A WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF
Published for the Service and Service-Learning Field Since 1994
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January 21, 2010 - Volume 17 #3 - Circulation: 33,000
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Disney, together with Youth Service America, is offering Disney's Friends for Change Grants to help kids that are making environmentally friendly changes in their communities. Disney's Friends for Change is a program that encourages kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. The Friends for Change Grants will fund kids' projects that help the environment and will look to engage children ages 5-18 as leaders in their communities. Disney, working with YSA, will award 150 $500 grants throughout 2010.
The grant opportunity was just announced in December along with the release of a new holiday-inspired version of the Friends for Change anthem, Send It On, performed by Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. Learn more at: Disney.com/projectgreen
Disney's
Friends for Change Grants are open to schools, organizations and individuals
planning service projects and will focus on projects implemented by children
and youth ages 5-18. The goal of each grant is to inspire children to work with
their families, friends, schools and communities to address critical needs in
their local, national and global communities.
To be
eligible, projects will need to occurany
time during 2010 and should include one service or celebratory component on
Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, an annual campaign that mobilizes young
people around the world to make a positive impact in their communities.
The deadline to apply is next Friday, January 29.
http://www.ysa.org/grants
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FEATURED STORIES
NEWS FROM THE FIELD
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Cities of Service and Rockefeller Foundation Award First-Ever "Cities of Service Leadership Grants" to Ten Cities to Hire Chief Service Officers
Ten cities were selected to receive $200,000 two-year grants, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, to hire a Chief Service Officer - a senior city official dedicated to developing and implementing a citywide plan to increase volunteerism and target volunteers to address their city's greatest needs. Due to the extraordinary response from cities to the first request for proposals - 50 cities applied to receive one of the ten grants - the mayors and Dr. Rodin announced that there will be a second competition in the coming months to award similar grants to an additional ten cities. Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of Mayors from across the country, representing more than 38 million Americans in 80 cities, dedicated to engaging more Americans in service and channeling volunteers towards each city's most pressing challenges. The cities selected to receive leadership grants are Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville-Davidson, TN; Newark, NJ; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Sacramento, CA; Savannah, GA; Seattle, WA. Learn more at: www.citiesofservice.org
Vote for YSA on Best Buy's Big Give
Best Buy's @15 Big Give competition and virtual philanthropy initiative ends on January 30. That means teens, ages 13-18, only have nine more days to earn points and donate them Youth Service America. As a Lead Agency, grantee, teacher, youth, NSB reader, or someone who just loves YSA, this is a great opportunity to help us make $250,000 that we will use to engage children and youth all over the world in service and service-learning initiatives. To earn points and vote, you must be a teenager. Currently, YSA is in third place and we have a long way to go before we reach number one. Help us get there by registering - if you haven't already - and let your friends, students, nieces and nephews, and twitter followers know about this fun and easy way to contribute. To learn more about the Big Give visit, www.at15.com/points/big_give
Change.org Launches the Changemakers Network
What do U.S. Senator John Kerry, Actress and Activist Mia Farrow, Hip Hop Entrepreneur Russell Simmons and Attorney and Environmental Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have in common? They're all members of Change.org's Changemakers network, an exciting new initiative bringing together prominent activists, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, academics, and artists with a demonstrated ability to create change in the most important issues we face. More than 100,000 Change.org members voted to help select our first round of Changemakers. Now that they've been chosen, these Changemakers will be writing periodically on Change.org about their work, helping to advance public dialogue on major issues and mobilizing the Change.org community to get involved and take action. You can view the full list of Changemakers at www.change.org/changemakers |
SERVICEWIRE SCAN: MLK DAY SPECIAL EDITION
PRESS RELEASES, BLOGS, ARTICLES, JOB POSTINGS
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CNCS: Americans Mark King Day by Serving their Communities
More than 10,000 service projects in all 50 states address a multitude of pressing
social issues from poverty and hunger to homelessness and the dropout
crisis.
http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1632
CNCS: President, Mrs. Obama, and Senior Administration Officials Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. by Serving
President and Mrs. Obama, Cabinet Secretaries, Senior Administration
Officials Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service by
Participating in Community Service Projects Around Washington, DC
http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1633
Steve Culbertson on Huffington Post: "Youth Poised for Action"
"Barely a week before MLK Day, the Haitian earthquake reminded everyone,
including children and youth, of the many needs faced by millions --
food, water, clothes, medical aid, and shelter. And do you know what?
