Yvette Hicks’ first volunteer experience was as a candy striper growing up in Hartford, Connecticut. Since moving to Baltimore in 2008, she’s been deeply involved with the nominating committee of the Junior League of Baltimore, an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

  “When I first moved here, I had more time to give,” says Hicks. “Then I became invested in these activities, and they became a priority like everything

else. It makes me feel good to help others.” Among her many volunteering activities, she serves meals with her teenage son at Our Daily Bread, speaks to students about achieving academic success for the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education and volunteers for Adopt-a-Class through Johns Hopkins’ Project REACH. She also recently signed up to help the P-TECH program, which blends high school and college classes with work experience to help students build careers in science, technology, engineering and math.