Walking Hand-n-Hand
Education Initiatives
Serving People with a Mission’s Hand-n-Hand Leadership Program is a youth-driven initiative designed to empower teenagers and young adults to succeed in their fields and become bridge builders in their communities. Through a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement, and philanthropy, the program provides students with the skills, networks, and experiences they need to create meaningful impact.
The program is built on three core pillars: Education Workshops, Exposure Trips, and the Philanthropy Project. Together, these components combine personal development with real-world learning, giving young leaders both the knowledge and the practice to lead with purpose.
SPM collaborates with high schools, colleges, local nonprofits, and corporate partners to deliver this transformative experience. These partnerships ensure leaders gain comprehensive education, mentorship, and access to opportunities that prepare them for professional success and community impact.
Beyond leadership training, Hand-n-Hand also serves as a bridge between generations, creating inclusive environments where younger and older individuals connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. By fostering intergenerational mentorship and shared responsibility, the program strengthens communities and builds a culture of lasting, purpose-driven leadership.
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Partnering Education Institutions
Students & Alumni
Environmental Initiatives
Serving People with a Mission’s Giving People Donations Drive is an innovative environmental service designed to combat fast fashion, food insecurity, and resource overconsumption. This citywide initiative transforms items that might otherwise be discarded into valuable resources for community members in need—reducing waste while strengthening neighborhoods.
Through partnerships with corporate offices (for professional clothing), grocery stores and food pantries (for meals and essentials), and in-kind donors (for household and personal items), SPM collects, repurposes, and redistributes resources across Chicago. These efforts ensure that clothing, food, and goods are given a second life, providing direct support to individuals and families while keeping usable materials out of landfills.
By fostering a culture of recycling, reuse, and shared responsibility, the Giving People Donations Drive advances both environmental sustainability and community well-being. It stands as a bridge between organizations, businesses, and neighborhoods—proving that when resources are shared wisely, everyone benefits.
