Addison Moore, 20
Community activist and founder of Up Next
Addison moved to Westport in 2017, and started giving back almost as soon as he arrived. It was nothing new for the rising junior at Lafayette College— he has been fundraising since age seven, when he ran an apple-cider-and-donut stand to raise money for food insecurity in his native Manhattan. “I joined any organization I could,” he says, “but COVID-19 hit just as I was getting started.” The outbreak of the pandemic brought two issues into focus for Addison: “Suddenly, there was way more food insecurity in this area than ever before, and we weren’t able to connect with each other.” Up Next, the nonprofit Addison founded in response to this dual-pronged crisis, “provides youth with a safe community to come together and use their passion and innovation to try and solve social issues.” In the five years since Up Next’s founding, the group has ballooned to 300 members, serving all of Fairfield County. Addison credits his dad for instilling the idea of cross-pollinating service in him at such an early age. “At Up Next, we believe that giving back to the community and personal success aren’t mutually exclusive. That’s why our motto is ‘do good while doing well.’” As Up Next continues to thrive even with Addison away at college, he’s thinking of how he can help Westport even more in the future. “I absolutely adore this town,” he says. “I have created a lot here, but I’ve only been able to do that because it is such an incredibly supportive community.” So don’t be surprised if you see Addison’s name on a local ballot this fall. “There’s a lot here I still want to do. We are a community coming together—especially at a time where it feels like there are so many divisions—to effect positive change.” Follow Addison @addison._moore
Serena Diamond, age 14
Board Member, Westport Astronomical Society
For as long as she can remember, Serena has been fascinated by the cosmos. Even in elementary school, she was captivated by the realization of how “big, beautiful, and mysterious” our universe is. She discovered she had an aptitude for the science of it, too—she recalls the first astrophysics class she took as feeling "like I had unlocked a secret.” Shortly after taking that class, she discovered the Westport Astronomical Society (WAS), our local observatory. She started attending their events, going to public viewing nights, and eventually took their telescope training class (all before the end of middle school). “After I learned to open, close, and operate the dome telescope, I started volunteering at community nights, and I connected with the board members and an astrophysicist,” she says. “I expressed interest in helping with their occultations.” They brought her on board, and Serena learned how to do the occultation work herself (an occultation is when “an asteroid passes in front of a distant star,” she explains. “As the asteroid moves, it blocks the light from the star, and creates what I like to think of as a mini eclipse.” Recording and analyzing occultations is important for learning about asteroid size, shape, and orbit.) Serena proves that a passion for science transcends all else. “It’s really amazing to learn from the other members of WAS — not just the knowledge they have, but their experiences,” she says. And Westporters, in turn, can learn from Serena: she’s given presentations at the Westport Astronomical Society on her findings. “Even if you don’t have a passion for or want to have a career in astronomy, I recommend stopping by the observatory,” she says. Of course, Serena is passionate about astronomy, but that’s in no small part thanks to her involvement with WAS. “It’s an amazing resource.” To learn more about the Westport Astronomical Society, visit was-ct.org
Mika Smith, Giselle Bauer, and Talia Bauer
Recipients of the Westport National Charity League President’s Volunteer Service Award
Over the last year, these three high schoolers have dedicated more than 100 hours each to volunteering, and were recently awarded the National Charity League’s prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award for their efforts. NCL is a unique service organization— they specialize in mother-daughter volunteering. “My mom thought it would be a meaningful way for us to spend time together,” explains Giselle, who has volunteered with CT Quest for Peace, The Carver, Thr Gillespie Center, and Circle of Care through the NCL. “My parents have always emphasized the importance of kindness and helping others.” Giselle’s younger sister, Talia, loved that the NCL allowed them to try volunteering across many nonprofits. “I experimented a bit and stuck with the ones where I felt like I was making the biggest impact,” she says. (Her organizations include Person to Person, The Gillespie Center, and TAILS/WASA.) Mika originally joined the NCL in Texas, but when her family moved back to Westport, she was able to continue her work with the Westport chapter. “I spend most of my time volunteering for the Caroline House in Bridgeport,” Mika explains. “I really enjoyed volunteering at their summer camp, helping students with reading and math. It was during camp that I realized their library needed books, and I began to organize a book drive that has donated more than 500 books.” The trio has consistently prioritized their volunteer hours, and these awards are tangible proof. Says Mika: “Giving back to the community and seeing the impact your actions can have on others is a rewarding feeling.”
“I absolutely adore this town,” Addison tells Westport Lifestyle. “I have created a lot here, but I’ve only been able to do that because it is such an incredibly supportive community.”