November 13, 2023 -
April 28, 2025
North Carolina Governor's Page Service Project (25 hours)
Local Service, Global Impact
SKILLS DEVELOPED
Collaboration, Communication, Problem solving, Civic literacy and citizenship, Leadership
SUMMARY
Reflection
My experience as a leader of the Hear to Listen project taught me many things about community organizing, youth advocacy, and collaboration. It taught me that for any service project to be successful, one needs to plan effectively for it, communicate with the collaborators, and be flexible in the face of obstacles.
One of the most enriching experiences for me was observing our school community support a cause that they had never thought of before. Through promoting our mission at the school booth, we were able to generate conversations about accessibility that reached far beyond the boundary of our fundraiser event.
Coordinating efforts with Panera, volunteer management, and developing the ASL forum enhanced my leadership abilities. I understand the need for delegation of work, timely delivery, and consistent communication with team members. More importantly, I discovered that the voice of youth can make a difference in community transformation. Engaging young people in significant service work helps to foster the next generation of caring leaders who are advocates for equity and inclusion.
This project also taught me about perseverance and the importance of being patient. Not all emails were replied to, not all promotion efforts reached our desired audience, and some issues took some creativity to solve. It made me even more appreciative of the end result and gave me the confidence to undertake other service projects.
Project Impact
Through Hear to Listen, we successfully expanded from a local initiative to a nationwide 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating over 5 chapters with over 100 active members across the United States. Our comprehensive ASL curriculum has educated dozens of students and community members in sign language, while our partnership with Hearing Charities of America has facilitated access to refurbished hearing aids for low-income youth. Our social media campaigns reached over 1000 individuals, significantly increasing awareness about hearing loss and disability inclusion. Most importantly, we created sustainable educational resources, including our student-run ASL forum, that will continue empowering youth advocates and breaking down communication barriers long after this project's completion. By engaging 20+ young people in meaningful service, we've built a movement that demonstrates how youth leadership can create lasting change.
PROJECTS TASKS
Page Week
10.00 hours participating in an awareness event | Compassion
During my time as a North Carolina Governor’s Page, I had the opportunity to observe state government in action and gain firsthand experience with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. I assisted with daily responsibilities in the Governor’s Office while learning how public servants collaborate to address the needs of North Carolinians.
This experience strengthened my understanding of civic responsibility, leadership, and community service. Being a Page inspired me to stay engaged in public service and contribute positively to my community by applying the values of service, accountability, and collaboration that I learned throughout the program.
Project Planning
5.00 hours leading an initiative | Compassion
Hear to Listen is a youth-led organization that focuses on ensuring that lives of hearing-impaired individuals are enhanced, with a special emphasis on young people with physical disabilities. Our organization is built on three core principles: inclusion, equity, and innovation.
What We Do
Our organization is involved in:
Fundraisers & Community Drives - We organize bake sales, community fundraising events, and donation drives to support our programs. These hands-on activities not only raise crucial funds and resources but also engage our peers in meaningful service while building awareness about hearing loss and disability accessibility in our local community.
ASL Education - We offer American Sign Language education through partnerships with schools such as the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. We teach students as well as teachers through our network of student helpers. This increases cross-cultural understanding between students of various cultural backgrounds.
Do the Project
15.00 hours leading an initiative | Compassion
Our team successfully executed a fundraising event at Panera Bread to raise money for Hear To Listen's hearing loss research and other programs. This event was the result of weeks of planning and community outreach, bringing together students and community members to support our mission of helping individuals with hearing loss.
Through the combined efforts of our promotional booth at school and the turnout at Panera, we successfully raised funds to support our initiative.
As part of our broader mission, we established an ASL forum for students at our school. This online platform provides a space where students can:
- Learn ASL together and practice their skills
- Ask questions and share resources about sign language
- Connect with peers interested in accessibility and inclusion
- Access tutorials and educational materials about Deaf culture
Project Outcomes & Reflection
1.00 hour leading an initiative | Compassion
Through Hear to Listen, we were successful in raising funds for, as well as garnering attention for, those with hearing impairments. We organized a Panera fundraiser in which students, families, and members of the community came together for a good cause: helping hearing aids be more accessible and ASL educational programs.
Our ASL forum event has given students the opportunity to learn sign language, exchange learning materials, and create a supportive community that is passionate about accessibility. While it has given students monetary support, it is also creating opportunities that would continue to make a difference in the long term after the event.
This experience has shown that student-run organizations make a difference in our community. We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated in Hear to Listen, including those who volunteered for the school booth, as well as everyone who dined at Panera to support our organization. It is evident that together, we make a difference for those with hearing loss or physical disabilities.
Aid/Relief
Equality
Hunger & Homelessness
