Youth In Macro

Youth in Macro is a student-driven platform created to explore, document, and advocate for macro-level change. Rooted in the NASW Code of Ethics, especially its core commitment to social justice, Youth in Macro provides a platform for college students — particularly those studying social work, policy, and related fields — to examine how public systems shape the lives of marginalized communities. Through community-based research, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we’re reclaiming the role of young people in driving structural change. We formed Youth in Macro to address a critical gap: macro social work is rarely emphasized, yet it’s essential. Social work education often focuses on clinical or case-based practice, leaving students disconnected from the political, economic, and policy systems that produce inequity in the first place. We’re changing that. What We Do: •Create student-led policy brief projects and research fellowships, such as Underfunded & Underprotected •Offer mentorship and hands-on experience in community-based research •Host peer-led discussions on policy issues concerning race, disinvestment, emergency preparedness, food justice, and more •Train emerging social workers to think critically about systems, not just symptoms