By Jonathan Choi

President, Action for Change

 

Action for Change (AFC), a civic engagement organization at Milpitas High School, has had an exciting start to the 2026-27 school year. In the past two months, our team has created opportunities for students to learn about civic issues and connect with community leaders.

 

One of the main events of the school year so far was our Q&A session with Aziz Akbari, President of the Alameda County Water District Board of Directors, at the MHS Library. This event allowed students to hear directly from a local public official about leadership, public service, climate change, water resources, civic engagement, and his journey from being a Bay Area teen to serving his community. After the moderated session, students had the opportunity to ask their own questions.

 

This event reflects one of AFC's main goals: making local government feel accessible and relevant to students. Rather than just learning about government in class, students are able to have a face-to-face conversation with someone actively involved in public service and government.

 

Besides the Q&A session, our club has continued working toward several goals for this school year. We hope to expand civic education through guest speakers, candidate forums, educational workshops, and voter registration drives.

 

AFC also had the opportunity to introduce MUSD Resolution 2027.4, recognizing September 14-25, 2026 as High School Voter Education Weeks. Through voter education and registration efforts, we hope to make voting easier to understand and get all eligible students to register and go to vote.

 

We are extremely grateful to everyone who has helped make these opportunities possible. This includes our advisor, Ms. Mia Gittlen. Additionally, we would like to thank those who came to our Great Mall Chipotle Fundraiser on September 13, 2026, and those who have donated to us directly through our GoFundMe link. Your support helps us create more opportunities for civic engagement.

 

If you would like to support Action for Change, you can contribute to our GoFundMe donate here.

 

As we look ahead to the rest of the school year, we are excited to provide even more opportunities for students to participate in civic life.