WORCESTER—Twenty-one high school students from across Worcester County awarded $40,400 in grants to 11 local nonprofit organizations this week, capping their participation in Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Youth for Community Improvement (YCI) program.
YCI is a youth-led grantmaking initiative that has been running for more than 25 years. It empowers students to address community needs through philanthropy, and this year’s cohort was the most geographically diverse in the program’s history, with participants representing 14 high schools from Auburn, Douglas, Fitchburg, Shrewsbury, Sutton, Webster, Westborough, and Worcester.
“YCI is a unique example of participatory grantmaking,” said Pete Dunn, president and CEO of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, in a statement. “It shifts decision-making power from foundation staff and board members to students, who bring their lived experience and unique perspectives as young people in Worcester County to determine where funding can make the greatest impact.”
The student participants collectively identified four funding priorities: mental health, educational support, basic needs such as housing and food, and access to arts and culture. All grant proposals were required to authentically incorporate youth voice.
The year-end celebration highlighted the impact of the program on its participants. “The most interesting part of YCI was how one person’s perspective could completely shift how we saw things, showing me the power of open-minded collaboration,” said Chloe Cheng, a senior at Auburn High School, as shared in the program announcement. “YCI has shaped how I view philanthropy and how I will approach giving back in the future — I used to think it was reserved for the wealthy, but now I know anyone can make an impact.”
This year’s grant recipients include:
- Community Health Awareness Network Grows Equity (CHANGE): $2,000 for the CHANGE-maker Summer Youth Leadership Program for African immigrant youth
- Jubilee Career Center for Performing Arts Inc.: $2,000 for its Summer Youth Arts Summit
- Korean American Citizens League of New England: $5,000 for the Youth Civic Engagement and Leadership Program
- Our Bright Future Inc.: $2,500 to launch Future Fits Apparel, a student-run online clothing store
- Pernet Family Health Service Inc.: $4,100 for youth-led hygiene kit distribution.
- Refugee and Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts: $4,500 for cultural programming for immigrant youth
- Regional Environmental Council: $5,000 for the YouthGROW Money Moves financial literacy program
- Rise Above Foundation: $5,000 to support activities for young adults in foster care
- Welcoming Alliance for Refugee Ministry: $2,800 for rock climbing and health workshops for refugee youth
- Worcester Center for Performing Arts (Hanover Theater): $5,000 for the Worcester Youth Speak Honestly program
- Write Boston: $2,500 for youth-led mental wellness and arts projects.
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