BELLE GLADE — Two organizations that are founded and led by local teenagers are joining together to make it easy for residents in the Tri Cities area of Palm Beach County to make their voices heard and keep COVID-19 healthy. Glades Central High School students Anajiah Graham and I’Yunni Phillips founded Stand Up, Be Counted. The organization’s mission is to increase Census participation and voter registration in Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay. Nishah Jaferi and Jonathan Beres founded Hello Hygienics. The Spanish River High School student organization focuses on fighting homelessness and poverty by addressing the limited access to basic needs hygiene needs such as dental care, skincare, feminine products, and more.

Both organizations are part of the current class of Philanthropy Tank www.philanthropytank.org, a charity that funds and mentors young philanthropists’ programs.

This Sunday, Sept. 27, the teenagers’ and Philanthropy Tank, in collaboration with Palm Beach State College, will hold a Census and voter registration drive-thru event. The event will be held between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Palm Beach County State Campus in Belle Glade located at 1977 S.W. College Drive. Visitors can pull into the parking lot of the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center and register to vote, have an opportunity to fill out the Census, receive guidance on how to do both, and can receive a COVID-19 hygiene kit. Free lunch will also be provided by Tropical Smoothie.

“We have partnered with Hello Hygienics and Philanthropy Tank to empower local residents to raise their voices. We are determined to breaking down the barriers that prevent our community from political involvement” says Phillips. She adds “this Joint-initiative will promote Palm Beach County’s effort to combat COVID-19 while also encouraging the representation of our community through Census participation.”