A WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF
Published for the Service and Service-Learning Field Since 1994
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June 3, 2010 - Volume 17 #22 - Circulation: 37,000
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YSA Accepting Applications for
STEMester of Service Grant Program
Youth Service America is accepting applications for the second year of STEMester of Service. Funded by Learn and Serve  America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, STEMester of Service incorporates YSA's semester-long service-learning framework to engage educators and students in addressing critical environmental needs and connecting them to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curricula. YSA is seeking 10 middle schools with large populations of disadvantaged youth to join 20 returning STEMester of Service grantees. STEM schools must be located in one of the 12 states with highest dropout rates (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Washington). The $5,000 grant (that includes travel and training at YSA's Youth Service Institute in Detroit in October) supports teachers as they engage local partners and guide students in addressing local needs through planning and implementing sustainable service projects that launch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 17, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). Applications are due July 15, 2010. Grants will be announced in late July. For additional information about STEMester of Service, please visit www.ysa.org/grants/stem |
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NEWS FROM THE FIELD
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Teen Gets 'Good On' and Wins Volunteer Opportunity
with Miley Cyrus
Get Ur Good On, an online youth engagement initiative founded by
Miley Cyrus in partnership with YSA, will award Annica
Benning the opportunity to volunteer with Miley Cyrus for a day.
Cyrus, who regularly donates her time and attention to a number of
different charities, is excited to have Annica accompany her on one of
her own upcoming service activities.
The contest, announced in April, asked teens to create a video about
how they got their "good on" for Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25.
Benning from Arizona demonstrated her commitment to healthy communities
by coordinating The Bridge, a youth summit connecting native and
non-native teens to promote friendship and remove stereotypes. In addition to the
volunteer opportunity, Benning will receive a $500 Get Ur Good On
sustainability grant, supporting her ongoing endeavors to make positive
community interaction. To watch the video about Miley's Global Youth Service Day activity, and
to learn more about Get Ur Good On, visit www.GetUrGoodOn.org.
DoSomething.Org Announces Jane Lynch As Host of the 2010 VH1 Do Something Awards
DoSomething.org recently announced comedic actress and star of
"Glee", Jane Lynch as host of their star-studded "Do Something Awards"
live telecast on VH1 on July 19, 2010 at 9PM EDT. The final five
nominees and grant recipients to be honored during the show were also
announced. Each nominee is honored for their commitment to service and
social change with a community grant of $10,000. Of these five nominees,
a grand prize winner will receive a $100,000 grant for their cause
during the live broadcast from the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
DoSomething.org also announced the 2010 celebrity
categories, honoring the entertainment industry for its continued
dedication to activism and charity projects. All voting for these
categories, including influential celebrities, musicians, comedians, and
athletes, inspiring films and television shows, and social media
initiatives can be done by the public at http://DoSomething.VH1.com
G8/G20 Global Day of Action
Later this month, the most powerful leaders from around the world will gather around two summit tables, the G8 table in Huntsville and the G20 table in Toronto.
These powerful
leaders need to hear what needs to be done to create a world that is
fair and sustainable for all of us. At the Table is a global civil society campaign,
mobilizing citizens to "take their place" at these critical global
summits. It is a call to leaders to "take their place" in forging bold
decisions on the issues people care about - poverty, climate change, and
economic justice. There are many ways for individuals of all ages to take action; learn more at: http://atthetable2010.org/individuals/actnow
Campus Progress and Huffington Post College National Keynote Contest
If you had the chance to speak to over 1,000 politically engaged
young people from the stage of a major conference, and tens of thousands
more online and through the media, about what inspired you, and what
you're doing to advance progressive change, what would you say?
