In high school, students take part in all kinds of extracurricular activities to explore their interests, build skills, and make an impact in their communities. Some join clubs or sports teams, while others take their passions a step further by creating something of their own.
At NVD, sophomores Lauren Young and Mia Messinger, both of whom have been dancing since they were young, founded Step2Shine, a student-led organization that collects and donates dancewear to dancers and studios in need. Inspired by their own lifelong connections to dance, the two created the organization to help make the activity more accessible to others and give more young dancers the opportunity to pursue what they love with confidence and joy.
“I’ve been dancing since I was two, and it has always been such an important and joyful part of my life,” Young said. “I started Step2Shine because I wanted to give back to my community and share that same love of dance with others.”
Messinger shared a similar experience with dancing, which made the organization’s mission especially meaningful to her.
“Dance has truly been a passion of mine ever since the age of two,” Messinger said. “By providing costumes and shoes for dancers who are less fortunate, [it] allows them to have a chance to feel confident and express themselves.”
That personal passion became the foundation of Step2Shine’s larger purpose. Young and Messinger explained that the organization is centered on making sure financial limitations do not prevent students from participating in dance.
“Step2Shine is a community-driven initiative dedicated to collecting and donating dance costumes and dancewear to underprivileged dancers and studios,” they said. “Our mission is to ensure that every dancer, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to express themselves, and have a chance to shine.”
Like many student-led efforts, turning the idea into a real organization came with challenges. From coordinating donations to managing shipping and outreach, the process required both time and persistence.
“One of the biggest challenges was organizing donations and managing the logistics of collecting, sorting, and shipping the costumes,” Young said. “It took time and effort to spread awareness and build support within the community, but it was all worth it in the end.”
Despite those challenges, Step2Shine has already made a meaningful impact. So far, the organization has donated hundreds of costumes and dozens of pairs of shoes, extending its reach far beyond the local community.
“So far, we have donated 365 costumes and 60 pairs of shoes, including a completed shipment to an organization based in Africa, Develop Africa,” Young said. “We are currently working on sending donations to the Caribbean, helping more dancers experience the joy of performing.”
For Young, one of the most rewarding parts of leading Step2Shine has been seeing the direct effect those donations have had on children.
“Receiving pictures and videos of the children who received our donations made us truly see the joy and confidence these donations bring to young dancers,” Young said.
Looking ahead, Young and Messinger said she hopes Step2Shine will continue expanding while involving more students at NVD.
“Moving forward, I hope to expand Step2Shine to reach even more communities and dancers around the world,” they said. “Students at NVD can get involved by donating dance wear, helping organize drives, or spreading awareness to support our mission.”
Students interested in learning more about Step2Shine can visit step2shinenj.org.
