Youth
Community
Service

YCS elevates youth voices to raise community connection and equity through service.

Do Service

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Events

Programs

Do Service!

See all of our upcoming service events on our Do Service Platform

Have questions about our Do Service Platform?

  • "… We live in a time of great tragedy but also great beauty, where we can see the triumphs and the failures of humanity in the palm of our hand..... at first I thought the solution to these terrible feelings was to simply learn more and try to be on the right side of the street and just to hope for a better future. But I’ve realized that that’s not the actual solution. One of my teachers put it really well to me..... They said that “at some point you have to stop hoping for a better world, you have to start building one”. To me that is what community service is. So, with that in mind let us continue to work for the liberation of the earth and all its inhabitants. Thank you.”

    - Ashwin R.

  • "I first fell in love with community service in middle school when I discovered the power of helping others. There is something so special and rewarding about being there for others and contributing to making the world a better place. I believe actions, even small gestures, can make a huge impact on others’ lives...”

    - Erin M.

  • "… I have been able to volunteer with a really vast group of organizations in our community. This has helped me deepen my understanding in the struggles that people in our community face and what aspects go into that. Alongside that, I have also been able to realize the power that comes with working alongside others to fix these issues and how as a community, as long as we work together, we actually have a really big power and a really big impact on solving these issues.”

    - Kate S.

  • "We have these small events. And a lot of people, when I tell them to join YCS, Youth Connect, they hesitate because these events are small. You feel like they’re not really making an impact. You think that these big events have to be super lavish, they have to cover all the boundaries. I like to think of the communities problems as a big pile of trash. When it comes to picking trash you are not going to grab it all up at once with like a crane, stuff is going to slip and there’s going to be issues. You gotta take it one at a time, one issue at a time and that’s why I value these small events because they can make such a big impact, they can leave such a niche group feeling so much better, and they don’t take as many resources or as much of your time to leave that big of an impact. So always be sure to pick up the trash one piece at a time.”

    - Kareem GM

  • "…YCS, an organization that has inspired me and many others to go out into our local communities and provide service to the local struggling communities. I’m glad to have been a part of such a caring and supportive organization filled with people who emphasize the importance of the impacts youth can have on their local communities…”

    - Eric C. (YCS Alum)

Spotlight

In the News

  • YCS Honored with State Recognition

    YCS Honored with State Recognition

    July 1, 2025

    YCS is grateful to be awarded the certificate of merit in the 2024 California Teachers’ Association (CTA) State Gold Awards competition for our work with local schools.

    Read our Newsletter

  • A CTA Award for YCS!

    June 30, 2025

    We are pleased to share that YCS has been awarded a certificate of merit in the 2024 California Teachers’ Association State Gold Awards competition! It is an honor to be recognized by the California Teachers’ Association for the work we do with local schools. 

    Read more

  • East Palo Alto community remembers civil rights icon

    East Palo Alto community remembers civil rights icon

    April 8, 2025

    About 100 community members from East Palo and neighboring cities marched from Bell Street Park to St. Francis of Assisi Church for the Cesar Chavez March on April 7.

    Read at Palo Alto Online 

  • Students lend a helping hand at Gunn High School youth service day

    Students lend a helping hand at Gunn High School youth service day

    April 1, 2025

    Hundreds of students volunteered across multiple Palo Alto, East Palo Alto organizations

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • Family creates flowers using pipe cleaners and tissue paper.

    Youth Art Workshop Showcases Community’s Blooming Creativity

    February 24, 2025

    The EPA Library and Youth Community Service co-hosted a Youth Art Workshop on Thursday, inviting families to come together to decorate canvases with vibrant, hand-made flowers. From 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., participants crafted flowers while enjoying snacks provided by YCS. 

    Read at M-A Chronicle

  • Peninsula cities celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

    January 24, 2025

    Amid Trump’s Inauguration, residents seek comfort in community

    Read Palo Alto Weekly issue

  • Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with weekend volunteer opportunities, symposiums and the Celebration Train

    January 15, 2025

    Take part in events around the Peninsula honoring the civil rights leader.

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • Holiday Fund: Finding their voice

    January 11, 2025

    Local nonprofit Youth Community Service elevates local youths, one civic project at a time

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • Maddie Park

    Opinion: Momentum on teen mental health must continue

    November 9, 2024

    Mental health issues, despite efforts to mitigate these concerns, are prevalent across Palo Alto.

    Read more at Palo Alto Online

  • Peninsula groups hope to increase Hispanic voter turnout with help from youth ambassadors

    September 25, 2024

    The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County, 'Anamatangi Polynesian Voices, and Youth Community Service are working to get people in the Latino and Polynesian communities engaged.

    Read more at CBS News

  • Opinion: Young people can connect to mental health services

    August 18, 2024

    by Joe Simitian

    Behavioral health center set to open in San Jose next year

    Read at The Mercury News

  • City of East Palo Alto honors ‘Pasifika’ culture in weekend community event

    July 17, 2024

    Organizers say cultural celebrations help preserve arts, language and heritage

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • Opinion: How cities can combat loneliness

    March 15, 2024

    by Katie Causey and Mora Oommen

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • Intergenerational Reflection and Growth at the 2023 Shinnyo-en Foundation Annual Retreat

    July 27, 2023

    by Mora Oommen

    Read at Shinnyo-en Foundation

  • Peer-led mental health program lets students know they’re not alone

    October 30, 2021

    Youth Connect helps young people find resources

    Read at Mountain View Voice

  • ‘Radical convenience’ spurs East Palo Alto vaccination push

    August 27, 2021

    Local leaders, high schoolers lead door-to-door vaccination campaign to boost city’s immunization rate

    Read at Palo Alto Online

  • A long way to go: Retiring Youth Community Service head assesses progress on empowering young people

    September 21, 2020

    For Leif Erickson, more work lies ahead to improve youth mental health

    Read at Palo Alto Online

Partner with us and join our community!

Making meaningful connections is at the heart of what we do at YCS. Donate to support and make a difference, find ways to get involved by joining our email list, OR share your service opportunities.