This is an article from the Winter 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 4) and was written by one of our students, Anastasia W. The opinions expressed here do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own click here.
The United States is entering a pivotal moment in its civic life—one shaped by rising political polarization, widespread disengagement, and a troubling lack of financial support for institutions and initiatives that depend on public trust. At a time when national unity feels increasingly fragile, organizations like the UNA-USA are working intentionally to build a stronger, more engaged and involved generation of youth leaders. Their strategy entails a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges ahead: “grow the movement, deploy super champions, strengthen operational clarity and culture, and secure long-term financial sustainability.”
This approach recognizes that young people are not only the next generation of changemakers—they are also the ones most capable of eliminating stagnancy and re-energizing civic participation among their peers. The UNA-USA’s investment in youth leadership reflects a belief that the antidotes to polarization and disengagement lie in education, empowerment, and opportunities for genuine impact.
At the leadership summit, several voices exemplified what this new generation of global-minded leaders looks like. Sophia Kianni, youth advisor to the UN and founder of Climate Cardinals, spoke candidly about carving her own path in the climate movement. She shared how building partnerships enabled her to fund youth-led programs—demonstrating that young activists can create scalable, global impact when they combine passion with strategy. Her advice to the crowd was striking in its clarity: “find the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, and what can change the world.”
However, Kianni also emphasized something often overlooked in youth advocacy: the importance of demonstrating value.
“Show your skill sets,” she urged. “Show how you can add value to them.”
Her reflections on working directly with the UN Secretary-General underscored a key message—youth leaders must be able not only to dream, but to deliver. She encouraged attendees to stay focused on data translation, quantitative communication, and ROI. Statistics, she argued, strengthen credibility. Numbers tell a story of impact, and people trust them.
Her perspective was complemented by other honorees and speakers. Shivi Kumar, the 2025 UNA-USA Young Leader of the Year, embodied the organization’s spirit of innovation and service. Soon Young Yoon added historical depth and institutional memory, showing how decades of global advocacy have paved the way for today’s youth-led momentum.
Yet, it was Riz Khan of the Little Angels Foundation who brought the event’s theme into the most prominent focus. Every weekend, regardless of weather, he wakes up driven by a simple mission: feed the homeless. His relentless compassion has inspired a documentary that will be featured at the Oscars next spring—a testament not only to his organization’s work, but to the power of ordinary people acting with extraordinary consistency. Khan’s resilience mirrors the UN’s own goals: service, community, and a belief that humanity’s strength lies in acts of care repeated over time.
Together, these stories illustrate a powerful and motivating truth. Even amid polarization, disengagement, and financial strain, the United States possesses something deeply hopeful: a rising generation committed to rebuilding trust, solving global issues, and proving—through data, through service, through action—that change is not only possible, but already underway.
