National Volunteer Week 2023 -

We were so excited to bring back in-person programs this year, and we are so proud of how our supporters came out in force. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we are so thankful for our 200+ volunteers who have made a stellar impact this year!

Cool Careers, Potential Paths

Cool Careers, Potential Paths (formerly Cool Women, Hot Jobs) is our signature career-day series at The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS). Volunteers are invited to share their unique educational and career trajectory stories with our students.

TYWLS Brooklyn

Cool Careers, Potential Paths kicked off at TYWLS Brooklyn at the end of February! Throughout the morning, volunteers had 30-minute blocks to speak to different classes, where they shared their own stories and let students ask questions. The represented organizations included The Estee Lauder Companies, theSkimm, PepsiCo, and more.

“It was really rewarding to see students so engaged in potential career opportunities, and it’s really fun for me working at Pepsi to see how much they know and love our brand.” – Jenny, PepsiCo

Volunteer takes questions from students about her work.

Students listen thoughtfully to a volunteer presentation.

Students listen to a volunteer presentation thoughtfully.

Volunteer from theSkimm talks to students about starting a media company.

A volunteer from theSkimm talks to students about her experience starting a media company.

An entrepreneur in the fashion industry talks to students about starting a business.

An employee from The Estee Lauder Companies talks to students about her job.

An employee from The Estée Lauder Companies talks to students about her work.

Volunteer talks to students about her job at PepsiCo

An employee from PepsiCo talks to students about her experience working for the Pepsi brand.

Volunteer speaks to TYWLS Brooklyn students about her work as a lawyer.

A volunteer talks to students about her work as a lawyer.

A group of students and volunteers pose at TYWLS Brooklyn.

A volunteer talks students through the process of prototyping makeup.

Volunteers had the opportunity to present to small classes at TYWLS Astoria.

TYWLS Astoria

At TYWLS Astoria, students had the opportunity to connect with volunteers representing a variety of organizations, including Turner Construction Company, Warburg Pincus LLC, and CVS Health. Yolonda Marshall, SL Network CEO, attended this event to connect with our volunteers. Before the classroom sessions began, she provided opening remarks.

TYWLS Staten Island

This Cool Careers, Potential Paths event started with a panel of sixth-grade students who spoke to volunteers about the values of their school and the student council organization. Student ambassadors then took volunteers on a tour of their school. Finally, students and volunteers went to the gymnasium, where students were split into groups and given 10 minutes to have in-depth discussions with each volunteer before switching to another one.

Student ambassadors give volunteers a tour of their school.

Women’s History Month bulletin board at TYWLS Staten Island.

Students share their "Glows & Grows" bulletin board with volunteers.

Students show volunteers their “Glows & Grows” bulletin board.

Volunteers listen to a student panel.

Students talk to employees from The Estee Lauder Companies about their work.

Employees from The Estée Lauder Companies talk to students about their work.

Students have the opportunity to ask volunteers questions about their careers.

Students have the opportunity to ask volunteers questions about their career paths.

Students and volunteers have a thoughtful discussion.

Students and volunteers engage in a thoughtful discussion.

A group of students and volunteers pose at TYWLS Staten Island.

Students and volunteers pose together at TYWLS Staten Island.

Students heard from volunteers in many industries including real estate, retail, and finance.

Students were encouraged to be intentional about the people they sorround themselves with.

Volunteers shared the importance of being open to opportunities that come up.

Students learn about Tredway’s work in affordable housing.

Nike’s Brandon tells students it’s ok not to have everything figured out immediately.

An impressive number of volunteers had an incredible impact at TYWLS East Harlem.

TYWLS East Harlem

Our largest group of volunteers this year, we were thrilled to see how many supporters showed up at TYWLS East Harlem to share their stories with our students. Companies like Target, Estee Lauder Companies, and American Express were strongly represented, with large numbers of their employees attending.

“Find the passion for what you do because sometimes it can get hard or frustrating. You want to wake up in the morning and it be a blessing what you do – not taxing.” – Nicole, Mt. Sinai Health Systems

TYWLS Queens

Volunteers at TYWLS Queens started the morning with an information session and were then guided to classrooms by student ambassadors. Volunteers had 45-minute blocks to speak to students from 6th-12th grade and allow students to ask their questions. Students were excited to see a range of roles represented, including a role in corporate finance, a makeup artist, and a school counselor.

“My advice to the students was to think about how you carry yourself – it’s important to always make positive connections, and to put yourself out there.” – Janna, East Rockaway School District

A group of students and volunteers pose together at TYWLS Queens.

Students talk to an employee from MAC Cosmetics about her work.

An employee from MAC Cosmetics talks to students about her work.

Students learn about the work of a school counselor from a volunteer.

Students listen thoughtfully to a volunteer presentation.

Students learn about the educational pathway to becoming a teacher.

An employee from AMEX speaks to students about his work.

An employee from AMEX presents about his work.

Students learn about the work of a journalist from a volunteer.

Students learn about a career in finance from a volunteer.

Volunteers at TYWLS Bronx pose for a group picture with student ambassadors.

Autumn was one of many TYWLS alumnae who met with TYWLS Bronx students.

Volunteers with similar backgrounds to our students shared the opportunities that set them on their career paths.

Students learned about how certain fields that used to be male dominated are changing thanks to trailblazing women.

Long-time volunteer, and current SL Network COO, Sara tells students about the importance of collaboration.

Students get the most our of networking and enquire, and volunteer, about interning opportunities!

TYWLS Bronx students are determined, persistent, and confident in their abilities.

A volunteer shares the importance of maintaining work/life balance.

TYWLS Bronx

Nearly 50 volunteers spent a morning at TYWLS Bronx where they got to know our 6th to 8th-grade students. Even though this was one of our youngest groups of students, volunteers noted how insightful and probing the questions they received were. Additionally, we were excited to see a large contingent of TYWLS alumnae attend this particular event!

“I got to study abroad, and that changed my world. Just seeing there are other opportunities for kids like me, and knowing ‘I can do it’ – that’s pushed me forward to want to do more and believe in myself ” – Luis, Teach for America

TYWLS at the Workplace

TYWLS at the Workplace coordinates a day in professional worksites for our 10th-grade students. Students across all six schools visit partner companies in small groups for an opportunity to learn and see what a day in the life of employees in different roles is like. Click below to learn more about the workplaces we’ve visited so far this year.

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