Turning Passion into Change
Young Changemakers Case Series
By Grace Andino
Yale University (Class of 2029)
Founder, MedYouthUnited
Uniondale, New York, USA
Commentary by Sean Chao, PMP
Serial Entrepreneur; Lt. Col (USAR)
Washington, DC, USA
Whether I was rummaging through the New York Public Library’s endless rows of books or tending to the library in the corner of my room as a child, growing up with constant exposure to literature instilled in me a deep-rooted love of books. As I started high school, I developed an internal appreciation for those who kept libraries and museums running. To me, they were the undisputable backbones of learning. Yet, as I watched anti-literacy trends unfold in the media, teachers sharing blogs about how their high schoolers lacked essential reading skills, and the silencing of staple works of literature, made me realize the latter. Later, viewing a local school’s plan to transform its library into a technology center made me wonder what precedent this would set for its underclassmen. The decision made me question what draws the line between progression and destruction.
My fondness for literature ignited my idea for a project. In this guide to planning and executing your project, I will guide you through the steps and specifics of how I initiated my project through research, gap identification, project outlining goals, and expert consultation, and further on how it led me to build a volunteer base, launch an initial platform, and expand through fundraising and outreach.
Research
To begin my project, which was merely an idea of the impact that I wanted to see within the spheres of child literacy and youth writing, I started researching how widespread this issue was within and beyond my community. The research phase is crucial to any project, as it helps you identify problems in your environment and how your project can serve a specific group or individual. The New York Times and the Associated Press gave me insights into the increase in technology use in schools, followed by a national decline in standardized test scores and budget cuts to public libraries. During my clinical research internship at ThinkNeuro—a nonprofit combating disparities in access to opioid-abuse treatment—I researched neurodiverse individuals’ cognitive perception of literature, and my findings revealed inequities in media-literacy access. Illiteracy continues to permeate the minds of our next generation of thinkers. Being literate breaks economic and social constraints and lifts one higher, offering limitless opportunities in the workplace and media. Many of the current effects of the literacy crisis directly impact low-income communities and schools with inadequate resources/ funding. In a recent NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) report, fewer than half of fourth graders scored at a consistent literacy level, with this shortfall disproportionately affecting diverse student groups. Only 17% of Black students, 21% of Latino students, 11% of students with disabilities, and 10% of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade.
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Editor’s note: The Young Changemaker Case Series in PM World Journal provides a platform for young project leaders to share not only what they accomplished, but also how they planned, adapted, collaborated, reflected, and grew throughout their projects. Each case elevates the voices of young changemakers by capturing their perspectives on the questions they explored, the decisions they made, the challenges they encountered, and the leaders they became. To foster intergenerational learning, every case is accompanied by a Professional Perspective contributed by a project management professional, educator, or recent graduate, followed by a question from the series editor that invites readers of all ages to continue the exploration. This series is created, organized and coordinated by Ms. Evelyn R. Chao; read her introductory article [here]. To participate, young changemakers, submit your case here; professionals, sign up to be a commentator here.
How to cite this work: Andino, G. (2026). A Literate Generation: Turning Passion into Change; Young Changemaker Case Series, series article, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue IX, September. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pmwj168-Sep2026-Andino-A-Literate-Generation-Young-Changemakers.pdf
About the Author
Grace Andino
Founder, Med Youth United
Uniondale, New York.
Grace Andino is from Uniondale, NY. She currently attends Yale University (class of 2029) and fosters literacy among youth through her organization, MedYouthUnited.
About the Commentator
Sean Chao, PMP
Serial Entrepreneur; Lt. Col (USAR)
Washington, DC
Sean Chao is a serial entrepreneur, accomplished Program Manager, technology leader, and Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve where he serves as a Commander of European Command Joint Analysis Center. Sean holds two decades of experience across defense, national security, and the private sector, across extremely disparate environments. He leads and advises multiple companies and ventures focused on delivering practical capabilities to government and commercial customers. Across his roles, Sean combines operational military experience with program-office fluency, business leadership, and a strong network of technical and mission partners. He has led the design, implementation, capture, and deployment of tailored solutions across the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and other complex business environments. His work centers on building the partnerships and execution paths that move important technologies from concept and prototype into fielded, sustainable capability.
