A fire that destroyed the downtown business district; gangs fighting in the streets; an inadequate water supply; an epidemic of cholera -- New York City had plenty of problems in the early 1800s. With leadership, planning, and hard work, however, New Yorkers eventually overcame these problems and many others throughout the cities history.

What about your community? What are the problems facing it? Drug abuse, crime, pollution, crowded schools, homelessness?

In this activity, you will learn how to identify the problems facing your community and how to begin solving them. We think it's best to start with just one.

Maybe you already have a problem in mind. If you don't, learn about some of the issues that plague your community. Look through your local newspaper or watch the local news on TV. Talk to your family, friends, teachers, and community leaders.

Get your class at school involved! Have fellow students suggest problems to work on. Discuss and debate their relative importance. Then, hold a vote to decide which you want to tackle.

Now that you have decided on a problem, it's time to think of some solutions. First, you should learn more about the problem you've selected. What are its causes? Who is responsible and who should you turn to for help?

How big is the problem? Is it an issue causing problems in just one spot -- like a dangerous street corner that needs a traffic light? Or is it all over town -- such as too much litter? Or is it a larger problem -- like drugs or air pollution?

Remember, even one person -- YOU -- can make a difference, but it helps to have as many people as possible working together. Try to get friends, family, and classmates involved in your quest! Also, keep in mind that some problems took a long time to develop, which means they may also take a while to solve. Don't give up!

If you're still stuck for ideas, try visiting these Web sites:

Do Something
www.dosomething.org
This is the home site for an organization created by actor Andrew Shue (of MELROSE PLACE) designed to encourage volunteerism among young people.

VolunteerMatch
www.volunteermatch.org
VolunteerMatch is a matching service for volunteers and nonprofits. Find out who needs your help and pitch in right away!

20/20 Vision
www.2020vision.org
20/20 Vision is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environment and promoting peace through grassroots action.

Earth Force
www.earthforce.org
This site encourages kids to learn more about protecting the environment.

The Giraffe Project
www.giraffe.org
This site discovers and then educates its viewers about people who "stuck their neck out for the common good."