A nonprofit initiative believes small, manageable actions can spark civic engagement among Gen Z. The strategy aims to empower 20 million young individuals to take meaningful steps in their communities.
Nonprofit organization C&S, formerly the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, is leading a new initiative focused on engaging young people in civic participation through accessible, low-barrier actions.
The Growing Need for Civic Engagement
The push for greater civic engagement among young people acknowledges challenges faced by Generation Z—born roughly between 1997 and 2012. Concerns that Gen Z remains disconnected from traditional institutions persist, but recent data reveals an emerging desire to make a difference through informal, instant, and impactful participation. This evolution reflects Gen Z’s preference for genuine, grassroots action that aligns with their digital-native, fast-paced lives. AP News.
Why Small, Approachable Actions Matter
Such low-barrier actions, akin to building physical muscle, allow young people to start with manageable acts—calling elected representatives, volunteering locally, or hosting dialogues between neighbors of differing backgrounds. These small efforts help bridge the gap between feeling powerless and recognizing one’s capacity to shape societal change.
C&S President Rajiv Vinnakota draws a compelling parallel: “You’re not going to immediately go to a gym and try to bench press 325 pounds. You’re gonna start easy, simple, something you can do — both to affirm and start to build your muscle. That’s what these civic actions are all about.”
This strategy counters narratives that Gen Z is disengaged. By presenting accessible civic engagement as the entry point, the initiative validates young voices and fosters agency. Research from C&S confirms that young people are more likely to participate when they see the tangible impact of their efforts.
Challenges and Empowering Solutions
The initiative identifies critical barriers: many young people don’t know where to begin, and many doubt their individual potential for change. By breaking civic participation into simple acts, C&S aims to lower these barriers, showing that small contributions—when amplified—can catalyze national impact.
“Gen Z wants to do it fast, they want to do it authentic, they want to do it right now.” This statement from Jennifer Sirangelo, CEO of Points of Light, underscores the urgency and authenticity driving young civic participation today. Her nonprofit seeks to double American volunteerism by 2035, focusing on informal volunteering—actions not tied to institutions but driven by personal passion and immediacy. AP News.
A Vision for Change by 2026
C&S sets an ambitious goal: to inspire 20 million individuals aged 14-24 to take public-spirited action within three years. Central to this is an online participation platform, launching this summer alongside the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebrations. This digital hub will connect young people to resources, community stories, and action tools—creating a shared space where small efforts coalesce into collective momentum.
Partnerships and Grassroots Growth
The initiative draws strength from partnerships with YPulse (a youth-focused market research firm), DoSomething (a platform rallying young social change leaders), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. By tapping into existing networks of schools, businesses, and civic platforms, the campaign builds upon trusted channels that already engage young audiences.
In one example, 500 young leaders recently received stipends and coaching through a Carnegie Corporation-reinforced program. Projects ranged from removing hazardous microplastics from waterways to increasing ballot access for hospitalized voters—demonstrating that Gen Z-driven solutions can be both scalable and deeply local.
Building Democratic Skills and Cataloguing Impact
The nonprofit is also leveraging its consortium of 135 member colleges, focusing on teaching three essential skills vital to modern civic life:
- Having productive conversations across difference.
- Identifying credible information sources.
- Collaborating to solve problems, even when opinion varies.
These foundations reflect not only the need for grassroots engagement, but the longer-term strengthening of democratic discourse itself.
Workplace Engagement as a Catalyst
Beyond the classroom, another avenue of the plan enlists 25 companies into a pilot program teaching young professionals how to become better citizens inside and outside the workplace. The in-person focus of many initiatives underscores a critical insight: face-to-face connectivity deepens the emotional resonance and long-term commitment to civic life.
A Sustainability-First Approach
“This is a generation that actually sees the problems and actually wants to try to solve them,” says Vinnakota. The nonprofit’s mission transcends numbers, focusing on empowerment architecture: providing tools, resources, and platforms for young voices to scale. It’s not about top-down command, but the percolation of grassroots ideas.
“By bringing all those ideas into the common arena, seeing what works and what doesn’t, I think we’re actually going to be a richer society,” he concludes. “And that’s how we’ll bind our democracy together.”
Whether in college, internships, or local groups, the enduring message is agency—the belief that small, beginning steps are the foundation for larger civic movements. As Gen Z countermands stereotypes with hands-on action, the nonprofit initiative provides a fuelling spark: starting small to grow the future of engagement.
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