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Civic Superstars: Designing a Youth Mentorship Event for Aspiring Changemakers

Last Updated: 03/27/2026

Case Disciplines

Community Organization and Social Action Public Administration Training & Development

Skills & Expertise

Agenda Planning Audience Persona Development Civic Education Community Outreach Curriculum Design Equity and Cultural Responsiveness Event Design Facilitation Planning Feedback Collection Impact Measurement Inclusive Program Design Interactive Learning Activity Design Leadership Development Logistics Planning Mentor Training Development Needs Assessment Parent and Community Communications Project Management Public Speaking Training Qualitative Research Recruitment Strategy Replication Planning Storytelling and Documentation Survey Design Toolkit Development Volunteer Coordination Workshop Design Youth Mentorship Program Design
Background & Objective

The challenge or opportunity you are trying to address for the organization.

Leadership isn’t just for adults—it’s a skill that can and should be nurtured early in life. But many middle school students lack exposure to youth mentors who reflect their energy, potential, and lived experiences. Civic participation, advocacy, and public speaking can feel intimidating without relatable role models or hands-on practice.

Learning Objectives

This is what students will learn as they complete the case.

This case challenges students to design a youth-centered mentorship experience that builds civic confidence, leadership skills, and cross-age connection. It requires translating abstract concepts like advocacy and leadership into engaging, age-appropriate programming while balancing inspiration with practical skill-building. Students will develop a fully operational event model that integrates curriculum design, mentorship frameworks, and community engagement into a scalable youth development initiative. 

  •  Analyze the motivations, barriers, and developmental needs of middle school students in relation to leadership and civic engagement 
  •  Evaluate the role of near-peer mentorship in shaping confidence, identity, and skill development among younger students 
  •  Design a full-day mentorship event that integrates interactive learning, civic skill-building, and experiential activities 
  •  Develop a mentor training curriculum that equips high school and college students to effectively guide, support, and engage younger participants 
  •  Assess how program structure, activities, and facilitation approaches influence youth engagement and learning outcomes 
  •  Design an outreach and recruitment strategy that engages students, families, and community partners 
  •  Develop a detailed operational plan covering logistics, staffing, materials, and event execution 
  •  Synthesize program design, mentorship strategy, and evaluation methods into a scalable model for youth civic engagement initiatives
 
Key Action Items

These are activities and action items you might want to complete in order to achieve the expected outcomes.

Milestones
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