Local Youth Leader, Luvya Dhar, Joins Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project
The Midland Area Youth Action Council, a core initiative of the Midland Area Community Foundation, is proud to announce that Luvya Dhar, a senior at H.H. Dow High School and President of the Midland Area Youth Action Council, has been selected to join the Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project (MCFYP).
MCFYP is the statewide youth philanthropy council for Michigan, composed of young people who currently serve or have recently served on their Youth Advisory [Action] Council [Committee]. MCFYP empowers youth to take an active role in service and grantmaking through conferences, regional training, and leadership development opportunities. The committee plays a vital role in advancing youth philanthropy across the state, nation, and world. Supported by the Council of Michigan Foundations, MCFYP members help plan and facilitate statewide programming, including the annual Youth Grantmakers Summer Leadership Conference.
“Serving on the MCFYP Committee is a significant honor; only two or three new members are selected each year,” said Sara JacobsCarter, Youth Impact Coordinator for the Midland Area Community Foundation. “But Luvya will fit right in! He has demonstrated strong leadership, compassion, and commitment to improving our community through his work with the Youth Action Council. This opportunity will allow him to represent Midland County while helping shape youth philanthropy across Michigan.”
Luvya has been a dedicated member of the Youth Action Council throughout high school, where he has helped guide grantmaking decisions that support youth-driven projects and nonprofit organizations across Midland County. Under his leadership, the council has continued to focus on service, inclusion, and projects that empower young people to make a meaningful difference.
Outside of the Youth Action Council, Luvya is actively involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. He plays tennis, participates in the marching band and two symphonic groups, explores science from outer space to gene research in health and medicine, and serves in several student leadership and volunteer groups.
“Sitting on the MCFYP Committee will give Luvya the chance to learn from other young philanthropists from across the state, including fellow Midland native T’Emi Oshinand,” added JacobsCarter. “We are so proud of their service and accomplishments and excited to see how their MCFYP experience will further strengthen the youth voice in Midland County.”
MCFYP traces its roots back to the early 1990s, when the Council of Michigan Foundations and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation partnered to engage young people in philanthropy. This collaboration led to the creation of Youth Advisory [Action] Committees [Councils] at community foundations across Michigan, as well as the MCFYP Committee, which provides statewide leadership and guidance to youth philanthropy programs. Today, the committee consists of 13 to 15 young leaders who serve three-year terms, typically beginning in their senior year of high school and continuing through their college years.
Through his selection, Luvya joins the legacy of youth leaders who are shaping the future of philanthropy in Michigan and beyond. His participation reflects the continued strength of Midland County’s commitment to youth empowerment and community service.
For more information about the Midland Area Youth Action Council, visit midlandfdn.org/initiative/youthactioncouncil/.