When young people are given the chance to lead, incredible things happen.
This year, CAMBA’s Junior Board launched “Project for a Purpose” — a new participatory budgeting initiative that put decision-making directly into the hands of youth served at CAMBA’s Van Dyke Community Center in Brownsville.
The idea was simple but powerful: youth would develop program ideas, pitch them in a Shark Tank–style event, vote on their favorite, and then bring the winning concept to life.
“It was a great experience to get a chance to see the presentations from the kids in the Van Dyke Community Center,” said CAMBA Junior Board Member Betty Kalin. “It was clear that the kids and CAMBA staff had put a lot of thought and effort into their presentations from the overall concepts to the budgets and outreach efforts. As Junior Board members, we love the opportunity to work directly with the community we’re serving, and this was a fantastic opportunity for that.”
The winning proposal? Brownsville Blockbusters — a free community movie night series designed to bring neighbors together for food, fun, and connection.
Brownsville Blockbusters transforms the Van Dyke Community Center into a welcoming evening gathering space, complete with:
- Warm dinners and refreshments
- Comfortable seating for all ages
- Popcorn, snacks, and themed treats
- Interactive fun like trivia, raffles, and community shout-outs
Each movie night becomes an opportunity for families to gather, laugh, and connect — turning an ordinary evening into something meaningful.
CAMBA’s Junior Board is currently raising $5,000 to bring this youth-led vision and other meaningful programs fully to life. Your support helps ensure that Brownsville Blockbusters becomes a lasting community tradition — where dinner, storytelling, and shared joy bring neighbors together.