Steve Lear

SLO Contributor Joe Nathan recently wrote the following guest column, which was originally published by APG of East Central Minnesota newspapers. He spotlights Minnesota youth who are making a positive difference in their communities.

In my recent conversation with Joe about improving youth education (Building Educational Systems that Work), he endorsed the power of experiential learning to make education relevant for our young people. His column below certainly illustrates the value of combining classroom work with community service, featuring students across the metro who are working to make meaningful changes that help repair the world.

In these often difficult and uncertain times, their stories restore our hope and renew our faith in the next generation. Let’s resolve to keep investing in our future by investing in our youth.

~ Steve Lear

Celebrating students’ service and courage

Joe Nathan Guest Columnist | Jan 6, 2026

Let’s close out 2025 by honoring some of the thousands of youngsters and educators who served others. As we prepare for 2026, there’s much to celebrate.

Young people are not just the future; they’re part of the “now.” Many of them made a positive difference in 2025. For example:

• Little Falls High School students participated in the school’s 14th annual Day of Service. This idea, which has caught on in other communities, involves a spring school day in which young people help seniors, the disabled, and other local individuals and organizations.
• Aitkin Rippleside Elementary Students, assisted by advisor Josh Smith, organized food drives, posted pictures of family members and friends serving in the military, and bagged food in exchange for gift cards for families in need.
• Angie Huang of East Ridge High School, Sam Kretzschmar of Spring Lake Park High School, Michael
  Luo of Minnetonka High School — some of Minnesota Math League’s top mathletes — along with others, conducted a free online math camp in August for middle and high school students across the state.
• Youngsters like Edie Hollenstein and Luke Sunnarborg of Westonka High School were honored by the Minnesota State High School League for many efforts, including donating blood, packing school supplies in backpacks for students in need, volunteering at a local food shelf, and coaching youth hockey. Similar awards are given at high schools throughout the state. More information is available at https://tinyurl.com/2mynav37
• Changemaker High School students from across Minnesota convinced legislators to fund programs in which students learn construction skills as they build homes for low- and moderate-income families. Six school districts, including Elk River (ISD 728) received almost $100,000 dollars each to help students do this.
• Caledonia students, including Imani Ball and Kya Deck, and their teacher, Erin Spencer, hit the road early enough to arrive at the State Capitol by 10 a.m. on a November Saturday to participate in the Changemakers program, helping identify legislative priorities for 2026 and working with legislators on them.
• Samia Mohamed of Bloomington Kennedy High School used her love of and expertise with spreadsheets to organize follow-up of the Changemakers meeting.
• Bella Trafton, a Champlin Park High School student who participated in the Changemakers program, explained that she learned, “I could actually do something about all the problems I see, and that I have the power to make real change.”
• Saad Ali of Stillwater’s St. Croix Preparatory Academy added, “Speaking to other students opened my eyes to the inequalities around us and directed me toward a path where I can stand up for those who feel unheard.”
• Paladin Career and Technical Academy students in Coon Rapids built an outdoor classroom and helped the community monitor water quality.
• Crosby, a Monticello 9-year-old, used funds from his lemonade stand to support a non-profit that helps young people learn to build things their communities need.
• Milaca youngsters carried out community service projects, including cleaning the yard of a local museum.
• St Paul High School for Recording Arts students created a YouTube video to expand knowledge and urge constructive responses to the growing number of Minnesota children and youth experiencing homelessness. The video is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZUEQdzoSI

This isn’t to deny challenges, frustration, and shortcomings. Behind all these — and countless other positive actions by youngsters — was courage. I’m talking about persisting, even as they wondered: Is today the day someone will try to come into our school with a gun?

I’m also talking about the educators dealing with many unknowns, including whether programs and jobs would be cut or buildings closed. Thanks also to many Minnesota families, often facing economic and other insecurities, who modeled hope.

This also is a tribute to the thousands of Minnesota adults who encouraged and assisted young people in making Minnesota better — not sometime in the future — but now.

Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school educator, researcher and PTA president, founded and formerly directed Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, Joe@centerforschoolchange.org