At Community Tampa Bay, we have seen firsthand that when young people see the world through each other’s eyes, they change it for the better. Leading up to Giving Tuesday, you’ll hear directly from the people whose worlds have been changed by dialogue, empathy, and action, through our programs like ANYTOWN®, our signature summer leadership program.
Inspired by our popular ANYTOWN® icebreaker “In My World…,” each of their stories begin with this same simple phrase, but reveals something extraordinary — a world that’s kinder, more just, and more inclusive because of Community Tampa Bay.
Listen to parents of an ANYTOWNer, Sherman and Bilan, speak to the impact ANYTOWN® and Advocacy Academy have had on their daughter and how their world has been shaped by her experiences at ANYTOWN®. Maya ’24, their daughter, follows in the footsteps of her mother who attended ANYTOWN® in the 90s. It has been exciting to watch Maya grow into a more confident and inclusive leader who was selected to be a Volunteer Camp Counselor at ANYTOWN® this past summer.
Audio Transcript: “In my world, my daughter is an advocate for social justice. She speaks out when things are unfair in her school, in our community, and in our world. We credit this to Maya having the opportunity to participate in Camp ANYTOWN®, and also being a part of Advocacy Academy. She has truly blossomed and grown into a young lady who has enough courage and is brave enough to stand up for what she believes in. I see that especially when it comes to her friends; if she feels like they’re not being treated well or there’s some type of injustice, she is bold enough to step up and say something. We are grateful to Community Tampa Bay for the experiences that they allotted her to participate in ANYTOWN® and Advocacy Academy and we are truly supporters of their work as a result.”
This Giving Tuesday, you can help us continue empowering young humans to grow, blossom, and advocate. Your gift makes experiences like ANYTOWN® and Advocacy Academy possible for young people across the Tampa Bay region.
