Environment

What are the most important environmental issues? What specific environmental issue burns for you, and what innovative, micro-solution project idea can you come up with to tackle it?

Things to think about:

• What is the most effective way to address the most pressing issues?
• What role should the government, local groups, business and individuals play?
• What project-solution can you create to address a specific area within any aspect of an environmental issue, from a local level up to national or international?

The Economic Recession

Everyone has different solutions in dealing with economic recession. Do you have a specific project-solution?

Things to think about:

• How would you tackle the problem of reducing the federal deficit?
• To create more economic activity, would you add more stimulus, and with what particular project?
• Do you have a suggestion for dealing with unemployment or taxation?
• What roles can individuals, businesses or local groups play in the recovery?

Education

Is the education system today not working in some way, for you? Do you have a specific project-solution idea that can address that specific area, to improve the learning (or teaching) experience? The teaching of a particular subject? How technology is used in the classroom? Students who drop out of school, and don’t return?

Things to think about:

• An educated population leads to better jobs, more satisfaction, and a higher standard of living. The U.S. is falling behind many Western countries in the skills and education level of its citizens. Why? Does it matter? If so, how should our US education system deal with it?
• What role should private/charter schools play in the education system?
• How do we deal with students who are not motivated to, or cannot, finish high school?

Health and Healthcare

What are the main problems in the current healthcare system?

What are the main health concerns confronting families and our country, and is there any one new idea you have to help the situation?

How should these problems best be addressed? What solution-project can you create that addresses a specific area that matters to you most?

Things to think about:

• Look at each area, in terms of how solutions can be achieved – regulation, insurance and/ or tort reform, greater or lesser government involvement, greater choice?

Human and Equal Rights

What are the most pressing human and equal rights issues? What innovative solution can you create to address discrimination and inequality?

Things to think about:

• How do we guarantee freedom for all? Should government be involved in encouraging or mandating equality? If so, what role should laws, regulation or other government activity play in addressing inequities?
• What can local organizations, businesses or individuals do?

National Security and Defense

What are the most pressing national security issues for the US right now? Is it protecting borders, shipping ports, our water/ utility systems? What about energy independence or domestic terrorism? What area interests and concerns you the most, and what innovative solution do you have to increase safety and security?

Things to think about:

• What do you expect in the way of threats to our interests 10 years from now?
• What are the global hotspots that most concern you and why?
• What are the relative roles of the government/military, private enterprise, non-governmental organizations and individuals in ensuring that the U.S. stays safe?

Poverty

Poverty is a global reality. There are unique, but often overlapping causes of poverty in different places. But poverty pulls down not only the individual, but the economy of a country or even a region of the world, and can contribute to the proliferation of disease, instability and conflict.

Do you have a specific solution-project idea to help individuals get out of poverty?

Things to think about:

• Is a poverty only a social issue, or is it also, as some say, a moral issue?
• How do you think poverty impacts a community or country?
• Can poverty be erased?
• What are some innovative ways of dealing with poverty on a local or global scale?

Public Service

Public service is citizens pitching in to help their communities, neighbors or country – in this case donating their personal time.

Do you have a suggestion of a project-idea to attract more people, especially youth, to be interested and participate in public service?

Things to think about:

• What are the benefits to the individuals that participate in volunteering?
• Is involving in public service life-changing to a young adult who gets involved? If so, how?
• Is public service a civic responsibility?
• What should governments, non-profits or religious organizations or businesses do to encourage public service?

Technology

Technology has transformed everyday life—mostly for the better.

From the internet to the microchip to digitalization, everything is easier, faster and mobile.

But technology has also created a new set of challenges for society.

While digitalization has accelerated auto production and made cars safer and more efficient, cellphones, smartphones and texting now put drivers at risk.

While the internet has put the world at people’s fingertips, the greater accessibility has also put porn in front of children, and amplified identity theft.

With computers and cellphones,  kids learn better and grow up faster, but stay indoors and exercise less.

And while digitalization has made books and music more accessible, copyright infringement and bootlegging have quantumly exploded, jeopardizing artist revenues.

And while technology has reduced production costs so that electronics and other goods are more available to more people, landfills are bloated with discarded cellphones and non-biodegradable goods.

We are looking for solution-project ideas to address any aspect of technology’s downside, from electronics recycling to texting while driving.