VOICES of VU-PHL: Caroleen Jakmian
Looking forward to enjoying cold beer and delicious apps at Second District Brewing after our event next Saturday? You have Caroleen Jakmian to thank for that. Caroleen is our Director of Networking and is responsible for planning our monthly #afterJawns and quarterly happy hours. Check our our latest Q&A to learn more about Caroleen and how moving to Philly from the Middle East at age 17 influenced her passion for volunteering!
Caroleen Jakmian, Director of Partnerships
How did you get involved in VU PHL?
For years, I had been looking for a way to volunteer more in the Philadelphia area, but I found it challenging to find opportunities that fit within my corporate life schedule. Then, a coworker and friend had mentioned VU PHL to me, it was very new and was focused on providing an accessible service community for Philadelphians… and best of all the events were monthly and always on a Saturday. It was perfect. I went to my first event in July 2017 and it didn’t take long for me to become a regular volunteer.
What is your favorite part of volunteering with VU PHL?
The community that I’ve watched grow and evolve over the past few years is absolutely my favorite part of volunteering with VU PHL. Being able to engage with others that are passionate about volunteering and hearing why they love spending their Saturdays with us has been extremely rewarding.
Why is giving back so important to you?
I moved to Philadelphia from the Middle East in 2008 when I was 17, it was my first time living in a large urban city and seeing how much philanthropic work was valued here. Throughout the years, I signed up for volunteer events whenever I could but it never felt consistent enough and I knew there was so much more I could be doing and VU PHL has been instrumental in that.
What advice do you have for young Philadelphians looking to get more involved in the community?
Come to one of our events! Even if you’re curious, or just looking to donate a couple hours of your time, check out one of our events and see if it’s for you. Our events are always the 2nd Saturday of every month and if that doesn’t work for you, you can always check out our website and see what our partners are up to! I also encourage people to keep an eye out for our happy hours and networking events as a way to come meet the team and learn more about us!
Can you give us a recap of our December event at PCC?
Philadelphia Community Corps provides career training programs that empower under served citizens to revitalize blighted neighborhoods by deconstructing vacant buildings and salvaging materials for reuse. Together, the team organized their giant new warehouse! Sorting through hundreds of plates and china, organizing doors, hardware, tools, and moving LITERALLY TONS of lumber!