Who We Are
YouthServeCCIS is a student-led social entrepreneurship initiative connecting Cleveland-area students with local nonprofits through engaging, hands-on service experiences. We were founded to solve a growing disconnect: students who want to serve but don’t know where to start, and organizations that need youth volunteers but can’t reach them.
The Problem
Teen volunteering has decreased by 22% over the last decade. As many schools continue to include it as a graduation requirement, service has become a checklist item instead of an opportunity for impact. Meanwhile, Cleveland nonprofits struggle to access youth volunteers due to school bureaucracy and limited visibility. There was no central connector. So, we built one.
Our Solution
YouthServe bypasses the red tape. Founded in late 2024 by Jack Nelson (University School), Charlie Martin (University School), and Valentina DiCenso (Gilmour Academy), we are strategically entirely student-run, allowing us to partner directly with nonprofits, move quickly, and make real change. Each month, we choose a Cleveland-based theme like food insecurity, literacy, or sustainability and:
Spotlight 2–3 local organizations through interviews, videos, and social media.
Host collaborative service events at our spotlight organizations that bring students from multiple schools together.
Provide each nonprofit with media they can use to grow their visibility and reach.
It’s a win-win: students gain purpose-driven experiences, and organizations gain the next generation of community leaders.
Our Impact
Since launching in late 2024, YouthServe has:
Expanded to six leading Cleveland schools — University School, Gilmour Academy, Hathaway Brown, Laurel, Hawken, and (newly added) Twinsburg.
Connected 3,000+ students citywide through social and in-person engagement.
Built a strong digital platform (@youthserveccis) with 1,000+ views per post.
Partnered with leading Cleveland nonprofits, including R.A.K.E. (Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere), FoodStrong, and Another Chance of Ohio.
Our most successful event with US alum Ricky Smith and R.A.K.E. drew 90+ volunteers, featured music, media, and games, and served over 300 lunches to those in need.
Our movement has also built a strong digital presence (@youthserveccis), where we highlight nonprofits, share student stories, and turn service into something students want to be part of. We were recently featured in the Cleveland Jewish News for “reshaping how teens across Cleveland connect with service opportunities.”
The Future
Our next phase is expanding our chapter network across Greater Cleveland, connecting public and private schools through regional volunteer events and shared causes. Our north star is simple: make Cleveland the model city for youth-led service.
We’re doing this because Cleveland needed a connector, and we were in a position to build it.
YouthServeCCIS
By students. For students. For Cleveland.