an essay on a community project

How to write the community service essay

Whether in an interview or an essay, all college applicants should be prepared to talk about the ways they have worked to improve their schools and communities. No college wants to admit a passive recipient of community, they would all much prefer to admit an active and engaged citizen who understands that community requires contribution. Use this essay to define a community (see the community essay for more examples of this) and then talk specifically about how you helped to make that community better. You have a lot of latitude here to define your terms and to define the boundaries of your engagement. Don’t pass up any opportunity to share your active citizenship. These essays will vary in length but are often a “mid-size” supplement of 250-350 words.

Example Community Service Questions:

• U of California: What have you done to make your school or community a better place?
• MIT: At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc.  
• Princeton: Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

LET'S BREAK DOWN THE ESSENTIAL POINTS YOU NEED TO HIT WHEN RESPONDING TO THIS SUPPLEMENT:

This is an important question! If you have an option to select an essay question among several prompts, choose to write this essay! Why? Colleges want to know that you have made your community a better place. This makes you a compelling applicant. Why else? Because you have done something that can answer this question – even if to you, right now, it looks small in comparison to solving global challenges.

“Community” can be defined however you choose! Be sure to use a few words of this essay to outline the boundaries of the community you identify.

THINGS TO AVOID:

Additional tips and tricks:.

• Column 1: Identify the problem. Describe the challenge you were (or are currently) facing. The problem could be something global, like an environmental issue, or something more local, like a lack of creative opportunities in your high school.
• Column 2: Raise the stakes. Help us understand: Why was (or is) overcoming this challenge important? What might happen if this problem went (or goes) unchecked?  
• Column 3: Articulate the vision. What might the world look like if this problem were solved? Inspire us to dream with you.
• Column 4: Describe what you did. Tell us the specific things you (or you and your team) did to solve the problem.
• Column 5: Clarify your role.   Describe your particular involvement. Why were (or are) you crucial to the project’s or club’s success?
• Column 6: Share the impact you had, lessons you learned, or values you gained. Provide specific evidence that gives us a sense that your work mattered.

Don't forget to use active verbs! Additionally, you can absolutely re-use this essay (being mindful of word count) to respond to multiple community service prompts from different schools.

Elise holds a BA in Political Philosophy from Williams College and an MEd in Administration & Social Policy from Harvard. She has spent the past twenty years working in top-tier independent schools.

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Essays About Community Service: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

If you are looking for your next writing topic, discover top examples of essays about community service and helpful writing prompts in our guide.

Community service refers to an individual or a group’s volunteer work dedicated to improving the community and its people. In America, Benjamin Franklin introduced community service in the 18th century by developing the idea of ​​the first volunteer firehouse in Philadelphia . Since then, stepping up has become a norm, with more people encouraged to participate.

Volunteering helps individuals gain experience, improve self-esteem, expand knowledge, and promote healthy goals. In addition, choosing community service as a topic in your essay allows you to explain its significance to entice your readers to get involved. To give you an idea of ​​how to write essays about community service, here are five examples that will help you.

5 Top Examples On Essays About Community Service

1. essay on community service and its importance by joni kim, 2. community service experience: essay on what i learned by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 3. why is community service important by perry mullins, 4. concept of the community services in modern society essay by anonymous on ivypanda.com, 5. community service experience essay by writer molly, 1. community service vs. volunteering, 2. community service: then and now, 3. why we should volunteer, 4. community service in schools: mandatory or voluntary, 5. community service and its influences, 6. types of community service, 7. my community service experience, 8. donation or service: what’s better to give.

“The service helps the group of people in need, for example, senior citizens, children, people with disability and the likes. Sometimes community service is geared towards solving problems related to the needs of community members, especially low-income earners.”

Kim explains that community service is a voluntary action done through various means. It includes health and child care services, education, housing, and other improvements to aid and support the community members who need the most assistance. Then, Kim focuses on its importance to individuals, the community, and the country. The essay showcases how community service improves social, interpersonal, and decision-making skills. It also allows students to explore and find their interests. Ultimately, Kim believes that the real-life experience of volunteering assists in determining one’s career path, providing advantages when applying for a job.

“This experience has helped me to cherish my ability to influence and impact others in a positive way, and it helped me to look at community service as a benefit for myself, instead of just another obligation to fit into my schedule.”

In this essay, the writer reflects on their community service experience, sharing the gains they reaped from the program. They discuss how their undying love for animals and tight-knit communities made them realize the gravity of sharing. They also had the opportunity to strengthen and develop a new set of talents and skills from the encounter. However, the author also mentions that when the desire to do good morphs into a forced responsibility, it leads to failure. The writer says they often receive more benefits than the people and animals they help, as the experience makes them more patient, flexible, and responsible.

“True volunteering lies in an individual’s will and drives to help other and enforcing it eliminates that drive.”

Mullins focuses his essay on explaining why it should not be mandatory for students to do community service. For him, mandatory volunteering takes away the true meaning of volunteerism. Students only view it as additional work – an obligatory criterion they must check off their list to graduate. He claims that students will gain nothing but stress instead of new skills and knowledge when compulsory community services are in place.

“As for me, I consider community work as a good opportunity to get the main idea of some particular services, still, I would not have the same great desire to participate in social life if the services would become obligatory for graduation.”

In modern society, volunteering is becoming a necessary factor in many organizations. People with experience in community service have more opportunities to get a job. The author delves into community service’s importance but also criticizes that making it a requisite takes away its value. With various arguments from professionals like Alina Tugend , the essay further argues that no one would want to receive help from people who consider it an obligation.

“The community service project is different from other school educations the community service can teach us how to love others and how to fulfill our heart with joy.”

Molly dislikes homeless people because of their appearance and smell, but this all changes when cleaning and selling preloved items to homeless people becomes the best experience of her life. Community service taught her that the homeless are no different from her. She also learned to be thankful for her situation. She concludes that after the program, she became more respectful, responsible, and caring to other people.

Do you want to secure that A+ Grade? Check out our round-up of the best essay writing apps for students and academics.

8 Helpful Prompts on Essays About Community Service

If you’re still confused about the topic and can’t choose what to talk about, you can use the prompts below:

To write this prompt, the first part of your essay should discuss the meaning of community service and volunteering. Next, identify and examine the different characteristics of a community service worker and volunteer to clearly explain their similarities and differences. Then finish your essay with your opinion on the matter or look for more information you can expound on in your own words. 

This prompt shows how people’s definitions, processes, and perceptions of community service changed over time. Research and write down how community service started in your country or area to make it more relatable. Include examples of community services that made a big difference for the community and consider how these services impacted people’s lives.

Explain to your readers what voluntary work means and why exposure to it is crucial. Next, write the advantages and disadvantages of volunteering and what they should expect if they decide to be a volunteer. Finally, share your experience to clarify your comments, suggestions, and other points.

The decision to make community service mandatory in every school is still up for debate. First, pen your opinion on this topic and whether or not you agree with compulsory community service. Then, discuss your reasons and provide examples or factual evidence to support your arguments.

Identify and scrutinize the positive and negative effects of community service. Find news articles where one type of community service impacted its volunteers, community, and people differently. Write down how the organizer dealt with different situations and if it affected the program’s outcome.

There are three kinds of community service: direct, indirect, and advocacy. First, discuss and give examples for each one. Then, explain how these services differ from programs under service-learning. For example, direct community service includes directly serving homeless people food and clothes, while in service-learning, volunteers will teach people to garden and earn income. 

Use this prompt to share your memorable experience while doing community service and what you learned from it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a short program at your school, work, or organization. The important thing is that you have experience in community service. Include your initial reaction and if it changed over time while you were doing the service.

Some choose to donate money to various organizations that perform community service. Others join the program and personally help other people. In this prompt, share your opinion on the topic and whether you consider donating as community service. To make your essay more intriguing, look for prominent personalities who consistently contribute or engage in community service versus those who only present monetary assistance. 

AI grammar checkers are powerful resources that can help you improve your writing. See our guide on how to use an AI grammar checker. For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Giving Back To The Community Essay: Impact & Inspiration

Aurora Simon

Welcome to our article on the impact and inspiration of giving back to the community essay writing. Community involvement is crucial for the development and progress of neighborhoods, and writing essays about it can help raise awareness about the importance of social responsibility and volunteering. In this section, we will explore the concept of giving back to the community and how it can make a positive impact on society. We will discuss how writing essays about community involvement can inform and inspire others to get involved and make a difference. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

List of Already Created Essays on Giving Back to the Community

Here is a list of essays that have been completed on giving back to the community. As time goes on, we will update this area.

