Take a look around your neighborhood. What issues are you concerned with? Are there things you would change? Civic participation begins with deciding what issues you care about and what you think should be done about them. By working with your peers to set an agenda, you can identify ways to make your voice heard and create change in your own community. Take a look at the video about a class at Fort Hayes High School in Columbus, Ohio. Students there ranked the issues they were concerned about into their Youth Issues Agenda and identified the Milo Grogan section of Columbus as the top problem in their neighborhood. After conducting extensive research and conducting on-site interviews, the class proposed solutions, taking the decision-makers and budget process into account. What are some ways your class could tackle a similar issue in your own community? What problems should be on your class’ Youth Issues Agenda? What are the steps you would take to research the issue? How would you solve it? How do you think this process can make positive changes in your community? Be sure to check the research tools on the Student Voices website and join the discussion about your community: from problems to solutions!