VOICES of VU: Brooke Bartolo, VU-PHL Director of Networking

For this months Voices of VU, we bring to you our very own Brooke Bartolo, the new Director of Networking! Read the Q&A below to get to know Brooke and all of the goodness she is bringing to our VU team!

How did you get involved in VU-PHL? 

My first VU-PHL event was actually also VU-PHL's first volunteer event, a street clean-up with the North Broad Renaissance back in 2017.  I was still "newish" to Philly and had been looking for ways to give back to the community and connect with other like-minded young professionals in the city, when a coworker (the famous, Ramo Sok), mentioned VU-PHL and asked if (fellow board member) Caroleen and I would like to come volunteer.  I was instantly drawn to the volunteers who, despite it being a Saturday morning, were more than excited to pick up trash, make new friends, and made everyone feel included.  Their excitement was infectious, and I've been hooked ever since.  Plus - who doesn't love a good "after-jawn"?

What is your favorite part of volunteering with VU-PHL? 

My favorite part of volunteering with VU-PHL is the ability to volunteer with dozens of different organizations and to continue to give back to the city I love.  Every VU-PHL event is something different, whether it's wading through mud to clean up a wildlife refuge (it's fun, I promise!), painting an elementary school parking lot with basketball courts and recess-like activities, or putting together "welcome kits" for newly arrived refugees and immigrants - every volunteer event with VU-PHL is new, fun, exciting, and fulfilling.  There are so many incredible organizations giving back to the Philadelphia community, and Volunteering Untapped truly highlights that, giving you the opportunity to partner with as many organizations as possible and helping you also find your "volunteer path" and the types of organizations that speak to you. (plus, insert cheesy line about the amazing people I've met along the way) ;)

Why is giving back so important to you? 

One of my favorite quotes and life mottos is "Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Though it may feel a little cliche, it's something that drives me to be better for myself and for everyone I meet.  I recognize that I am very fortunate to be in a place that affords me the ability to give back, and it brings me joy to be able to do so.  Volunteering helps me clear my head and keep perspective, even in my own life, on what really matters.  I have also completely fallen in love with the city of Philadelphia, and want to give back and continue to build this community as much as I possibly can.

As a co-host, can you give us a recap of our September virtual Quizzo night? 

Our September virtual Quizzo night was our third virtual game night of the year, and was a huge success! (minus 2020 being, well, 2020, and crashing our google spreadsheets before being able to announce the winner in real-time**facepalm**).  We had over 40 people test their knowledge in 4 different categories - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?", "Famous Movie Quotes," "Pop Culture/Current Events", and last, but certainly not least, our music category, "Bands With Food In Their Name."  Our first place team was "Ok Zoomers" and best team name of the night was a tie between "Lockdown Funk You Up" and "Ruth Bader Quizberg."  Now, we're not all fun and games - September's Quizzo event was the last night of VU-PHL's donation initiative to support key organizations advocating for Black communities in Philadelphia and Kenosha, and together we raised over $1,000 for Bloc by Bloc Milwaukee and Reclaim Philadelphia.  A huge thank you, again, to all those who donated and participated in our Quizzo night!

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing as a VU-PHL Board member? 

As the new Director of Networking, I'm excited to come up with new, creative and fun ways for our volunteers to interact with each other and continue to make connections past our Saturday morning volunteer events.  No one loves a good "after-jawn" as much as I do (and for those who don't know what that is, the after-jawn is the "happy hour"-like get-together we host after each volunteer event) - it puts the "beer" in "volunt-beering" - however I'm looking forward to finding additional ways to connect with all aspects of the Philadelphia community and give our volunteers unique experiences through volunteering with us.  It's already been inspiring to watch the VU-PHL board find creative ways to connect in our new virtual environment, including our newly instated virtual game nights, and I'm looking forward to being able to continue to build on that.

What advice do you have for Philadelphians looking to get more involved in their community? 

In the wise words of some shoe company, "Just Do It" - and we'll be with you every step of the way!  Volunteering Untapped Philadelphia has created an incredibly inclusive, easily accessible, and fun way to dip your toes into the world of volunteering.  Coming to one of our events is a great way to meet people who have similar values as you, and share a sense of community and desire to give back while having fun.  VU-PHL gives you a chance to create a volunteering experience that works for you - whether that's coming to every single event, choosing the volunteer events with organizations that mean a lot to you, or simply wanting to give back on a Saturday you find yourself in Philly with some free time on your hands - any path you choose to take will have a positive impact on both you and the city we live in.  Philadelphia has a vibrant community - the best way to discover it is to immerse yourself in it.

Lastly, what is your favorite local restaurant, and any menu recommendations?

Plot twist!  #Voluntbeering demands a brewery callout, and my favorite local brewery is Triple Bottom Brewing.  Triple Bottom Brewing is a woman-owned business with a social mission, and is Philly's "fair chance brewery," meaning they actively seek to hire people who might be excluded from economic opportunity, including people who have experienced homelessness and incarceration.  Their mission is to "create moments of joy and connection, empower each other to craft a better future, and protect the health of the planet...it's always been bigger than beer."  Their beer is just as amazing as their mission - plus, with beer called "Good Attitude" and "It's a Vibe," you can't go wrong.