Broadly writing, social problems have historical as well as great social impact on our modern individual and community lives.

Broadly writing, social problems have historical as well as great social impact on our modern individual and community lives. Often issues of population (over or under); economic inequality and poverty, lack of education, issues of self and gender, unemployment and antiquated social beliefs can lead to long-term systemic personal, cultural and policy-related stresses within a society.
How then do you attack long-term issues that might bring healthy and effective change? There are plenty of leaky holes in the dam known as the United States, as there are in every nation. Where do you begin? How do you begin to take action?
There are no magic bullets but there have been visionaries and activists throughout the century who have worked to lessen the burden on others. Think about those who fought the tide of conventional wisdom or the power structure? How did they succeed? What lessons can be learned?