Our nation's young people didn't need any urging to serve." Read the entire post at: www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-culbertson
AOL BlackVoices: "Young People Follow Martin Luther King Jr.'s Mantra of Service"
Youth leaders from YSA Lead Agencies Pillsbury United Communities (Minneapolis, MN) and YouthVille Detroit (Detroit, MI) are featured in this post on youth activities on MLK Day of Service. http://blogs.blackvoices.com/2010/01/15/young-people-follow-martin-luther-king-jr-s-mantra-of-service/
Semester of Service & Global Youth Service Day Stories
Browse dozens of local media stories about Global Youth Service Day and Semester of Service Lead Agencies, STEMester of Service schools, UnitedHealth Heroes, and State Farm Good Neighbors at www.GYSD.org/news/updates |
GRANTS & AWARDS
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Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants (Deadline: January 30)
The Starbucks Foundation will solicit applications
from organizations that provide young people a continuum of services in
developing creative approaches to address pressing concerns in their
communities. Please complete a letter of inquiry for your organization.
The Starbucks Foundation will contact you if we'd like to request a
full grant proposal. Successful grant applicants will exhibit all of
the following qualities: Deliver services to youth, ages 6 - 24;
Preference will be given to organizations that focus on young people in
the age range of 12 and older, when they are able to take independent
action; Provides opportunity to combine learning with action that
support communities and further global citizenship; Deliver services,
disseminate information, provide training and/or build broad networks;
Provide opportunities for Starbucks partners and multiple stores to be
engaged in community service. The Starbucks Foundation
reviews the submissions on an annual basis; letters of inquiry
submitted between October 1, 2009 and January 30, 2010 will be reviewed
and considered for the spring 2010 grant round. Organizations selected
to advance in the process will be notified to complete a full
application by February 15, 2010. www.starbucks.com/aboutus/globalyoungsocialentrepreneurs.asp
Sprint Character Education Grants (Deadline: February 5)
Through
the Sprint Character Education Grant Program, the Sprint Foundation
will award grants to school districts and individual schools to fund
the purchase of resource materials, supplies, equipment and software
that facilitates and encourages character education among K-12
students. With a national reach, the program is open to all US public
schools (K-12) and US public school districts. The Sprint Character
Education Grant program will accept applications for Character
Education programs that promote youth leadership, youth volunteerism,
school pride and a positive school culture. www.sprint.com/responsibility/education/character
Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice Video Competition (Deadline: February 16)The stuff you use every day affects your environment, your community, and your planet. EPA is sponsoring a video competition to raise awareness of the connection between the environment and the "stuff" people use, consume, recycle, and throw away. The EPA needs your help in creating videos that will inspire community involvement, spread information and lead to action. Your passion, your creativity, and your ideas can make a difference. After all, it's our stuff, our planet, our choice. Make a 30 or 60 second video that reflects the theme of the competition-individual action in your community-by showing what you're doing to manage your "stuff." Submit a video that will inspire community
involvement, spread information and lead to action, and you could win
one of the following cash prizes: 1st prize - $2500; 2nd prize - $1500;
3rd prize - $1000; 2 Student Winners (13-18 years old) - $500 each. www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/video.htm
For Previously Featured Grants & Awards, visit: http://servicewire.org/nsb/Grants-and-Awards
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PROFILES IN SERVICE
EVERYDAY YOUNG HEROES
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Jordyn Schara - North Freedom, WI
Last year, Jordyn discovered that citizens in her community were dumping unwanted and expired medicines down the toilet or the sink, contaminating nearby lakes, river or ground water. Jordyn then discovered that prescription drug abuse among teens had become a growing problem within her community and amongst her classmates. She felt compelled to help her community and came up with the idea to start a safe drug disposal program.
After being told over and over by the WI Dept of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other local government agencies that they couldn't help her and that a 14 year could not possibly tackle this level of a project, Jordyn was tenacious in her determination to organize a drug collection event for her hometown. She gave presentations to the police department, local hospital, civic organizations, pharmacists and City Council and eventually won the respect and cooperation of her local government and police department along with state and national agencies. In 2009, Jordyn created Wisconsin P2D2 (Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal) in her hometown of Reedsburg, WI. P2D2 is a drug collection program in which community members are asked to clean out their medicine cabinets of old and unneeded drugs. The first drug disposal event in Reedsburg, WI was held on September 12th, and Jordyn collected over 440 pounds of drugs and also hosted a flu shot clinic, a free sharps disposal and a free mercury thermometer swap. Just one mercury thermometer can contaminate a seven acre lake. The cost to dispose of this household hazardous waste is $3/pound and so far Jordyn has raised over $7,000 to cover these disposal costs. Currently, Jordyn is writing to Wisconsin lawmakers to try to make P2D2 a state model for other counties to use.
