Action Plans

Action Plans

Action Plans are how ideas turn into action. Through INSPIRE, student teams build the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to identify an issue they care about and develop a thoughtful plan to create change in their schools or communities. Following the Institute, teams are encouraged to refine and implement their Action Plans over the months ahead, translating learning into meaningful impact.


The Zakim Award

As part of the INSPIRE: Massachusetts Youth Leadership Institute, we are proud to present the Zakim Award, which recognizes student teams that demonstrate exceptional leadership through the development and implementation of impactful Action Plans.

Named in memory of civil rights leader Lenny Zakim, the award honors student-driven initiatives that reflect innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to positive social change in schools and communities across Massachusetts.

The 2025 Zakim Award winners will be announced at INSPIRE 2026 on March 18.

2026 Zakim Award - Eligibility and Criteria

All student teams participating in INSPIRE 2026 are eligible for consideration for the 2026 Zakim Award.

Teams will be recognized based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation: Creative and forward-thinking approaches to addressing a school or community challenge.

  • Collaboration: Strong teamwork and meaningful partnerships within the school and/or broader community.

  • Impact: Clear goals and measurable outcomes that demonstrate progress and positive change.


2026 Zakim Award Timeline

The following timeline applies to student teams participating in INSPIRE 2026:

  • Friday, April 10, 2026: Action Plan submission deadline

  • Monday, April 20, 2026: Team Harmony representative assigned to each participating team

  • Friday, January 29, 2027: Action Plan implementation results due

  • March 2027: 2026 Zakim Award winners announced

Winning teams will be celebrated for their contributions to building stronger, more inclusive communities, just as Lenny Zakim envisioned. The award offers recognition for the incredible work of young leaders committed to making a difference.

Winning Action Plan Examples

  • "Equity Matters"

    Springfield HS, Churchill HS, and South Eugene HS Oregon  

    Students have shared their experience in Tulsa and their 17-minute documentary video with school boards in both Springfield and Eugene. They also presented it to a student Town Hall event based on racial equity as well as a workshop in Portland, OR. They did this by invitation because several educators saw one of their presentations and were very impressed.

  • "The Future Is Now”

    Beaver Country Day School, MA 

    In January 2024, 100 Middle School students attended Beaver’s annual Middle School Social Justice Retreat where they learned and reflected on their identities, their interactions with a diverse society, and their role in the creation of a more safe, just, and accessible world for all. This year’s theme - Create THE Future - called MS students to seek a deeper understanding of the injustices experienced by so many and think about how their actions today can reshape our futures to be more inclusive and for human rights to be accessible to everyone. Tulsa students attended as mentors and leaders in workshop spaces. They supported outside workshop facilitators and MS students throughout the day. Many reported that it was a transformational experience for them. 

  • "No Place for Hate" 

    Claremont Academy, Worcester, MA 

    The students' goal is to reach the broader community through social media, spreading a message of love, kindness and racial equity. They have created a social media campaign @ourstrive4change on Instagram. Each member of the group has actively promoted the page throughout their community. They have 182 followers and have posted 55 times.