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Earlier this week, President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2011 budget request to Congress, including proposed funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs. The Corporation's FY 2011 budget request of $1.4 billion will strengthen our nation's volunteer sector, foster innovation and civic engagement, and mobilize more than six million Americans to solve critical problems through national service. This is an increase of $266 million over last year, including a $216 million increase for AmeriCorps programs. Learn and Serve America is proposed to be funded at the same amount as last year of $40 million, approximately 2.8% of the entire CNCS budget. CNCS Budget Page: www.nationalservice.gov/about/budget/index.asp
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/service.pdf

President Obama's 2011 education budget signals a bold new direction for federal K-12 education policy with more competitive funding, more flexibility and a focus on the reforms likely to have the greatest impact on student success. The president's budget includes $49.7 billion for the Department of Education's discretionary programs, an increase of $3.5 billion over fiscal year 2010.
Dept. of Education Budget Page: www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/index.html
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/education.pdf

The release of the budget marks the first step in a long budget process. Later this spring, the House and Senate will complete the legislative appropriations process, including committee mark-ups, floor consideration, conference committees, and final passage. Learn more at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview

 

 
Pepsi Refresh Project
Pepsi is looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it. Pepsi is accepting 1000 ideas every month. Applications will be accepted from the 1st through the 15th, or until we receive 1,000 ideas, whichever comes first. The February application period has closed, but you can begin preparing to submit beginning March 1. www.refresheverything.com/myidea/idea

'Beyond the Welcome Home' Democracy 2.0 Summit

Concho Elementary kicked off its STEMester of service initiative by visiting a vacant parcel owned by the district. The parcel will be the focus of the Concho Service Learning Solution team's activities over the next semester. During the "Ignorance to Plowshares" program, students will find a use for a three-acre parcel of land owned by the school district that has been idle for over a decade. http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20406463&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6

 

 

UMass Dartmouth Student Receives State Farm Good Neighbor Grant to Support Two Middle School Food Pantries


Alton Middle School Seeds Service and Learning Opportunities

$500 prize for each category winner!

 
Huggable Heroes Award & Scholarship (Deadline: February 26)

Do Something Awards (Deadline: March 1)

Addison is a Girl Scout who does lots of volunteering and keeps busy with community service projects. Four year ago, as a Girl Scout, she rallied her troop to participate in a "One Warm Coat" coat drive - which she saw listed in a Girl Scout guide, of suggested community service projects. Early on it was clear that she would be a leader on this project, as she was excited to learn she could directly help the needy by connecting them with a warm coat - even one from her own closet.  She is currently in her 4th consecutive year of doing coat drives and over the years, her efforts have helped connect hundreds of people with a warm winter coat that fits well and keeps them warm. This year, she collected approximately 200 coats/jackets and approximately 50 cold weather accessories.  The items are distributed through a local homeless shelter for families, a facility for teen girls, local individuals and families, and other groups.
 
In addition to her work through her Girl Scout troop, Addison she stays involved with environmental projects. An avid turtle lover, she took notice several years ago to the danger turtles were facing, as they tried to navigate their way over a local roadway that travels through a wetlands area.  She collected some information and submitted an application for an environmental grant to the local historical society.  She was awarded the grant and those funds were used to purchase turtle crossing" signs for the town, to post on the roadway and warn motorists to watch for turtles.  She continues to want to help protect the local turtle population - as she's currently trying to bring attention to local turtle species that are identified/classified as endangered on the state/federal level. Currently, she is actively working to have legislation passed to protect a local species which is listed as endangered on the state/federal level, and having it named as the Massachusetts State Turtle.
 
Through her commitment to service, she continues to help her neighbors in need and advocates for the protection of local ecosystems and animal species. For her efforts, we honor her as one of our Everyday Young Heroes.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
3:30 - 4:30 pm Eastern Time
Presented by Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). NSDC's purpose calls for improving student learning by ensuring every educator engages in effective professional learning every day. Examine the vision and definition NSDC advocates to achieve this purpose. Review how nationally supported standards for staff development support professional development planning. Consider five leadership strategies and many resources to guide effective professional development in schools. Supplementary materials and all necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity are found on our website at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. Participation in this radio webcast is free and no registration is required.

 
New Online Resources for Students and Professionals Dedicated to Public Service from Rutgers University
The Rutgers-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration has recently launched new online resources for students and professionals dedicated to public service:

Student Poll from Junior Achievement and ING Reveals Teens Value "Doing Good" More than Making Money

Coalition for Community Schools National Forum 2010
Building Innovative Partnerships for Student Success: The Key to America's Future
April 7-9, 2010
Philadelphia, PA

This year we celebrate partnerships because they are at the heart of the community schools approach-bringing schools, families, community residents, higher education and an array of other community partners together around a common result-student success.

Innovation is the word of the day in education reform, as the U.S. Department of Education rolls out its new education reform strategy. Community schools are an innovation that is turning around student performance as it builds on a very American principle, that schools are inextricably connected to their communities and best educate students when they function as centers of community. Student success is the result that everyone is seeking for young people...enabling them to graduate from high school ready for careers, college, and citizenship. Attaining this goal is vital to the future for our nation.

www.communityschools.org


Conference Calendar: 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 dmiranda@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

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Best,