TeenLife Boston’s Community Service Fair held Sunday, February 8, at The Mall at Chestnut Hill was not only our second community service event, but also the second time that any community service program such as this was organized for teens in Greater Boston. TeenLife Boston’s objective was to provide an opportunity for non-profits to reach out to middle and high school students and to encourage their involvement in community service opportunities, both during the school year and in the summer. Thanks to announcements by schools and the local press, over 800 students, parents, educators, and community service coordinators from 120 different private and public schools attended the Fair. As a result of this tremendous response, the participating nonprofits have recommitted themselves to developing new ways to engage volunteers and to expand their existing programs. This event also reinforced for all participants the notion that young people ARE motivated to “do good” and CAN make a difference while bringing their unique personality, interests, and enthusiasm to a volunteer program.
A handpicked group of 60 non-profit and business exhibitors were present, representing a range of interests: from arts organizations and museums to science and health programs, to individuals with special needs.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the various organizations and to benefit from those asked by their peers. Through attending the fair, we hope that students realize that community service can take on many forms. It can be an activity one does alone, with one’s family, or a school group. It can be a long-term position or a one time event. Organizations benefit from all types of volunteerism.
For the non-profits, the Fair provided a unique opportunity to have one age group gathered in one place at one time to hear about the possibilities of giving back to their communities.
Schools saw this event as a way to encourage more of their students to participate in or to initiate community service activities and/or to find new ways to meet the community service requirement already established by the school. Additionally, many educators took the opportunity to connect with non-profits directly in order to establish long-term relationships with routine school volunteer projects.
While the participants gathered information, they were entertained by the fun and funky sounds of the Boston nonprofit ZUMIX and its DiverCity youth-pop cover band and Brookline High School’s all- female a capella group Perfect Pitch.
A Fair such as this one cannot happen without a great deal of support from the business community. Teen Life Boston wishes to thank AAA of Southern New England, Panera, Community Newspaper, Staples Copy and Print @ Coolidge Corner, Cabot Creamery, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, The Princeton Review, and of course, The Mall at Chestnut Hill. Several of the supporting exhibitors also had booths at the Fair and were able to share their services with students and their families. These supporting exhibitors, along with several of the businesses in the Mall at Chestnut Hill, provided additional support to the students with their contributions to a complimentary gift bag given by TeenLife Boston to each attendee.
The feedback from both the non-profits and the participants at the Teen Life Boston Community Service Fair was universally positive. “The Fair provided a good opportunity to meet and get in touch with younger people,” noted one non-profit participant. “Once teens were aware of the ways in which they could help out their community, they were eager to help.” If the enthusiasm of the Fair’s participants is any indication, local community service programs should be expanding. We look forward to seeing our nonprofit participants and the Greater Boston community benefit from the volunteers that will engage in community service as a result of the Fair, and anticipate that even more nonprofits, business participants, and fairgoers will take part in next year’s Fair.
Nonprofit Exhibitors at TeenLife Boston’s 2009 Community Service Fair
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