Grand Rapids Community Foundation is passionate about addressing our community’s most critical needs today. By involving youth in philanthropic decision-making, the Community Foundation is investing in the future. In July, Isabel Landero joined the Board of Trustees as the Youth Trustee. A full voting member of the board, she will share her knowledge and insights, representing the interests of other local students. A Youth Trustee has served on the Community Foundation’s Board each year since 2003.
The Next Generation of Philanthropists
Isabel is a student at Godfrey Lee High School and became a member of the Community Foundation’s Youth Grant Committee when she was a freshman. She heard about the opportunity during an in-person recruitment presentation and was drawn to join because she sees her school, Lee High School, as overlooked compared to other area schools.
“Lee High School…deserves to be given a good chance at helping mainly Latino and Black communities a chance at life,” she said. “Every time a group of students become seniors their class sizes are cut in half. I believe that if more care and funding were put into our school, we could make it so all these students have a chance to be better and do good things.”
Students from public, private and home-school high schools throughout greater Grand Rapids make up the Youth Grant Committee. During the school year, members meet and assess youth issues, develop a request for proposals process to address those needs, follow up with previous grantees, conduct interviews and site visits and award grants.
Shaped by Other Students
In 2022, 785 Kent County youth shared their input through a needs assessment survey. Pressure to succeed academically or get into college was the most reported source of stress, with 45% of overall responses. Mental health, body image, and not fitting in or feeling like you belong were other key issues.
Chantal Pasag, program officer, leads the activities of the Youth Grant Committee. She said “Isabel is a very thoughtful and passionate student. She continues to grow her confidence in articulating the needs of our communities, especially among Youth and continues to make an impact by participating in other programs like Student Council and Student Advisory Committee at her school.”
In addition to YGC, Isabel plays soccer and volleyball, and is a part of the Mosaic Scholars program.
We look forward to seeing Isabel step into her new role, having completed her year of learning as a trustee-in-training. We are grateful for the past, present and future youth who are shaping the Community Foundation’s work!