Tomorrow's Change Makers

For everyone who cares about the future of democracy and the wellbeing of generations to come, Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell shows how families, schools, and communities play critical roles in raising and mentoring tomorrow's citizens. Through powerful voices of passion-filled American youth, you learn about the relationships, experiences, and challenges that shaped their young lives of service, civic engagement, and commitment to causes bigger than themselves. Tomorrow's Change Makers links the latest research on civic engagement with positive youth development, and provides practical, research-based advice on how to: Help young people transform volunteering, service learning, and civic engagement experiences beyond a requirement for college resumes to value-defining opportunities for personal growth and citizenship development. Utilize effective mentoring, coaching, and parenting practices that help young people believe in themselves and their abilities to improve the world. Cultivate eight core abilities that support youth development and engaged citizenship, helping children chart meaningful pathways through life and fulfilling roles in democracy and civil society. Encourage challenging and meaningful volunteering and service learning opportunities for every child, based on their unique strengths and interests. Praise for Tomorrow's Change Makers "Marilyn's research study, based on interviews with highly engaged youth, is a scholarly, insightful, and impressive contribution to the field of civic engagement." -Peter Levine, PhD, Associate Dean for Research, Tufts University Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service "This deeply researched, thought-provoking book shows insightful glimpses into the lives of children who grew up to care about the world and make it a more just and compassionate place in which to live. The stories are not only instructive for educators, civic leaders, and policy makers, they also show parents that developing core abilities in children helps them grow into young adults who are capable of charting their own moral lives of meaning and purpose." -Michele Borba, EdD, author of Building Moral Intelligence "Tomorrow's Change Makers investigates the dynamic relationship between two essential elements of becoming a person-personal identity and worldview. Through the voices of her participants, Dr. Price-Mitchell reminds us how young people discover motivation and passion to improve the lives of others. This is inspiring and useful research for those who work with youth." -Stephen D. Arnold, PhD, Co-founder and Vice Chairman, George Lucas Educational Foundation