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Our Story
The Purpose and the Promise
The
idealism, energy, innovation, and courage of young people have left an
indelible mark on our nation's history. Just as young Americans have
had major impact in the arts, music, culture, and business, their
impact on social change has been profound. Thomas Jefferson was 26 when
he first entered the Virginia legislature. Jane Addams was 29 when she
founded Hull House. Walter Reuther was 29 when he was elected president
of his first United Auto Workers local and 30 when he led thousands of
auto workers out on strike. Cesar Chavez was 25 when he started
organizing farm workers in California. The Reverend Martin Luther King,
Jr. was 26 when he led the Montgomery bus boycott. Saul Alinsky was not
yet 30 when he first organized the Back of the Yards neighborhood
organization. Bob Moses started organizing for the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in Mississippi when he was 26. Heather
Booth formed the first campus women's rights organization when she was
19, and founded the Midwest Academy at the age of 27. Michael Brown and
Alan Khazei were 27 when they launched City Year. Wendy Kopp was 23
when she started Teach for America.
The Center for Community
Change believes nothing is more important to our future than to nurture
the next generation of social change leaders. That is why we have
launched our most ambitious effort ever: Generation Change.
The
driving mission of Generation Change is to identify, train, and support
young people who have a passion for justice. It is a bold attempt to
continue the legacy of all those courageous young people who made such
important contributions to improving the lives of others. We seek to
develop a new generation of leaders who will shape the America of the
next 100 years.
