoing Civil Rights Movement. They were met with police violence, which was captured by reporters and TV stations and broadcast widely across the US. This sparked national outrage and served as a turning point for President John F. Kennedy, who attributed the event to his decision to support federal civil rights legislation such as desegregation and the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Some even believe that the Children’s Crusade was partially responsible for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The organization of the students in the Children’s Crusade was a brave act of nonviolent protest, which set the stage for many groups to come. It showed the world how much young people were willing to sacrifice for racial equality and also demonstrated the importance of banding together. Later, MLK himself praised the Children’s Crusade and thought their effort was important because it helped young people develop a “sense of their own stake in freedom.”

1968: The East LA Blowouts

In the 1950s and 60s, East Los Angeles saw a large influx of Mexican-American residents, and many young people began to notice the disparity between the quality of education for white students versus Latinx students. At school, Latinx students were punished by their teachers for speaking Spanish, discouraged from pursuing post-secondary education, and subjected to poor-quality educational resources. Do you think they stayed silent? No way!

East LA Mexican-American students, teachers, and activists banded together to stage a 15,000-person walkout from March 1-8, 1968. After the series of walkouts, aka Blowouts, young people and activists joined forces to form the Educational Issues Coordinating Committee, which created a list of demands to present to the Los Angeles Board of Education. These included bilingual educational offerings, curriculum changes, and better staffing that would reflect the population of students, ie, hiring more Mexican-American teachers.

Their demands were ultimately rejected, but a spark was ignited in the community, which created a more united front in the movement in East LA toward equitable education. The walkouts are still some of the largest the US has ever seen and proves that when we use our voices together, being ignored isn’t an option. Student walkouts are still used as an activism tool today for important issues like gun safety laws, banned books, and anti- LGBTQIA+ rules!

1989: Velvet Revolution

Let’s go global! Just over a week after the Berlin Wall fell in Germany (ending the oppression of Communism), Czechoslovakian students organized themselves to end the communist regime in their own country. Pretty soon, Prague was flooded with over 500,000 peaceful protesters whose smooth actions gave the movement its name: the Velvet Revolution.

Only 11 days after students mobilized Czechoslovakia’s population, the Communist Party gave up its power, and a democratic president was elected. Now, the Velvet Revolution is considered one of the quickest and most successful youth-led movements in modern history because of the way students were able to swiftly and nonviolently organize themselves.

The most impactful takeaway from this story is how effective young people were in encouraging the population at large to take a stand for freedom and democracy. It’s also admirable how the Velvet Revolution goes down in history not as a turbulent, violent uprising but rather as one of the most effective displays of nonviolent protest of all time.

Now, let’s fast-forward to something more recent.

2012: Dream Defenders

Trayvon Martin is one of the most recognizable names in the ever-growing roster of Black youth killed by gun violence. After Trayvon’s tragic death in 2012, activists formed a new organization, Dream Defenders, to advocate for justice. The movement advocates for an end to systemic racism, mass incarceration, and police violence. Through protests, policy advocacy, and community organizing, the Dream Defenders have been instrumental in raising awareness about these issues and mobilizing young people to create lasting change. They’ve been instrumental in uniting Black, Latinx, and Arab youth throughout Florida by leading marches, camping out at the Capitol building to demand a repeal of the Stand Your Ground law, and many other actions.

The Dream Defenders are just one example of many organizations that are working hard to raise awareness about and demand justice for young people brutalized by the police. They’ve also paved the way for even larger movements like Black Lives Matter, which demonstrates how organizations can work together to support the greater good.

2015: Sunrise Movement

The list of youth-led environmental movements is a long one, which is OK with us! The Sunrise Movement stands out because of its promise to work diligently to end climate change and create millions of jobs in the process. Not only has the Sunrise Movement mobilized thousands of young people through marches, programs, and educational resources, but they’ve also created opportunities where students can start their own hubs at their schools. Because of their work and the work of similar orgs, the Green New Deal became more popular and attainable than ever.

The Sunrise Movement was started by Sara Blazevic and Varshini Prakash, who were trained in community organizing before starting their own organization. Their work is an excellent example of a movement that has adapted to the unique challenges of communities across the country, and they’re committed to helping uplift young people by providing online organizing courses as well. More climate-conscious leaders = a greener world, don’t you think?!

2018: March for Our Lives

In light of the mass shooting in Parkland, California which took the lives of 17 people, courageous students and activists came together to advocate for a future free of gun violence. One of the students was X González, who played a crucial role in building March for Our Lives. They helped other victims of the shooting learn how to turn their anguish into action by redirecting questions from the media to the policy changes they wanted to see, which was a game-changer in getting the gun safety movement off the ground.

Perhaps one of the most recognizable organizations of its kind, March for Our Lives has accomplished so much in the five years it’s been around. From cementing the voice of student activists in the gun safety movement to mobilizing tens of thousands of young people to march, the organization shows no sign of stopping.

March for Our Lives sets itself apart by tapping into the lived experiences of young people who are genuinely afraid and concerned about gun safety. Their marches feature impassioned speeches by survivors who were brave enough to share their first-hand experiences from school shootings like Parkland and beyond. They’ve also been absolute pros at harnessing the power of social media to spread their message and advocate for a better, safer future. How much more inspiring does it get?

It is clearer than ever that the strength and impact of young people cannot be underestimated. From the civil rights movements of the 1960s to the present day, young people have continuously stepped forward, leading the charge for social, environmental, and political change. Young people are challenging the status quo, sparking conversations, and igniting movements all over the world.

The legacy of youth-led collective action is only going to keep building and transforming as more and more young people use their voices for good. That’s why we’re so stoked to see what the next 30 years of DoSomething will look like! Ready to be a part of it?