Our Story
From a single conversation between three high school students to a movement connecting thousands of Cleveland-area youth with their community. Here's how YouthServeCLE came to life.
The Idea Sparks
Three students, Jack Nelson, Charlie Martin, and Valentina DiCenso, noticed a gap: Cleveland had incredible nonprofits doing important work, but no consistent bridge connecting high schoolers across the city to those organizations. Over conversations at school, the idea for YouthServeCLE was born.
First Event: Homelessness Month
YouthServeCLE launched with its very first service event, focused on Cleveland's homeless community. Students partnered with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries and six other organizations to serve meals, pack supplies, and learn about housing insecurity firsthand. The energy in the room proved the concept could work.
Developmental Disabilities Month
The second month brought new partners and new students. YouthServeCLE organized its first event with West Side Catholic Center and other organizations serving adults with developmental disabilities. Volunteer turnout grew month-over-month.
Mealsgiving — 300+ Meals Packed
For Food Insecurity Month, YouthServeCLE organized one of its largest events: a Mealsgiving sandwich and lunch-packing drive. Students from University School and Gilmour Academy showed up in force, packing hundreds of meals for distribution across Cleveland. The event trended locally.
Senior Connection Month
YouthServeCLE partnered with senior care organizations across Cuyahoga County to fight loneliness among older adults, one of the most underreported crises in Cleveland. Students wrote letters, made visits, and organized gift drives for seniors who often go weeks without meaningful social contact.
Youth Education Month & New Schools
As YouthServeCLE entered its second semester, new partner schools joined: Hathaway Brown, Laurel School, Hawken School, and Twinsburg High School. The network was growing beyond the founding two schools. Youth Education Month brought students into tutoring programs and literacy initiatives.
Community Impact Month
YouthServeCLE used Black History Month to center the organization's work on Cleveland's legacy of community leadership and civic activism. Events highlighted organizations doing transformative work in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Refugee Support Month
Cleveland is home to one of the largest refugee resettlement communities in the Midwest. March brought students face-to-face with that reality through partnerships with local resettlement agencies. It became one of the most emotionally powerful months in the organization's short history.
Sustainability Month — Ongoing
YouthServeCLE's current month focuses on environmental sustainability. Students are partnering with Cleveland Metroparks and local conservation nonprofits for cleanup and stewardship events. The organization is simultaneously planning its end-of-year celebration and mapping out Year Two.
“Serving Together; Serving for All”
The story isn't over. Every new school, every new volunteer, every new event adds another chapter. Want to be part of it?
Join the Movement