Stepping Up to the Challenge by Linda Zhou

by Chain of Change Leadership Council member, Linda Zhou.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

“ask not what your country can do for you …” Chain of Chain, youth-led social activism,
is a trademark of the Generation Y invention. Small as it may sound, big change will
happen. Our generation needs to step into our raw power –the priceless power of being
young.

Did you know that youth generally commit more crimes, and more serious crimes, for a
longer time? Did you know more than 1 in 6 students in grades 6 to 10 say they are
bullied sometimes, and more than 1 in 12 say they are bullied once a week or more?
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers? Boys outnumber girls in
arrests for both violent and property crimes? 61 percent of television programs contain
some violence, and only 4 percent of television programs with violent content feature an
“antiviolence” theme? Did you know youth makes up 26% of the U.S. population?

In the midst of all beauty also lay poverty, violence, disease, death and injustice. This is
the cruel reality for many American teens. Chain of Change (COC) is here to foster a
passion in anti-violence through activism and media. COC looks at how young people are
harnessing the power of media to educate the public about issues they care about. It also
explores the tremendous power of youth media programs to promote young people’s
personal growth and development—to equip them with essential “skills for life” that will
enable them to succeed. Youth media programs serve as a vital entry point from which
youth learn about themselves and the world around them. It is designed to address
injustice, racism, violence, the school to prison pipeline and other issues facing youth in
her community.

COC hold conferences, increase educational efforts, launch new programs and speak out
on these issues. Members of COC are engaged, honest, and open-minded. It is in
fulfilling this passion that you cannot merely exist and occupy space in this world, but
you must spread love through serving others. This philosophy has led COC to coordinate
youth-led projects that will promote social change around issues related to violence and
teen rights. These programs capitalize on young people’s creativity, passion, and
idealism, offering their valuable perspectives on some of the most critical issues of our
time—education, the environment, human rights, child abuse, the growing divide
between rich and poor, and the impact of globalization. The list goes on. With young
people under the age of 24 making up half of the world’s population, their perspectives
on current issues and events are not only valuable and insightful, but essential to
informing key decision-makers about the impact of their actions on those whose voices
far too often go unheard. Youth media programs provide a potent example of young
people’s passion, creativity, and engagement in the broader society. The mass media
exerts enormous power over people’s beliefs and preferences, not to mention their
passions and prejudices. Youth media programs can help create connections among
young people who feel socially excluded, either because they’re not in school, live in
poor neighborhoods, or in some cases, are incarcerated. New media outlets have become
the bonding tissue that holds young people together. Being visible—expressing oneself
and being read or seen by others—means you exist. The hunger among young people to
have a voice has coincided with a revolution in technology, and the result has been a
dramatic increase in youth media around the world.