(artwork by Dylan Chaffin, Board Member)

Do you know what makes me happy and keeps me going?  Seeing you guys go out there and grab the world to shake things up and change it for the better.  Andrea (who takes some pretty awesome pics, if you’ve seen her work from Taylor’s photo projects) is setting out to be one of those world shakers.  She’s a youngun like many of you, and she’s embarking on the very difficult task of starting her own non-profit organization.

Starting a non-profit in the States is a very big deal because it is so mind-numbingly painful to set one up.  lol.  What Andrea is trying to do is set up an official 501(c)(3) non-profit, which means she needs to fill out many government forms, which means going through lots of red tape.  The primary reason there’s so much red tape involved in establishing a non-profit is that you’re basically asking the government for permission to not pay taxes.  And you KNOW it ain’t easy to get away with not paying taxes.  Anyway, my sister has done a lot of work with non-profits, including setting one up, and she said it takes about a year – even longer if you’re trying to set up an international one.  So, seriously, mad kudos to Andrea for undertaking this task.

So we here at GBD headquarters thought it would be a great learning experience for all of us to follow Andrea on her journey to change the world.  And Andrea graciously agreed to blog regularly about her journey – to let us know how things are going and tell us about lessons she’s learned along the way.  She’s a busy high school student, so I certainly appreciate her taking the time out of her day like this to share her experiences with us.  So thanks Andrea!  And now I’ll turn the floor over to her.  :)

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Hey Ladies!

My name is Andrea Staley.  I’m 15 years old and I live in Kailua Kona Hawaii.  I have a passion and it’s to help people.  That is all I want to do with my life, in any way I can, so I started a non-profit organization called Teens Changing the World.  The corporation is going to be an official non-profit with all the tax exemption and stuff (ew for legal business!). The money we make will fund scholarships and grants for those who excel in the creative arts and that general area.  It will also go to travel, community projects, and other organizations like Invisible Children and To Write Love on Her Arms.  Eventually, I want to establish my own international connections to fund projects worldwide because I am so inspired by Invisible Children.  But, I’ll start with just our country first.  :)  The organization will have two different parts to it (however both will integrate): the website (national/international) and the home base (community).  However, I want to be able to broadcast the projects we do in OUR community (dates, times, events) with other communities so they can grab some friends and do the projects too (but in their own communities of course!).  The website, (hopefully to be up soon… we need someone like Tabby, haha) will be a place where teens of any race, gender, religion, anything, can come together (totally humming the Beatles now) and express in art, writing, music, etc.  A place to share thoughts, hopes/dreams, rants, failures, loves, struggles, fears, and all the things that make us human.  I want people to connect and inspire themselves to change the world.  I also want to have workshops, which will be a great way for people to meet in person and travel.

I really need fun, creative, and hard-working girls who want to be on the Board of Directors.  I’m having a hard time finding anyone who wants to participate.  If you’re interested, contact info is below:

E-mail: drestaley@hotmail.com

E-mail: teenschangetheworld@live.com

Myspace: www.myspace.com/teenschangingworld

Please add the Myspace!  A Facebook and website are in the making.  I really believe that we can change the world.  I just need help doing it. 

You Ladies are fabulous!

xoxo
Andrea

P.S.  -  Re-reading this, apparently I like parentheses.  :)