Writing a Good Essay for the Community, First Steps

Community Service: What Is It All About?

Community service refers to volunteering one’s time and expertise for the betterment of the community. It is a form of social responsibility that involves working with others to create positive societal change. Community service can take many forms, from tutoring children to cleaning parks and delivering meals to the elderly.

The reasons people participate in community service are varied. For some, it is a way to give back to the community that has supported them. For others, it is a way to meet new people, learn new skills, and gain experience. Still, others participate in community service to fulfill a sense of civic duty or to contribute to a cause they are passionate about.

Volunteering is a key component of community service, and it promotes social responsibility. By giving their time and energy to others, volunteers help build stronger, more connected communities. They also serve as role models for others to follow.

The benefits of community service are numerous. It can improve social skills, increase self-confidence, and foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Additionally, community service provides opportunities to learn new skills, gain practical work experience, and make professional connections that can lead to future job opportunities.

The Importance Of Giving Back To The Community

Giving back to the community is crucial for the progress and development of neighborhoods. Philanthropy, community involvement, and engagement are essential components of community development. When individuals and groups work together, they can make a significant impact on their communities.

Community involvement has numerous benefits for those who participate in it. It fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, promotes personal growth and development, and provides opportunities for social interaction and networking. By giving back to the community, individuals can also improve their mental and physical well-being.

Community engagement is key to building strong, thriving communities. It promotes a sense of collective responsibility and encourages individuals to take an active role in shaping the future of their neighborhoods. By working together, community members can identify and address social issues and community needs more effectively and efficiently.

Philanthropy is another critical aspect of community development . Corporations, organizations, and individuals can make a significant impact through charitable donations and volunteer work. Philanthropy helps to fill gaps in funding and resources and can lead to the creation of new programs and initiatives that benefit the community as a whole.

The Power of Community Service Essays

Essay writing is a powerful tool for promoting community impact and raising awareness about social issues and community needs. Through essay writing, individuals can inform, educate, and inspire others to take action and get involved in community service efforts. Essays can also provide a platform for marginalized voices to share their experiences and perspectives.

Community service essays can showcase the impact of volunteering and philanthropy and encourage others to get involved. They can also highlight specific social issues and community needs and advocate for change and progress.

“Community service is a way of giving back to the community and making a difference in the lives of others. It is important for individuals and groups to work together to create a better future for our communities.”

Becoming Involved in Community Service

Community service involvement is easy and can be done in various ways. Volunteering with local organizations and charities is an excellent way to give back to the community. Individuals can also participate in community events and initiatives or start their own projects to address specific needs in their neighborhoods.

By becoming involved in community service, individuals can gain new skills and experiences, build their resumes, and make meaningful connections with others in their communities. They can also contribute to the greater good and positively impact the lives of those around them.

The Significance of Community Involvement for Students

Community involvement is particularly significant for students. It provides opportunities for personal growth and development, skill-building, and academic advancement. By participating in community service, students can learn new skills and gain valuable experiences to help them in their future careers.

Community involvement can also enhance college and career readiness and give students a competitive advantage in the job market. It shows potential employers that students are committed to making a difference and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

Helping Give Back

Giving back to the community is crucial for building strong, thriving neighborhoods. It fosters a sense of collective responsibility, encourages individuals to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities, and provides numerous benefits for those who participate in it. By becoming involved in community service and essay writing, individuals can make a meaningful impact on the world around them.

Essay Writing: A Powerful Tool For Community Impact

Essay writing can be a powerful tool for promoting community impact and social change. Whether it’s raising awareness about a particular issue, offering insights into the challenges a specific community faces, or sharing personal experiences and reflections, essays can inform, educate, and inspire readers.

Regarding community service essays, the key is to focus on the impact and outcomes of your service activities. Share stories and examples that highlight the positive changes that have taken place in the community as a result of your efforts.

“In the end, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington

When crafting your essay, pay attention to your tone and message. You want to inspire and engage your readers while conveying the seriousness and importance of the issues.

Examples of successful community service essays include personal stories of transformation and growth, as well as persuasive arguments for change and action. Regardless of your approach, be sure to keep your audience in mind and tailor your writing to their interests and needs.

Overall, essay writing can be a powerful and effective way to promote community impact. By sharing your experiences and insights, you can inspire others to get involved and make a difference in their own communities.

Community Service Examples And Inspiration

Community service can take many forms and can have a significant impact on neighborhoods and individuals. Let’s take a look at some inspiring examples of community service and the positive impact they’ve had:

These are just a few examples of how community service can make a difference. Whether it’s a small act of kindness or a large-scale project, every act of service has the potential to inspire and improve lives.

How To Get Involved In Community Service

Getting involved in community service is a rewarding way to give back and positively impact your community. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:

1. Identify your interests and skills

Think about what causes or issues you are passionate about and what skills you have to offer. This will help you find opportunities that align with your values and strengths.

2. Research local organizations

Look for local organizations that are involved in causes that interest you. You can find opportunities through volunteer websites, community centers, religious groups, or simply asking around.

3. Attend volunteer fairs

Volunteer fairs are great places to meet with different organizations and learn about their missions and opportunities. You can also network with other volunteers and get advice on how to get involved.

4. Start small

You don’t have to commit to a huge project right away. Start with a small volunteer opportunity and work your way up to longer-term commitments as you gain experience and confidence.

5. Bring a friend

Volunteering with a friend or group can make it more fun and fulfilling. You can also hold each other accountable and motivate each other to stay committed.

6. Be reliable and committed

Once you have committed to a volunteer opportunity, be reliable and show up on time. Make sure to communicate any changes or conflicts in advance. Being committed and consistent in your volunteer work is important for building trust and making a meaningful impact.

By following these tips, you can begin your journey to becoming a community service volunteer and making a positive difference in your community.

Essay Writing Tips For Community Service Essays

Writing a community service essay can be a powerful way to reflect on your experiences and share their impact with others. Here are some tips to help you create a great essay:

• Start with a clear introduction: Begin your essay with a brief overview of the project or activity you participated in, and explain why it was important to you.
• Show, don’t tell: Use concrete examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate your experiences and the impact they had on you and the community.
• Stay focused: Make sure your essay stays focused on the topic of community service and its impact. Avoid rambling or straying off-topic.
• Be honest: Reflect on your experiences honestly, both the successes and the challenges. Admitting difficulties can make your essay more powerful and relatable.
• Make your essay personal: Tie your experiences back to larger themes or life lessons that you learned through your community service. This will make your essay more impactful and memorable.
• End with a strong conclusion: Sum up your experiences and the impact they had, and leave the reader with a memorable take-away message.

Remember, the goal of your community service essay is to not only reflect on your experiences, but also inspire others to get involved in their communities and make a difference. By following these tips, you can create a powerful essay that encourages others to make a positive impact.

The Benefits Of Community Involvement For Students

Community involvement offers numerous benefits to students, both in terms of personal growth and academic advancement. By participating in community service and volunteering, students can:

• Develop leadership skills and gain experience working in a team environment.
• Improve communication skills and enhance their ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Expand their knowledge and understanding of social issues and community needs.
• Build a sense of social responsibility and a desire to make a positive difference in the world.
• Enhance their college and career readiness by demonstrating a commitment to community service and social justice.

Moreover, community involvement can be a great way for students to explore different career paths and gain practical experience in their chosen field. Volunteer work and internships can provide valuable networking opportunities and help students develop important skills and contacts that can benefit them throughout their professional lives.

Overall, community involvement is a win-win for students and the community alike. It offers students the chance to grow and learn, while also contributing to the greater good and making a positive impact on society.

Corporate Social Responsibility And Community Impact

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the responsibility of businesses to create a positive impact on society. CSR plays an important role in community development, as it enables businesses to contribute to the overall well-being of the community. It involves taking steps to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions, and to work with stakeholders to address social issues and challenges.

Businesses can significantly impact communities by engaging in philanthropic activities such as charitable donations, sponsorships, community service programs, and volunteering. By supporting local community projects and organizations, businesses can help address community needs, promote community development and growth, and build strong relationships with their customers and communities.

