Celina Poon spent her early childhood in Boston without learning much about local government or how to get involved in her community. Growing up in an immigrant family, she often saw public institutions as distant and difficult to understand. She only learned about civic education later in her youth. That experience inspired the 19-year-old student to help other young people in her hometown become more involved in their communities. As an intern with the Commonwealth Seminar, a Massachusetts organization that works to make public life more accessible, Poon led projects that helped more than 300 young people learn about local government and community action. Her efforts earned national recognition from Youth Service America, which named her an Everyday Young Hero in October 2026. The award recognizes young leaders across the United States who use volunteer work and community service to address local needs.
Opening doors for young citizens
The Commonwealth Seminar works to make state and local government easier to understand, especially for communities that have often been left out of public discussions. When Poon joined the organization as an intern, she became responsible for planning its youth conference. She created the educational program, arranged guest speakers, and organized workshops for teenagers and young adults who had little experience with local government and public policy. According to profiles published by Youth Service America, her program showed participants how to turn everyday problems in their neighborhoods into organized efforts to bring about change. Poon pointed out that many young people and immigrant families want to make their neighborhoods better but do not know where to begin. Without a clear understanding of how local government works or how to contact lawmakers, many residents remain disconnected from decisions that affect their daily lives. Her conference aimed to make learning about government more practical. Instead of focusing only on classroom lessons, she gave participants useful skills. These included taking part in public meetings, contacting local representatives, and organizing efforts to address neighborhood problems.
Blending community arts with public life
Along with planning the conference, Poon created the Arts and Culture Fair. The event was designed to bring together creative activities and community involvement. It featured 12 local artists and community organizations in Boston, showing how art projects can help shape neighborhood identity and support social change. The fair gave local artists a chance to display work about cultural history, public spaces, and equal opportunities. At the same time, local non-profit organizations set up interactive booths where visitors could learn about their work and community programs. By bringing local art and community services together, Poon wanted to make civic participation feel welcoming and easy to understand rather than complicated or formal. The event gave residents a relaxed place to discuss public policy, community identity, and changes to their neighborhoods. Youth Service America organizers noted that Poon’s approach showed how creative activities outside traditional government settings can encourage more people to take part in public life. This was especially important for young people who might not normally attend town hall meetings or public hearings.
Applying architecture to community preservation
Poon’s work in community organizing also connects with her studies. She is currently a second-year Bachelor of Architecture student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her studies explore how the design of buildings and public spaces can affect the way people connect with one another. Her academic interests include protecting older neighborhoods, preserving historic buildings, and creating public spaces that everyone can access. According to her profile on Youth Service America’s website, Poon hopes to use her design skills to protect places that hold cultural importance for longtime residents. She is particularly interested in everyday public spaces and historic buildings that may be demolished or neglected during urban redevelopment. Poon believes that well-designed public buildings and spaces can help communities maintain trust, preserve their history, and stay connected. Her future plans include combining the restoration of historic buildings with community outreach. She wants to make sure longtime residents have a direct say in how their neighborhoods change over time. By bringing together architecture and the civic education projects she developed in Boston, Poon hopes to help communities protect their local history while creating welcoming public spaces for future generations.