Stories

Inspiring stories of student leaders in action.

Through the Lead4Change Core Curriculum, students design and lead service projects that create real impact in communities across the U.S. Explore the inspiring work students are doing around the world—and get motivated to spark change in your own community!

We Care: East Alabama students provide comfort and encouragement to children in foster care

Boys & Girls Club of East Alabama Auburn, Alabama Team We Care, 15 students Advisor: Latoya Dill-Johnson Students across the country are stepping up to solve real challenges in their communities. At the Boys & Girls Club of East Alabama, a team of students saw a need and took action—demonstrating the power of leadership, compassion, […]

Kentucky Teens Are Making Chemo More Comfortable

The school year had barely begun when students at Warren East High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, received heartbreaking news: Mrs. Brown, their 35-year-old art teacher, had breast cancer. Having seen loved ones battle cancer, the students understood the difficult road ahead. But in their conversations with Mrs. Brown, three teens discovered a challenge they’d […]

Building Bridges Across Generations: Montana Students Become Ageless Allies

In a world that can often feel divided across generational lines, a group of Bridger, Montana, teens are proving that connecting with our older neighbors can be transformative—for everyone. For several years now, the Bridger Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapter has engaged with elderly community members on an annual basis. But […]

Teens Put Manpower and Muscle to Work for Seniors

Senior citizens in Odessa, Washington, were in a good-news-bad-news situation. The community’s Old Town Hall—once a dance hall, courthouse, and library—provided seniors a place to gather and connect with one another. But the century-old building hadn’t been renovated since the Bee Gees were in the Top 10, and the wear and tear was putting the […]

The New Kids at the Lunch Table: Georgia High School Students Go Above-and-Beyond to Welcome New International Teachers

Being the new kid at the lunch table can be intimidating—even if the new “kid” happens to be an adult. For dozens of new teachers joining Georgia’s Douglas County School District, intimidating was only the beginning. These educators weren’t just new to the school, the District, or even to Georgia. They were new to the […]

Pancakes and Public Service: How a Group of Middle Schoolers Served Up Safety to their Rural Fire Department

When pastry chefs don’t have access to their preferred whisk, that’s an inconvenience. But when firefighters don’t have access to proper safety equipment, that’s a considerable problem. And that’s exactly what the volunteer fire department in rural Maywood, Nebraska was up against—right up until 17 enterprising middle-school students decided to do something about it. In […]