If you really want to make an impact on our world, change the way children are educated.  Help change the way young adults perceive the world before they become the decision makers.   If you really want to get 14 year olds excited about voting in four years, give them a chance to become complete members of their communities before they become jaded and convinced their voice doesn’t count. 

The “school to prison pipeline” - describes a trend in schools all over the country.  Fed by “zero tolerance” policies, schools are increasingly relying on harsh punishment and more often than not – law enforcement, as a means of disciplinary action.  Today, children are more likely to go to jail for non-violent offenses than they were thirty years ago.  Every child should be given the opportunity to rehabilitate and learn.  We cannot continue to incarcerate children for non-violent offenses. 

Books Not Bars is a non-profit grassroots organization in California that works to redirect funds from youth incarceration to youth opportunities.  They are working to close California's abusive, expensive youth prisons and replace them with rehabilitation centers and community-based programs. 

Get involved with Books not Bars OR go to Idealist.org and find a youth based organization to get involved with in your city, state or country.

Let’s stop giving up on “trouble makers”.  Some of them are going to make great activists and leaders one day.