Through CSR, businesses can also enhance their reputation and brand image, attract and retain employees, and gain a competitive advantage. Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of businesses on the environment and society, and are more likely to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to CSR. Additionally, employees are more motivated and engaged when they feel that they are working for a company that is making a positive impact.

The impact of CSR on community development cannot be overstated. By working together, businesses and communities can create a better future for everyone. Through partnerships and collaboration, businesses can leverage their resources and expertise to address social issues and create positive change. Community involvement and engagement are key components of CSR, and businesses that prioritize these values are more likely to achieve long-term success and sustainability.

Community Development Through Collaboration

Collaboration is a key factor in achieving successful community development. By working together, individuals, organizations, and businesses are able to pool their resources and expertise to address the unique needs of their communities. Through collaboration, community development efforts can become more effective, efficient, and sustainable, leading to long-term benefits for all involved.

One example of successful collaboration in community development is the partnership between local businesses and non-profit organizations. Businesses can provide financial support and resources, while non-profits can provide expertise and connections to the community. Together, they can create initiatives that address specific needs, such as affordable housing, job training, and education.

Another form of collaboration is community-based planning, which involves engaging community members in the development process. By involving residents in decision-making, planners can ensure that projects are tailored to the specific needs and desires of the community. This approach can lead to greater community buy-in and support for development initiatives.

Collaboration can also take the form of cross-sector partnerships, where organizations from different sectors come together to address a shared goal. For example, a healthcare organization, a housing non-profit, and a community development corporation might partner to address health disparities in a low-income community. They can create a comprehensive approach to community health by combining their expertise and resources.

Ultimately, collaboration is about building relationships and working together towards a common goal. Through partnerships and alliances, individuals and organizations can create a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Future of Community Service and Essay Writing

As society continues to evolve, so too will the practices of community service and essay writing. The future of these practices is bright, with new opportunities and challenges arising every day.

One area in which community service is likely to grow is through the use of technology and social media. These tools can make it easier for individuals and groups to connect with one another, share resources and ideas, and promote their service efforts to a wider audience. As such, social media platforms and online collaboration tools will likely play an increasingly important role in community service and development.

Similarly, essay writing will continue to be a powerful tool for promoting awareness and advocacy around social issues and community needs. As the writing and publishing industry evolves, it may become easier for individuals to share their essays and reach a wider audience. This could include the use of digital publishing platforms, social media, and other online resources.

Another trend in community service and development is the increasing focus on collaboration and partnership. As we continue to face complex social and environmental challenges, it is clear that no one organization or individual can solve these issues alone. Instead, the focus will be on building strong networks of collaboration and partnership between individuals, organizations, and businesses to create more effective, sustainable solutions.

The Role of Young People in the Future of Community Service

Young people will continue to play an important role in the future of community service and development. As the next generation of leaders, they bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. They are also likely to be more technologically savvy, making them well-equipped to take advantage of new tools and resources for community service.

Moreover, community service can provide young people with valuable skills and experiences that will serve them well in the future. These might include leadership, communication, problem-solving, teamwork skills, and a deeper understanding of social issues and community needs.

Overall, the future of community service and essay writing is bright, with new opportunities for innovation and collaboration on the horizon. Whether through technology, partnership, or youth engagement, we can all work together to create positive change in our communities.

FAQ: Common Questions About Giving Back To The Community Essay

Are you considering writing a community service essay but have some questions you need answers to? We have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about giving back to the community through essay writing.

What is the purpose of a community service essay?

A community service essay is designed to inform, educate, and inspire others about social issues and the importance of giving back to the community. The essay should highlight the writer’s personal experiences and reflections on their service work, as well as the impact they have had on the community.

What are the benefits of writing a community service essay?

Writing a community service essay can help you develop your writing skills, enhance your critical thinking abilities, and provide a platform to share your experiences and insights. It can also inspire others to get involved in their communities and make a positive impact.

How should I structure my community service essay?

When structuring your community service essay, it is important to include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should provide a brief overview of the project and its significance, while the body paragraphs should give details on your involvement and the impact you made. The conclusion should summarize your experience and reiterate the importance of community service .

What resources are available for finding community service opportunities?

There are many resources available for finding community service opportunities, including online databases, local non-profits, and school or university programs. You can also reach out to your community leaders or use social media platforms to connect with like-minded individuals.

How can I make my community service essay stand out?

To make your community service essay stand out, focus on being genuine and authentic. Share your personal experiences and reflections, and provide specific examples of how you made a difference in the community. Be creative with your writing style and use vivid language to engage your readers.

With these answers to some of the most common questions about giving back to the community through essay writing, we hope to inspire you to write a compelling essay and make a positive impact in your community.

About the author

With an enduring passion for human potential, I have dedicated my life to learning, growing, and most importantly, empowering others to discover their own unique paths to self-improvement. As a personal development blogger, I distill the wisdom gathered from various life experiences, books, seminars, and thought leaders to provide you with actionable insights and tools for your own growth. I believe that each one of us is capable of extraordinary things, and my mission is to help you unlock that potential. Join me on this journey of self-discovery, and together let’s cultivate a life filled with purpose, fulfillment, and joy. You can contact us here.

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Extracurriculars

Are you interested in performing community service? Do you want examples of service projects you can do? Community service is a great way to help others and improve your community, and it can also help you gain skills and experience to include on your resume and college applications.

Read on for dozens of community service ideas to help you get started volunteering.

What Is Community Service?

Community service is work done by a person or group of people that benefits others. It is often done near the area where you live, so your own community reaps the benefits of your work. You do not get paid to perform community service, but volunteer your time.

Community service can help many different groups of people: children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, even animals and the environment. Community service is often organized through a local group, such as a place of worship, school, or non-profit organization, but you can also start your own community service projects.

Many people participate in community service because they enjoy helping others and improving their community. Some students are required to do community service in order to graduate high school or to receive certain honors. Some adults are also ordered by a judge to complete a certain number of community service hours.

Why Should You Participate in Community Service?

There are numerous benefits to participating in community service, both for yourself and others. Below are some of the most important benefits of volunteering:

• Gives you a way to help others
• Helps improve your community
• Can help strengthen your resume and college applications
• Can be a way to meet new friends
• Often results in personal growth
• Gives you a way to gain work experience and learn more about certain jobs

How Should You Use This List?

This list of over one hundred community service examples is organized by category , so if you're particularly interested in working with, say, children or animals, you can easily find community service activities more related to your interests.

In order to use this list most effectively, read through it and make note of any community service ideas that match your interests and that you may want to participate in. Some considerations to keep in mind are:

Is there a specific group of people or cause you are passionate about? Look for projects that relate to your passion and interests. You may also just want to perform particular community service activities that allow you to do hobbies you enjoy, like baking or acting, and that's fine too.

Perhaps you don't have enough time to regularly devote to community service. In that case, it may be better to look for opportunities that only occur once or sporadically, such as planning special events or helping build a house.

Some people prefer to participate in community service activities that have a quantifiable impact, for example, activities where you know the specific number of kids you tutored, dollars you raised, or cans of food you collected. This is in contrast to activities that don't have such clear numbers, such as creating a garden or serving as a volunteer lifeguard. Some people prefer quantifiable activities because they feel they look stronger on college applications, or because they simply enjoy knowing their exact impact on the community.

Many community service activities can help you gain skills. These skills can range from teaching to medicine to construction and more. If there is a particular skill you'd like to learn for future classes, jobs, or just out of personal interest, you may want to see if there is a community service activity that helps you learn that skill.

List of Community Service Examples

Below I've listed over 100 community service ideas to get you started with brainstorming.

General Ideas

Donate or raise money for your local Red Cross

Organize a community blood drive

Send cards to soldiers serving overseas

For your next birthday, ask for charitable donations instead of gifts

Hold a bake sale for your favorite charity

Read books or letters to a person who is visually impaired

Organize a wheelchair basketball team

Participate in a charity race

Organize an event or parade for Memorial Day

Volunteer to help at a charity auction

Participate in National Youth Service Day in April

Contact a tree farm about donating Christmas trees to nursing homes, hospitals, or to families who can't afford to buy their own

Collect unused makeup and perfume to donate to a center for abused women

Help register people to vote

Organize a car wash and donate the profits to charity

• Help deliver meals and gifts to patients at a local hospital
• Write articles / give speeches advocating financial literarcy. First you should learn about the topics themselves, like calculating housing costs, or understanding personal loans, and then give presentations on these topics.

