Student Leadership: Our Youth Grant Committee in Action

Our Youth Grant Committee is demonstrating the power of student voice and leadership in Kent County. This group of 26 students from various Kent County high schools has been meeting over the course of the year to deeply investigate their peers’ most critical needs.

After a youth assessment survey of over 450 local high school students, YGC determined that three of the most pressing needs for students in our community are college and career preparation, mental health resources and racial justice activism. Students noted that this process helped to further develop their empathy and critical thinking skills. “I feel better at observing, listening and analyzing. Those meetings have made a powerful impact on my self-growth,” said Samantha Rivera, incoming youth trustee in training (the YGC student who will serve on the Board of Trustees from July 2022 - June 2023) and student at Grandville High School.

The committee members used the youth assessment survey to talk about which grant partnerships were most aligned with their priorities. They put that knowledge into action by recommending $60,000 in grant partnerships with 18 local nonprofits working in these areas.

“I wanted to join an organization where I could truly make an impact in my community,” said Christian Baty, a recent graduate from Grand Rapids Christian High School. “YGC has given me the opportunity to not only see what is going on in my community, but to be able to make an effort, to make a difference. And we are able to see how our decisions affect the community.”

YGC members spent countless hours over the past year deep in conversation and learning with local nonprofits and each other. All the while, they have been determined to make long-lasting change in our community for students and their families. And beyond the work of this committee, youth in our community have been driving change through organizing movements, donating their time and resources and redefining what it means to be a philanthropist. Student leaders are not waiting for tomorrow to demonstrate their leadership. They are actualizing it today!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Congratulations to our five recent graduates! Christian Baty, Dallas Hopson, Pablo Eliseo Villalvazo, Ryleigh Fischer and Zoe Braun have all played an incredible role on YGC. We wish them all the best as they pursue their dreams and move into their next chapters.

I joined YGC last year, and since then I have grown as a person and a community member through this group. Through the grantmaking process, I realized the impact young people can make in the community. It was a great experience to learn more about nonprofits.

Zoe, a graduate of Forest Hills Northern High School

OUR YOUTH FIELD OF INTEREST FUND AWARDED 18 GRANTS TOTALING $60,000 TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS.

Affinity Mentoring Arbor Circle

AYA Youth Collective

Better Wiser Stronger

Camp Blodgett

D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Diatribe

Grand Rapids Pride Center

Health Net of West Michigan

Helping Important People Succeed

Oakdale Neighbors

Planned Parenthood of Michigan

Positive Impact for Life

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. –Eta Pi Sigma Chapter

SLD Reads

Treetops Collective

United Methodist Community House