The history of the Stone Mountain carving is closely tied to both local and state legislation. The Monument documentary explores this theme of civic engagement through the varied perspectives of state officials, scholars, activists, and more.
To continue the conversation, this Civic Engagement resource provides a guide for young people to become involved in their communities through volunteerism. It addresses common concerns that prevent young people from getting involved and connects them with various mission-based groups in greater Atlanta and beyond!
Want to get involved? Check out organizations in your community and beyond!
Get Involved.
- Trees Atlanta: All ages are welcome to help with tree planting, tree care, and restoration projects, but under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
- Park Pride: Opportunities to assist with park cleanup for city parks in Atlanta, as well as projects like planting and mulching. Minors must be accompanied by parent/guardian. This is just for Atlanta, but most communities have volunteer opportunities at their local parks.
- Project Green Schools/National Green Schools Society: Provides opportunities for students to organize projects through their school that preserve the environment. Also builds leadership and provides learning opportunities for students. Additionally, NGSS opens opportunities for scholarships and awards.
- Campus Vote Project: This is a national program across college campuses to help get students register to vote. It doesn’t have a volunteer page but it does have a Call to Action page and resources. They also have a page dedicated to Georgia.
- New Georgia Voter: this organization wants to bring voting empowerment to minorities.
- Metro Atlanta Poll Worker: You have to be 16 to volunteer to be a poll worker
- The Giving Garden: They hold a monthly animal food bank and pet clinic that you can volunteer for.
- Lifeline Animal Project: Youth Volunteer options exist for those with parent supervision. Options include making enrichment items and activities for shelter animals, socializing animals, helping with events, hosting donation drives, cleaning laundry/dishes and creating graphics/taking photos.
- Humane Society of the United States: The HSUS matches those interested in volunteering to help animals with local affiliates such as shelters and animal rescues.
- Atlanta Food Bank: Youth volunteers accepted with an accompanying adult, activities include sorting and packing recently donated food, repackaging produce or grains for families, or boxing non-perishable items for seniors across Atlanta.
- Feeding Georgia: Family and individual volunteer opportunities with partnering institutions.
- Feeding America: National options for volunteers to sort and pack food, assist at mobile pantries, drive-thru pantries, and no-contact distributions, deliver meals, clean and garden
- YMCA: Youth volunteering under 18 with parental permission. Coaching, food distribution, playcenter, tutoring, and more!
- Red Cross: Youth volunteerism includes Red Cross clubs, National Youth Council, and networking opportunities to receive mentoring.
- CHOA: Participate in a variety of programs including Volunteer Program (aiding patients and families),
- Upchieve: Online volunteer tutoring. Accepts students 13+ as long as they can pass the basic certification test for the subject.
- Special Olympics: This is the website for Special Olympics Georgia, but students could volunteer in any state. This is an organization that makes it easy to volunteer for a wide variety of ages.
- Gigi’s Playhouse: Organization that works with individuals who have Down’s Syndrome. Volunteers can help with special events, tutoring and other programs. There are several locations throughout the US, including here in Atlanta.
- NAACP Youth Programs: Connects students with issues they may be passionate about and can get involved in.
- Habitat for Humanity: HFH works to change housing policies and create affordable housing.
- AmeriCorps : Students can enter their zip code and find organizations based near their homes. There’s a ton of different organizations they can get involved with and there’s many different policy reform groups listed.
FAQ.
Sign up for a volunteering opportunity with friends or family. It is helpful to volunteer with someone who has worked with that specific organization before, that way they’ll know how to sign up and where the volunteer site is located. But it can be great to participate with someone who is also new to volunteering. That way you can both help each other and have a fun, new experience.
Emailing the specific organization is also helpful if you have questions about the volunteer tasks and expectations.
Some organizations will have a “Contact Us” portion on their website. Other websites have this information at the bottom of their home page or on a different part of their website. If the email address is someone’s name, then write the email to that individual, but if the email is the name of the organization, then introduce the email by saying “Hello my name is.” Include your questions and concerns in the email and provide them with the best way of contacting you at the bottom (whether that is your email address or phone number).
Here is a sample email for reference:
Hello Mr./Ms. (name), or Hello,
My name is (your name) and I am a rising high school junior interested in volunteering at your organization. Your work helping the community gardens of Atlanta is inspiring and something I am very passionate about. Are there any upcoming opportunities for me to get involved this upcoming summer? Do I need past gardening experience to volunteer?
Thank you!
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your email address or phone number—however you want them to reach you)
Age requirements differ by the organization. If you are under 18 years old, check the website of the place you wish to volunteer and see if you need an adult to accompany you. Organizations also have different policies surrounding children and family volunteering, which should be available on their websites.
If you cannot find the necessary information, email the organization directly.
Some organizations have online volunteering opportunities. You can also get involved by donating clothes, food, and supplies to organizations that have a scheduled pickup service or drop-off locations near you.
Each organization has different needs and opportunities. Emailing an organization directly may provide you with other ways to get involved.
Yes! Different volunteer opportunities have varying time commitments. These range from a full day to a one-hour commitment. Make sure to look at an organization’s sign-up page and available opportunities to find something that works with your schedule.
Also, if you are unable to stay the whole time, reach out to the organization directly. The policy for leaving early will depend on the organization you are working with.
Yes! All kinds of volunteering opportunities make a great impact on the community. Whether that is working in an animal shelter, food bank, public park, or other organization, your work provides help and support for members of the greater community.
Here are some of the positive impacts volunteering can have on young people:
- Volunteering helps increase self-confidence. By helping to address issues in your community, you build strength and resilience. You also develop problems solving skills by facing new challenges and opportunities.
https://www.volunteer-opportunities.org/10-reasons-every-teen-should-volunteer/
- It is an opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Doing new activities pushes you outside of your comfort zone but also helps you form bonds and connections with others.
https://www.happiness.com/magazine/personal-growth/why-volunteering-is-important-benefits/
- Volunteering can also improve your school experience by helping you meet new people and find new passions. It also builds your resume and is an activity to add to college and job applications.
- It benefits your physical and mental health. A lot of volunteering opportunities are outside and require physical activity, which is great for your overall well-being. Not only that but helping others helps to increase motivation and reduce stress.
https://www.tun.com/blog/benefits-of-volunteering/
- There are scholarships specifically for students who are dedicated and committed to community service. Here are just a few examples:
- Equitable Excellence Scholarships
- Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship
- Jesse Jackson Fellows Toyota Scholarship
Find more scholarship opportunities here.
- Volunteering is a great way to have fun and learn new skills! You may sign up to help your community and uncover a new passion in the process! Because there are so many ways to get involved and give back to your community, there are endless new experiences to have!
Related Content. Learn More.
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Story
This summer, along with history and civics organizations across the country, we invite you to join in a program dedicated to the Civic Season.
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Story
Civic Season is a nationwide celebration spanning Juneteenth to July 4th that encourages historically-informed civic engagement by the inheritors of our democracy. Atlanta History Center is on the Steering Committee of the Made By Us coalition, the organizer of Civic Season, and also presents our annual Juneteenth program as part of our Civic Season. Read on for suggestions about how to get involved in Civic Season.