In addition to helping her community by keeping drugs out of the town's groundwater and the hands of potential abusers, Jordyn is currently mentoring several youth in Wisconsin and Illinois on conducting their own drug disposal projects and in starting other community service projects in their hometowns. Her desire to create sustainable projects impacts our next generation, who are just waiting for mentors to come along and help them get started.
To nominate a young person who has improved their community through service to be recognized as an Everyday Young Hero, please visit www.ysa.org/awards/hero
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TOOLS, RESOURCES & RESEARCH
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GoToServiceLearning Lesson Plan Database
GoToServiceLearning
is an interactive Web site housing a database of quality
service-learning lesson plans from across the country, all tied to
state academic standards.
At GoToServiceLearning, teachers can search service-learning
lesson plans across the K-12 spectrum using parameters such as academic
content, service-learning themes, and grade level. Renowned
service-learning expert and consultant Cathryn Berger Kaye, who served
as primary advisor to the site's development, explains the key purpose
of this new resource: "This easy-to-use Web site invites teachers to
learn from the experiences of their peers and then to upload their own
service-learning success stories."
To find service-learning lesson plans (including a brand new "Help Haiti" lesson) or to upload your own, visit www.GoToServiceLearning.org
Summer 2010 Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service Internship Program
Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2010 Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service. Sponsored by The Fund for American Studies in partnership with Georgetown University, the Institute is a summer academic internship program held in Washington, D.C. for undergraduate students interested in volunteerism and careers in the nonprofit sector. The Institute combines substantive professional experience for 30 hours a week with a challenging academic experience. This fast-paced, eight-week residential program provides students from around the world with the opportunity to gain an edge in today's competitive job market and graduate school admissions, and experience the excitement of Washington first-hand. The Institute will be held June 6 - July 31, 2010. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until March 5, 2010. Students who complete their application by the priority deadline of February 5, 2010 will receive priority internship placement and scholarship consideration. For more information or to start an online application, please visit the website at www.DCinternships.org/IPVS
Bank of America
Student Leaders Internship Program
If you are a student with a passion for improving your community, learn more about the Bank of America Student Leaders Program! U.S. high school juniors and UK college students are eligible. Student Leaders will participate in an eight-week paid internship at a nonprofit organization and a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. (July 2010). Applications are due February 17, 2010. Learn more about Bank of America Student Leaders at: www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_studentleaders
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SERVICE CALENDARS
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Trainings, Conferences & Events
IMPACT: National Student Conference on Service, Advocacy & Social Action
March 19-21, 2010
The Clinton School of Public Service
Little Rock, Arkansas
The IMPACT Conference is a place where college students, administrators, faculty, national nonprofit organizations, socially-responsible companies and many other campus community members involved in service, activism, politics, advocacy, and other socially responsible work across philosophical and ideological lines can gather together. This spring the conference will be held at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. You won't want to miss this inspiring three-day conference, which will give students the opportunity to:
· Present a workshop at a national conference
· Attend thought provoking student-lead workshops and plenary sessions
· Attend a Hunger Banquet
· Network with representatives of non-profit agencies and companies at the Opportunities Fair
· Listen to nationally recognized keynote speakers and more!
Early Registration for the IMPACT Conference closes on January 22, 2010!
If
you are a Campus Compact, Bonner, or ACUI institution you must register
before January 22, 2010 to receive the registration discount.
To learn more about the IMPACT Conference and to register, please visit www.impactconference.org
We're currently updating the Conference Calendar for 2010.
http://www.servicewire.org/conferences
If you'd like your 2010 conference or event to be
included, please e-mail the name, date, and location (city, state) of the
conference to mminks@ysa.org with the subject line "NSB Conference." Include a
short blurb/description of the conference and the website you want people to be
directed to.
Seasons of Service
Souper Bowl of Caring - February 7
Join the movement that is transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving. Souper Bowl of Caring equips and mobilizes congregations, schools and businesses to positively impact their communities by collecting money or food on or near Super Bowl weekend. 100% of the collections are donated directly to the charity of each group's choice. Get planning resources and register at www.souperbowl.org
Seasons of Service Calendar
http://www.servicewire.org/seasonsofservice
If
you'd like your annual campaign/awareness event to be included, please e-mail the
name, date, and location (city, state) of the event to dmiranda@ysa.org with the subject line "Seasons of Service." Include a short
blurb/description of the event and the website you want people to
be directed to.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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It's up to us.
A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back - but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.
-Marian Wright Edelman
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