Global Leadership Initiatives for Youth (GLIFY)

A student-led non-profit organization in the East Bay, Northern California, dedicated to diverse, impactful community service.

Our Mission

To inspire middle and high school students to use their knowledge, skills, creativity, and imagination to promote culture exchange, help bring underprivileged people toward a brighter future, and to create hope and change around the world.

Our News

Dive into the freshest highlights with our monthly newsletter, where we bring you the buzz on all things GLIFY! Discover the innovative projects taking shape, the inspiring stories of our newest members, and get a front-row seat to the exciting events we have on the horizon.

News Bulletin

2026 Youth Mental Health Seminar

By Maggie Luo

On March 8, GLIFY hosted its annual Youth Mental Health Seminar, bringing together students and parents to learn more about supporting youth well-being. The event featured guest speaker Dr. Julie Xie, who shared practical advice on maintaining mental and physical health in today’s demanding academic environment.

During the seminar, Dr. Xie discussed several key topics related to student wellness, including the importance of getting enough sleep, developing effective study habits, managing time efficiently, and maintaining regular physical exercise. To demonstrate the benefits of movement, she invited the audience to stand midway through the event and participate in a short group workout. This highlighted how brief physical exercise can refresh the mind and improve focus.

Dr. Xie also addressed the challenges students face when balancing academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities and offered strategies for managing stress in high-pressure environments. Some concepts attendees remembered most vividly were the effects of sleep deprivation on the body, the Pomodoro study technique, and the acronym HERO: H for hope, E for efficacy, R for resilience, and O for optimism.

After the seminar, members of GLIFY presented Dr. Xie with a gift to thank her for sharing her knowledge with the community. Following the presentation, parents and students stayed to socialize and participate in volunteer craft activities such as making keychains and other handmade items.

San Lorenzo Family Help Center

By Maggie Luo

On November 22nd, five GLIFY volunteers spent four hours helping out at the San Lorenzo Family Help Center, a community store in San Leandro. The volunteers organized the area, sorted items, and bagged fresh produce. When families arrived to shop for the food, volunteers helped hand out food and kept everything running smoothly.

The center offered a variety of items, including stuffing and turkey for Thanksgiving, along with fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, desserts, and more. This month, the center has seen a major increase in need. Normally they serve about 1,100 different families, but due to the government shutdown, that number has grown by about 10%. The center receives around 35,000 pounds of donated food every month, plus $25,000 to $30,000 from food banks. In just the last four weeks, they have received 2 tons of additional food from both food banks and community donors due to the government shutdown.

With Thanksgiving coming soon, volunteers also took a group picture with each person holding a turkey, a small reminder of all the things we’re thankful for. It was a busy day with lots of work, but it was worth it to support so many families in the community.

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