Teens Teaming With Teens To Create A Better World

Every year, non-profit organizations such as Riley’s Way, the New Leaders Initiative and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes support youth with a passion for doing good. Take, for example, Rania Zuri, who made history by being the youngest person to get a U.S. Senate resolution passed to help end book deserts.

Or Austin Picinich, who is saving salmon through art, and Dylan Zajac, who founded Computers 4 People at age 15, which refurbishes and donates computers to low-income individuals to access job search, education and telehealth.

But what happens when kids with passions get together and share their passions? That is the question Ian Sandler had after he founded Riley’s Way, a non-profit investing in future leaders with a passion for kindness that supports high-potential youth who receive grants for change-making initiatives that foster empathy, collaboration and inclusion.

Riley’s Way’s Call for Kindness Fellowship provides grants and leadership development training to youth like Picinich and Zajac to support their change-making initiatives.

Inspiring Connections With Youth Leadership Retreats

One of Riley’s Way’s key initiatives is to foster collaboration among future changemakers through an annual Youth Leadership Retreat. The non-profit brings together over 100 emerging leaders from across the country to make connections, learn from each other and develop their leadership skills.

“While we bring in expert speakers for workshops, the true magic of our leadership retreats unfolds during peer-led discussions,” said Sandler. “Witnessing someone who has walked a similar path share insights on organizational growth or problem-solving is incredibly empowering.”

Art With A Purpose

At this year’s retreat one of those connections was Zajac and Picinich. “It was an instant bond,” explains Picinich. Zajac, a student at Babson College, asked if Picinich could brighten up a blank wall inside Computers 4 People’s new office location opening in Waltham, Massachusetts. Picinich, a muralist who’s led over 720 volunteers to ‘paint-by-number’ murals across the greater Seattle area, was up for the challenge and collaboration.

Within two months, Picinich flew across the country to Massachusetts, leading a paint-by-number event for a 24-foot mural. The project combines Austin’s art, as well as Dylan’s mission to bridge the digital divide, in a collaborative mural.

A week after the mural event, the Mayor of Waltham, Jeannette A. McCarthy, welcomed Computers 4 People with a proclamation at the office launch. The office now serves as a Boston hub for collecting, refurbishing and distributing computers to people in need.

To Picinich, painting a mural for Zajac was not just a favor with a cool reason to visit Boston. “I spent three days with Dylan and learned so much from him. It’s inspiring to see someone who is one year older than me who has already raised over $1.5 million and has two locations that serve the community.”

Partnering For A Pen-Pal Program With Seniors

Another example of a youth-led collaboration is Hattie Shapard, who founded The Amity Program, which connects teens to senior citizens, and Amelia Wang, who is the co-founder of Riley’s Way’s Portola School Chapter. Shapard and Wang are collaborating to create a pen-pal program between teens and senior citizens to foster meaningful connections and provide companionship.

Shapard and Wang’s organizations hosted an event to bring students together to create cards for the pen-pal program. The cards are mailed to senior citizens living at assisted living centers, who often experience loneliness and lack of connection. The program creates ongoing relationships between youth and seniors, fostering inter-generational relationships, while creating change in their communities.

Making Connections To Build A Better World

Sandler is excited about the collaborations he is seeing. But Sandler is also quick to point out that the real, long-term benefit of fostering connections like those cited above goes well beyond the impact of any one of Riley’s Way changemakers. With each new project, partnership and forged connection, the Riley’s Way movement grows and the youth involved achieve even more amazing accomplishments.

Concludes Sandler, “Riley’s Way is teaching these kind changemakers skills and giving them the network they need as they grow and become tomorrow’s leaders. The multiplier effect is immense. Just think about how much better the world will be with leaders who embody empathy, collaboration and inclusion.”

On a personal note, Austin Picinich is my son. As a parent, it is great to see organizations like Riley’s Way, the New Leaders Initiative and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes support youth with a passion for doing good. If you know a young person with a dream to do good, have them check out these great organizations.