How Bronx Students Lead Change: 30 Years of Service Learning

February 13, 2025

In 23 high schools across the Bronx, something remarkable happens every week. Students gather not for sports or social events, but to serve their community and transform their borough through buildOn service learning programs. Since 1993, buildOn has been deeply woven into the fabric of the Bronx, creating a legacy of youth leadership and community empowerment that continues to grow.

Impact, by the Numbers

buildOn students in the Bronx take time out of their schedules to give back to their communities.

Our numbers in the Bronx alone tell a powerful story:

4,698 students currently engaged
686,371 total service hours contributed
98% high school graduation rate
86% college attendance rate

But behind these impressive statistics are real students making tangible changes in their communities, and young leaders being given the guidance and opportunities they need to thrive.

Meeting Critical Community Needs

Across the Bronx and the city at large, buildOn students are addressing pressing challenges through targeted service initiatives:

Distributing food at food pantries like Broadway Soup Kitchen to combat food insecurity.

Mentoring and tutoring younger students at local elementary schools like P.S. 35.

Leading environmental improvement projects at local parks and community gardens.

Creating advocacy campaigns for community issues.

Building Community Leaders Through Service

Part of what makes our programs in the Bronx and the U.S. as a whole so powerful is that students serve their own communities—they’re helping feed their neighbors, tutoring kids who go to the elementary schools they did, and cleaning up the parks that they visit every day. This builds habits of community involvement that last a lifetime.

“The food pantries I volunteered at were the same ones my parents used,” shares Leila Tazi, a buildOn alum from Harry Truman High School. “There’s this mentality that people in need have to be saved, but as a community, we already have the tools to help ourselves. What’s special about buildOn is that it’s not about saving you—it’s about supporting you, mentoring you, and working with you. We are the change.”

Leila was a part of buildOn with her sister, Lylian. Lylian has since returned to buildOn, and now serves as an Engagement Specialist in the Bronx. This full-circle moment is not uncommon for buildOn alumni, demonstrating the real impact their time in buildOn has had on them and their desire to keep serving after graduation.

buildOn students and alumni like Leila Tazi (pictured right) serve their neighbors in the same community spaces they use.

“The food pantries I volunteered at were the same ones my parents used.” — Leila Tazi, buildOn alum

The buildOn Methodology

Our comprehensive approach combines four key elements:

DIRECT COMMUNITY SERVICE ADVOCACY INITIATIVES ISSUES EDUCATION GLOBAL SCHOOL BUILDING

This combines immediate community impact with long-term leadership development. Students move from hands-on local service to becoming advocates for change, while developing a deep understanding of the social issues that impact their communities. Through Trek, our global school-building program, they connect their local work to global impact. The result? Young leaders who know how to create meaningful change at every level.

Student Success Stories

The success of buildOn alumni like Michael Taveras is a testament to our programs and methodology.

Take Michael Taveras, a buildOn alum who took part in our programs while in high school at the Bronx School for Law, Government & Justice. Michael, who had recently immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at the time, quickly became a leader in our programs at BLGJ. After graduating, Michael went on to attend college at St. John’s University, joined the military, and now works at Synchrony Financial. Michael, like many other buildOn alumni, credits his time with buildOn for giving him the tools to succeed later in life.

“In 2022, I was mobilized to Upstate New York in support of COVID-19 relief operations,” Michael explains. “I utilized all the skills I had gained through my time with buildOn to really connect with the patients at a local community hospital. All of the experiences I had with buildOn shape the way I make decisions and how I interact with people. buildOn taught me about empathy, compassion, understanding, and leading by example.”

We’re not just building young leaders in the Bronx—we’re building stronger communities.

buildOn and NYC Public Schools: Partners in Progress

In 2024, NYC Public Schools began a partnership with buildOn, supercharging our efforts to reach more students throughout the borough. This partnership is a testament to the impact of our programs, and of the city’s commitment to public-private partnerships and creating equitable opportunities for young New Yorkers.

Looking Forward

We’re tackling the issues facing the Bronx head on, like persistent food insecurity.

As we continue our third decade in the Bronx, buildOn remains committed to:

Expanding our reach across the borough to even more high schools
Deepening student engagement
Addressing evolving community needs
Building the next generation of community leaders

“With buildOn, I’ve learned a lot about empathy and the effect of small actions. Working on service projects has shown me how even little contributions can make a big impact on someone’s life, and their community,” explains Shon, a student at Harry S. Truman High School. “I’ve gained a better understanding of different cultures and challenges that people face, which makes me want to help others even more.”

Want to help continue to transform the Bronx and build the next generation of leaders? Consider making a tax-deductible donation to buildOn today.

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