05/12/2026
Our CEO Shreyaa Venkat had an incredible experience taking part as one of 40 national leaders at Youth Service America's “A New Era of Youth Service & Leadership in America” Summit in Wisconsin, hosted at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread alongside Points of Light, America's Service Commissions, & the National Youth Leadership Council!
Shreyaa had the honor of representing both NEST4US as founder & CEO and YSA as one of their youngest board members, speaking across several sessions, including a featured talk on “Reframing Youth as Today’s Leaders” & a Young Leaders Panel on breaking down barriers to doubling youth participation in service & civic life, where she shared about what we like to call the Youth Service Trifecta: access, trust, & belonging.
What she took away from this insightful convening was America’s youth service infrastructure needs a reimagining. Too often, young people are told to wait for the right age, the right title, or the right room before they can meaningfully contribute. But the truth is, they’re already showing up, leading, & making an impact in their communities. What’s missing is a system that actually recognizes that & gives them the support to grow.
That’s why we founded NEST4US at ages 10 & 13—not because we had everything figured out, but because we saw a need & believed young people could help meet it. Over the last 10 years, we’ve built service pathways, mentorship opportunities, & leadership pipelines that meet young people where they are & help them rise! 💙
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this moment calls for more than reflection: it calls for action. That means building a culture where service is accessible, meaningful, & shared across generations, & where every young person has the chance not just to participate, but to shape what comes next.
Who’s ready to co-create the new era of youth service with us?
www.nest4us.org