Last week, on April 16th, representatives from nearly 50 nonprofit organizations came to Albany High School to talk to members of the student body, over a brunch provided by Honest Weight Food Co-op. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to make their voices heard, for nonprofits to mingle and discuss ideas, and for everyone to work together to make Albany a better, safer, and more secure place. But how did this happen, and who brought them all together?

The Serve Albany Brunch was an event organized by students for everyone. Through many meetings of deliberate planning, they created an environment where students and nonprofits alike could come together to plan to make Albany a better place. This event was organized so everyone could meet numerous people from diverse backgrounds with different views and ideas on issues in Albany. These different life experiences and views let them all have different answers to the questions asked, such as:

• What issues do people experience in Albany?
• If there were a center for crisis relief in Albany, what would it look like?
• What do we need to do as a community to help others?

All in all, the event was very successful. Students and nonprofit representatives left with new and refreshed ideas on how they can help people and make a difference in Albany. The finalized plans and feedback are being passed along to organizations such as the Homeless & Travelers Aid Society (HATAS), Trinity Alliance, and Albany County Department of Mental Health. Hopefully, we can see some relief to those who need it soon. A massive thank you to the students who organized the event and everyone who showed up. A single step to make a difference can make a large impact. So, let’s all put our best foot forward into creating a safer, more secure Albany!