Together, with your friends and your community, YOU have the power to make a difference.

When Teachers’ Book List Was Going to Be Restricted, Their Students Fought Back. Look What Students in York, PA Accomplished!

Here are 8 ways you can advocate for change.

  • 1. Write a letter

    Write a letter to our superintendent and the school board. Addresses are here.

    Be clear, polite, and accurate. Nobody ever changed their mind because someone called them a mean name. Instead of firing angry epithets, speak from your experience.

  • 2. Speak at a SB Meeting

    Speak at a school board meeting. You can find the schedule here.

    Arrive 30 minutes before the meeting begins and check in with the administrative assistant. Speeches are limited to 3 minutes. Practice at home with a timer. The board does not respond to speakers. They hear them but they do not answer questions or address the points raised. Student speakers are typically very powerful.

  • 3. Educate others

    Share your new knowledge and insight with others. Form a group or start a social media forum and teach others, including your classmates, younger students and adults in their lives.

  • 4. Run for office

    Student government provides a chance for students to have a positive impact in their school and learn about how government works on a small scale.

    Check in with Doylestown Borough or Township for offices that are open. The Shade Tree Commission, I hear, is often looking for talent. This might launch your political career.

  • 5. Create a public awareness campaign

    Educating people about an issue in order to inspire change. The use of blogs, social media sites like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, videos, memes and online petitions are just a few examples of how words travel fast online and can incite quick and effective action.

  • 6. Raise money

    From organizing a bake sale around a local issue to fundraising on a larger scale for a national concern, raising money helps you be a part of something bigger and backs the cause. Fundraisers can include selling items, auctions, entertainment, sponsoring events and more.

  • 7. Get the press involved

    Bringing publicity to their issue amplifies the message, gets more people concerned and potentially has a greater impact. They can write a press release, do an interview, write an op-ed in their local paper or invite a reporter to see what they are doing and write something about it.

  • 8. Protest

    Demonstrations and protests can be uplifting and empowering. Consider what your goals are and think through what message you want to convey. You can create posters, prepare songs or chants and practice symbolism that conveys your thoughts and feelings. Safety first.