Our Impact

We give Fellows the tools and peer-mentorship communities to reflect on their direct experiences. By combining systems thinking with engaged civics, Fellows practice contemplative action. Fellows gain increases in civic efficacy, self-confidence as leaders, and willingness to build bridges through leading local actions. Fellows also gain improvements across key determinants of mental health.

A group of rhizome members in a classroom smiling.

Seasonal Activies

Civic Service Fellows lead actions in their community each season:

Fall
Building community empowerment events around the ideas Fellows are most passionate

Winter
Teaching democracy to local elementary school students via democratic simulations and civic engagement games

Spring
Running voter education drives to motivate peers to vote locally, share paths to running for office, and help peers register and pre-register to vote

Impact on Fellows

We equip Fellows to cultivate consistent civic habits, foster a sense of belonging, and co-create the world they want to live in. We invited Fellows to share their experiences, and the results speak for themselves. Here is our impact among Fellows at the levels of 1) individual Fellows, 2) communities, and 3) country

Students gathered around a student speaking at a podium.

Individual

97%

of Fellows feel that participating in a Fellowship has increased their civic knowledge.

94%

say that joining Rhizome has made their life more meaningful.

97%

feel that joining Rhizome has increased their collaboration skills.

Community

96%

of Fellows feel more confident in their ability to find common ground with other young people.

98%

feel more likely to take action when they see civic opportunities in their community.

97%

are more likely to think seriously about running for office or supporting a friend to do so.

Country

85%

of Fellows feel more likely to build bridges between people who disagree with each other.

89%

feel more likely to pursue their dreams in life as a result of the Fellowship.

90%

have a greater respect for civic institutions since becoming Fellows.

Impact on Organizers

As those who lead all our local Chapters, Youth Organizers develop leadership skills, learn by doing, and support Fellows. Here is our impact among Organizers at the levels of 1) individual Organizers 2) communities, and 3) country

A student taking a selfie of herself and another student with a poster.

Individual

100%

of Organizers feel that they have increased their collaboration skills since starting the program.

100%

say that joining Rhizome has made their life more meaningful.

100%

feel that joining Rhizome has increased their civic knowledge.

Community

95%

of Organizers feel more likely to take action when they see civic opportunities in their community.

100%

feel more confident in their ability to find common ground with other young people.

90%

are more likely to think seriously about running for office or supporting a friend to do so.

Country

89%

of Organizers feel more likely to build bridges between people who disagree with each other.

90%

feel more likely to pursue their dreams in life since becoming an Organizer.

90%

have a greater respect for civic institutions since becoming an Organizer.

Mental Health Determinants

We’ve built Rhizome as a home for young people to feel genuine belonging and purpose. Using the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-Being, we measured our impact on social determinants of mental health across six areas: personal growth, autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. We provided a scale with options for 1) strongly disagree 2) disagree 3) neither agree nor disagree 4) agree 5) strongly agree.

Here are our results, with one question for each area of well-being:

4.25

After the Fellowship, I now believe it is more important to have new experiences that challenge how I think about myself and the world.

4.02

After the Fellowship, I have more confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to the general consensus.

4.1

After the Fellowship, I feel I am more in charge of the situation and the future in which I will live.

4.0

After the Fellowship, people in my life are more likely to describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others.

4.04

After the Fellowship, I am less likely to be the kind of person who wanders aimlessly through life.

4.1

After the Fellowship, I appreciate more aspects of my own individual personality.

Here are results based on other key mental health indicators in Rhizome:

4.32

I feel Rhizome is a welcoming space for young people who are struggling with mental health.

4.41

I enjoyed the fellowship

4.35

I learned from the Fellowship.