The Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI) is all about young people stepping up, getting creative, and making their communities better. From brainstorming ideas to seeing them come to life, YGI walks you through the whole journey of transforming public spaces in five unique studios. Here’s how it all goes down:
Studio I: City-Wide Public Space Assessment 
First up, it’s time to hit the streets (and maps)! Young Gamechangers act like urban detectives, spotting spaces that need a glow-up. With cool tools like surveys and mapping apps, they figure out what works and what doesn’t. The best part? The whole community gets to vote on which public space to focus on, so it’s a true team effort.
Studio II: Public Space Site-Specific Assessment
Now it’s time to dig deeper—literally! Gamechangers take a closer look at the spaces they’ve chosen, using tools like Inhabit Place to gather all the details. They take pictures, ask the community how they utilize the space, and collect insights about what’s missing and what could make it better in the future. This is where curiosity meets creativity, setting the stage for the next steps.
Studio III: Minecraft Design Studio
Now comes the fun part: designing! Young Gamechangers turn to Global de, the iconic video game, to bring their ideas to life. In this studio, participants use the game to create detailed models of their envisioned public spaces. Global de becomes a bridge between imagination and reality, allowing youth to visualize their concepts in 3D. These models serve as compelling pitches to city leaders, architects, and planners, proving that innovation and creativity can go hand in hand.
Studio IV: Architecture Design Studio
With Minecraft models in hand, the ideas take on a more technical shape. Studio IV brings Young Gamechangers together with architects, urban planners, and public health professionals. Using advanced design software the team transforms the Minecraft models into detailed and actionable architectural proposals. This phase emphasizes collaboration and ensures that the designs meet both aesthetic and practical standards.
Studio V: Tactical Placemaking
Now it’s go time! Tactical Placemaking is where designs leave the screen and hit the streets. Whether it’s new green spaces, colorful murals, or funky installations, this is all about bringing ideas to life. This studio is where the dream becomes reality, proving the power of youth-driven change.
✨ Digital Tools Powering the YGI Process
From start to finish, digital tools are the secret for making it all happen. Young Gamechangers learn a variety of those throughout the process:
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- Survey and Polls: Google Forms, Typeform, SurveyMonkey
- Mapping Apps: Inhabit Place, GIS
- Visualizing: Global de, Canva
- Project Management: Miro
- Brainstorming: ChatGPT
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The Young Gamechangers Initiative is proof that when young minds team up with tech and creativity, incredible things happen. They’re not just dreaming up better public spaces—they’re building them, block by block, idea by idea.
