Our grandparents survived the Great Depression, defeated the Axis and ushered in a half century of American empire. But the Greatest Generation’s grandchildren are staring down a portfolio of problems that would make FDR bolt upright in fear: a global recession; two wars and the ever-present threat of terrorism; the specter of fuel scarcity and environmental collapse, crumbling infrastructure; an educational system that lags behind the rest of the first world; millions of Americans without access to affordable health care.

Like him or not, President-elect Barack Obama responded to these fears, and voters responded to his calls for hope and change. But there is no magic presidential proclamation that will fix what ails us. Real change is slow and incremental, and its face isn’t on TV ads, but in a small office around the corner from where you live.

Meet five young Hoosiers who are changing their worlds.