Connect 4 is about volunteering AND connecting.
This initiative brings together teens from Russian-speaking Central Asian, Ukrainian, and Asian-American immigrant families for shared acts of service. Each monthly project is an opportunity to build bridges, strengthen civic responsibility, and deepen empathy through hands-on collaboration.
This month, the group will head to Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center to help restore a wetlands area. In future sessions, teens will participate in neighborhood beautification, support our monthly food pantry, help Holocaust Survivors stay connected to family and community through technology, mentor children from single-parent households, and support families of children with disabilities. Each project is paired with reflection and learning, helping teens make sense of their experiences and build their leadership skills.
The pandemic disrupted key social and emotional development for many teens, contributing to a rise in isolation and mental health struggles. Connect 4 helps reverse that trend by giving teens a sense of agency, purpose, and community