100% Youth-Led: How Girls Taking Action & Boys of Hope Are Transforming Their Communities
The Power of People Leadership Institute believes that positive change within yourself creates positive change in your community through one key ingredient - leadership.
Our curriculum builds on itself throughout the program year. We lay the foundation with teaching youth about their personal power. "I was born with power," one of our affirmations says. Then, throughout the year, the teaching builds on itself, reinforcing the power of positivity, learning from other mentors and leaders, applying oneself to schoolwork and planning for the future (college etc.), and, finally, applying all of that towards positive community change: a service learning project.
Service Learning Projects are 100% youth-led endeavors. The project is simple; identify something in your community that you want to change, and do something about it. Each of our Girls Taking Action (GTA) and Boys of Hope (BOH) chapters completed a service learning project, resulting in 40 groups initiating positive change throughout the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. Here are some of our favorites.
Bridging Generations: GTA Students Honor Hmong Heritage and Elders
The Girls Taking Action Hmong Community Chapter visited the Hmong Elder Center. Their goal was to give back to their community through acts of service and learn more about the rich history of Hmong heritage.
GTA students visited the Hmong Elder Center and served breakfast to the residents there. After enjoying a morning meal, GTA students joined in on the morning exercise and free time with the residents too.
Afterwards, our students asked residents to share stories about their life. Our students were able to hear about the perseverance and life lessons shared by Hmong elders who immigrated to the United States. This Girls Taking Action group is planning to visit again because they had such a great time.
Not Just Talking About It: BOH Steps Up for Women and Children
For the second time in three years, a Boys of Hope (BOH) middle school group from St. Cloud has chosen to dedicate their year-end service learning project to Anna Marie's Alliance, a local women and children’s shelter.
These young leaders didn't just talk about change—they drove it. They created awareness flyers, set up donation boxes, and rallied their community to collect essential hygiene products, food shelf items, and shelter necessities.
We could not be prouder of these middle schoolers for stepping up, leading with empathy, and making a tangible, positive impact in their community.
Art with a Heart: Creativity Helps Shelter Pets Find Forever Homes
GTA at North Jr. High focused their service learning project on helping Tri-County Humane Society pets find their forever homes. The girls got creative and made eye-catching posters for the animals to help them get noticed and adopted way faster!
A huge thanks to Olivia Schomer, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, for hanging out with the girls! She taught the girls all about the amazing work the shelter does, how much their posters will help, and even how they can get involved as volunteers.
We’re so proud of these girls for using their voices (and artistic skills!) for such a sweet cause.
Inside the Student-Led Shift to a More Inclusive Community Closet
Three years ago, Girls Taking Action students at McKinley Area Learning Center in St. Cloud founded a hygiene closet for students at their school. The goal was to provide a space on campus for students in need to have access to hygiene products and clothing without having to talk to a nurse or school administrator. This was especially important to the GTA class because it eliminates barriers for students who are facing housing instability or financial hardship gaining access to essential personal care items.
Three years later, the hygiene closet is alive and thriving in it's own dedicated room at the school. Girls Taking Action maintains the closet through gathering donations of items or raising money to buy more needed items.
This year's girls group decided to revamp the closet because it was not as inclusive as they wanted it to be and inventory for items was running low. They noticed the hygiene closet was lacking main items such as…
More dry goods
Muslim friendly clothing
A teen mother section
More hygiene products
Winter clothes
GTA students contacted local businesses as well as other organizations, and were able to get McKinley ALC to make an announcement & make it possible for us to receive donations from teachers! They also got the help from their family and friends to make this possible!