Think about it, grab a camera (or a laptop), shoot a 1-3 minute
video, and submit that video in the drop box on this page to participate
in the Campus Progress and Huffington Post College
National Keynote Contest. They will select the top six applicants and post their submissions on The
Huffington Post. The top three winners will receive free travel and
accommodations to DC on July 7th & 8th to address the 2010 Campus
Progress National Conference. Learn more at: www.campusprogress.org/conference/5594/campus-progress-and-huffington-post-college-national-keynote-contest
World Environment Day - June 5
World Environment Day (WED) 2010 is one of the
biggest, most widely celebrated, global days of positive,
environmental action. WED 2010 aims to be the biggest WED celebration
ever and we count on you to make this happen! We call for action -
organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your
community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organize a
collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive .
. . the possibilities are endless. Whatever you do, tell us about
it. We will post your activities on this website and make it part
of the 'Wide
World of WED' map. Learn more, register your activity, download resources and activity ideas at: www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/
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GRANTS & AWARDS
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| These grant announcements are provided in partnership with GrantStation.com: Your Fast Track to Funding
AMA Foundation Healthy Living Grant Program (Deadline: July 15 )
The Healthy Living Grant Program, an initiative of the AMA Foundation,
supports grassroots public health projects that encourage healthy
lifestyles in communities across the nation. Grants of up to $5,000
will be awarded in the following three categories: Nutrition/Physical
Fitness; Alcohol, Substance Abuse, and Smoking Prevention; and Violence
Prevention. Funded projects should target underserved and/or at-risk
youth between the ages of 2-21. Organizations that have been in
existence for at least one year and that have an annual operating
budget of $500,000 or less are eligible to apply. Application guidelines and forms are
available at: www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/ama-foundation/our-programs/public-health/healthy-living-grants.shtml
WhyHunger: Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards (Deadline: July 15)
The Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards program, administered by
WhyHunger, provides grants to community-based organizations judged
outstanding for their innovative approaches to fighting hunger and
poverty in the United States by empowering people and building
self-reliance. The awards honor those organizations that help people
improve their own lives and the communities in which they live.
Eligible organizations must offer program activities that go beyond
emergency food, shelter, and other types of assistance to address the
root causes of poverty. (Organizations providing only basic services
will not be considered.) In this grant cycle, ten organizations will
receive awards of up to $7,000. www.whyhunger.org/programs/grassroots-action-network/272.html
The
Collaboration Prize (Deadline: June 16)
The Collaboration Prize, created by the Lodestar Foundation, is a
national award program designed to identify and showcase models of
collaboration among nonprofit organizations. Recognizing the impact that
can be achieved from working together, the prize shines a spotlight on
collaborations that cooperate to demonstrate innovative and effective
responses to challenges or opportunities. To be eligible, a
collaboration must involve two or more U.S. nonprofit organizations and
must have been in operation for at least 18 months. Each of eight
finalists will receive $12,500 and the winner will receive an
additional $150,000. The online application process will open June 1,
2010 and close on July 16, 2010. http://thecollaborationprize.org/
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PROFILES IN SERVICE
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
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Youth Service America asked Members of Congress to recognize youth volunteers on Global Youth Service Day with the National Youth Service Award (NYSA). We'll feature several NYSA winners each week.
Kayla Jeffrey, 16
Crescent City, CA
Nominated by Representative
Mike Thompson
Kayla makes dinner once a
week for the women and children living in the Harrington House, a shelter for
those who have experienced domestic violence and are seeking refuge. She also
aids the staff in maintaining the facilities with great enthusiasm and
represents the Harrington House at many community events.
Russell Leibowitz, 17
Mount Sinai, NY
Nominated by Representative
Tim Bishop
Russell founded the Great
Knights Chess Club, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping youth develop
problem solving skills through the game of chess. Over 1,500 students have participated in
Great Knights Chess Club activities to date.
Ashley Erin Dotson, 14
Miami, FL
Nominated by Senator Bill
Nelson
Ashley has organized several fundraisers and drives for Haiti relief,
gathering supplies and much needed donations. She is currently collecting teddy bears to be donated to the children of
Haiti.
Amanda McKnight, 17
Charlotte, NC
Nominated by Senator Kay
Hagan
Amanda started the "Bear and a Book" program, which
partnered with the Levine Children's Hospital to donate a teddy bear and a book
to sick children. She was compelled to
start this project after a previous service trip.
