Letter From Our FOunder
How It All Began
When I was just 12 years old, the Flint Water Crisis devastated my hometown. I didn’t fully understand the politics behind it at the time but I knew something was deeply wrong. Families couldn’t trust the water coming from their own taps. People were getting sick. The systems that were supposed to protect us had failed. And it felt like no one outside of Flint truly cared. I was young, but I was also creative and determined. I told my relatives, “I want more people to care about Flint.” So I designed a t-shirt that made a statement and with their help, I started hosting small water drives to get clean water into the hands of those who needed it most.
That was the beginning.
When I got to college years later, I realized that what I had started as a kid was more than just a good idea—it was a movement in the making. I used my time in college to build a real business plan, learning how to turn that early passion into a sustainable nonprofit. I studied social impact, community organizing, and business strategy—all with one goal: to make service more creative, accessible, and rooted in the communities that need it most.
That goal became The Movement Street.
The Movement Street reimagines volunteerism by removing the barriers that keep people out and designing service experiences that invite people in. We offer flexible, culturally resonant, and joyful pathways to serve including in-person activations, virtual service options, and passive fundraising through service-inspired apparel. Our model meets people where they are whether they have five minutes or five hours to give.
But we don’t just organize events. We build ecosystems of care, community leadership, and sustained civic engagement. By centering culture, accessibility, and creativity, we transform volunteering from a chore into a powerful, collective experience. This is how we grow a generation of changemakers and how we ensure that communities have the capacity to care for themselves and each other.
our solution:
Volunteerism is at a historic low in the U.S., especially among Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. While many people want to give back, they face real barriers: limited time, lack of transportation, insufficient childcare, unclear pathways to get involved, and volunteer spaces that feel culturally disconnected or unwelcoming. Traditional service models often fail to meet people where they are both literally and emotionally.
This decline in engagement comes at a critical cost. Communities are left without the people power needed to respond to urgent issues like food insecurity, water injustice, housing instability, and mental health disparities. Nonprofits, mutual aid groups, and grassroots organizers are stretched thin, trying to meet rising needs with shrinking volunteer support. Without strong civic infrastructure and consistent community care, underserved neighborhoods remain locked in cycles of crisis and underinvestment.
The Problem:
Today, The Movement Street is a national nonprofit that creates joyful and inclusive ways for people especially Black, Brown, and marginalized individuals—to give back. We organize creative volunteer events, build student and city chapters, and even sell purpose-driven apparel that funds local impact work. We meet people where they are and help them build a lifelong relationship with service.
My “why” will always go back to that moment when I was 12 and believed people could care more if given the right invitation. The Movement Street is my way of keeping that invitation open, every single day.
In Service,
Lyric Amodia
Our impact
Time given back into the community through TMS initiatives.
850,000 Service Hours
3,677 community members
Since our inception, TMS has engaged over 3,677 community members across our chapter locations.
30+ events
hosted since our establishment.
Program Model Breakdown
Block parties, wellness festivals, and hyperlocal clean-ups that feel as warm as a family reunion and as fun as a night out with friends.
Pop-Up Events
Our flagship events like Creative Classic (arts & culture gala), ThanksGIVEAWAY (community food & essentials drive), and Movement Fest (our wellness festival)—bring people together where creativity, culture, and service collide.
Signature Activations
Our service-driven merch line helps you give back just by getting dressed—proceeds directly support grassroots programs.
Passive Volunteerism
Lead or join a school or city chapter to create change where you are.
Chapters
We leverage digital tools to remove barriers to service—hosting livestreamed workshops, civic campaigns, and online activations that make it easy to participate from anywhere.
Virtual Engagement
Our campaigns and trainings are designed to foster intergenerational learning and collaboration—bringing together emerging leaders and experienced changemakers. We host skill-building sessions and civic engagement efforts designed and led by creatives, educators, and organizers who reflect the communities we serve.
Workshops & Campaigns
Thank you to our incredible partners!
At The Movement Street, we know that real change doesn't happen alone. These partners have walked alongside us donating their time, resources, and belief in our mission. Together, we've made impact possible.
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Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint
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DC prep academy
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Flint Community outreach center
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Flint Freedom schools
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Solidcore
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SW Community Gardens
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Souk
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the washington informer
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Torch of Wisdom Foundation
Our Programs and Services
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Events
The Movement Street commits to curating events that enrich the lives of community members. People’s lives are impacted most by their experiences, so TMS plans events that are meant to put a modern spin on community service work while providing a space for relationship building through engaging and unique activities.
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Community Initiatives
In addition to event hosting, TMS organizes community initiatives as ways to directly aid communal causes. These initiatives consist of resource drives (clothing, food, toy, etc.), little libraries, and collaboration with local farms and gardens located in the current chapter service areas to volunteer and beautify.
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Merchandise
TMS Merchandise is designed by TMS members and collaborators and brings direct awareness to specific causes that affect the communities highlighted. Every cause has its own dedicated collection, and proceeds from these collections are redirected to the support efforts. Merchandise is sold at TMS events and online.