by Amy Feng Zhang

From NYC to South Carolina and Ghana

New York City’s fast-moving environment inevitably shapes the worldview of its students. While curricular travel is a hallmark of Poly Prep’s academic programming, a lesser known, but growing travel opportunity exists through Poly’s service learning program. Students can choose from among pre-approved programs or select one on their own for review. Most recently, these journeys took four Poly students on an eight-day trip through Washington, D.C., and rural South Carolina, while another student traveled further afield to the Republic of Ghana.

America Tributaries

In the summer of 2025, the American Tributaries Program traveled South with Poly students eager to engage with a different side of American life. From rural towns to farming communities, students met with a wide range of people, from congressional aides to local farmers, with the goal of listening and learning about different ways of life. In an era marked by political polarization, the journey from New York City to the American South presented a contrasting cultural landscape. Yet, amid these regional differences, students discovered an underlying commonality rooted in shared goals for community.

Isabella Crane ’28, had a chance to share her experience on a local news program. For Crane, those moments of connection often happened unexpectedly. “For me, the most memorable moments weren’t the planned political meetings—they were the unexpected ones. At a biscuit shop in South Carolina, a woman mistook us for a volleyball team—and I play volleyball—so we ended up having this wonderful conversation about sports and life. When you actually talk to people face-to-face, you discover shared experiences and interests, and you relate to one another in a way that could never be achieved in political debates.” 

“What struck me most throughout my trip was that—despite different political views or ideologies—everyone shared the same basic goals. We all want our country and communities to thrive, we’re all searching for purpose, and we’re all trying to do what we think is right. Having open conversations without an agenda helps us learn and talk about one another’s values and have more intellectual humility.”

This kind of service learning challenges the “us vs. them” narrative that often shapes the nation. Students gain the essential context to see how local circumstances shape individual worldviews. Whether it is walking the streets of NYC or travelling around the rural heart of South Carolina, these experiences provide the perspective needed to see past differences and find common ground.

Kappa League in Ghana

Just as domestic travel offers a new lens on American life, Poly students’ service learning travel also creates opportunities to connect with global communities and personal heritage. Jackson Pratt ’26 traveled to Ghana through his involvement with Kappa League. This 8-day cultural service trip combined community engagement, education, and historical reflection. 

“I learned that those who are fortunate have a responsibility to help others, and that service extends beyond borders.”

The trip’s curator and mentor, Simone Pratt and Shawn Mason, designed the experience to help young men see themselves as global citizens. “We cultivated this travel to support the notion that it is important to have a sense of your roots,” they explained. “For many African American students, a primary goal is to experience being part of a racial majority for the first time. This often leads to a more nuanced understanding of their identity as both ‘American’ and ‘African’ within the broader diaspora.”

Pratt and his peers were immersed in daily life and community connection. “The excitement the students showed when we arrived stood out most to me, especially the large celebration held in the school’s central square. It reflected the joy and significance of our visit,” Pratt shared. This spirit of connection continued as the group visited local schools to mentor young students and bonded through shared activities like basketball and boxing. 

Alongside service, the trip also offered powerful moments of historical learning, including visits to former slave dungeons and participation in traditional naming ceremonies with local chiefs. For Pratt, navigating these experiences offered a new perspective on his own background. “This experience deepened my understanding of my identity by showing both the similarities and differences between African Americans and Africans,” he explained. “We share a strong sense of community and collective support, even though African communities are not connected by skin color in the same way.” 

Ultimately, the journey taught Pratt a key lesson about service. “I learned that those who are fortunate have a responsibility to help others, and that service extends beyond borders,” he reflected. Like the American Tributaries experience, the Ghana trip reflects Poly’s broader vision for service learning travel: fostering cultural understanding, and meaningful connection through real-world experiences.

Service Learning at Poly

At Poly, education extends beyond the classroom walls. Under the leadership of Director of Service Learning and History faculty Elijah Sivin, the school’s service learning graduation requirement plays a central role in students’ academic and character development. Many Poly students choose to participate through Service Learning Teams (SLTs), which provide local service opportunities that address issues ranging from food insecurity to environmental sustainability. These teams, many of which have been featured in Poly’s service spotlight stories, allow students to build long-term relationships with organizations in their own communities and often inspire continued involvement beyond graduation. 

“Students feel at home and understand the community they are helping,” Sivins explained. “Plus, it’s easier for them to continue the work locally once school is out. This continuity is at the heart of the program: fostering a commitment to underserved communities that extends beyond a graduation requirement.” Many of the SLTs also incorporate significant design or leadership roles for students, giving them the opportunity to bring their service work to a new level. 

While SLTs focus on local initiatives, service travel offers a complementary path by immersing students in unfamiliar environments. These travel-based experiences are designed to broaden perspectives, foster cultural humility, and deepen students’ understanding of communities beyond their own.  

Poly is intentional about the organizations it partners with, prioritizing nonprofit groups that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. This ensures that service learning, both local and travel-based, centers on genuine community needs. As Sivin looks ahead, he hopes to expand opportunities that provide hands-on experiences. “Poly has a lovely campus,” he said, “but there’s a whole world beyond it, too.”

Current Students & Families

For those interested in fulfilling their service requirement through travel, Poly offers a list of pre-approved partner organizations. For more information on these programs or to learn about new SLT opportunities for the current year, please contact Elijah Sivin or visit the Parent Portal.

About the Author

Amy Feng Zhang is a senior and a Macaulay Honors Scholar at Baruch College. This year, she is interning with the Engagement & Communications Department.

Read More Stories About Poly Prep Community Service and SLTs