Helping Children and Schools

Tutor children during or after school

Donate stuffed animals to children in hospitals

Organize games and activities for children in hospitals or who are visiting hospitalized relatives

Knit or crochet baby blankets to be donated to hospitals or homeless shelters

Collect baby clothes and supplies to donate to new parents

Organize a Special Olympics event for children and teenagers

Sponsor a bike-a-thon and give away bike safety gear, like helmets and knee pads , as prizes

Collect used sports equipment to donate to families and after-school programs

Volunteer at a summer camp for children who have lost a parent

Sponsor a child living in a foreign country, either on your own or as part of a group

Coach a youth sports team

Put on performances for children in hospitals

Give free music lessons to schoolchildren

Become a volunteer teen crisis counselor

Organize a summer reading program to encourage kids to read

Organize an Easter egg hunt for neighborhood children

Create a new game for children to play

Organize events to help new students make friends

Babysit children during a PTA meeting

Organize a reading hour for children at a local school or library

Donate used children's books to a school library

Work with the local health department to set up an immunization day or clinic to immunize children against childhood diseases

• Volunteer to help with Vacation Bible School or other religious camps

Helping Senior Citizens

Read to residents at a nursing home

Deliver groceries and meals to elderly neighbors

Teach computer skills to the elderly

Drive seniors to doctor appointments

Mow an elderly neighbor's lawn

Host a bingo night for nursing home residents

Host a holiday meal for senior citizens

Make birthday cards for the elderly

Donate and decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home

Organize a family day for residents of a retirement home and relatives to play games together

Ask residents of a retirement home to tell you about their lives

Pick up medicine for an elderly neighbor

Perform a concert or play at a senior center

Help elderly neighbors clean their homes and organize their belongings

Rake leaves, shovel snow, or wash windows for a senior citizen

• Deliver cookies to a homebound senior citizen

Helping Animals and the Environment

Take care of cats and dogs at an animal shelter

Clean up a local park

Raise money to provide a bulletproof vest for a police dog

Plant a tree for Arbor Day

Place a bird feeder and bird fountain in your backyard

Start a butterfly garden in your community

Sponsor a recycling contest

Grow flowers in your backyard then give bouquets to hospital patients or people who are housebound

Help create a new walking trail at a nature center or park

Update the signs along a nature trail

Adopt an acre of rainforest

Help train service dogs

Participate in the cleanup of a local river, pond, or lake

Foster animals that shelters don't have space for

Organize a spay and neuter your pet program

Care for a neighbor's pet while they are away

Sponsor an animal at your local zoo

Train your pet to be a therapy animal and bring it to hospitals or nursing homes

Build and set up a bird house

Organize a carpool to reduce car emissions

Campaign for more bike lanes in your town

Volunteer at a nature camp and teach kids about the environment

Test the water quality of a lake or river near you

• Plant native flowers or plants along highways

Helping the Hungry and/or Homeless

Build a house with Habitat for Humanity

Donate your old clothes

Volunteer at a soup kitchen

Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that collects that and distributes them to people in need

Donate non-perishable food to a food bank

Donate blankets to a homeless shelter

Host a Thanksgiving dinner for people who may not be able to afford their own

Offer to babysit or nanny for a family in need

Make "care kits" with shampoo , toothbrushes , combs , etc. to donate to homeless shelters

Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter

Collect grocery coupons to give to a local food bank

Help repair or paint a local homeless shelter

Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter

Help organize and sort donations at a homeless shelter

Babysit children while their parents look for jobs

Become a Big Buddy for children at a homeless shelter

Take homeless children on outings

Bake a batch of cookies or loaf of bread and deliver it to a soup kitchen

Build flower boxes for Habitat for Humanity houses

Organize a winter clothes drive to collect coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to be donated

Make first aid kits for homeless shelters

Reducing Crime and Promoting Safety

Volunteer at a police station or firehouse

Become a certified lifeguard and volunteer at a local pool or beach

Paint over graffiti in your neighborhood

Organize a self-defense workshop

Organize a drug-free campaign

Sponsor a drug-free post-prom event

Start or join a neighborhood watch program

Create and distribute a list of hotlines for people who might need help

Teach a home-alone safety class for children

Create a TV or radio public service announcement against drug and alcohol use

Become CPR certified

• Volunteer as a crossing guard for an elementary school

Promoting Community Enhancement

Paint park benches

Donate used books to your local library

Become a tour guide at your local museum

Repaint community fences

Plant flowers in bare public areas

Organize a campaign to raise money to buy and install new playground equipment for a park

Participate in or help organize a community parade

Clean up vacant lot

Produce a neighborhood newspaper

Campaign for more lighting along poorly lit streets

Create a newcomers group in your neighborhood to help welcome new families

Petition your town leaders to build more drinking fountains and public restrooms

Volunteer to clean up trash at a community event

Adopt a local highway or road and clean up trash along it

Help fix or raise funds to repair a run-down playground

Clean up after a natural disaster

Now that you know what your options are for community service, you can take the following steps to start getting involved:

#1: Look over your interests: Which activities seem most appealing to you? Were they mostly in one particular category, like children or the environment? If so, that's a good starting place for choosing specific organizations to contact.

#2: Figure out how much time you can devote to community service: Are you available for two hours every week? Are you not free on a regular basis but can volunteer for an entire weekend now and then?

Think about transportation as well and how you'll be able to get to different locations. Knowing this information will help you choose which community service projects to pursue, and it's helpful information for volunteer coordinators to know.

#3: Do some research to see what projects you can do in your community: Check at your school, place of worship, or town hall for more information on volunteering. You can also contact the place where you'd like to perform your community service, such as a particular animal shelter or nursing home, and ask if they take volunteers.

#4: Start volunteering! This list ranges from small projects that you can complete on your own in a few hours, to much larger projects that will take more time and people. If you find a project you can start on your own, do it!

If you want to do a project where you'll need more resources or people, check around your community to see if a similar program already exists that you can join. If not, don't be afraid to start your own! Many organizations welcome new volunteers and community service projects.

Additional Information

Considering doing volunteer work in another country? Read our guide on volunteer abroad programs and learn whether or not you should participate in one.

Are you in college or will be starting soon? Extracurriculars are one of the best parts of college! Check out our guide to learn which extracurricular activities you should consider in college .

Did you know that you can use your community service work to help pay for college? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to win community service scholarships.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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100 Examples of Community Service Projects in 2023

June 21, 2023

Community service projects can look great on college applications. But the difference between a worthwhile community service project and a flimsy excuse to check a box is not only vast, but easily recognizable by college admissions officers. This is why we recommend taking some time to explore which community service projects exist in your community, and which of these community service projects for teens would make a good fit for you. Our list of 100 community service examples will be get you started.

What Makes a Community Service Project Worthwhile?

First, consider your point of view. If you’re a high school junior or senior, then nearly everything leading up to this point in your life has involved self-betterment. Anything from geometry class to football practice to choir will have focused on making you a mature thinker, a talented athlete, a star harmonizer and soloist. Community service, on the other hand, has a different goal in mind. It aims to help the community, at the expense of your own time, without offering any compensation.

To put it plainly, what makes a community service project “worthwhile” depends primarily on its importance to others. Still, that doesn’t mean that community service projects can’t contribute to your own learning, or feel rewarding. In fact, you should pick something you’ll enjoy doing, because having a genuine interest in the project will allow you to feel like a crucial participant, rather than a begrudging helper. No teen should feel bored or waste their time through community service projects.

In Service of Your Future

Choosing community service projects that relate to your interests will help you gain new skills and learn more about a subject in a “real world” context. These projects can allow you to meet people in the neighborhood you wouldn’t have met otherwise. Even if you don’t make new best friends, you’ll certainly form ‘weak-tie’ friendships , which research shows help increase an individual’s overall happiness and sense of belonging. By networking and expanding your list of contacts, you’ll also learn about jobs and opportunities in the field. Your community service project may even teach you something new about altruism, and the joy that comes from actively making the community a better place.

