Pelham Together, an organization dedicated to engaging Pelham’s youth in civic activities, recently introduced new leadership with the appointment of Pelham alum Olivia Ting as the organization’s new Youth Advocate. Ting, a long-time resident and graduate of Pelham schools, began working for Pelham Together in March.
“It was kind of serendipitous, honestly, and it is really full circle,” said Ting. “I went to school in Pelham for preschool and graduated from high school here. And then I went to college, and I lived abroad after college for a little bit. And when I came back, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do.”
After graduating from Tufts University with bachelor’s degrees in English and Sociology, Ting began interning at the International Rescue Committee in New York City, an organization working to integrate immigrants and asylum seekers into the United States. The committee helps immigrants find housing, education, job opportunities, and health benefits. However, unsatisfied with a much less hands-on role as an administrative worker, Ting ended her time there.
Around that time, the Pelham Together Youth Advocate position had just opened up. “I was immediately drawn to it because it felt like something that was much more grassroots oriented,” Ting says. “I liked that I got to be super connected to the local youth. Given that I grew up here, I think that I have a pretty good understanding of what it’s like to live here and the various issues that you face.” Ting was aware of Pelham Together during high school and felt compelled to apply due to the community and familiarity with the organization.
According to Ting, her degrees in English and Sociology are particularly useful for her role. “I think my English and Sociology background allows me to think perceptually and be able to apply operational, administrative, behind-the-scenes logistics with on-the-ground work,” Ting said. Ting’s position entails writing grants for Pelham Together by researching, summarizing, and analyzing data and communicating it in a way that is persuasive and relevant to the organization’s goals. Additionally, she must follow up on grant conditions and ensure that the initiatives Pelham Together facilitates not only align with their mission and values, but also align with what they have agreed with the federal government to accomplish.
As a Youth Advocate, Ting’s responsibilities differ on a day-to-day basis. On some days, Ting plans for events, such as “Say Hi Day” and the high school Club Fair, with the support of Pelham Together’s Youth Council. Other times, Ting attends administrative meetings with schools and other Pelham Together staff. Currently, she is working on a grant for the Westchester County Health Bureau, an organization that, by allotting $50,000, invests in “human power” to programs that prioritize youth development. “It’s really exciting,” said Ting.
Through Pelham Together, Ting hopes to bring change to the lack of community and leadership among Pelham’s youth. Ting believes modern technology is a big factor in this conflict. “I think access to social media and smartphones is problematic,” said Ting. “I think that it causes a lot of adverse and toxic peer pressure. I think it causes a lot of anxiety.” Pelham Together has worked hard in an attempt to reverse this effect. Through initiatives such as Pelham Overnight, their teen summer internship, and “Say Hi Day,” the organization strives to rebuild lost connections. Ting’s newest initiative, called Hope Squad, is another effort in this direction. Hope Squad is a group of trained high school students nominated by their peers who students can come to with depressive or suicidal thoughts. Fulfilling their motto, “you’re a connector, not a counselor,” the nominee can then report this student to a trained counselor.
Outside of Pelham Together, Olivia Ting has many passions. She enjoys knitting, especially sweaters in the fall, baking citrus olive oil cakes, swimming, and is currently training for a triathlon. Additionally, she is relearning French and the cello, is in a book club with her college friends, and plans to become a writing tutor.
