Through our Service Learning Programs, students in some of America’s most under-resourced high schools are empowered to take on the most pressing issues in their communities through direct action. By helping seniors, the unhoused, and younger kids, buildOn students learn to lead by first learning how to serve.

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Service Builds Leaders.

buildOn’s Service Learning Program inspires youth in under-resourced neighborhoods to study the issues facing their communities and take action through service. buildOn Trek takes that commitment global for our most engaged students. They travel to a rural community in one of our partner countries and help build a school.

These experiences deepen community engagement, build confidence, and inspire personal growth.

Our students miss less school than peers.
Our students miss less school than peers.
Every hour of service is a step closer to a diploma in hand.
Every hour of service is a step closer to a diploma in hand.
For buildOn students, college isn't the exception. It's the expectation.
For buildOn students, college isn't the exception. It's the expectation.

Our U.S. Impact

2.6M

Hours served by buildOn students

12,146

buildOn students active in our service programs

93%

of buildOn students graduate high school

70%

of buildOn students go on to college

Our Service Methodology

Service is at the heart of buildOn’s mission. Each week, students serve their neighbors and improve the places they live.

75% of buildOn activities focus on direct service, like serving meals, tutoring children, and spending time with seniors. The other 25% goes to beautification projects, such as cleaning graffiti, creating public art, and planting gardens that feed their neighbors.

The world is changing, and so is the meaning of leadership. Constructive Leadership™ is our approach to developing leaders by inspiring solidarity and unleashing courage, resilience, empathy, and a passion for the possible through service to others. buildOn students learn to lead by first learning to serve.

Building Constructive Leaders

The world is changing, and so is the meaning of leadership. Constructive Leadership™ is our approach to developing leaders by inspiring solidarity and unleashing courage, resilience, empathy, and a passion for the possible through service to others.

buildOn students learn to lead by first learning to serve.

Where We Work

buildOn’s Service Learning Programs engage students from 38 underserved high schools in five cities throughout the United States.

Bronx

buildOn in the Bronx students are tackling gang violence, homelessness, and food insecurity in neighborhoods where nearly half of all residents live below the poverty line.

The Facts

6,830

Students currently engaged

745,378

Service hours to date

buildOn students are partnering with soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the help and compassion they need.
buildOn students are partnering with soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the help and compassion they need.
Spending quality time with seniors is just one of the ways buildOn students spread compassion in New York City.
Spending quality time with seniors is just one of the ways buildOn students spread compassion in New York City.
Through service, buildOn students are helping to improve the lives of children and adults living with disabilities in New York City.
Through service, buildOn students are helping to improve the lives of children and adults living with disabilities in New York City.
buildOn students in New York City are fighting blight and helping to create safe, productive green spaces in their neighborhoods.
buildOn students in New York City are fighting blight and helping to create safe, productive green spaces in their neighborhoods.
Beyond their service with soup kitchens and homeless shelters, buildOn students hitting the streets to feed New York's hungry.
Beyond their service with soup kitchens and homeless shelters, buildOn students are hitting the streets to feed New York's hungry.
By tutoring and mentoring younger children, buildOn students are serving as positive role models in their neighborhoods.
By tutoring and mentoring younger children, buildOn students are serving as positive role models in their neighborhoods.

Support our Bronx students!

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Trejah Brown, buildOn in the Bronx Student

buildOn means the world to me because I get the opportunity to meet an abundance of people and do something that I am extremely passionate about, which is community service.

Trejah Brown / buildOn in the Bronx Student

Learn More About buildOn in the Bronx

Jon Mucciolo
Development Director, CT/NY
info@buildon.org

Stories That Inspire

A new study from researchers at NYU confirms the impact of buildOn's service-learning program in the Bronx, showing higher graduation rates, better attendance, and increased college enrollment for participating students.
buildOn Works in the Bronx
A new study reveals the measurable impact of buildOn’s work, including higher graduation rates, improved literacy, and increased household income.
READ MORE
From moving to the Bronx at 13 to becoming a national student leader, Ashley Joran Cabrera found confidence, community, and purpose through service with buildOn. Read her story to discover how service changed her from newcomer to leader!
Finding Belonging
From moving to the Bronx at 13 to becoming a national student leader, Ashley found confidence, community, and purpose through buildOn.
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New research from Gallup shows how service builds confidence, leadership, and purpose in young people. Read our new blog to see how buildOn’s Service Learning Programs are leading change across U.S. communities.
Service Builds Leaders
New research from Gallup shows how service builds confidence, leadership, and purpose in young people.
READ MORE