Charles Lee

Changing a community is easier said than done. Many organizations have tried, but only a few have really made tangible impact in their respective cities. ShareFest is one of those life-giving organizations that any city would love to call their own. What began as ministry through a church in our area has now turned into a leading community development organization making in difference in over 12 cities!

The mission of ShareFest is to engage cities, businesses, churches, and other local organizations in comprehensive community-building programs and services that meet needs in the lives of children and families, specifically in the South Bay and Harbor Areas of Southern California.

ShareFest Community Development’s vision is to create an imprint of lasting positive change in the community. They accomplish this through mentoring youth with a focus on developing the leaders of tomorrow, fostering volunteerism in the community through service projects in specific points of influence including schools, parks and community programs, and establishing working coalitions made up of city leaders, schools, businesses and the faith community.

ShareFest Community Development began as a simple idea to leverage a community’s assets through the creation of working coalitions, growing local leaders from interested youth and fostering volunteerism utilizing established community organizations. Rather than just coming in from the outside and encourage a community to be a consumer of services, ShareFest helps communities to help themselves, developing ownership. ShareFest believes this is the best way to create sustainable change. Ultimately this leads to improving the community’s long-term well-being through empowering physically and emotionally vulnerable children and their families.

Since its inception (began in 2004 and incorporated as 501c3 in 2006), they have mobilized over 30,000 volunteers that have provided over $6 million in work for our cities. Additionally, they have served and mentored over 600 youth (middle school and high school) through our Youth Development Academy to become the future leaders of our communities.

The following is a video of Jose, a young man who’s life was changed a few years back during ShareFest’s Summer Youth Development Academy and now interns for them.

I have had the privilege of working with ShareFest regularly and have seen first-hand their commitment to excellence and thoughtfulness in caring for our area. Chad Mayer, the Executive Director of ShareFest, will be speaking during our Origins Learning Tour this Friday July 23rd! Hope you can join us!

This post is tagged Chad Mayer, Change, Community Care, Community Development, Compassion, ShareFest, ShareFest Inc