Young changemakers from across the nation are stepping up to solve local challenges, and a major boost is heading their way right from the Garden State.
The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (C&S), headquartered at the Carnegie Center in Princeton, has partnered with the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to announce the newest cohort for the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program. A total of 71 youth-led teams spanning 46 states have been selected to receive grant funding of up to $7,500, alongside comprehensive coaching, mentorship, and access to a national peer network.
Rather than focusing on pre-determined causes, the fellowship empowers individuals aged 14 to 24 to identify problems firsthand in their own schools, campuses, and neighborhoods, turning local insights into practical solutions.
“Carnegie Young Leaders is built on a simple belief: young people do not need to wait to become leaders. They are already identifying what is broken, bringing teams together and building practical solutions right now,” Audra Watson, chief of youth civic programs at C&S, said.
The initiative forms a core pillar of C&S’s broader mission to spark 20 million civic problem-solvers by 2029, treating the younger generation not merely as future voters, but as active contributors shaping the trajectory of American democracy today.
Following the announcement, team leads will convene in nearby New Brunswick from July 27–29 for an intensive kickoff event to launch a full year of collaboration and skill-building.
The incoming second-year cohort builds on the momentum of a successful 2025 inaugural class, which tackled urgent issues ranging from environmental sustainability to food insecurity.
The 2026 class brings an equally ambitious slate of community-rooted projects, including:
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Culturally Responsive Food and Nutrition Initiative (Toms River): Led by Jasmine Guarin—along with team members Mateo Guarin, Anne Nyangaga, Nixon Nyangaga, and Tania Montoya—this team tackles food insecurity by providing culturally responsive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, food pantry navigation, and individualized counseling to build long-term wellness and bilingual health resources.
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DeltaEarth: Global problems seeking community solutions (Jersey City): Led by Shelley Ma—along with Shreya Todi, Steven Bucheli, Surabhi Sharma, and Emely Onofre—this group combats the gap between environmental awareness and action by pairing rigorous research with an engaging “doomsday museum” and hands-on conservation learning to turn sustainability education into real-world change.
- Civic Roots (Ridgewood): Led by Jooahn Sohn—along with team members Sandhya Veerabahu, Jill Adair, Nandika Tiwari, and Huda Noorzai—this team bridges the civic education gap by providing free, nonpartisan workshops, lesson plans, and accessible resources for elementary and middle school students to understand their constitutional rights and local government.
Supported by additional backing from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and Crown Family Philanthropies, the initiative highlights how youth from urban, suburban, and rural backgrounds are collaborating across differences.
