“Always keep a positive thought, because a positive thought cannot be denied.”

This is the motto of The CityKids, a group of underprivileged youth in New York City who are empowering themselves to rise about circumstances and be positive role models for their peers through their participation in The CityKids Repertory, a traveling performing arts troupe. This program is sponsored by The CityKids Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in New York City, whose mission is to engage young people to positively change their own lives, their communities and the world through their participation in a variety of free, after-school, weekend and summer educational and artistic leadership development programs. These initiatives encourage youth to come up with their own solutions to issues that affect their daily lives, such as drugs, gangs, teen pregnancy and dating violence.

For the last two years, I have been fortunate enough to serve on CityKids Private Sector Partners (PSP), a junior board of the CityKids Foundation, whose aim is to connect CityKids with corporate, private and individual donors and to cultivate future CityKids board members. Every year, PSP organizes a series of fundraising and social events which financially support CityKids’ leadership programs for economically disadvantaged inner-city youth and build support for the Foundation’s mission among young professionals in New York.

I came to CityKids after I started working as an attorney in New York City, and wanted to give something back to my community. I had always been interested in children’s rights and advocacy, so I sought out volunteer opportunities where I could be involved with young people. I found out about the CityKids PSP opportunity through a great website called Wall Street Volunteers, started by Josh Tarasoff, a college friend of mine. This website posts a wide range of volunteer and junior board opportunities for young professionals in New York.

Through PSP, I have organized charity auctions, fund-raising happy hours and performances of the CityKids Repertoire for corporate audiences .I have also helped to raise funds for the CityKids Bridge Builders initiative, which honors young people making a difference in their communities. Through CityKids, I have developed my leadership skills and expanded my network by meeting a great group of civic-minded young professionals in finance and law who serve on the Board with me.

My boyfriend and I both applied for and were accepted to positions on the PSP Board, so it’s an activity that we can share together, while developing our careers and helping children. It’s a win-win situation.

Lara Galinsky, VP of Strategy at the Echoing Green Foundation, is a big proponent of service on junior boards. Echoing Green provides seed funding and support to social entrepreneurs with bold ideas for social change in order to help them launch groundbreaking organizations around the world. “Junior boards provide an opportunity for an organization to identify young talent and develop a relationship with them early on in their careers. This allows you to grow, develop and progress together,” Lara explains. She noted that, like boards of major corporations, junior boards also need more women to serve on them.

The Glass Hammer’s own CEO and publisher, Nicki Gilmour, serves on the junior board of the Echoing Green Foundation. Nicki has had a great experience working on the junior board and helping the Echoing Green Foundation plan new programs. Of her board service, Nicki said, “It’s not just about organizational experience, its about people. The Echoing Green social entrepreneurs are changing the world, its great to see these projects grow.”

Glass Hammer Senior Writer Jessica Titlebaum gets in on the junior board action too. Jessica sits on the Medical Research Junior Board Foundation (MRJBF) in Chicago. The charity organizes and coordinates fundraisers to benefit Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital.  Jessica said of her board experience, “It’s a great cause and provides excellent networking opportunities. I have learned that no matter how small the contribution, the effort you put in will make the difference.”

Jessica has been very active in the organization, helping to organize several fundraisers and recently appearing on NBC morning news to raise awareness about the program. Jessica has also taken a hands-on approach to her board service. She explained, “We took a private tour of the hospital and saw the kids who we were helping with our fundraisers and benefits. It was eye opening to see the kids with cancer and the children that try to lead a normal life. I feel blessed to have the opportunities that I have after seeing the kids we help. I feel its necessary to help them and give back the way we do.” On May 1, the MRJBF held its 8th annual Art Benefiting Children (ABC) event to showcase local artists at a Chicago nightspot.

As you can tell, The Glass Hammer staffers are all committed to serving on junior boards. We think it’s a great way to use your professional skills to benefit a charitable organization, while building valuable leadership experience. Have you served on a charitable board? Have a board position that you would like to promote? Let us know about it by posting your comments below in our discussion forum.