Claim OwnershipSimple Acts, Big Impact
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© 2022 Simple Acts Guide
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Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is an author, consultant, nonprofit founder, and passionate advocate for family and youth service. Her latest book, Simple Acts: The Busy Teens Guide to Making a Difference, was created to help adolescents and teens discover their passion and purpose through acts of kindness and service to others. She believes that you don't need to change the whole world to make a big impact. Even the smallest stone thrown into the water creates a ripple. Teens CAN make a meaningful difference - one simple act at a time. Simple Acts, Big Impact is a short podcast that highlights and celebrates 'tween and teen volunteers, nonprofit founders, activists, and fundraisers. She amplifies their stories and causes, learns about their motivation for doing the work, and encourages them to think big. Sharing these stories inspires other teens (and adults) to take the first step toward making service an important part of their lives.
126 Episodes
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Title IX is federal legislation that prohibits discrimination based on general in any programs receiving federal funding. My guest today is a young woman who cares deeply about ensuring that everyone in her community understands their legal rights under title IX. Rachel, from Orange County, started the Title IX Advocacy Initiative and speaks passionately about the ways that young people who care about justice and fairness can make a difference in their communities.
To learn more, follow at @TitleIXAdvocacyInitiative
There's a common phrase used in mentorship and educational equity circles: You need to SEE it to BE it. My guest today understands the representation matters, and that young people need to see and hear from role models whose lived experiences mirror their own. Munveer S. from Menlo Park, California, started Off the Stage to connect young people to speakers, mentors and role models from diverse backgrounds.
Learn more on the Off the Stage website: www.offthestage.org
Sophie Szew is an incredible mental health advocate, writer and speaker. As an eating disorder survivor and proud Jewish Latina, Sophie combines their own experiences with injustice brought about by mental healthcare inequity with her passion for writing, advocacy, and leadership to uplift the voices of those with lived experiences and fight for the systemic destigmatization of marginalized bodies. Her writing, under the banner Truth from Today's Youth, can be found at www.behavioralhealthnews.org. Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn.
Pages4Progress is a youth-led organization that is empowering incarcerated voices through literacy and learning. Founders Ranya and Marisa, along with co-founder Matthew, demonstrated incredible patience and perseverance in setting up this incredible effort. Pages4Porgress is helping to end recidivism and improve literacy among incarcerated people in New Jersey.
Follow and learn more at @pages4progress_ and www.pages4progressnj.com
TW: This episode talks about eating disorders
High School seniors from Maryland, Anya and Kendyll, are dancers whose lives have been affected by eating disorders. They bonded over their shared experiences, and joined forces to launch Dancers Beyond Labels, a nonprofit organization which works to address the youth dancer mental health crisis by: engaging with dance company directors, instructors, and aspiring dancers; providing nutrition education; promoting best practices around body-neutral dancer training and performance; and supporting dancers struggling with eating disorders and other mental health issues. Learn more at https://www.dancers-beyond-labels.org/ and follow @dancers.beyond.labels
Intergenerational volunteerism is probably one of the most meaningful types of service. It is literally a win-win. Teens can learn so much from older adults and seniors get a tremendous emotional boost from spending time with young people. My guests today - Lauren and Proksha started ForgetMeNot International, a nonprofit that works to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly through conversation, music and art, while bridging the gap between generations through a pen pal companionship program. Learn more at www.forgetmenotintl.net and follow @forgetmenotintl
My guest today, Hunter G. from Virginia, is a one-person food rescue warrior. He noticed that food at his local fast food restaurants and cafes was being thrown away, and asked if he could collect the food and get it to a local shelter where it would feed hungry neighbors. His commitment to food rescue - picking up after early morning swim practices - is inspiring, and a perfect example of how one person, committing to one simple act of kindness, can make a big difference. Hunter started a Taste of Home, Inc. has been honored by ReFED, an organization working across the food system to reduce food waste and hunger. Learn more about ReFED at www.refed.org and connect with Hunter on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hunterguthrie
Welcome to the kickoff of Season Four! Sophie K. is a high school student from California whose recently launched organization, Chains of Hope, benefits charities supporting the people of Ukraine. As a first generation Ukrainian American, whose parents emigrated to the US after WWII, I was deeply touched by Sophie's heart for the Ukrainian people who continue to suffer after more than three years of conflict Sophie is also involved in environmental causes, and fostering productive and civil discourse among her peers. Follow Chains of Hope @chains.of.hope
Purchase necklaces supporting Ukrainian charities at https://www.chainsofhope.org/
Learn more about the Clean and Green Initiative at https://www.tcagi.org/
Learn more about Bipartisan Bridges at https://bipartisanbridges.org
Our Season Three Finale!
