Community-engaged learning often provides opportunities for students to practice for their future careers in ways that support nonprofit missions. In spring 2026, public relations students in PR 425, a course about public relations strategy and ethics, had the chance to put theory into practice as consultants for Lansing nonprofit Todd Martin Youth Leadership (TMYL).

“Community engagement is part of the way I go about teaching a lot of my courses,” says Susan McFarlane-Alvarez, a professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “By doing so, students jump in at the deep end in terms of learning fundamental concepts of public relations strategy.”

McFarlane-Alvarez has traditionally taught PR 425 as a study abroad course partnering students with nonprofits and PR agencies in London. For spring 2026, she planned to connect students with a local organization and consulted with the CCEL Academic Programs Team for recommendations. Following this consultation, she met with TMYL leadership to learn more about the organization’s public relations priorities.

TMYL, renamed in June 2026 to Teaching and Mentoring Young Leaders to reflect its mission, prepares Lansing youth for success through year-round tennis, tutoring, and mentorship programs. By offering educational support and physical activity, TMYL aims to give youth and families a well-rounded tool kit for life.

“Seeing the impact TMYL has on these kids is truly inspiring,” says Ellie Wolfe, an advertising management student. “I learned that this organization supports kids beyond teaching sports by also teaching teamwork, leadership, and responsibility to support their personal growth.”

Based on TMYL’s identified needs, groups of students received projects that would come together as one comprehensive campaign. These projects tasked students with strategizing actionable steps to boost the organization’s visibility to both community members and supporters. Priorities for projects included celebrating National Tennis Month, summer programs, corporate partnerships, fundraising, family support programs for the holiday season, annual reporting, and recruitment of coaches, mentors, and volunteers.

“While we are limited in our experience, they trusted our MSU education to be successful for them, which I was really proud of,” says Lucas Lomuntad, a public relations student minoring in sociology. His group strategized partnerships for TMYL’s annual fall fundraiser, Champion’s Weekend, that would raise community visibility for the event.

In identifying these projects, McFarlane-Alvarez and TMYL emphasized sustainability of the organization’s programs over time. For example, the groups that focused on recruitment drafted messaging that would bring in new volunteers and invite TMYL alumni back as coaches and mentors. “[These groups] realized that their thoughtful, research-based recommendations could help TMYL ensure their mission is continued through people power,” she says.

To strengthen the students’ ties to TMYL’s work, McFarlane-Alvarez also arranged a site visit with assistance from a Transportation Support Award. There, students heard testimonials from TMYL alumni who returned to continue the organization’s mission. She found that this visit was significant for students to understand the root of relationship building in their PR careers.

“The students expressed that they loved going into Lansing and being on the ground and seeing what the client was doing,” McFarlane-Alvarez shares from a feedback session she hosted for the class. “The site visit gave them a sense of continuity in terms of their ability to contribute to the community, whether it is around Lansing or in different cities if they relocate after graduation.”

Lomuntad adds, “[The site visit] gave a more authentic perspective because you can only do so much when you’re reading about an organization. I went into PR because it’s more relationship-based. Getting to talk to the people that are working there was a great experience and helped a lot.”

At the end of the semester, groups presented their projects to the class and a panel of TMYL representatives as recommendations for future recruitment and engagement efforts. Beyond the addition of these projects to their portfolio, PR 425 students came away from the course with a deeper understanding of how they can use their careers for positive social impact.

“[The course] made me feel more comfortable knowing nonprofit work is what I wanted to do with my career,” Lomuntad says. He went on to intern with the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) in summer 2026, exploring funding opportunities and gathering family testimonials for the organization’s youth sports programming. About his interview for Detroit PAL, Lomuntad shares, “I talked a lot about what I had done with TMYL because that was a unique experience, and I was telling them about real work that could make an impact on these kids’ lives in Lansing.”

Wolfe appreciated the opportunity to work alongside TMYL staff. “It's one thing to learn about public relations in class, but it's another to get hands-on experience and put everything I have learned into practice,” she says. “Hearing from employees and interns from TMYL helped me gain more of an understanding of how social media, brand awareness, and getting your name out there can help this organization grow.”

To learn more about TMYL and volunteer with their programs, visit tmyl.org.