BranchOut! Believes: Showing Up Is an Act of Leadership

We want to thank Newton Mayor Marc Laredo for the invitation. Student of BranchOut! Newton, Lexington, and Cambridge in Greater Boston were honored to attend Mayor Laredo's inauguration on January 1st, 2026. It was an experience that strongly reaffirmed the importance of youth volunteerism and civic engagement. The Massachusetts governor was also present, and one message she shared deeply resonated with our mission: our nation was founded on ordinary people volunteering their time to manage and care for their own towns. Volunteerism is not simply a “nice to have”—it is at the heart of our democracy.

This message feels especially important for many youth. In our communities, volunteering is sometimes viewed as a resume booster rather than a civic responsibility. Yet this event showed us how local government truly functions. Many civic servants—such as school committee members and other local officials—are paid very little and often hold full-time jobs outside their public roles. They choose to sacrifice evenings, weekends, and personal time to serve their communities, driven by a commitment to public service rather than personal gain.

At the same time, events like this highlight a reality we cannot ignore: there are still not many minority individuals serving in official civic roles. When our communities are not represented at decision-making tables, our concerns, challenges, and perspectives are more likely to be overlooked. That is another reason it is so important for students and families to attend civic events, volunteer locally, and be visible in public spaces—to demonstrate that we care, are invested, and matter.

For high school students, civic engagement does not begin with voting; it starts with participation. By attending city events, volunteering in the community, and learning how local government works, young people take the first steps toward leadership and representation.

With eight chapters nationwide, BranchOut! believes that volunteering is about more than service hours—it is about visibility, responsibility, and shaping the future of our communities. We hope this experience inspires more students, especially Asian American youth, to engage early, serve boldly, and recognize their power to make a difference.