In college, your professors will expand your education by moving away from a model of learning for self-betterment, towards a vision of communal and global betterment. Ultimately, educators hope to form students into individual thinkers, doers, and leaders who’ll harness their talents to improve the lives of others. For this reason, community service projects strengthen your application by showing admissions officers that you already care about your impact on the wider world. It will send a signal that you are a student they’d like to teach.

Many organizations accept free help if the offer presents itself. Yet some don’t respond to messages, or call you back promptly. If a second follow-up email doesn’t elicit any response, you may try visiting the site in person. Bring a CV, if you have one. A quick Internet search may reveal the organization’s operating hours or a new phone number.

Make sure to arrive on time and act responsibly. Be both dependable and flexible. Charities and organizations accomplish serious work, and ought to be taken seriously. Furthermore, do keep your own safety in mind. If the project you take on feels dangerous or uncomfortable, leave, and talk to a parent, teacher, or counselor about it.

Go with an open mind. And, consider going with a friend, so long as they also register or sign up properly. Bringing a buddy with similar interests can work as a boost both for the project, which will benefit from more helping hands and for yourself if you’re nervous about trying something new.

100 Examples of Community Service Projects

As you read through the following list, eliminate the ideas that don’t appeal to you, as well as ones that aren’t relevant to your community. Take note of the ideas that sound promising.

Community Service Examples: Youth & Education

• Tutor younger students in an after-school program.
• Volunteer at a local daycare or preschool.
• Volunteer at a summer camp.
• Read stories and articles to someone who is visually impaired.
• Join and volunteer at one of these literacy organizations .
• Volunteer at your local library, reading to school groups and re-shelving books.
• Give free music lessons to kids in your neighborhood.
• Sponsor a student from a foreign country through an educational exchange program.
• Train to volunteer as a teen crisis counselor.
• Advocate for more playgrounds in the community.
• Donate textbooks to a school you didn’t attend.
• Tutor and teach English to ESL students.
• Teach a course on computer literacy to students without access to computers.

Community Service Project Ideas: Environment

• Host a clean-up of your local park or hiking trail.
• Join and work at a community garden.
• Create a composting center in your neighborhood, and host how-to workshops.
• Create a Christmas tree recycling program.
• Join a tree-planting organization working to reduce greenhouse gases.
• Organize a recycling and composting workshop to teach upcycling habits.
• Help maintain the walking trails in local and national parks.
• Host a clean-up of a nearby river, lake, or beach.
• Create a community pledge to boycott the consumption and use of toxic products.
• Organize a carpooling network to reduce car emissions.
• Join an organization that plants and protects endemic species.
• Advocate for more bike lanes and improved public transport.
• Volunteer at a nature center to teach visitors about the local environment.
• Volunteer at a bird sanctuary.
• Host a workshop on how to recycle and donate batteries and electronics.
• Volunteer at a botanical garden.
• Organize and lead nature walks.
• Organize a group to plant flowers and seeds in bare public spaces.

Community Service Project Ideas: Food & Shelter

• Cook and distribute food at a soup kitchen.
• Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity .
• Babysit (for free) for a neighborhood family in need.
• Prepare home-cooked meals for the residents of a local homeless shelter.
• Help organize and sort drop-offs at Goodwill and other donation centers.
• Babysit children while their parents look for jobs.
• Visit, entertain, and tutor children in a homeless shelter.
• Set up a free food stand in a city food desert.
• Host a farm-to-table cooking class for youth.

Community Service Project Ideas: Seniors

• Volunteer at a nursing home; converse, play games, and read with residents.
• Help drive seniors to doctor’s appointments and community and faith centers.
• Check-in on elderly neighbors, bringing groceries and medication.
• In extreme weather, check that elderly neighbors have functioning heaters, fans, etc.
• Teach computer skills to the elderly. Help them avoid computer viruses and spam.
• Help an elderly neighbor maintain their yard or garden. Rake leaves, pull weeds, plant flowers, shovel snow.
• Help an elderly neighbor clean their house.
• Cook with an elderly neighbor, or bring over homemade treats.
• Participate in a holiday meal for senior citizens.
• Pick a senior buddy and keep in touch through letters or email.

Community Service Examples: Animals

• Volunteer at an animal shelter and care for cats, rabbits, dogs, and guinea pigs.
• Organize a community bird feeder workshop.
• Host a workshop on how to install flowering planters for pollinators.
• Foster animals that shelters can’t accept.
• Organize a group committed to feeding, neutering, and monitoring strays.

Health & Wellness

• Get involved in your local Red Cross .
• Participate in a community blood drive.
• Volunteer with a local health clinic to immunize children from diseases.
• Assist your local hospital by delivering gifts, clothes, and meals to patients.
• Organize free public outdoor exercise and meditation classes

Community Service Projects for Teens: Faith

• Participate as a counselor or volunteer in a religious camp.
• Volunteer as a reader in a spiritual center.
• Participate in an inclusive interfaith festival.

Examples: Culture, Community, and Civil Duty

• Volunteer at your local archives or folklife center.
• Volunteer at a voting center and help register people to vote.
• Join a group repairing and renovating public spaces.
• Repaint community fences, park benches, bus stops, etc. (with permission).
• Campaign for new playground equipment.
• Participate in or help organize a community play or variety show.
• Host or participate in a community concert.
• Create or join a group to clean up public spaces (parking lots, roads, boardwalks, etc.).
• Create a neighborhood program to welcome and help migrant families.
• Petition your town to build more drinking fountains and public restrooms.
• Volunteer to clean up (and recycle) after a community event.
• Clean up after holiday festivals and parades.
• Clean up after a natural disaster.
• Volunteer at a local museum by giving tours.

Community Service Projects for Teens: Safety

• Take a junior lifeguarding course and volunteer at your local pool, lake, or beach.
• Host self-defense workshops.
• Organize drug-free workshops and awareness campaigns.
• Volunteer for a hotline, bringing help to people in emergencies.
• Volunteer as a crosswalk monitor for your nearby elementary school.

Community Service Project Ideas: Sports

• Coach or assist a community or youth sports team.
• Help out at the refreshment and first-aid stands of local races.
• Organize pick-up games for marginalized community members.
• Run (or walk, or skip…) in a charity race.
• Volunteer at the nearest local Special Olympics.

Community Service Project Ideas: Collections

• Donate old and unused toys to charity drives.
• Collect clothes, makeup, and perfume to donate to a women’s center.
• Create collections of hygiene products to donate to homeless shelters.
• Host a winter clothes drive and give donations to a homeless shelter or families in need.
• Collect textbooks for schools, libraries, and shelters.
• Donate books to your local used book store and libraries.
• Collect working electronics for people in homeless shelters.
• Collect sports gear and shoes to donate to community sports programs.
• Donate canned food and non-perishables to a food bank.
• Donate blankets, clothes, and sleeping bags to a homeless shelter.

Community Service Project Ideas: Ways to Raise Money for Your Preferred Charity

• Ask family and friends for charity donations as birthday presents.
• Set up a neighborhood car wash, with all profits going to charity.
• Host a bake sale.

Once you’ve made your list of preferable community service projects, do a little digging to see which opportunities exist in your community. This will narrow down your list some more. Then, contact one or two organizations, and mention your availability.

If you plan to organize or host a community service project for teens, you may want to consider getting an adult chaperone on board, who can handle crisis management situations. From there, you’ll need to contact relevant city/town officials, as well as charities you wish to collaborate with. Consider how long the project will take, the main goals, how many volunteers you’ll need, and how you’ll promote the community service project.

For more related information, check out these College Transition’s resources on volunteer opportunities and best extracurricular activities .

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With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

• Categories: Community Service Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 1112 |

Updated: 4 November, 2023

Words: 1112 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

The essay explores the author's personal experiences with community service and the profound impact it has had on their life. The author begins by highlighting the altruistic nature of community service and the satisfaction they derive from dedicating their time to a cause they are passionate about. They mention volunteering for organizations like the SPCA and the Ithaca chapter of United Way due to their love for animals and the sense of community within United Way. The essay goes on to discuss the transformative effects of community service on the author. They describe how assisting abandoned animals made them a more empathetic person and provided a source of happiness and stress relief. Moreover, the experience taught them responsibility, flexibility, and patience. The author reflects on their initial reluctance to engage in community service due to academic stress but reveals how reconnecting with their passion for animals revitalized their commitment. They share stories of making a difference in the lives of children through United Way and bonding with childhood friends who inspired them with their charitable endeavors.