Jordan Somer, 16
Papillion, NE
Nominated by Senator Mike
Johanns
In 2007, Jordan founded the annual Miss
Amazing Pageant, an event that gives girls and women with disabilities the
opportunity to participate in a pageant, develop public speaking skills, and
build a positive self-image. The money raised from tickets sales and silent
auctions, $15,000 since the pageant's founding, has been donated to various
community organizations. Beyond the
direct support of people with disabilities and her community, Jordan has led
others to service, engaging 50 of her peers.
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TOOLS, TRAINING, RESOURCES & RESEARCH
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| Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens
and Tweens Today
Beliefs and values, and their influence on decision making,
have commanded significant media and public attention in the new
millennium. What life choices will youth
make when confronted with real-life dilemmas? How different or similar
are youth on ethics and moral judgment compared to youth 20 years ago?
Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of
Teens and Tweens Today (2009), a national study conducted by the
Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) in partnership with Harris
Interactive explores what youth today value and how they go about
making decisions, based on research conducted with 3,263 3rd to
12th-graders from around the country.
This work paints an encouraging picture
about a generation of youth responsible to themselves and to others,
and who value diversity, acceptance, and community involvement. It also
highlights the important role that adults play in helping girls to
actualize their good intentions. Download the Executive Summary and learn more at: www.girlscouts.org/research/publications/girlleadership/good_intentions.asp
America After 3PM
Special Report on Summer: Missed Opportunities, Unmet Demand
Summer
learning programs are one important way to keep children engaged and
learning
throughout the summer months, but a recent study released by the
Afterschool
Alliance finds that the supply of summer learning programs isn't keeping
up with the demand for them. Sponsored by The Wallace Foundation, America After 3PM
Special Report on Summer: Missed Opportunities, Unmet Demand
demonstrates that the nation is missing a key opportunity to help
millions of children
succeed in school. The report examines data from the 2009 America After 3PM study,
sponsored by JCPenney
Afterschool, and focuses
specifically on summer learning program participation and its key role
in
keeping children engaged in learning throughout the summer months. The study finds that only 25 percent of school-age children (an estimated 14.3
million
children) participate in summer learning programs.
Based on parent interest in
enrolling their child in a summer learning program, 56 percent of
all
non-participating children (an estimated 24 million children) would
likely
enroll in summer learning programs. Even
more data on summer learning programs throughout the
country and in each state can be found in the America After 3PM
Special Report on Summer section of the Afterschool
Alliance website at www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM_summer.cfm
PTA Summer of Learning Toolkit
The PTA Urban Family Engagement Initiative Summer of Learning Toolkit
calendar features quick ideas on almost every day of the week. This calendar of summer activities for children can help you keep your
students engaged in fun learning activities throughout the summer. You
will find activities, developed by National PTA's family
engagement experts, for students at all grade levels, no matter
what their interests are. Special
links take you to downloadable, step-by-step instructions for longer
activities. The calendar runs through August with dozens of summer
activities for children. To access the calendar, click below or go to www.PTA.org/summeroflearning
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SERVICE CALENDARS
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| Conferences & Events
Habitat 360: Youth Leadership Conference 2010
October 22-24
Columbus, OH
www.habitat.org/gvylc/default.aspx
The YLC 2010 agenda includes three days packed with
helpful workshops, inspiring speakers and fun events to help you explore
new ideas, celebrate your successes and network with other leaders of
change.
The conference is the best opportunity for those involved with
Habitat for Humanity's youth programs -- Campus Chapters, Collegiate
Challenge, Youth United, Learn and Build Experience, and Teacher Fellows
-- to connect with other Habitat staff and volunteers from around the
country. Student leaders, advisers and affiliate representatives are all
encourage to attend.
Register by May 31
to take advantage of early-bird
rates, and save $40 per attendee! Information about and application
for registration grants is also available on the registration page. If your group would like to present, please submit a presentation
proposal before August 1.
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
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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"Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is
the only means."
- Albert Einstein
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