Identify the issue(s) you want to take action on.

• Explore the issues in our Issue Area.
• Discuss on the Forum
• Learn more at our partners' websites: ThinkMTV , YouthNoise , Do Something.

Now that you know what issue you want to tackle, go to Step 2.

Make a plan to address this issue in multiple ways – through service activities, electoral activities, and political activities.

• View an extensive list of action ideas & resources in our Action Resource Center. Pick 1-2 action ideas from each category: service, election & politics.
• Be SMART about your goal. Be specific about what you want to change and how you're going to do it. Be realistic and pick actions you know you will have time to do and feel comfortable doing.
• Write your plan down and put it somewhere you'll see it every day. Follow this format: "I want to address [insert issue] by [service plans], [election plans], and [politics plans]." For example, "I want to address global warming/climate change by planning a service-learning project to develop a green space in town, donating $15 to an environmental charity, finding and voting for the candidates that I agree with on environmental issues, attending candidate's town hall forums and asking them about what their plans are, calling & e-mailing my members of Congress to support signing the new international climate treaty, and writing a letter to the editor of my local newspaper."

Now that you have your plan, go to Step 3.

Share your action plan. Read other people's action plans. Comment on each other's action plans.

• Fill out the form below to register your project with ServiceVote.
• Put yourself on the Action Map.
• Post your Action Plan on the Forum. (You will have to register for the Forum first - it's a quick & easy process.)

Now that you've shared your Action Plan, go to Step 4. 

Put your plan into action. Take all the time you need to fully implement your plan - change takes time! 

• Use the links, tools & resources in the Action Resource Center to implement your plan.
• If you want help, feedback, or more ideas, just ask on the Forum. We'll also working on organizing monthly chats for people to come together and share their experiences.
• Keep us up to date on how it's going. Post update messages in your Action Plan thread on the Forum.
  

If you ever have questions or are looking for more tools, tips, ideas or resources, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll try to help you out!

When you've finished your action plan, go to Step 5. 

Celebrate the change you've made happen!

• Take some time to reflect. What went well (what would you do the same in the future?) What didn't go so well (what would you change in the future?) What did you do that you think made the biggest difference? What are some next steps that could be taken to continue to address this issue?
• Post a final update to your Action Plan thread on the Forum .
  
• Do you have pictures or videos of you in action? Post them in our Flickr, YouTube , or other social networking groups .

Now, go back to step 1 . It’s not just about volunteering or voting or voicing your opinion once – it’s about doing all of those things and more over and over on any issue you care about.