Chain Reaction is teen-driven, teen-directed, and teen-organized, which means you won't just be volunteering, you will be helping lead the projects you take on to inspire change within the community. Sound scary? Not to worry! We will be with you every step of the way guiding and shaping you with our groundbreaking curriculum and exciting opportunities.
Chain Reaction utilizes service as its central teaching tool. What does this mean for you and your teen? Teens are coached and trained in leadership and soft skills through service projects. They are guided in selecting trade school, two-year or four-year college. Our program works in conjunction with their education to ensure they reach a meaningful career. We fills "gaps" in
education.
So let’s talk about the issue:
Chain Reaction invests in high school students because it is the ideal time to transform teen potential and impact the issue of post-secondary rates.
What are the Requirements and How do I join?
1. Be in High School
To be a member of CR, you must be in high school or at least the summer before going into 9th grade. To get the full benefits of the CR membership, we have a set of minimum requirements expected to be completed by every member.
2. Create an account and pay the 100$ Membership Fee
Registration opens June 1 and lasts the entire school year. Go to mychainreaction.org and click "SIGN UP" to create an account. This is located at the top right-hand of the page. Membership fee is $100 and need-based scholarships are available. Just contact our office and we will walk you through the qualifications. Rising freshman through seniors can join.
3. Complete a 6-Week Service Learning Project at the CR Center
Chain Reaction has a variety of service projects. You can pick and choose which weeks you would like to come during Fall, Spring, or Summer Semester.
CR "How To" Videos
How to sign up to be a Chain Reaction Member
How to find CR. Chain Reaction is located at 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, FL at building 98 on the second floor.
How to sign up for service opporunities.
When Are You Open?
Chain Reaction Center Hours (for teens only)
During School Year: Mon-Wed 3:30 am to 5:30 pm (Mondays are invite only)
During Summer: Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Office Hours
During School Year: Mon-Fri 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
During Summer: Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Meet The CR Team
Kristin G. Fairchild
Founder & Executive Director, 2003-Present
As founder and Executive Director of Chain Reaction, Kristin Fairchild saw a need for a teen volunteer center. With a background in Family and Child Development, in 2003 Kristin launched Chain Reaction which evolved into a teen leadership institute. Since the introduction of Chain Reaction to the local area, Kristin has recruited and taught over 5,000 teens how to make an impact beyond themselves. When she is not busy helping teens make an impact beyond themselves, Kristin spends time with her husband and three children.
Brianna Long
Program Manager, June 2020-Present
The former Teen President at Chain Reaction in 2018, is now a successful student of Social Work at the University of West Florida. As a Summer VISTA she was granted a scholarship to work with Chain Reaction during the summer of 2020. Her passion for teenagers and her heart for the nonprofit world, made her a valuable part of the Chain Reaction team. In her free time, Brianna likes to meet friends and to watch movies.
Faith Forehand
Administrator, June 2022-Present
In May 2022, Faith graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. Over the summer of 2022, she was introduced to Chain Reaction through the Americorps VISTA program. In college, Faith was heabily involved in volunterr work and wanted to continue her passion in helping the community. In her free time, Faith enjoys spending time with friends and family, going on walks, and reading.
Summer Vistas, Alumni, Teen presidents, Vice presidents, and Interns
Once a Chain Reaction teen graduates from High School, they become a CR Alumni. Many CR Alumnus continue to want to make an impact and join our staff! They do this by starting as Summer Vistas through the Americorps organization. Chain Reaction offers many leadership roles for our teen volunteers. Interns are teens who take charge in their service projects. Teen Presidents and Vice Presidents are seniors in high school that show great leadership within Chain Reaction.
The Science Behind Our Program
According to the book Influencer-the Power to Change Anything, if you change one or two behaviors…you can change anything. With 19 years of experience and hundreds of teen success stories, Chain Reaction focuses on impacting two behaviors through our service and leadership programs that result in college and career success.
Behavior #1: Teens need to be both personally and socially responsible.
Behavior #2: Teens need to build their resume each year in high school.
Our goal is to help students become the best version of themselves and leaders of their own lives. We do this through our service projects and leadership training program. This is all integrated into their time spent at the CR Center, located at Pensacola State College.
What Makes CR Different?
Through our service projects and leadership training program teen gain 24 soft skills, build a resume learning plan each academic year and they can hold an internship.
CR's Resume Learning Plan: With the support of our instructors, students discover their pathway and capture the requirements needed for any post-secondary program whether it be trade school, two-year or four-year college. The Resume Learning Plan curriculum is integrated into to CR's service learning programs. Remember your grade point average is only one line on your resume
CR Internship for Juniors and Seniors: Interning at Chain Reaction allows teens to lead service projects or plan triannual teen summits. Teens commit one day a week for an entire semester during the summer, fall or spring. Each week they participate in service and leadership trainings. Our teens build soft skills, self confidence and experiences that look great on college or work applications!
College Scholarships: Service learning opportunities make way for scholarship opportunities. Serving in CR is a great way to accumulate hours for Bright Futures, the Florida Medallion Scholarship, and many other service scholarships. In 2022, our teens accumulated about $3.3 million total in college scholarships thanks to CR.
