Eighth graders at my school complete a "Ravens in Action" capstone project throughout the year. They research global issues, write action plans, and serve locally in ways that bring attention to the greater problems. They are empowered to learn, use their voices, and put all the pieces together to present their findings and service to the community at the end of the year. This project-based inquiry (global) allows for student choice, opportunities to apply reading and writing strategies, and ultimately hone higher level thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. By the end, they are motivated to make real change in this world, which ultimately allows them to experience the power of literacy.