Bellevue author Laurie Ann Thompson focuses on youth empowerment and how 18 teens were able to affect positive change in their communities in her new book, “Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something that Matters.”

Thompson, who will share her book at the Seattle Creative Art Center’s The Secret Garden Bookshop on Sept. 14, said the inspiration for the book started in 2004, after she came across David Bornstein’s book, “How to Change the World.”

Bornstein’s book profiled adults from around the world who had started innovative programs and initiatives to better their communities. Thompson said she felt teens needed their own book, and one that would show them the tools they can use to become changemakers themselves.

“I know all the teenagers that I talk to are so full of passion and idealism,” Thompson said. “There’s been that push for maybe the last 5-10 years now that youth do have the tools – It kind of levels the playing field.”

Thompson said she looked to Ashoka, which supports social entrepreneurship, to find candidates to profile in her book.

“Fortunately, one of their flagship offices was in Seattle,” she said. “I got hooked up with that office and got introduced to some of the teens they were working with at that time.”

Thompson said she was intrigued by the story of Charles Orgbon, who at 12 years old took a school service project and grew it into Earth Savers, a group on worldwide clubs that promote recycling and water conservation. She said Orgbon faced many hurdles, especially considering his family moved around a lot.

“Despite all of the challenges that he faced as a young person, he was able to create this great organization that serves thousands of youths,” Thompson said. “He’s handed it off to other leaders because he’s in college. He was really able to build something substantial considering all the things he faced.”

Thompson will be at The Secret Garden Bookshop 2-4 p.m. Sept. 14, and will be joined by leaders of four organizations featured in her book. Those who started those groups are now busy with college or other ventures, she said.

“It’s really neat to see all four have gotten to that point where they have people waiting in the wings and their ready to run with it,” she said.