Change the world (after homework)

Angelica Roque is president of Tree Musketeers, a nonprofit organization that promotes tree plantings and other environmental issues, but she’s not your typical high-powered exec. The El Segundo resident is a 16-year-old student who, like many young people, has discovered the joys of volunteering.

“I’m hooked for life,” Roque says. “I like helping people and changing the world. Plus, volunteering is really fun.”

Roque and about 300 other youth volunteers will be out Saturday planting 50 pine trees on the median strip of El Segundo Boulevard near LAX. The project is only one part of Global Youth Service Day, during which volunteers around the world participate in myriad community-service activities.

In the U.S., young volunteers will take part Friday through Sunday in National Youth Service Day, organized annually by Youth Service America.

The American Red Cross Chapter of Greater Long Beach will host an anti-violence education event featuring youth bands. In Northridge, young people will set up libraries in homeless shelters in a campaign called Project Book and Blankies. YMCA of Orange County is coordinating playground cleanups, a food drive and other activities across the county.

“I think we as a society are realizing that our children are not ‘problems to be fixed,’ but assets,” says Youth Service America President Steven Culbertson. “Our kids are not only the hope of the future, but the hope of today.”

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Getting involved

Tree Musketeers: (310) 322-0263

American Red Cross: Greater Long Beach chapter, (562) 595-6341

Project Book and Blankies:

(818) 366-2030

YMCA of Orange County:

(714) 549-9622, Ext. 24

Youth Service America: For general information about National Youth Service Day, call (202) 296-2992.