At Catalyst for Systems Change (CSC), young people do more than prepare for the future; they actively participate in creating change today.
Through its Changemakers Program, CSC helps youth build career readiness skills through experiential learning. The organization’s Executive Director, Khalique Rogers, works alongside students and bipartisan legislators to help turn youth-identified priorities into legislative policies.
This kind of civic education fosters real-world problem-solving and leadership skills, helping students to navigate complex systems and influence change.
Khalique sent the following update on how CSC is helping the next generation shape their future.
~ Steve Lear
When Youth Lead, Change Happens
By Khalique Rogers
Catalyst for Systems Change (CSC) recently showed what it looks like when young people are not just included in the conversation but leading it.
One of our youth leaders, Samia Mohamud, was invited by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and his team to speak at a congressional forum in Washington, DC, focused on immigration.
Samia represented young people across Minnesota and the Somali community with clarity, courage, and purpose. She spoke on the real impact of immigration policy on young people, including the importance of maintaining safe learning environments and how policy decisions shape trust, safety, and opportunity in schools.
This moment is bigger than DC. It reflects what happens when young people are trusted to lead and are given the tools to shape systems at every level.
Protecting Opportunity: Legislative Wins This Session
This same leadership is showing up at the state level.
During the 2026 legislative session, CSC worked alongside young people across Minnesota to help protect access to Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), a program in place for over 40 years that has continued to open doors for students statewide.
PSEO is a state-funded dual enrollment program that allows eligible high school students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time by enrolling in courses at a college or university. By accelerating their education, students can potentially save significant time and money on a college degree. As new proposals emerged that risked creating additional barriers, young people stepped forward to share their lived experiences with this program, engage directly with legislators, and advocate for maintaining access and choice.
Because of this work, access to PSEO was protected, ensuring students can continue earning college credit in high school while saving Minnesota families approximately $60,000,000 annually and taxpayers approximately $15,000,000.
This was a youth-led systems change in real time.
Youth-Led Policy in Motion
Through our Changemakers Program, young people are actively designing and advancing policy solutions in this legislative session:
- PSEO Access and Equity Bill (HF2244 / SF2769)
Expanding access and protecting student choice in dual credit pathways - Peer to Peer Mental Health Bill (HF3918 / SF4165)
Creating grants for youth-led peer support and suicide prevention programs in schools - Digital Workforce Bill (HF3004)
Building a centralized platform connecting young people to workforce opportunities across Minnesota
These are not ideas sitting on paper. These are youth-informed solutions being carried into the legislature, backed by lived experience and community voice.
Why This Matters
Whether you are a business leader, educator, or community member, this work is building the future workforce and leadership pipeline right now.
The young people shaping policy today are the same individuals who will lead organizations, businesses, and communities tomorrow. Investing in them is both a community impact strategy and a long-term investment in leadership.
Get Involved
If you believe in preparing the next generation not just to participate in systems, but to improve them, there are several ways to engage:
- Partner With Us
Collaborate with CSC to connect your organization to youth-led innovation and real-world impact - Invest in Youth Leadership
Support stipends, training, and statewide opportunities for young people to lead - Bring CSC to Your Organization
Engage your team through workshops and speaking opportunities focused on leadership and systems change.
Stay Connected
Visit: www.catalystforsystemschange.org
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