YLS member spotlight: Michael Harris

kmartin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:57:32 +0000

A little about me explains why I LIVE UNITED. After ten years of military service, I followed my passion and sought employment in a nonprofit setting where I could make a positive impact on youth within my community. This led to a position working at a local United Way funded community center in Rockford, which provided educational and recreational programming for seniors and youth. This position was great because it afforded me an opportunity to see firsthand how United Way makes a difference, and instilled in me the desire to become a more committed member within my community. As a result, I become a mentor to a teenager whose mother was incarcerated, and saw his growth and understanding of making positive choices in his life.

After moving to Chicago, I knew it was my obligation to continue helping those in need. This desire led to my current employer, where our mission is providing a safe space, for youth to express themselves through the visual arts, and where we empower them to become positive leaders in their community. Seeing the impact we had, I realized I should be doing more. As a result, I jumped on United Way’s website and just happened to come across YLS. In that moment, I sent an email requesting information, and before the end of the week, I was a member of the Issue Awareness Committee, and I haven’t looked back since. During the past year, I have been part of a great team, helping bring programming on important social issues affecting YLS members and other residents of Chicago.

Being a member of YLS gives me the opportunity to LIVE UNITED through a range of volunteer activities. Since joining, my most memorable experience would be Healthy Kids Day at the Rauner YMCA. After participating on a tour of the facility, YLS members spent the day volunteering at different stations. It was a great time – engaging the children in relay races, distributing healthy snacks to families and assisting them in identifying healthy food options. Experiences like these and being able to see how I make a difference is what keeps me involved in YLS.

It’s great being part of such a dynamic group of individuals, committed to doing more than just watching from the sidelines!

Michael J. Harris
Little Black Pearl & YLS Issue Awareness Vice Chair

United Way of Metro Chicago » Michael Harris

YLS member spotlight: Michael Harris

Related Posts:

This post was written by kmartin