Changemakers – Leading Local Action

Discuss what makes a successful community.

• What do people need to live good lives?
• What do people need from their community?
• How can people work together to improve their community?

Stretch: Why do some communities struggle to meet the needs of the people?

Challenge: What is a community? What communities are you part of?

Using the resources below, identify common features of successful communities.

As you read, look for patterns across different sources.

• https://extension.unh.edu/resource/ten-components-vibrant-communities
• https://www.honolulumagazine.com/oahu-great-neighborhoods-hawaii-kai/
• https://www.hawaiilife.com/blog/kuwili-lani-community-steeped-sustainability/
• https://www.homeexchange.com/blog/best-places-to-live-in-the-world/
• https://www.worldsbestcities.com/rankings/worlds-best-cities/

Stretch: Do you agree with what these sources say?

Challenge: What does your community already do well?

Create a priority pyramid of the core needs of a community.

• Most important needs at the base
• Less urgent needs towards the top

You may include: 

• Safe spaces
• Education
• Housing
• Food access
• Community spaces
• Environmental protection
• Local businesses
• Cultural celebration
• Public services

You can also add your own ideas.

Be ready to explain:

1. Why did you choose these needs?
2. Why are some more important than others?
3. Why can’t communities focus on everything at once?

Stretch: Create a written explanation of your pyramid which can act as your priorities relating to your community need.

Challenge: Why might someone else rank these needs differently?

Discuss what current challenges exist in your community.

• Are there specific problems people face?
• What would make the community better for everyone?

Stretch: What larger issues might be causing these challenges?

Challenge: Who is responsible for creating change in a community?

Create a simple map of your community similar to the one below. 

Your map does not need to be to scale. It can be a simple sketch that shows key places and how they are connected, using Google My Maps OR label a screenshot of Google Maps with the specific places.

Example Community Map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1HRyTNN2lNy_3czaJFMwMyUEYHPpg6mo&usp=sharing

How to use Google My Maps:

On this map, you should look to label the following:

• Schools and education
• Libraries or community services
• Shops
• Emergency services
• Parks and recreation spaces

Stretch: How does the layout of these places affect the community?

Challenge: How do public transportation routes impact accessibility to resources?

Now that you have mapped your community, identify areas where improvements are needed.

Highlight in another color or with symbols:

1. Missing services
2. Areas that need improvement
3. Locations where support is most needed

Questions to consider:

• What is your community missing?
• What is not working well?
• Where is the greatest need?

Stretch: Are some challenges connected to each other?

Challenge: What do you think is required to see the changes you noted in the community?

Identify one or more community issues connected to at least three of the categories below.

• Public Safety
• Resources and Opportunities
• Environmental
• Education
• Local Businesses
• Transportation

Stretch: Why did these issues stand out to you?  

Challenge: Do some issues connect to multiple categories? Why might that increase their impact?

For one of your issues, identify three possible solutions.

Use a positive and negative grid to evaluate how effective each solution might be for your community.

As you evaluate each solution, consider:

• Cost
• Support required
• Impact on others
• Available resources
• Time required
• Public education or awareness
• Other requirements

Stretch: Could some solutions create new problems in the future? Why?

Challenge: What makes a community solution effective and sustainable?

Create an initial proposal for one of your solutions.

Include:
What issue did you identify?
What solution would you like to implement?
Why would this solution help?
Who would this solution support?

Use the example proposal and template to guide your work.

For the ‘Be The Change’ Hawai‘i and Changemakers Y-USA awards, projects must cost no more than $1,000 or $5,000, respectively.

Stretch: Could your project have an impact beyond your local community?
Challenge: Compare your proposal with another student’s proposal. How could you improve or expand your idea?

Consider who may have supported one of the example projects and why that support mattered.

Youth Service Hawaii Projects – https://www.youthservicehawaii.com/past-service-learning-projects
Changemakers YMCA of Texas Projects – https://ymcatexasyg.org/changemakers-projects/
Local Community Project – https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/replanting-limu-a-civic-ritual-to-save-the-species-and-ourselves/

Stretch: Looking at multiple projects, what do you see in common considering community support?
Challenge: What are key factors you will look to include in planning your community project?

Using a selection of the resources below, identify key people, organizations, and funding sources that can help to make your project a reality.

Find your legislators – https://civilbeat.digitaldemocracy.org/
Find the Government agency to help – https://portal.ehawaii.gov/government/departments-and-agencies/
Find volunteers – https://www.kanuhawaii.org/
Find resources – https://www.auw.org/
Find additional support – https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/home

Stretch: What do you think is the main reason community projects fail to gain support?
Challenge: What do you think is most important to finding support for your community project?

Draft an implementation plan for your community project.

You may use the template below to support this:

Stretch: What makes a project stand out when applying for funding?
Challenge: What will be some of the greatest challenges when implementing your solution?

Discuss your implementation plan with somebody in the community. This could be another student, a teacher, or a community member.

Think about the following as you explain your community project.

• Does the project have a clear purpose for the community?
• Is your project sustainable over time?
• Have you worked to resolve key challenges which may limit your project?
• Have you clearly identified the resources and support you will need?
• Does your communication clearly explain how funding will be used?
• How would you explain your project differently to a teacher, legislator, or community member?

Stretch: Are you able to use key statistics or other analysis to support your argument?

Challenge: Are there examples of your project succeeding in other communities?

Using the outreach profiles below, decide which options would work best for your community project.

Consider:

1. Is this option currently available?
2. How does this compare to the budget and support I may require?
3. If this method is unsuccessful, what is a possible alternative?

Stretch: Using your own research, are there additional routes where you might be able to make your community project a reality?

Challenge: What projects do you think are most successful for each method?

Create one of the following with additional support provided for each step:

• Grant application

• Outreach email

• Project Proposal Summary (Elevator Pitch)

You could further support this with a…

1. Social media campaign
2. Infographic
3. Presentation Slide
4. Public Awareness Poster
5. Short Speech/Video Pitch

Stretch: What additional resources can you create to gain support for the project?

Challenge: How can you create a long-lasting project which continues to help the community?

Reflection: What did you learn about creating change in your community?