Table of contents

Personal growth and development, the true impact of volunteering, works cited, video version.

• DoSomething.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dosomething.org/
• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.servicelearning.org/
• Points of Light. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pointsoflight.org/
• SPCA International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.spcai.org/
• United Way. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unitedway.org/
• Chan, A. Y. K., & Lee, S. Y. (2018). Effects of community service on social-emotional outcomes: A meta-analysis. Child and Youth Services Review, 86, 1-10.
• Conway, J. M., Amel, E. L., & Gerwien, D. P. (2009). Teaching and learning in the social context: A meta-analysis of service learning's effects on academic, personal, social, and citizenship outcomes. Teaching of Psychology, 36(4), 233-245.
• Eyler, J., & Giles, D. E. (1999). Where's the learning in service-learning? San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Moely, B. E., McFarland, M., Miron, D., Mercer, S. H., & Ilustre, V. (2002). Changes in college students' attitudes and intentions for civic involvement as a function of service-learning experiences. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning , 9(1), 18-26.
• Zaff, J. F., & Catterall, J. S. (2003). Studying out-of-school arts participation via the quantitative case study method. Studies in Art Education, 44(3), 227-245.

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How to Write the “Community” and “Issue” Yale Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Hale Jaeger in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered

The “community” essay: choosing a community, structuring the “community” essay, the “issue” essay: choosing your issue, issues to avoid, structuring the “issue” essay.

In this article, we discuss strategies for writing Yale University ’s “Community” and “Issue” supplemental essays. Applicants using the Common App or Coalition Application to apply to Yale are required to choose one of these two prompts and respond to it in 400 words or fewer. The first prompt is the “Issue” essay prompt, which reads:

Yale carries out its mission “through the free exchange of ideas in an ethical, interdependent, and diverse community.” Reflect on a time when you exchanged ideas about an important issue with someone holding an opposing view. How did the experience lead you either to change your opinion or to sharpen your reasons for holding onto it? (400 words)

The second prompt is the “Community” essay prompt:

Reflect on a time when you have worked to enhance a community to which you feel connected. Why have these efforts been meaningful to you? You may define community however you like. (400 words)

In this article, we discuss choosing topics for each of these essays and strategies to structure them.

The Yale “Community” essay prompt clearly states that you can define community however you wish, which means you can choose to write about any kind of community that you feel you are a member of. When considering potential communities, start by brainstorming any groups you are part of that have defined boundaries, such as your town, school, team, or religious organization.

There are also informal communities that you could choose from, such as your friend group, family, coworkers, or neighborhood. Even though these groups have less of a formal definition, they are still communities. What matters most is that the community that you choose is important to you, that you have contributed to it, and that you have learned something from it.

When structuring this essay, think about it in three sections. The first introduces the community, the second demonstrates your contributions to the community, and the third explains what the community has given and taught you. As you write, keep in mind that this essay is a two-way street; you want to show what you have given to your community and what it has given you.

Introduce the Community

The first step in writing this essay is to introduce the community. Explain who is part of the community and what the community is like. Highlight the community’s structure by demonstrating how you are part of it and how you interact with your peers, superiors, or inferiors within the group. It is also important to depict the community’s dynamic in this part of the essay. For example, is it fun, relaxed, and loving, or is it rigorous, challenging, and thought provoking? 

Show What You’ve Contributed

The next section of this essay should discuss your engagement with this community and what you’ve contributed to it. Consider what you’ve done, what initiatives you’ve brought to the community, and what your role is within it. You can also highlight anything that you had to give up to be part of the community.

Show What You’ve Learned

The last part of this essay should discuss what you have gained and learned from this community. For this portion, consider things that the community has given and taught you, as well as ways that it has helped you grow. Think about how this community has shaped who you are and who you are becoming.

The other prompt option is the “Issue” essay. The first step for this one is to define what your issue is. It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it’s something that has enough nuance for you to talk about it in a complex and intelligent way.

Make sure it’s an issue of some relevance to you; otherwise, it will come across as dispassionate. As you write this essay, you should show that you are somebody who cares about an issue that they think is significant. 

Grand Issues

When selecting an issue, you can either choose a grand one or a local one. Grand issues are big, unsolved problems that are common in society, such as cancer, homelessness, or food insecurity. If you do choose a grand issue, remind yourself of its personal importance. While grand issues are full of nuance, they may lack personal meaning. Examples of personal connections to grand issues could be if you have encountered homelessness, lived with food insecurity, or have lost someone to cancer.

Local Issues

Another topic option is to write about an issue that is local. For example, maybe your high school has a teaching staff that doesn’t represent the diversity of the student body. While this is not a global issue, it’s something that strongly affects you and your community. 

Perhaps you live in a town that is directly suffering from the opioid crisis, or you have divorced parents and have started an activist group for children of divorced parents. Both of these examples of local issues also have personal importance. 

When choosing a topic to write about, avoid issues that you don’t have any connection to and that aren’t personally important. These are often problems that are too grand and can’t be made personal, such as world peace. 

Another category of issues to avoid is anything that doesn’t align with Yale’s values. Yale, like most universities in the United States, generally has a liberal lean. As such, it is likely not in your best interest to write a strong defense of socially conservative values. While there are values that you are free to hold and express—and Yale welcomes people of all backgrounds and ideologies—this essay is not necessarily the best place to express them.

You are most likely applying to Yale because it’s a place that you want to be and have something in common with. This essay is a great opportunity to emphasize the values that you share with the university rather than the things that divide you. Since a reader only has five to seven minutes to go over your entire application, you don’t want them to come away with the sense that you are somebody who won’t thrive at Yale.

Define the Issue and Highlight Past Experiences

When writing the “Issue” essay, start by identifying the issue and sharing how you came across it. Then, provide insight into why it is meaningful to you and your relationship with it.

Next, show the reader how you have already engaged with the problem by detailing your past with the issue. 

Discuss Future Plans to Approach the Issue

After this, you can look forward and discuss your future with this issue. A great strategy is to write about how your Yale education will address the problem and how your field of study relates to it. You can also highlight any Yale-specific programs or opportunities that will give you insight or context for tackling the issue. 

Alternatively, if there is something about this issue that Yale’s academic flexibility will enable you to explore, you can share that in this part of the essay. For example, maybe you are interested in health policy and plan to take classes in the sciences. You also want to take classes in the history of health, science, and medicine, as well as political science and economics courses, which you plan to utilize to write new healthcare policies.

Another option is to focus on an aspect of Yale’s community, such as peers, professors, or mentors who will help develop your ability to navigate the issue. Ultimately, you want to demonstrate in this essay that what (and how) you learn at Yale will prepare you to take action and move forward with confronting your issue in the future.

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African American burial grounds across the United States have been erased or forgotten, and others are at risk of disappearing.

They have been covered by pools, playgrounds, parking lots and performance halls.

Community organizations in Charleston, S.C., and beyond are working to change that.

In the process, they are also searching for descendants of those buried.

Tracing Charleston’s History of Slavery, From a Burial Ground to a DNA Swab

A quest to find living descendants of 36 enslaved people has transformed into a project that gives Black residents new clues to their ancestry, wherever it may lead.

By Caroline Gutman and Emily Cochrane

Photographs by Caroline Gutman

Reporting from Charleston, S.C.

When Edward Lee heard about a project collecting DNA from Black residents like him in Charleston, S.C., he had reason to be skeptical. Knowing that African Americans have been exploited before financially and in medical experiments , he feared that handing over his genetic identity could leave him vulnerable.

But he knew the people behind the Anson Street African Burial Ground Project , having worked with many of them before on similar efforts to preserve the region’s Black history.

And they came to him with a unique proposal: With DNA extracted from 36 enslaved people whose bones had been unearthed by a construction crew downtown, researchers were now searching for their living descendants.

Even if he wasn’t related to any of them, Mr. Lee figured, maybe a DNA test could still provide other answers that had eluded him. He could trace his ancestry to a great-great-grandmother on one side, but no further. So last spring, he sat still as a researcher gently swabbed the inside of his cheek.

“I had to have guarantees that we control the results — that’s the only reason I did it,” Mr. Lee said.

