Projekt NYC Teen Volunteer Awarded YSA 9/11 Day of Service Grant Sponsored by AmeriCorps

We’re thrilled to share that one of Projekt NYC’s incredible student volunteers, Tess, has been awarded the YSA 9/11 Day of Service Grant sponsored by AmeriCorps for her powerful and inspiring teen led project honoring those affected by 9/11.

Tess, an incoming 10th grader at Brooklyn Technical High School, was moved by the idea that storytelling and human connection can preserve memory and history. Determined to ensure that the stories of those impacted by 9/11 are never forgotten, Tess proposed a creative arts project that pairs NYC high school students with individuals and families affected by 9/11-related illnesses. The students will listen, learn, and create original works of art and poetry inspired by these firsthand accounts, culminating in a public exhibit that will open the week of September 6–11, 2025.

Tess’s project was one of only 50 selected nationwide and reflects the core mission of YSA (Youth Service America) and AmeriCorps: to inspire youth leadership, civic engagement, and meaningful service. With support from Projekt NYC, Tess is building a teen-led team to help organize the exhibit, recruit student artists, conduct outreach to 9/11 survivors and families, and raise awareness around the ongoing health impacts of 9/11 exposure.

This initiative goes beyond remembrance. It is a living, breathing act of youth service bringing generations together through storytelling, honoring those we've lost, those forever impacted by the events of 9/11 and deepening young people’s understanding of the world they’ve inherited.

We are so proud of Tess and all the youth who will contribute their time, talent, and heart to this project. Follow along as we prepare for this special 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance project and stay tuned for volunteer opportunities, exhibit updates, and more ways to get involved.

To support this project or get involved, please contact us at info@projektnyc.org.