LearnServe International

“Going to a school in a low-income area, opportunities don't come to you. You have to look for the opportunities,” shared Baba, LearnServe alum and intern with us this summer. Concerned about low high school and college graduation rates in his community, Baba launched Destined for Success when he was a LearnServe Fellow. His 8-week program focused on financial literacy, leadership development, and helping peers succeed after graduating high school. Each week, he led workshops and invited guest speakers who could serve as potential mentors. “I looked around at my school’s teachers and the other things they do,” he shared, recalling how he invited a teacher who sold cars as a side-hustle to come speak to students about perseverance in entrepreneurship, and another teacher who spoke to students about financial management. Baba is heading off to Morgan State University on a full ride scholarship, where he will be studying Information Systems and Finance. This summer, he’s supporting LearnServe by updating scholarship and internship resources for students. We’re so proud to have him on our team!

Imagine a space where embracing your identity and lived experience is not just welcomed, but central in social innovation. Did you know that LearnServe has a Spanish language Fellows cohort? We launched an accelerated Fellows program in February after DC educators shared that heritage Spanish speakers have few school-based leadership and enrichment opportunities centered on their experiences outside of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. This pilot cohort has gathered 18 changemakers from five schools across the district. The goal: to offer heritage Spanish speakers the opportunity to grow their skills in leadership and civic engagement through a program that centers their linguistic and cultural identity.

Meet Danielle Pascale, LearnServe alum and intern for Summer 2025! Danielle is a rising junior at the University of Miami, studying marketing and psychology. During her time in our Fellows program and Incubator, Danielle launched Reach for the Stars, an afterschool and summer program supporting youth ages 5–12 experiencing housing instability. Now in its 4th generation of high school leadership, the program has served over 150 elementary students and engaged 100+ high school volunteers. “Reach for the Stars has become a lot more student-led,” Danielle shared. “We used to have more direction from the service learning director at our school, but now have delegated all the parts of running the organization to high school students, which is super cool.” This summer, Danielle joined the LearnServe team to work on a variety of projects to improve student engagement, mentor retention, and impact. Thank you, Danielle, for your passion, leadership, and continued impact!

We’re #hiring a Communications VISTA! Join our Development team to lead creative storytelling, build community through social media, and collaborate on outreach strategies. As a VISTA, you will build communications capacity to expand our community with the goal to give even more young people the opportunity to become leaders and changemakers. Comment "Interested!" to learn more or apply ⬇ https://lnkd.in/etDC7nsk As an #AmeriCorpsVISTA member, you join a national network of professionals who are supporting nonprofits to make sustainable change in areas that affect poverty. Benefits include a living allowance, healthcare benefits, metro stipend, an end of service award, and non-competitive eligibility. Learn more about AmeriCorps here: AmeriCorps.gov/VISTA

Thank you to Just Ice Tea for keeping us hydrated on our Day of Action! We’re grateful to Seth Goldman for being a long-time supporter of LearnServe's emerging social entrepreneurs.

Thank you Zahtic Eats for catering our recent Day of Action event! We had the pleasure of working with Zahtic Eats and its founder, Zahir, for our Day of Action, and we couldn’t be more impressed. From the start, Zahir went above and beyond—attending a walkthrough of the venue, planning an inclusive picnic-style menu that offered something for everyone (including those with dietary restrictions), and even grilling onsite. The food was absolutely delicious—we received great feedback from our guests! Zahir was professional, efficient, and incredibly easy to work with. His attention to detail and dedication to making the event a success truly stood out. We would highly recommend Zahtic Eats to anyone looking for fantastic food and exceptional service. Zahir was exactly the right person to help make our event memorable!  You can contact Zahir at zahirjames@gmail.com

Time flies when you’re having fun. It was such a joy hosting our friends Japhet Chulu – director of Njira Youth Skills Centre and head of LearnServe programs in Zambia –  and Joyce Chibwe, a LearnServe alum and intern, here in DC for the week!  These last couple of days have been filled with visits to monuments, museums, embassies, and more. Hearing from them in-person on our Day of Action meant so much to us. Can’t wait to share more about their visit in the coming days! We just dropped them off at the airport this morning as they head back to Lusaka, but we’re already counting down the days until we reunite this summer for our Global Zambia trip! Japhet and Joyce, thank you for all that you do. Your drive to make positive change and empower young people continues to inspire us.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Anita J. Chansa – Harvest Hub Anita (Fellows Zambia ’25) launched Harvest Hub, a digital platform that connects local farmers with buyers, agricultural experts, and essential resources. By creating a centralized network, Harvest Hub enhances access to markets and promotes sustainable farming practices. Anita’s work addresses rural economic challenges and contributes to improved food security and community resilience.

Thank you to our Day of Action sponsors who made this weekend possible. We are grateful for all the supporters and organizations who believe in the power of young people to create change! It was a joy to connect you directly to the students and alum who shared the powerful work they are leading in their corners of the world. Changemakers: Catherine & Tom Tinsley David Selden & Julie Wallick Precise Software Solutions Inspiration Partners: S&R Evermay Service Champion: Hugh Riddleberger Anita Rechler and Matthew Rechler Social Driver Friend of the Cause: Marty & Andrea Kalin LINK Strategic Partners Entrepreneurs: Greg & Nadine Mort Mario Margolis & Diana Moss Jim Taylor DC Counseling and Psychotherapy Center Supporters: Anna Bennett & John Buckley Changemaker Ally: Thomas & Bobby Gottschalk Deborah Greene-Akers The Headfirst Companies Ricardo Neal Craig Rocklin Shakirah A. Hill Taylor & Matthew Hill Taylor Seisay IT Solutions Special Thanks to Washington Leadership Academy Public Charter School for hosting our Day of Action!

Fight gender based violence and poverty, one bag at a time. These gorgeous bags, backpacks, and laptop cases are handcrafted by the artisans at Njira Skills Youth Training Centre. Based in Lusaka, Zambia, Njira combats gender based violence and poverty by providing free and relevant vocational training. We are honored to have now partnered with Njira for three years to deliver our Fellows and Incubator program in Zambia. You can support their work by purchasing a bag tomorrow at our Day of Action. Japhet Chulu, director of Njira and head of LearnServe programs in Zambia will be there to chat with you! Shoutout to our intern Rediate Kologek in the picture, Posse Scholar/Dyer Fellow at Lafayette College. Rediate is a LearnServe alum and will be interning with us over the summer.