Dear YouthServe Family,

I am thrilled and grateful to step into the role of Executive Director at YouthServe. Having previously served as the Development Director and Interim Executive Director, I have had the privilege of witnessing the incredible impact our organization has on the lives of young people and the communities we serve. Now, I am honored to lead this passionate team as we continue our mission to empower young people through service and leadership.

Our journey together is a collective effort, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, supporters, and the families we serve. Your commitment fuels our passion and inspires young leaders to engage with their communities in meaningful and transformative ways. As we move forward, I encourage each of you to share your ideas, insights, and energy. I am committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and thrive.

In the coming months, we will continue to innovate and evaluate our programs to meet the evolving needs of our community. I look forward to collaborating with all of you—working side by side to equip our youth with the tools they need to make a lasting impact. Together, we can encourage them to not just participate, but to take on active leadership roles in shaping their futures.

Thank you for your trust and support as we embark on this exciting chapter together. I am honored to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated community, and I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together.

With heartfelt appreciation,
Crystal Jones

Way to go, Youth Action Council! We can't wait to see what these young changemakers will continue to do in the future.

Interested in getting involved and making a difference next school year? 2025-2026 Youth Action Council applications will open the first week of June! Once the application is live, you can find it here. If you have any questions about YAC or these projects, please reach out to amber@youthservebham.org.

1. Volunteer your time
One of the best ways to spread love is through action! Volunteering not only helps those in need, but it also strengthens the bond within your community. Whether it’s tutoring a younger student, helping out at a food pantry, or supporting environmental initiatives, your time and energy can make a huge difference.

At YouthServe, we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities where youth can engage with their community and make a lasting impact. Check out our events page to see how you can serve.

2. Write a Valentine’s card
Taking a moment to express gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to show love. Think about someone who has positively impacted your life—a teacher, a mentor, a friend—and send them a Valentine’s card or a thoughtful note. Let them know how much they’ve inspired or helped you. A kind word can brighten someone’s day and let them know their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

3. Get educated on issues in your community
Love for your community also means understanding the challenges it faces. At YouthServe, we believe in empowering youth to learn about and engage with local issues, from affordable housing to education to environmental concerns. By becoming informed, we can all advocate for positive change and help make a real difference.

There are many ways to get educated, whether it's through local events, community meetings, or YouthServe's programs that help youth explore and address the needs of their communities. Knowledge is power, and when young people understand the issues around them, they’re inspired to take action and drive meaningful change.
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4. Spend time with others
In today’s world, many people face loneliness, especially during the winter months and holiday seasons. Whether it’s a neighbor, an elderly relative, or a friend who could use some company, take time to visit with those who may be feeling isolated. A phone call, a cup of coffee, or just sitting and chatting can go a long way in showing someone they are loved and cared for.

5. Donate items & funds
Donating doesn’t always mean writing a check—it can also mean giving food or gently used items to those in need. There are lots of local organizations accepting these items, and your donations can help fill important gaps in your community.

If you’re able, consider donating funds to support youth programs and other community outreach initiatives. Donate today to YouthServe or choose another cause that resonates with you. Every act of giving, no matter how small, helps spread love and positivity!

In honor of Black History Month, we rounded up a few of the ways youth can celebrate the richness of Black culture in Birmingham this year.

First, we always encourage youth and their families to learn about Birmingham’s role in the Civil Rights Movement by visiting these historic landmarks:

• 16th Street Baptist Church
• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Historic Bethel Baptist Church
• Kelly Ingram Park
• Negro Southern League Museum
• Southern Museum of Flight
• Vulcan Park and Museum

(Source: Bham Now)

There are also many amazing local opportunities this month for youth to explore and celebrate Black history. Below are a just a few:

Revisiting Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail'

• February 6, 4pm - 5:30pm, UAB National Alumni Society House
• Join a conversation about the significance and legacy of Dr. King’s famous letter.

Apply for Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Legacy Youth Leadership Program

• Applications due February 14
• This program engages high school students in a series of training experiences and internship opportunities that will help them develop into lifelong learners, productive citizens, and community leaders.

Black History Month Movie

• February 17, 10:30am - 1pm, Titusville Public Library
• Enjoy a movie, popcorn, and great company in celebration of Black History Month.

Bo Berry Jazz Quartet Concert

• February 18, 4pm - 5pm, Springville Road Regional Branch Library
• Come hear the cool jazz sounds of the Bo Berry Jazz Quartet. Learn about the contributions of Black Americans to an American music genre. Hear an Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame musician and his band.

