Young people are both dreamers and agents of change. Such an idea can be seen through the On-Purpose Teen Initiative, established by the students involved with TEEN DAY. Also called the OPT In Program, this youth-led support group successfully aided local teenagers during their pursuit of various passion projects, such as connecting youth with volunteer opportunities, setting up a compost system for a community garden, and sewing a prom dress. Participants in the program were able to execute their ideas with both fiscal and peer support.
TEEN DAY Ithaca is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the youth community through a variety of educational opportunities with an emphasis on affordability. Approximately 70% of youth engaged with TEEN DAY are at or near the poverty line. For the majority of TEEN DAY participants, pursuing a passion project might pose a financial burden, or even prove to be infeasible due to the lack of resources or support. Sustainable Finger Lakes awarded the OPT In Program a $400 grant to help remove these barriers through fiscal assistance. TEEN DAY reported that the grant directly supported the completion of student projects, as much of the funds were used for the reimbursement of OPT In participants.
After many months of careful planning, the OPT In Program team decided on a structure which would provide the most benefit to its participants. Local teens could apply to be part of the program’s 6-week cycle with the intention of completing a self-directed project. Once accepted, the cohort attended weekly hybrid meetings, allowing participants to offer and receive peer support, as well as share their progress. According to the TEEN DAY team, “Many participants requested—and received—support with feedback, accountability, time management, and practical troubleshooting.”
The first round of the OPT In program last spring supported 14 participants in executing their passion projects. However, the impact of the program was not simply in the projects’ final products, but in the communal process it took to create them. Participants fostered a community of respect and support through consistently showing up and sharing their work, connecting people across differing ages and backgrounds. To celebrate their hard work, the OPT In program held a showcase displaying the cohort’s final projects.
Sustainable Finger Lakes is glad to play a small part in such an impactful project! Sustainable Finger Lakes is currently looking to help bring community-centered sustainability projects to life for the Fall 2026 Neighborhood Mini-Grant cycle. Learn more about the program by visiting: https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/neighborhood-mini-grant-program/
For Tompkins, Cortland, and Cayuga County residents, the deadline for the Fall 2026 cycle is Oct 1, 2026.
