Through Social Service Board, students connect classroom learning with real-world impact, developing the character, leadership, and civic responsibility that define the Characteristics of a New Trier graduate.
With over 600 registered volunteers, Social Service is the largest student run organization at New Trier. The many opportunities offered enable students to help others through community outreach programs while also learning about themselves. Students gain valuable perspectives as they work with people outside their familiar environments. The groups are a place to feel totally comfortable, free of prejudice, social status, and competition. With increasing participation, we are enthusiastic that New Trier is making a difference in our world. Take action and get involved.
Everyone is Welcome!
Over the years, our work has extended far beyond a single site or event. What began as individual service opportunities has grown into sustained partnerships, cross-neighborhood collaboration, and meaningful intergenerational impact.
Thousands of service hours contributed by students annually
Ongoing partnerships across multiple neighborhoods
Engagement with children, teens, adults, and seniors
Consistent weekly presence at community sites
Long-term relationships rather than one-time events
Our students do not simply volunteer — they build relationships. They return week after week, learning names, stories, and the needs of the communities they serve.
Our partnerships are built on:
Reliability
Respect
Mutual growth
Responsiveness to community needs
These relationships allow students to see beyond their own lived experiences and engage meaningfully with diverse communities across the city.
Our service touches:
Young children needing academic support
Families navigating food insecurity
Seniors seeking connection and companionship
Community members experiencing housing instability
Neighborhood organizations working toward long-term stability
Each experience broadens students' understanding of equity, dignity, and shared humanity.
The impact is not measured in hours alone.
Students develop:
Empathy
Leadership
Cultural awareness
Confidence
A deeper sense of social responsibility
Over time, service becomes not just an activity, but a lens through which students understand the world.
Year after year, our community shows up.
We respond to changing needs.
We expand partnerships thoughtfully.
We reflect and grow.
Our impact is cumulative — built on consistency, reflection, and care.