The Changemakers, presented by Central Indiana 4-H
“At its essence, a changemaker is an individual that identifies a problem, creates a solution, and implements it together with their team,” 4-H Kosova.
The Changemakers, facilitated by Marion, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, Hancock, Boone, Shelby and Hamilton Counties 4-H, is a new experience for teens to focus their passions toward actions through community service to improve lives in our community. The COVID-19 pandemic is creating new, and amplifying existing, community needs that you can help address. You, as a participant, will also develop transferable skills, such as empathy, critical thinking, and public speaking, to help you thrive in your future career. Teens from across Central Indiana will learn about our community-its problems and assets-in order to research, propose, and pitch a project addressing a community need, all while guided by adult mentors. You will also build your own community through new relationships with fellow students and adults!
Who are changemakers? Malala Yousafzai, Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Greta Thunberg, Madam C.J. Walker…YOU!
Think you might be interested?
Then enter your contact information at our online form and we'll follow-up with you. You are not committing to this program by giving us your information – this is just for you to learn more. Complete the form and we will follow-up with you. Alternatively, contact Dustin Homan, 4-H Youth Development Educator, Purdue University Extension-Marion County, homan3@purdue.edu
We are also hosting three, 30-minute informational call-out meetings for you to learn more about The Changemakers, our expectations of participants, and hear from past participants. Attendance is not mandatory to participate, but encouraged, and you only need to attend one.
- Monday, March 1 at 4pm
- Thursday, March 11 at 7pm
- Saturday, March 13 at 11am
Sign up for a call-out session when you enter your contact information in our online form.
What is it?
About eight sessions starting in April, 2021. We will gather together to socialize, learn, hear from and question guest speakers, have fun and discuss:
- Empathy and community
- What problem am I interested in and why is it important to my legacy?
- Where is the proof? Researching and interviewing
- Meeting with global and community leaders related to a topic of interest
- What is my solution and how will I help solve it?
- How will I put my solution into action?
- How will I get the word out and fundraise?
- What is my ‘pitch’? Presentation of projects and celebration (interested participants can choose to implement their projects after the eight sessions)
We will meet through a hybrid format of virtual and in-person based on recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. You (the teen participants) will determine the exact dates and times for the sessions based on what works best for your schedules.
Who is it for?
Central Indiana teens from Marion, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, Hancock, Boone, Shelby, and Hamilton Counties (13-18 years old). If you are not a 4-H member, we'll help you get signed up because 4-H members may also invite a friend who is not a 4-H member to participate with them. Projects can be completed individually or as a team. Registration is limited to the first 15 youth. Changemakers is a free program.
When are the gatherings?
Our first gathering is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at 7pm. We'll meet weekly for eight weeks and wrap-up around the first week of June, 2021. Our meeting dates and times will be determined by what's best for our participants.
If you have read this far, you must be a little bit interested!
So sign-up to learn more! If you are still unsure, watch what our last cohort of Changemaker teens did on our YouTube channel! Then...sign-up!
This program has been adapted from 4-H Kosova.
Questions? Contact Dustin Homan, 4-H Youth Development Educator, Purdue University Extension-Marion County, homan3@purdue.edu