Community Sewing Workshop for the Jefferson County Memorial Quilt

• February 22, 10am - 12pm, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Participate in a community-based initiative to reckon with central Alabama’s haunting history of racial violence and propel racial reconciliation by co-creating a quilt in honor of 33 African-Americans who were lynched in Jefferson County. No sewing experience required.

In Focus: The Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat

• February 25, 6pm - 7:30pm, Hoover Public Library
• Explore Neo-Expressionist artist and social commentator Jean-Michel Basquiat with the Birmingham Museum of Art's Jade Powers.

Black History Bingo

• February 27, 4pm - 5pm, Inglenook Branch Library
• Trivia and bingo collide in this all-ages game of Black History Bingo! Test your knowledge and compete for prizes.

How do YOU plan to celebrate Black History Month? Leave a comment and let us know!

Now for their conversation...

What was your favorite part of your time serving with YouthServe?
Abigail: So much of my perception of Birmingham now, and at the time, was shaped by YouthServe. Both in the community that I formed and met through YouthServe, and then beyond that, going to site visits and volunteering with Youth Action Council… I just gained such a different perspective of the city, and one that was very hopeful. My favorite part was the discussions that you’re able to have with people that are really passionate. That empowered me to speak up and be more confident in my own voice, and that definitely transferred into starting clubs at my school and writing - in so many ways beyond just YouthServe.

Marques: My favorite part was the process in itself. Being around other like-minded individuals, and debating, conversing about things that we didn’t talk about in school. Conversations about nonprofits, about where Alabama is going to be in the next five or ten years - those were not the types of conversations I had around my peers in school. So getting an opportunity to have those conversations with other people who were just as passionate about it taught me skills such as critical thinking and being able to process complex issues. I’ve taken that into my adult life and my career, because it’s how I approach any situation. In YouthServe, if you can think about it, you can achieve it, and so I’ve always taken that motto with me.

What did you learn in your time at YouthServe that has been the most helpful for you later in life?
Brooklyn: Something that YouthServe really taught me was how to be a person of action, and how to take that understanding and that mindset and exemplify it within life. And just being able to understand the social determinants that people may encounter, but that we are all created the same. We all may have our different struggles, but the common goal is that we’re gonna come here and serve and do something all together.

James: I have a few, but I would say the first is the power of community. In my current role, I'm at BuildUP Community School, and as I’m starting this new role I’m actually encountering some nonprofits that I served with while I was on YAC. Second, I would say my leadership abilities and capabilities started here with this organization. Starting my leadership here followed me into college and my professional career.

Abigail: I think YouthServe taught me a lot about how to organize events, and all the different people skills you learn here really do transfer into so many other paths you can take. Even if it seems like the spaces that you’re in in college don’t have volunteering events or don’t have a justice aspect to them, through YouthServe you’ll build the tools to bring those discussions into those spaces, and be more intentional about how to incorporate social justice into your work.

Marques: What I took from YouthServe was learning how to advocate for myself, learning how to advocate for others whose voices are not always present in the room, and learning how to do that in a very diplomatic way. I think YouthServe really helped me to understand that just because someone disagrees with you does not mean that you’re wrong, it just means that’s another conversation that needs to be had.

What advice would you give to all the young people currently participating in YouthServe’s programs?
Brooklyn: Go after the things that you want. Knowing that you have the path that you started at YouthServe, that you have these tools in your toolbox - how to write grants, how to speak professionally, how to network, how to advocate, how to be a caring and genuine person - I think that goes a long way. You are the leaders of Birmingham, the future generation, so take this time to gain all the skills to help you grow as a person. That’s something that YouthServe helped me to do. Everyone has a little piece of something that we all need. So if you can be yourself, authentic and genuine in all circumstances, bringing whatever you have for your community to the table, it will help us reach a common goal and make the world a better place.

James: To current participants, I would say really soak in this opportunity that you have. This is the only organization I’m familiar with that allows youth to have a voice and take charge. Normally at this young age, someone is telling you what to do and how to do it, but YouthServe allows you to take charge; you’re the ones driving the initiative, so it really does help you in whatever capacity you want to work in - it starts with YouthServe. Some of my oldest friends have come from YouthServe, and I think it’s so important that alumni continue to come back - it speaks volumes to what YouthServe is doing.