4 Steps To Start Changing The World
If the idea of a giant summit gives you a little too much anxiety, there is no shame in starting local
Author: Christi Whaley. GOODdler Ambassador
As a white suburban kid who always had dreams of conquering the world for peace, it didn’t take long for me to realize the immensity of the issues that the world faces today. Just when you turn to solve one problem, another seems to pop up. The poor and suffering, the corrupt countries, the desolated villages, these are the things that tug our hearts and frustrate our most logical efforts.
Despite all this, a profound realization — that took a few humbling experiences to come into fruition — came to be more impactful than all the above stated. While reading through media on world events and humanitarian efforts, I dreamt of flying out across the world to impact human life. Yet as I stepped out onto the plane, I didn’t bother to glance at all I walked right by to get there: all the homeless people; the women who lived in fear for their lives as their husbands went out drinking again, the families on the edges of urban poverty. As I thought I was going out to make a true impact in this world, I neglected what was right in front of me: my community was hurting, too. Moving forward in a more concentrated, but equally intimidating task, one thing I noticed as I became connected who those who have a greater influence of the suburban areas of Phoenix, Arizona, is that I found myself in a fairly empty space. The problems were so large around us yet helpers so few. And even more so, people my age were and are widely absent.
In my new found position, I began to become critical of those who continued to live their normal, self-focused lives, as if they didn’t care. Yet, a bit of reflection made me realize where I was before these unmerited opportunities came to me: I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, where it go, or who to talk to. How could I expect anyone in that position to get to where I am? Thus, my prayer is that this article rests itself on the eyes of those who need it the most.
Moving forward in such an honorable aspiration is intimidating, especially when you feel like you’re alone. So, from one future world-changer to another, here are some more tangible steps and resources that can get you moving in the direction you have always envisioned yourself to go.
One organization that has given me a world of opportunity is GOODdler Foundation, a 501(c)3 US charity that has a vision to inspire youth, just like me, to become a solution to the problems facing local communities. Attending Gooddler Social Impact Youth Incubator, an innovative program that will take place this summer in Silicon Valley, CA is one of the ways you can learn how to do be effective in your efforts to bring a positive change. This 12-week program is a perfect place for those who want to leave a mark in this world. Most incubators require you to have a proven idea, but this one doesn’t. In fact, they will teach you how to generate ideas, a skill that will serve you well in all areas of your life. You will learn how to identify the needs around you and design solutions. Not only that, once you test your solution and it shows a potential to make a difference in your community, they will put your team in front of potential investors and will help you along the way to see it succeed and to make a difference.
If the idea of a giant summit gives you a little too much anxiety, there is no shame in starting local. If that is the case, the founders of GOODdler have come up with some productive and innovative ways to get you moving toward the path of impact.
Step 1: Go into your community. It’s amazing how you can live somewhere your whole life and barely know what’s going on or what places out of your immediate area look like. Try to understand the demographic of the city, what the general population stands for, what the culture is, what the political and social composition is. This is your home, after all. Shouldn’t you know it?
Step 2: Check the local news. This also can go hand in hand with going into your community. This is one of the best ways to become quickly familiar with what is going on and what are major concerns of the community. You will quickly be able to find out about important events, political and social issues, and what is valued in the community. These two steps need to happen before you can start identifying issues. If you diagnose something before knowing its history, it’s patterns, it’s personality and its habits, you can definitely cause more harm than good.
Step 3: Once you become familiar with the small world around you and find the issues that stir your heart, start finding those like-minded people. Research local nonprofits that address these issues and start asking around. Don’t be afraid to inject yourself and speak up about your desires and concerns. I’ve never come across a nonprofit that rejects willing and able people. If you feel like you don’t have enough experience or resources, partner with those organizations and learn from them. If you have ideas about how to fix current issues, don’t be afraid to express your ideas. Maybe they’ve tried it before, maybe they haven’t.
Step 4: Research, research, research! Honestly, this step is kind of the catch-all step. Your research should be permeating your entire journey. The only way these complex issues can be solved is if we keep approaching it in new and creative ways, and you can’t find those new and creative ways unless your willing to learn new and creative things.
Interested in learning more? Apply to be a part of Social Impact Youth Incubator this summer before May 28th, 2018: http://www.gooddler.org/youth-incubator/
