Step One: Identifying needs/problems in the community
Youth will:
§ Conduct community interviews with parents/guardians, family, neighbors, community leaders
§ Use local news sources to research problems
§ Use the Internet to do further research

Step Two: Choosing a problem to focus on
§ Individual youth will choose issues/problems in neighborhood that they would like to change
§ Individuals will advocate for most important issue
§ Each group will choose one issue to work on

Step 3: Researching the problem chosen by group
§ Youth will research the extent and nature of the problem in their community by again conducting community interviews with parents/guardians, family, neighbors, community leaders; using local news sources to research problems; and using the Internet to do further research
§ Youth will compare problem in their neighborhood with other areas
§ Youth will define stakeholders with interests in the problem

Step 4: Learning about local, state, and/or federal government
§ With guidance by the CTC's adult staff member, youth learn about the civic and legal powers that have dominion over the problem and abut how the decision/regulation/lawmaking process works
Step 5: Choosing solutions
§ Youth decide as a group how to most effectively respond to the problem
Step 6: Youth document problem using multimedia tools
· Tools include web pages with digital photos, newsletters, digital videos and animation
Step 7: Conducting Community Meetings
· The community technology center hosts one or more community meetings for youth to educate neighborhood about the problem they have identified and the solution they have developed (those who participated in research process are invited along with family members and general community)
· Youth solicit opinions of community members about the problem and their solution to it
· Youth record community input

Step 8: Revision of Problem Solution
· Based on community input during meeting and response to presentation, youth revise/improve their portrayal of the problem and solution
Step 9: Meeting with "Decision Makers"
· Youth meet with community decision makers to advocate for change through legislative visits, visits to regulatory agencies and visits to other stakeholders
Step 10: Reflection
· Youth review what has been accomplished and plan for their community involvement in the future.
· Youth may establish an ongoing group at this point.