After the loss of her beloved grandmother, Jiya J. from Texas realized that she missed the warm connection she had with her grandmother, and reached out to local senior centers and nursing homes to find a way to volunteer to paint with the residents. Her nonprofit, Young and Old United, grew out of this personal passion project and has spread across the state of Texas, engaging over 100 student volunteers. Jiya's joy around this work is infectious, and she has some very important things to say about the way that youth changemakers are treated by adult decision makers. I left this conversation inspired and with a huge smile on my face, with an even deeper belief that intergenerational volunteerism is perhaps the most powerful type of service that can benefit our communities.

Learn more at www.youngandoldunited.org or follow @youngandoldunited

Reading opens doors and provides opportunities, and for young people who find themselves in the hospital, research shows that books can boost positive emotions and oxytocin levels, while lowering stress hormones. My guests today, Sanvi and Sumedha from the Chicago area, understood the many benefits of reading and launched The Bookmark Project, a book collection and distribution effort, to empower young people and to spread literacy in their own community and around the world in places like Africa and India. They have collected and donated 41,000 books, and counting. The Bookmark Project is a youth-driven literacy initiative focused on building community and increasing access to books across the globe.

Follow and learn more @tbp_il

Today, as we kick off Earth Month, I am honored to share this conversation with Crystal and Ellie, two college students who became friends while doing Model UN in high school. They bonded over their shared concern for the environment, and launched LEAP, or Live Environmentally Active in the Present, a youth-led organization spreading awareness through education and a powerful publication called The Climate Chronicles.

Learn more at www.leapforclimate.wixsite.com and follow @leapforclimate

My guest today, Edie Y., is a college student, a future educator and a champion of the arts - for EVERYONE. Edie started We Are Artistic to support artists and art lovers, and to create a safe and inclusive space for people of all abilities to engage in creativity.

Learn more at www.weareartistic.net and follow @weareartisticgroup

Period poverty continues to be a major issue for so many women and girls in the United States. My guests today, sisters Mia and Maya F. from Florida, started Enough for Everyone, to ensure that women living marginally in their community have access to the personal hygiene products they need to maintain their health and dignity.

Learn more at www.enoughforeveryone.org or follow @enoughfor_everyone

Sometimes the simplest efforts are the most impactful. Big-hearted high school senior Ryan T. launched Read Aloud Buddies along with his sister during the early days of the pandemic. The organization aims to match every child with an experienced high school or college student. The student volunteers read to their "buddy" improving language skills and literacy. Ryan also runs Little Acts of Kindness, baking cupcakes for children celebrating their birthdays while living in a shelter.

Learn more at www.readaloudbuddies.org or follow at @read_aloud_buddies if you'd like to start your own chapter.

My guest, Aaron H. from California, created the Indigenous Justice Coalition to support the many indigenous tribes in our country who have been denied their rights and benefits. Aaron felt a call to action, particularly on behalf of the Waccamaw tribe, which is indigenous to the Bay Area. He learned how to respond to grants, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of this work and visited Washington to lobby Congress. Aaron is a beautiful example of Dr. King's phrase, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Learn more about starting a chapter or joining this important work at https://indigenousjusticecoalition.com/ and follow @indigenousjusticecoalition

When a child is diagnosed with a rare and difficult disease, there is so much chaos and stress. The care that they are given in the hospital and the attitude and optimism of their family and support network are crucial. My guest today, Nell C., was diagnosed with a rare condition at the age of 9. She emerged from that very scary experience and is well and thriving now, with her disease in remission. She wrote a book during the early days of the pandemic called My Hospital Story, which is shared with patients and families, as well as medical students. Nell is a rare disease advocate and a beacon of light and kindness for children and families going through health challenges.

You can purchase My Hospital Story on Amazon and follow @myhospitalstory