Now, dozens of Black residents have agreed to play their part in this genetic detective work. Their catalyst came in 2013, when workers building a concert hall stumbled upon what is believed to be the oldest known burial ground of enslaved people in Charleston.

The project’s supporters believe it can serve as a blueprint for how to handle the preservation of neglected aspects of Black history across the country, before development and time erode more of it.

That history is particularly poignant in Charleston, where ships once docked with hundreds of kidnapped Africans onboard, and where community leaders like Mr. Lee have spent years fighting to protect the graveyards of enslaved people.

“It feels like every piece of ground you step on — it is seeped with that history,” said Joanna Gilmore, an anthropologist and a member of the project who has devoted much of her career to chronicling African burial grounds.

Researchers began taking DNA samples from current residents, holding events in familiar community spaces and promising confidentiality.

Because the community had been involved in the yearslong process of reinterring and honoring the 36 ancestors, there was already a sense of trust with the research team.

Black residents said those ties were essential to their confidence in the project.

The analysis of their DNA was conducted by Dr. Theodore Schurr, a molecular anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

In the decade since the burial ground was discovered, Ms. Gilmore and other researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, the College of Charleston and the Charleston community have shed light on the African and Indigenous ancestry of the 36 people buried along Anson Street in the late 18th century — several men, most likely a mother and a child among them.

Six were most likely born in Africa, and others were born in Charleston or nearby. While the graves had no markings , the bodies were carefully spaced, buried with shrouds or with coins meant to cover their eyes.

The “Ancestors” — as they are collectively known — have since been reinterred, and there are plans to construct a fountain ringed with bronze hands , all modeled from Black residents of similar ages to the 36 people found.

But another question remained: Were there any living descendants still in Charleston?

That quest, however, required persuading as many people as possible from the region to participate. Some agreed because they saw it as a way to safely answer fundamental questions about their family history, or to trace their roots beyond the Carolina shores.

“Time is not on our side, and I feel like if somebody doesn’t take a stand to actually bring the attention to the family ties, the younger generation, they’re not going to do it,” said Karen Wright-Chisolm, after submitting her swab in spring 2023. “In order to be able to teach them, then I need to know the information, so that I can pass it on.”

Others came as a way to pay their respects to the enslaved Africans, or simply because friends suggested giving it a try.

“It’s just a vessel to connect,” said Clifton R. Polite Jr., who also participated in the creation of hand casts for the fountain.

So far, no direct descendants have been found, something researchers acknowledge may never happen. But the project has shown that each individual result has the possibility to transform people’s understanding of their heritage.

La’Sheia Oubré, a teacher who has led community engagement for the project, saw not only different regions of Africa reflected in her results, but also markers of German and Asian ancestry.

“For the first time in my life, I know where I came from,” she said. “If everybody could do this, they would then realize that you’re related to somebody in one way or another.”

Months after their swabs were taken, dozens of participants gathered again in a darkened auditorium. Ms. Gilmore, Dr. Schurr and Dr. Raquel Fleskes, another anthropologist who works at Dartmouth College, dove into their findings and dissected how to interpret each sliver of genetic data.

Hushed in silence, audience members snapped photos of screens and jotted down the occasional note as Dr. Schurr described how to see which lineage was represented where in their results.

“Just as a reminder, we’re all 99.99 alike — everybody in this room, we’re all alike because we’re a very recent species,” Dr. Schurr told the room, adding that the results would not “reflect the deep divisions between human populations in genetic terms, because that’s not true.”

And then, finally, the participants had a turn to see their results in full.

Mr. Lee was among those claiming a manila envelope with a broad summary of his DNA results. There was a surprise — a small, but unexpected, percentage of Middle Eastern ancestry.

“When the doctor said we’re all 99.9 percent the same, that hits you,” he said.

An earlier version of a picture caption with this article misspelled the given name of a hand model for a memorial fountain in Charleston. She is Zyaire Massie, not Zaiyre. Another picture caption misidentified the location of a waterfront scene. It was in Mount Pleasant, not on Sullivan’s Island.

How we handle corrections

Emily Cochrane is a national reporter for The Times covering the American South, based in Nashville. More about Emily Cochrane

The Mysteries and Wonders of Our DNA

Women are much more likely than men to have an array of so-called autoimmune diseases, like lupus and multiple sclerosis. A new study offers an explanation rooted in the X chromosome .

DNA fragments from thousands of years ago are providing insights  into multiple sclerosis, diabetes, schizophrenia and other illnesses. Is this the future of medicine ?

A study of DNA from half a million volunteers found hundreds of mutations that could boost a young person’s fertility  and that were linked to bodily damage later in life.

In the first effort of its kind, researchers now have linked DNA from 27 African Americans buried in the cemetery to nearly 42,000 living relatives .

Environmental DNA research has aided conservation, but scientists say its ability to glean information about humans poses dangers .

That person who looks just like you is not your twin. But if scientists compared your genomes, they might find a lot in common .

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Detroit Evening Report: State announces $320K grant opportunity for community solar projects

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast.

The Energy Unit of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) this week announced new grant opportunities to help address communities’ barriers to clean energy access.

At least $320,000 in funding is projected to be available through the MI Solar Communities – MI Solar Access Program, with individual grant awards available ranging from $80,000-$100,000.

The MI  Solar   Communities platform provides Michigan residents with information on technical assistance and programs for obtaining solar power within their community, which can be defined by location or as a group of people connected through their electric utility, according to EGLE.

There are financial benefits to this as well. Subscribers receive credits on their electric bills for the portion of the energy generated by their allotted panels, which may be placed on residential or business roofs or located off-site.

Many people want the benefits of  solar  energy but for a variety of reasons cannot install  solar panels where they live. They may rent, have an unsuitable roof, or experience other factors which limit their ability to benefit from renewable energy, according to EGLE.

Michigan currently does not have enabling legislation for community  solar , so community  solar  programs in Michigan are developed and managed through a local electric utility.

Grant applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025, or until funding is expended, whichever comes first. Grantees selected must provide at least a 50% match and must allocate 85%-100% of the total awarded grant funding to households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

Other headlines for Friday, April 12, 2024:

• Registration is now open for Corewell Health Children’s annual Walk for Miracles at the Detroit Zoo.
• Detroit’s Def Sound Studio is positioned to become the first hip-hop recording studio designated as a historical landmark, BridgeDetroit reports .
• Detroit’s own Eminem earned his 10th song in Spotify’s Billions Club with “The Monster,” his 2013 collaboration with Rihanna.
• Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Wayne Mobile Health Unit are hosting the “ Brother… Let’s Talk: A Conversation on Black Men’s Health ” symposium on Saturday, April 12 at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at [email protected].

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Call for High School Projects

Machine learning for social impact .

The Thirty-Eighth Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2024) is an interdisciplinary conference that brings together researchers in machine learning, neuroscience, statistics, optimization, computer vision, natural language processing, life sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, and other adjacent fields. 

This year, we invite high school students to submit research papers on the topic of machine learning for social impact.  A subset of finalists will be selected to present their projects virtually and will have their work spotlighted on the NeurIPS homepage.  In addition, the leading authors of up to five winning projects will be invited to attend an award ceremony at NeurIPS 2024 in Vancouver.  

Each submission must describe independent work wholly performed by the high school student authors.  We expect each submission to highlight either demonstrated positive social impact or the potential for positive social impact using machine learning. Application areas may include but are not limited to the following:

• Agriculture
• Climate change
• Homelessness
• Food security
• Mental health
• Water quality

Authors will be asked to confirm that their submissions accord with the NeurIPS code of conduct and the NeurIPS code of ethics .

Submission deadline: All submissions must be made by June 27th, 4pm EDT. The system will close after this time, and no further submissions will be possible.

We are using OpenReview to manage submissions. Papers should be submitted here . Submission will open June 1st.  Submissions under review will be visible only to their assigned program committee. We will not be soliciting comments from the general public during the reviewing process. Anyone who plans to submit a paper as an author or a co-author will need to create (or update) their OpenReview profile by the full paper submission deadline. 

Formatting instructions:   All submissions must be in PDF format. Submissions are limited to four content pages , including all figures and tables; additional pages containing only references are allowed. You must format your submission using the NeurIPS 2024 LaTeX style file using the “preprint” option for non-anonymous submission. The maximum file size for submissions is 50MB. Submissions that violate the NeurIPS style (e.g., by decreasing margins or font sizes) or page limits may be rejected without further review.  Papers may be rejected without consideration of their merits if they fail to meet the submission requirements, as described in this document. 

