As democratic norms and institutions face growing challenges, there is a clear need to strengthen civic literacy, especially among young people. The Bill of Rights Institute addresses this by fostering informed, thoughtful civic participation rooted in historical understanding and constitutional awareness.

A project of the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research, this Agents of Change initiative focuses on engaging civilians—especially underrepresented communities—in public policy research and action. The program seeks to amplify civic engagement and support pathways for Angelenos to shape policy decisions that impact their everyday lives.

At a time when political polarization threatens both governance and the social fabric, Convergence offers a proven model for collaborative policymaking rooted in trust and mutual respect. Their work helps leaders—and the public—move from conflict to consensus, from gridlock to solutions.

SINGA Deutschland challenges traditional integration models by centering dignity, agency, and mutual benefit. Their work shifts the narrative from "helping refugees" to building a shared future, offering a scalable model of civic inclusion that bridges divides and expands the circle of human concern.

Public policy and planning systems are often confusing by design and can feel intentionally exclusionary to the people they affect most. CUP changes that by making these systems transparent, understandable, and actionable. Their work allows individuals and communities to advocate for themselves with clarity and confidence, breaking down power structures and reimagining civic participation as something accessible to all. Whether it’s zoning laws, tenants’ rights, or immigration proceedings, CUP’s creative tools demystify systems and help communities fight for justice and equity.

Ghana ThinkTank addresses the imbalance of who defines expertise and innovation. By inverting the typical flow of international aid and development, it highlights the value of local knowledge in non-Western contexts. Its process encourages cross-cultural empathy, reframes power structures, and challenges assumptions rooted in colonial and technocratic mindsets.

Perfect City repositions young people—especially from marginalized communities—as architects of the future. It shifts the narrative of who holds expertise in city planning, and opens civic design to those most affected by inequitable systems. The project also models what sustained, creative, power-sharing engagement can look like in practice.

Red Sand Project transforms everyday urban infrastructure into a site of empathy and justice. Its participatory model offers a low-barrier entry point for civic awareness and community-led dialogue, turning symbolic action into a deeper commitment to systemic change.

UpSkill Houston addresses systemic workforce challenges by focusing on equity, access, and alignment. Their cross-sector approach makes them a vital regional convener and innovator in economic mobility, especially for historically underserved populations.

Narrative Initiative strengthens the connective tissue between story, power, and systemic change. Their work supports movements in building shared narratives that counter disinformation, deepen civic belonging, and make progress toward equity and justice possible.

In an era of political polarization and economic precarity, Changing Work offers a hopeful and inclusive vision of what work could be. By listening deeply and amplifying voices often left out of policy debates, they help shape a future of work that centers dignity, equity, and democracy.

In an era of disconnection and division, Narrative 4 provides a relational practice that builds empathy at scale. Their work helps shift culture by making it easier—and safer—for people to understand one another across race, class, ideology, and geography. It's more than storytelling. It's structural empathy.

In a fragmented civic landscape, BDI provides the infrastructure, intelligence, and insight that community leaders and bridge-builders need to act strategically and collaboratively. By surfacing real-time risks and spotlighting grassroots solutions, they empower organizations like The Change Lab to respond to division with clarity, care, and coordination.

The Houston Food Bank (HFB) is the largest food bank in the United States by volume, distributing nearly 150 million nutritious meals annually to neighbors across 18 counties in Southeast Texas. But HFB is more than a food distribution center—it’s a hub for innovation, equity, and systemic change.

With over 90% of its food rescued from retail and commercial partners, HFB’s model is rooted in sustainability. Its logistics are world-class, but its strategy is people-first: linking food security with deeper investments in dignity, policy change, and long-term community well-being.

The Change Lab and Listen First are deeply aligned in mission and method. Both believe that systems change begins with relational culture—and that connection across difference is both a practice and a movement. Listen First provides vital infrastructure and national amplification for bridge-building work already happening in communities like ours.

LISC Houston is the local office of the national nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which supports community development in underinvested neighborhoods. LISC Houston partners with local leaders, residents, and organizations to amplify grassroots power, grow economic opportunity, and support equitable development. Their mission is to equip communities with the capital, strategies, and relationships needed to thrive—on their own terms.