Social Justice Introduction

Awareness & Understanding

Start by asking a simple question: why do some groups of people face bigger challenges than others — not because of their choices, but because of the systems around them? Watch the YouTube video "Systemic Racism Explained" by Act.tv (under 5 minutes) and explore the Facing History and Ourselves website at facinghistory.org. Look at one local angle: how have housing and school funding policies in the Salt Lake Valley shaped opportunities for different communities? Write down three things that surprised you. You're ready for the next step when you can explain in your own words what "systemic" means and give one real-world example from Utah or the Wasatch Front.

Research & Investigation

Pick one systemic issue that feels personal or urgent to you — housing inequality, education gaps, immigration policy, or another topic. Use the Utah Data Alliance site and the U.S. Census Bureau's data explorer at data.census.gov to find at least two real statistics about your issue in Utah. Then read one first-person story from someone affected — try The Utah Investigative Journalism Project at utahijp.org or the Salt Lake Tribune's community coverage. Compare what the data says to what the person's story says. You're ready for the next step when you can summarize your issue using both a statistic and a human story.

Planning & Preparation

Now you're going to do something with what you've learned. Choose one action: attend a public meeting (Salt Lake City Council meetings are open to the public and posted at slc.gov), write a letter to a local elected official, or join an existing campaign through a group like ACLU of Utah or Alliance for a Better Utah. Before you show up or send anything, write a one-page "issue brief" — your issue, the facts, and what you're asking for. Practice saying your main point out loud in 30 seconds. You're ready for the next step when you can clearly explain your issue and your proposed action to someone who's never heard of it.

Taking Action

Take your planned action this week. Attend the meeting, send the letter, or join the campaign — and document what happens. Write a short journal entry: What did you say or do? How did people respond? What felt hard? What surprised you? If you attended a public meeting, note who spoke and what positions they represented. If you wrote to an official, screenshot and save your message. Real civic participation is messy and slow — that's normal. You're ready for the next step when you've completed your action and written at least one paragraph reflecting on what you learned from doing it.

Leadership & Expansion

You've taken action — now help someone else do the same. Recruit at least two friends, classmates, or family members to learn about your issue. Create a short "explainer" — a one-page flyer, a 60-second video, or a social media post — that teaches others what you know. Use Canva (free at canva.com) to design it. Share it somewhere real: post it in your school, neighborhood, or online community. Then connect with a local organization working on your issue and ask how you can plug in more deeply. You're ready for the next step when you've shared your explainer with at least two other people and gotten their feedback.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at everything you've done over these six weeks. Write a two-page reflection that answers these questions: What changed in how you think about your issue? What action did you take, and what impact — even a small one — did it have? What would you do differently? What's one thing you want to keep doing? Share your reflection with your SLCTrips mentor or a trusted adult. Then set one concrete goal for the next three months — something specific, like attending two more public meetings or joining a local organization's youth board. You're ready for the next step when you can name one measurable thing that is different because you showed up.