Proof of high school attendance: Submitting authors will also be asked to upload a signed letter, on school letterhead, from each author’s high school confirming that the author was enrolled in high school during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Supplementary artifacts:  In their submission, authors may link to supplementary artifacts including videos, working demonstrations, digital posters, websites, or source code.  Please do not link to additional text.  All such supplementary material should be wholly created by the authors and should directly support the submission content. 

Review process:   Each submission will be reviewed by anonymous referees.  The authors, however, should not be anonymous.  No written feedback will be provided to the authors.  

Use of Large Language Models (LLMs): We welcome authors to use any tool that is suitable for preparing high-quality papers and research. However, we ask authors to keep in mind two important criteria. First, we expect papers to fully describe their methodology.  Any tool that is important to that methodology, including the use of LLMs, should be described also. For example, authors should mention tools (including LLMs) that were used for data processing or filtering, visualization, facilitating or running experiments, or proving theorems. It may also be advisable to describe the use of LLMs in implementing the method (if this corresponds to an important, original, or non-standard component of the approach). Second, authors are responsible for the entire content of the paper, including all text and figures, so while authors are welcome to use any tool they wish for writing the paper, they must ensure that all text is correct and original.

Dual submissions:  Submissions that are substantially similar to papers that the authors have previously published or submitted in parallel to other peer-reviewed venues with proceedings or journals may not be submitted to NeurIPS. Papers previously presented at workshops or science fairs are permitted, so long as they did not appear in a conference proceedings (e.g., CVPRW proceedings), a journal, or a book.  However, submissions will not be published in formal proceedings, so work submitted to this call may be published elsewhere in the future. Plagiarism is prohibited by the NeurIPS Code of Conduct .

Paper checklist: In order to improve the rigor and transparency of research submitted to and published at NeurIPS, authors are required to complete a paper checklist . The paper checklist is intended to help authors reflect on a wide variety of issues relating to responsible machine learning research, including reproducibility, transparency, research ethics, and societal impact. The checklist does not count towards the page limit and will be entered in OpenReview.

Contact:   [email protected]

Solar Microgrid Breaks Ground in Northern California Tribal Community

Published: Apr 11, 2024

Project is funded by $32 million state grant, one of the largest to benefit a California Native American tribe

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:  A cutting-edge microgrid project funded by the state will support energy sovereignty and sustainable economic growth for the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The project expands the deployment of important energy technologies needed for California’s clean energy future.

CORNING  – Newsom Administration officials  today  joined the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians at the groundbreaking of a large-scale solar and long-duration storage microgrid in Corning. The project will sustain tribal operations and relieve pressure on the grid during peak use times with new battery technology that can discharge power for 18 hours.

The microgrid project received a  $32 million grant  last year from the California Energy Commission’s  Long-Duration Energy Storage Program , a part of Governor Newsom’s historic multi-billion-dollar climate commitment. The program invests in projects that accelerate the implementation of long duration energy storage solutions to increase the resiliency and reliability of our energy infrastructure and meet the state’s energy and climate goals.

WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID : “California is showing the world how to fight the climate crisis while creating good jobs and more resilient communities. We’re building more projects like these to secure a clean and reliable energy future that benefits all our communities.”

The project, which received one of the largest state grants ever awarded to benefit California Native American tribes, will:

• Provide 5 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and 15 megawatt hours of long-duration energy storage at the Tribe’s Rolling Hills Casino & Resort in Corning;
• Enhance energy resiliency by discharging power during emergencies; and
• Lower fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions.

“California Native American tribes are key partners in the state’s work to address the climate crisis, including the transition to renewable energy,”  said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari , who attended the groundbreaking ceremony today. “Paskenta’s innovative project helps advance the shared goal of scaling up clean energy projects across the state, and supports energy sovereignty and sustainable economic development for the Tribe.”

“We are grateful to partner with the CEC and host this grant for this renewable energy project ,” said Paskenta Tribal Chairman Andrew “Dru” Alejandre . “Our people have always cared for the land as it has cared for us. We continue to understand our responsibilities as people and will continue to adapt to modern ways for many generations. We are responsible for preserving our environment for future generations. This project will allow us to provide sustainable energy and most importantly increasing energy sovereignty.”

CLEAN ENERGY : California’s large portfolio of clean energy innovations are helping to  meet its goals  years ahead of schedule.

• Nearly 60% of California’s electricity comes from clean sources – on track to meet the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.
• California has already built out 35,000 MW of clean electricity capacity for the grid – powering millions of homes.

J.K. Rowling says 'Harry Potter' stars who've criticized her anti-trans views 'can save their apologies'

J.K. Rowling is not on good terms with the "Harry Potter" cast who have opposed her anti-transgender views .

Responding to an X post from a fan about feeling "safe in the knowledge" that Rowling would forgive "Harry Potter" stars such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson , who have denounced the author's anti-trans rhetoric , Rowling wrote, "Not safe, I'm afraid."

Her post continued, "Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."

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Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint – who played protagonists Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively, from their childhood to young adult years – have all expressed their support for the trans community in recent years.

After Rowling penned a  personal essay  in June 2020 detailing her beliefs about "trans activism" and young people experiencing gender dysphoria eventually outgrowing them, several "Harry Potter" cast members publicly criticized her comments, which were deemed transphobic.

"I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment," Grint said in a statement at the time to the U.K.'s The Sunday Times.

Radcliffe reiterated that "transgender woman are women," in an essay for LGBTQ non-profit organization  The Trevor Project , and Watson said in an X post  that trans people "deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are."

'Harry Potter' at 20: How did childhood fame treat Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint?

The "Harry Potter" stars' criticism also came with a measure of gratitude.

In a 2021 Esquire interview , Grint acknowledged that he's "hugely grateful" for Rowling's work but added, "I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that."

Though Radcliffe noted that Rowling is "unquestionably responsible" for the course of his life, he added he still feels "compelled to say something at this moment."

Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes, who played antagonist Voldemort – aka Tom Riddle – said in a 2021 interview with The Telegraph that he couldn't "understand the vitriol directed at" Rowling. "I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational," Fiennes said.

What J.K. Rowling has said recently about the trans community

Rowling has been loudly criticized − and just as loudly defended − for her anti-trans statements since 2019, when she voiced her support for Maya Forstater , a researcher who lost her job for stating that people cannot change their biological sex. An employment appeal tribunal later sided with her.

The ruling stated that "gender-critical beliefs, which include the belief that sex is immutable and not to be conflated with gender identity" were protected by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and the Equality Act 2010's section on "religion or belief." However, such statements are still subject to discrimination and harassment laws.

What has the 'Harry Potter' cast said? Rupert Grint calls J.K. Rowling relationship 'tricky'

Rowling has recently been vocal on social media about Scotland's new hate crime law , her concern over the number of minors who detransition and findings from the recently published Cass Review , which makes a few dozen recommendations for improving the National Health Service's gender identity services, including using "extreme caution" in prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapy to those between 16 and 18.

In response to Scotland criminalizing "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity, Rowling tested the law by listing 10 trans women, including a convicted rapist, sex abusers and high-profile activists on X, saying they were men.

Police Scotland, the U.K. country's national police agency, reportedly told  BBC News  that Rowling's comments on the hate crime law will not be "treated as criminal." The agency added that while complaints on the author's social media posts had been made to police, no action would be taken.

Last month, British TV personality India Willoughby  said she'd reported Rowling to U.K. law enforcement for misgendering her on social media. In an interview , Willoughby said, "For J.K. Rowling to deliberately misgender me knowing who I am is grossly offensive. It is a hate crime."

Last year, Rowling  addressed the criticism  she's received on the podcast  "The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling ."

"I absolutely knew that if I spoke out, many people who would love my books would be deeply unhappy with me," Rowling said. "Time will tell whether I've got this wrong. I can only say that I’ve thought about it deeply and hard and long and I’ve listened, I promise, to the other side." 

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Barbara VanDenburgh and Jenna Ryu

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: J.K. Rowling says 'Harry Potter' stars who've criticized her anti-trans views 'can save their apologies'