About Us
About Us
Our mission is to provide equally accessible service opportunities and to empower students of all backgrounds to find purpose through serving M-A and the local community.
In the fall of 2016, a group of 25 students at Menlo-Atherton High School started an evaluation of service-learning opportunities, inspired by international service experiences. They envisioned a Service-Learning Center (SLC) on campus and began expanding service initiatives such as a language exchange (Intercambio), an Environmental Club (Surfriders), and a mentorship program (Pride Pals). In 2017, they collaborated with Stanford University's Haas Center for Public Service, leading to a strategic plan and partnerships with local organizations. By January 2018, the students launched a Service-Learning Day, and added new programs like the Belle Haven Garden project, Step Up, and Empower for young women. The SLC now aims to provide accessible service opportunities and expand its community impact. They host service clubs on campus and service trips to other countries in partnership with Social Voyagers.
Our Values: 8 Principles of Ethical Service
"The Principles of Ethical and Effective Service are a tool... but not a full resolution of the tensions that arise in public service. The principles are aspirational and continue to evolve as our understanding of public service deepens. Ethical and effective service is itself a process and an orientation, not a checklist. Whether we are engaging in public service for the first time or bringing significant experience, our efforts are strengthened by an ongoing practice of critical reflection."