More than 50 years ago, a group of young African-American college students staged a sit-in to demand service at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, NC , and sparked a youth movement throughout the country. As the sit-ins spread, some young people were beaten and even arrested, but they were not deterred. As a result, they helped end racial segregation in America, and showed the world how youth determination and leadership can make a difference.

I believe I witnessed the beginning of the country's next youth movement at the White House Youth Summit on Community Solutions for Disconnected Youth on June 4.At the summit, I heard innovative solutions for the nation's 6.7 million opportunity youth who are neither in school nor part of the workforce.

Despite this frightening statistic, young people remain optimistic about their future -- 73 percent are very confident and hopeful about achieving their goals. To help them succeed, youth are looking for three key things: leadership roles, mentors, and jobs.

By Youth, For Youth

Youth want to improve their communities. Often well-meaning adults create a vision without including us in the process. This leaves us feeling neglected and resentful because we are expected to take whatever the outcome may be, even if we had no input in its creation.

Efforts to influence youth behavior seem to be too heavily focused on prevention instead of involvement and leadership. We have firsthand knowledge of the issues that cause our friends to drop out of high school. This is why it is so important to engage us in the decision making process. We are the best resource available to help solve the problems that our peers face every day.

(Role) Model Citizens

Youth need examples they can follow. Almost 80 percent of opportunity youth want to connect with mentors to whom they can relate, such as local business leaders, successful peers, and college mentors. We need everyone “all in for youth.”

“All the solutions don't come from the programs themselves, they really come from all of the support systems, and we need everybody on board. We need parents, we need friends, we need the entire community,” said Maurice Miller, who attended the summit as a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions.

On-Ramps to Employment

Youth want to work. In the summer of 2011, the unemployment rate for people age 16-24 was more than 18 percent, twice the nation's overall rate. We don't want to sit at home and tweet all day; we want jobs and the chance to put money in our pockets. Our country needs more internships and part-time jobs for youth so we can gain work experience and develop the necessary skills to be successful in our future careers.

My favorite part of the summit was participating on the youth panel, Engaging Youth in the Solutions. I was inspired to be surrounded by young people, just like me, who are making change happen in their communities. I had fun sharing my story and learned a lot about the great work other youth are doing, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to attend the White House summit. It assured me that the best is yet to come!

Jairus Cater of Nashville, TN, is a student at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is a Youth Leadership Institute Ambassador. Jairus served as co-chair of the Mayor of Nashville's Child and Youth Master Plan, a living document that offers strategies to make Nashville the best city possible for its youth, and co-organized the city's Keeping Our Youth march against youth violence.

We would all like to believe we control our own destiny. But experiences teach us we are sometimes shaped by forces outside ourselves: the opportunities we encounter, the people we meet, those who mentor us, and the communities that surround us. This is not to say that our paths are prescribed—but that we need the skills to recognize and seize opportunities that come our way.
 

May is a time of graduations, fresh spring air and new beginnings. But for many, graduation from high school or college is far from a reality, and opportunities for a fresh start are out of reach. At least one in six young people ages 16-24 are disconnected from school and work – the two pathways that provide the greatest hope for a bright and productive future. Yet, these young people dream of building careers and making important contributions to our communities. That's why we see them as “Opportunity Youth.”
 

There are people working every day at all levels – and across all sectors – to improve our communities and find lasting and sustainable solutions to expand opportunity for young people. We spoke with Judith Rodin, a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions, who has shown a commitment throughout her professional career for community solutions that support and cultivate the next generation.
 

Every day, researchers, policymakers, teachers, counselors, and business leaders continue to make the case for the importance of earning a high school diploma and obtaining some post-secondary study. For young adults who drop out of high school, their options and future earning potential become extremely limited. Sadly, 1-in-6 young adults are completely isolated from school and work – and are less likely to become the independent, productive citizens needed to help our nation grow.
 

Growing up, I had dreams of what my future would look like. But reality taught me that achieving a dream and building a future is a learning process and can't be done alone.
 

Last week, I joined a community conversation organized by the United Way of the Bay Area. It was one of five forums in my region, of more than 100 gatherings in 30 cities across the country this spring. These events are bringing together local leaders, youth, and citizens to map out a plan to help young people find paths to economic independence.
 

Throughout time, a community has often determined the success or failure of its members. A youth’s environment shapes the adult they will become, so it is critical that young people are surrounded by positive role models and caring adults in a nurturing community.
 

Communities have a long history of coming together to revitalize and transform their areas. From the settlement houses of the late 19th century to the 1960s War on Poverty, communities have been collaborating for centuries to improve their surroundings.
 

America's young people have always been a particular passion of mine. Maybe it's because I have three children or perhaps it's because I work with a staff of young professionals who keep me thinking young. In working with young people, I've come to hold one truth above all: the youth of America have the power to change the world if we give them the tools, the mentorship, and the opportunity to do it.
 

As a former high-tech entrepreneur, CEO, and philanthropist, I have tried to tackle challenges that were similarly daunting and seemingly intractable. I've found that the “path forward” is almost always the same – large scale social change requires an “all hands on deck” approach that is proactive, focused, and inclusive.