Isabelle Gardner '15 Shares Passion for Public Service for Millenials

Isabelle Gardner ‘15 was invited to participate in an inter-generational panel discussion at Dominican University called “Harnessing the Volunteer Spirit of the Millennial Generation”. This panel was part of an event called “Congress to Campus” where two former members of Congress visited Dominican to talk to students about public service and leadership. The panel was moderated by Dominican’s president, Mary Marcy, and included two former members of Congress, Dominican students leaders, and a representatives from the League of Women Voters.

While taking Mr. Tassone’s Honors Global Studies course at Marin Catholic, Isabelle gained an interest in global politics. She soon joined the Marin County Youth Commission (MCYC), where she became more aware of issues right here in Marin. MCYC is a political voice for young people to the Marin County Board of Supervisors and other policy makers. The organization has worked to improve youth services and raise awareness around environmental issues. Isabelle is very involved with work focused on tackling educational equity issues, and last year she was chair of the Educational Equity Committee. This year she is serving as MCYC co-chair which has given her first hand experience in drafting and advocating for local policies. This work has helped Isabelle realize how much she loves working to make a difference in her community.

Volunteering has been a part of Isabelle's life since she was twelve, but she really developed a passion for community service once she found Enriching Lives through Music. This organization has allowed her to help provide children with the same musical education she had at their age. Enriching Lives through Music is a non-profit based out of the canal that provides free to very low cost music instruction to students who would not be able to afford so otherwise. Isabelle began playing the violin when she was seven and has always been very grateful that she had this opportunity. She started interning the summer before her sophomore year at Marin Catholic, and still interns today. She states, “I think its really easy for me to enjoy my time with Enriching Lives through Music because I know I am giving children the opportunity to have a music education, which is proven to strengthen the mind and lead to increased graduation rates. Over the past year and a half, I have come to consider Enriching Lives through Music my second family because volunteering with them has allowed me to become part of the ELM community, and part of something bigger than myself.”

Isabelle believes it is easy for anyone to get involved with causes and nonprofit agencies here in Marin, and there are so many organizations to chose from that truly appreciate student involvement. “I think that is important to align your interests and your talents with your service so that you really gain from the experience," says Isabelle.

Isabelle believe it is important that Millennials not allow themselves to be labeled as disinterested or disengaged. Isabelle says, “I’ve met plenty of students who are very interested in political issues. Since the Marin County Youth Commission is a bipartisan organization, we not to discuss or make assumptions about personal politics. We don’t want our political affiliation to get in the way of the issues we are working on. We also felt that we would start to stereotype each other if we knew who was aligned with a specific political party. “Perhaps more Millennials would be interested in politics if politicians focused on issues rather than party affiliation.”

Click here to read article in SF Gate which features Isabelle and her passion for politics.