Student Changemaker Network

Helping young leaders turn ideas into meaningful action.

The Student Changemaker Network (SCN) is a new initiative of the Coalition for Peace Action designed to connect young people with the skills, relationships, and opportunities they need to turn the things they care about into meaningful action.

We believe young people have an important role to play in creating more peaceful, just, and engaged communities. SCN creates spaces where young people can learn practical changemaking skills, explore nonviolence, connect with others, participate in civic life, and put their ideas into action.

SCN is currently in its pilot phase, working with youth-serving organizations, faith communities, student groups, and other groups that engage young people. We're starting with a handful of programs and experiences including:

• Engagement Sessions
• Monthly Changemaker Gatherings
• Advocacy trip to Washington, D.C.
• Student Citizens' Assembly
• Awards & Recognition

This first phase is an opportunity to learn alongside young people and our community partners, build relationships, and discover what makes SCN most useful and meaningful. We're building this together and we're excited to see where it leads!

Click the flyer below for a shareable PDF.

Want to learn more? We'd love to hear from you.

Meet the Youth Engagement Coordinator

Sam Chawla-Rios serves as the Coalition for Peace Action's Youth Engagement Coordinator and leads the development of the Student Changemaker Network.

Sam is a nonviolence educator, community organizer, and peace & justice activist who works to help young people develop the skills, relationships, and confidence to turn their ideas into meaningful action. He is a certified Level II Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Trainer and holds additional certifications from Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service and The Horizons Project. Sam has experience in youth engagement, community organizing, nonviolence education, and public speaking. As co-founder of Modern Peacenik, Sam works to cultivate a new generation of changemakers grounded in principled and strategic nonviolence.