I have interviewed more than 50 amazing young people this season, and we've covered a wide range of topics. I've learned so much, and continue to be inspired, every day, by the work of these changemakers. I'm ending the season on a super high note - Dylan Z. created Computers4People when he was only 15 years old, turning a hobby with friends into a social impact endeavor. Dylan's interest in refurbishing old computers evolved into an incredible nonprofit that helps get technology and training into the hands of people who need it so that they can improve their lives. Dylan has been named a "30 Under 30" by Forbes Magazine, and after graduation this month, he will be leading Computers4People full time. I hope this conversation will be inspirational and aspirational to everyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in the world. Learn more at www.computers4people.org and follow @computers4people
As we move through Mental Health Awareness month, my guests today, brothers Vick and William from Minnesota, approach the issue from an entirely new perspective - one that we've never covered on the podcast before. Their nonprofit Fish Hut empowers youth to get outdoors and into nature, and provides the tools that young people need to learn how to fish - a pastime that has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Learn more at https://fishhut.org/ and follow @fishhutandcompany
As we acknowledge Period Poverty Awareness week, I'm honored to share this conversation with Ananya D. a high school senior who cares deeply about women living in refugee camps, and is especially concerned about their ability to have what they need to care for themselves and to maintain their dignity during their menstrual cycles. Ananya's drive and tenacity are an inspiration. Learn more about her impressive work at https://www.helpreplant.org and follow @helpreplant.
This conversation is the perfect way to honor Older Americans Awareness month, which is celebrated in May. Intergenerational volunteering is so incredibly powerful. My guests today, high school students Areen, Emily and Rachel, started Generation Union with the mission of bridging the gap between generations. They empower youth to engage with institutionalized seniors and other patients living with Alzheimers disease. With a robust chapter program, Generation Union provides meaningful volunteer opportunities for teens and connection and joy to isolated elders. Learn more at https://www.generation-union.org/ and follow @generationunion
As we kick off Mental Health Awareness month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with three big-hearted young men who care deeply about the mental health of their class mates and other youth around the world. Arjun, Tanuj and Shreyas started their nonprfoit Mind4Matter last Fall after observing a need for a safe space for teens to talk about stress and mental health struggles. Mind4Matter is a youth-led nonprofit with a strong chapter model that works to provide the tools people need to find strength and resilience in challenging times. Learn more and follow @mind4matter.global
We wrap up Earth Month with this conversation with Madhvi C., and incredibly impressive young changemaker from Colorado. Since she was a very young child, Madhvi has been passionate about sustainability and advocacy around climate justice. She worked to remove styrofoam from her school, and has been instrumental in the passing of legislation around environmental issues in Colorado. She has addressed the UN, and was named a TIME kids of the year.
Learn more about her advocacy work and her nonprofit, Madhvi4EcoEthics at https://www.madhvi4ee.com/ and follow at @madhvi4ee
As we continue to celebrate Earth Month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with Ivy, a highschool student who started the Teen Coalition 4 Climate, an international youth-led organization with the goal of uplifting youth climate voices. Now in over 30 countries around the world, Teen Coalition 4 Climate publishes a YouZine - one of the first ever entirely youth-led climate justice magazines.
Learn more at www.teencoalition4climate.com or follow at @teencoalition4climate
We continue our celebration of Earth Month with this delightful conversation with Makayla C. whose love of the beaches near her home in Southern California, especially Venice beach, inspired her to create Clean Up the Beach, a youth-led beach clean-up organization. Learn more at www.cleanupthebeachca.org or follow at @celan_up_the_beach_ca
April is Earth Month and it is my absolute pleasure to kick it off with this delightful conversation with 14-year-old Cash from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Cash is an award-winning river and ocean conservationist and was named a top 5 Time Magazine Kid of the Year, and his platform is called, appropriately, The Conservation Kid. He cofounded an organization called The CleanUp Kids that engages young people all over the country in the important work of cleaning up our beaches and riverbanks. Cash's passion for the environment was sparked when he was only 7 years old. Once again, I am just blown away by the young people whose care and concern for our planet is sparked at a very young age, and who follow-through to lead the way for all of us.
Follow at @theconservationkid
@responsiblestewardship
My guest today, Emma J. from New York City, took a painful experience - the loss of her father when she was only 13 years old - and turned it into a joyful and impactful nonprofit called Club Care. Now with chapters all over the country and one in Paris, Club Care volunteers fundraise and create care packages for pediatric cancer patients.
Learn more at www.clubcare.org
There is a phrase - "home of the free BECAUSE of the brave." My guest today, Ben B from New York, is an impressive young man with a passion for supporting our active duty military, their families and our honored veterans.We're living through a chaotic and divided moment right now and I hope that this conversation will remind us that our service men and women, and our veterans and wounded warriors, simply answered a call and made tremendous sacrifices, and they are deserving of our respect and our kindness.
Learn more at www.whiskeybravo.org or follow at @whiskeybrav
Running is a sport that instills confidence, strength, resilience and a sense of purpose. My guest today, Maya M, from Minnesota, is a first year at Georgetown and a member of the track and field team. During a gap year before starting college, she traveled to Tanzania and launched a special organization called Girls Run Global, which empowers girls and equips them with the skills to succeed through the sport of running.https://www.girlsrunglobal.org/
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