Innovation isn’t just for adults. The next generation of leaders is already working on solutions to San Diego’s most pressing issues. These forward-thinking teens meet up every few months at an event called Smart City Saturday and pitch their ideas to city officials, educators, and members of the local tech community.

“We believe once teens become engaged in their city, they can make a difference,” says Taylor Campbell, program coordinator for the event’s host, San Diego–based nonprofit Whatever It Takes.

With the help of dedicated design-thinking coaches, teams quickly rise to the challenge. Past sessions have tackled human trafficking, homelessness, and transportation. One idea generated was the installation of hand sanitizer stations in areas with a high incidence of Hepatitis A.

Campbell says Smart City Saturdays are a “quick, condensed version of WIT,” which itself teaches high school students to launch and manage a social enterprise and earns them college credit. WIT now has more than 70 participants and has spread to Austin, New York City, and St. Louis.

Tags: Business, Ideas, Innovation, Next-Gen, Smart City Saturday, Tip Sheet, Whatever It Takes