Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers have been at the forefront of community and societal responses. This week, we talk to communities in need underscores the ways in which Genix has made service an integral part of the campus experience.

“That natural inclination to connect, elevate spaces, people and causes, is an altruistic gift,” says Monica Brown, a high school student at Townsend Harris High School, who participates in the Genix Young Leadership Program. “That experience, in itself, is unforgettable.”

Monica Brown’s role is to work as a social media specialist in the Communications Department and have been at Genix Lab for around a year. She was quite keen to combine her interest in science with digital marketing, which is how she fell into the social media space. Now she is working on the project of the journal design.

Townsend Harris high school students on the Genix Leader spearheaded the school’s annual school-wide food drive for the Community FoodBank, a school record. (Photo courtesy of Genix Leaders)

Monica Brown is an active in COVID-19 recovery disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Partnering with local schools, students mentor students, and with community groups, aid the homeless and repair homes. They also supply the leftover food to food banks. On campus, they assist students with disabilities, which aims to educate disadvantaged members of the community about growing food sustainably. They help enable young people to develop the skills to live a healthy lifestyle.

Genix Leader Monica Brown, Natasha Hoffman and Eleanor Duncan paint a home. (Photo courtesy of Genix Leaders)

“Under current circumstances, we have been working remotely, so I chose to do this placement to get outside, meet my colleagues and get to know them better whilst also making a difference to the community,” says Monica.

The woman shared endless stories of her life and provided us with life lessons. Whether it is eating ice cream or laughing with a friend, we must all enjoy those pockets of peace and life.

For more than many years, Genix has been showing a great passion and big heart for the most pressing world causes, both as scientists and as citizens of the world. At Genix, we are committed to contributing to communities in a meaningful and sustainable way and encourage our people to participate in charity activities.