Closest to the Problem,Closest to the Solution
We invest in the next generation who understand inequity firsthand—providing funding, mentorship, and platforms so young leaders can design the health equity solutions their communities deserve.
Nothing about us, without us.
Our Program Architecture
Four pillars that build leaders, produce evidence, publish community knowledge, and move policy.
TheCHANGE Institute in Detail
Young leaders with lived experience of inequity who are ready to design, lead, and evaluate solutions alongside their neighbors. We prioritize emerging leaders from historically marginalized communities who understand firsthand the barriers to health equity and are committed to building change from within their communities.
CHANGE Chapters in Detail
- Starter Kit & Playbook — bylaws, onboarding, programming menus, and metrics.
- Micro-grants & equipment access to run events and media projects.
- Training & office hours with Institute mentors; pathway into the Incubator.
- Parity pipeline to tell local stories ethically and at scale.
How Our Programs Work Together
Our theory of change: Invest in young leaders with lived experience → Empower student chapters → Amplify their stories → Transform communities and policy
Institute
Training young leaders
Chapters
Student-led action
Nothing About Us
Amplifying voices
Community
Real impact
1. Invest in Leaders
The Institute provides funding and training to young leaders with lived experience. They receive playbooks, mentorship, and micro-grants to launch their own chapter initiatives.
2. Build Chapter Power
Student chapters turn training into action—running workshops, health fairs, and advocacy campaigns. Their work creates immediate community impact and surfaces powerful stories.
3. Amplify & Transform
Nothing About Us elevates these stories through ethical storytelling. Public awareness shifts, policy windows open, and new leaders emerge—completing the cycle of change.
Our Impact
Real results from young leaders creating lasting change in their communities
Young Leaders Trained
Early-career leaders equipped with organizing and advocacy skills
Active Student Chapters
Campus hubs creating local health equity impact
Community Events
Workshops, health fairs, and screenings in the community
Policy Wins
Local and state-level changes advancing health equity
Stories from Our Leaders
"The Institute gave me the tools and confidence to launch a mental health initiative in my community. Now we're reaching 200+ students every month."
Maria, Institute Fellow
Mental Health Access
"Our chapter organized health screenings that connected 50 families to primary care. We're proving that student-led work creates real change."
James, Chapter President
Healthcare Navigation
"Through Parity, I told my family's story about food insecurity. That podcast led to a policy conversation at the state capitol."
Aisha, Parity Contributor
Food Justice Policy
Operating Model
Ready to Take Action?
Join us in building community power and advancing health equity.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about our programs and how to get involved.
What programs does TheCHANGEproject run?
TheCHANGEproject works through four pillars: Policy and Advocacy (turning lived experience and evidence into nonpartisan public education and policy action), Fellows and Leadership (developing young leaders through TheCHANGE Institute, CHANGE Chapters, and fellowships), Research and Impact (community-engaged evidence and measuring whether programs change anything), and Media and Storytelling (publishing community knowledge through Nothing About Us).
What is TheCHANGE Institute?
TheCHANGE Institute is TheCHANGEproject's leadership and learning arm. It trains young people — often with lived experience of health inequity — through curriculum, mentorship, and applied projects, and it is the shared training infrastructure behind CHANGE Chapters and the CHANGE Health Equity Fellowship.
How do I start or join a student chapter?
Students can join an existing TheCHANGEproject chapter or start a new one on their campus. Visit thechangeprojectco.org/chapters to see current chapters and begin a chapter application.
What does "community power" mean?
Community power means the people most affected by health inequities hold real decision-making authority over the solutions. TheCHANGEproject builds that power by developing local leaders, sharing resources and platforms, and organizing collective action rather than delivering top-down programs.