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July 28, 2011
Volume 18, No. 30
Circulation: 39,950
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Back To School: YSA Grants For 2011-2012 Semester of Service
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As students, teachers, and administrators head back to school in the next several weeks, YSA is accepting applications for our two school-based service-learning Semester of Service grant programs: our STEMester of Service program and our Sodexo School Engagement program.
YSA just received the results of the evaluation of the 2010-2011 STEMester of Service program from RMC Research and they show that Semester of Service improves student outcomes while improving communities.
37 teachers in 25 middle schools across the country received STEMester of Service grants last year. STEMester service-learning students had statistically significant gains in academic engagement, 21st century skills, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) measures than did comparison students. Teachers reported that service-learning impacted students in all measured outcome areas. Perceived impacts were highest for students' increased ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds, to be engaged in school, to possess greater leadership sills, and to collaborate with others.
Do you want to bring one of YSA's high impact Semester of Service programs to your school? Apply for one of our grants. More information about both of our school grant programs is in the Grants & Awards section below, or visit www.YSA.org/grants
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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News From the Field
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Staples for Students: Do Something for Kids in Need
This summer, Staples and DoSomething.org will host their fourth annual Staples for Students School Supply Drive - a campaign mobilizing young people to collect school supplies for the 13 million kids who return to school without basic supplies. You can drop off school supplies at any Staples store throughout the United States from July 3rd through September 17th. DoSomething.org and Staples will make sure they get to local students who need them the most. Learn how to host your own school supply drive at http://bit.ly/oqPWa1
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26 Seconds Campaign Engages Youth to Be Heard, Be Seen, Be More
Every 26 seconds in America, a student drops out of high school. State Farm has launched a campaign to address this startling statistic and engage those who can most directly affect change - young people themselves. The campaign, titled "26 Seconds," uses interests - like music, sports and video - to engage youth. The website provides an online venue for youth to express feelings on the issue and creatively share thoughts and talents - encouraging them and their peers to make graduation a priority so they become more than a statistic. http://bit.ly/qKgBOQ
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YouthMovements.org
This week at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Youth, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, TakingITGlobal and the Global Youth Action Network announced YouthMovements.org. The site will launch later this year, providing young people and youth-serving organizations with a tool to effectively share information about their projects, to promote projects and initiatives collaboratively, and to help track and celebrate the collective progress being made worldwide to tackle the world's most challenging issues. Young people and youth-serving organizations interested in participating in this exciting new initiative can register online to receive more information at http://bit.ly/qOPEgL
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YSA Seeks Back to School Bloggers
Have you checked out the YSA Blog recently? Recently, guest blogs have included "Hugh O'Brian Youth: Leadership through Service", "Bringing Youth On Board", and "Something to Tweet About". YSA is looking for five people to join the ranks of YSA's guest bloggers and contribute to our "Back to School" series on our blog. We are looking for students, educators, administrators and community partners to write two blog posts about their experiences with education and service. Please apply by August 4th. Learn more and apply at http://bit.ly/obUQ2Z
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Grants & Awards
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STEMester of Service YSA Grants
Deadline: August 8
YSA is seeking middle schools with large populations of disadvantaged youth in the 19 states with highest dropout rates (AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, GA, HI, IL, LA, MI, MT, NV, NM, NY, NC, RI, WA, WY). Grantees will engage students in a STEMester of Service addressing critical environmental and disaster preparedness needs and connecting them to STEM curricula. The $5,000 grant supports sustainable service projects that launch on MLK Day of Service (January 16, 2012) and culminate on GYSD (April 20-22, 2012). www.YSA.org/grants/stemester
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Sodexo School Engagement Grants
Deadline: August 15
The Sodexo School Engagement grant program will support teachers and students, grades K-12, in learning about the incidence of childhood hunger in their community, and in leading meaningful activities that facilitate access to nutritious food for all children, especially those most at risk. The program will be implemented through a service-learning "Semester of Service" focused on childhood hunger that launches on MLK Day of Service (January 16, 2012) and culminates on GYSD (April 20-22, 2012).. 11 grantees will receive a $5,000 planning grant. www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoschool
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KaBOOM! Let's Play Spruce Grants
Deadlines: August 15, September 15, October 15, November 15
With support from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! will be awarding grants of $750 each to communities this year who wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer and more inviting. Communities must demonstrate that they have maintained their playspace and they have led an improvement project in the last 60 days. Communities that demonstrate this will receive a $750 gift card to further enhance or improve their playspace. http://bit.ly/qNmqCs
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Sodexo Youth Grants
Deadline: September 16
YSA will award 25 Sodexo Youth Grants of $500 each to support youth-led service projects in the United States that address the issue of childhood hunger during National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 13-20, 2011). We're looking for projects that engage your peers, friends, families, neighbors, Sodexo employees, and other community members in creative, youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in your community. Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoyouth
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Everyday Young Heroes
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Taylor Thomas
Middlesboro, KY
YSA recognizes ten year old Taylor Thomas of Middlesboro, Kentucky, as one of our Everyday Young Heroes for her volunteer efforts to provide food security to children from low income families. Growing up in Southeastern Kentucky, Taylor has seen firsthand the plight of children her age who live in poverty and are surrounded by widespread drug abuse. Being from a stable home and living above the poverty level, she felt like she had something to offer children who were not as fortunate. Taylor reached out to Transforming Appalachia, a social service program that provides weekend meals for children from low income families. Every Wednesday night, Taylor helps to put together "Weekend Bags" to feed underprivileged children in her community. These bags provide 7 nutritional meals to school aged children and 7 weekend snacks to ensure that program participants will have food to eat on the weekends. By working in her own community of Middlesboro Kentucky, Taylor is helping to provide food security for those who need it most. At 10 years old, she has the heart to see the needs of these children and she hopes to give them a chance to see that someone really does care for them. Recognizing that food security and childhood hunger is not a problem that is exclusive to her community, Taylor hopes this program will become a statewide program. For her spirit of giving and her work to ensure that children in her community do not go hungry, we honor Taylor as an Everyday Young Hero. 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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Resources & Trainings
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New Issue of The Generator from NYLC Focuses on Preparation & Planning
With this issue of The Generator, NYLC explores planning and preparing for a service-learning experience - not only for the many facets of a service-learning project but also for student assessments that will reveal levels of student understanding and achievement of learning objectives. Peruse a new Teacher Tool that will help you implement this approach. And experience the exhilaration of a New Orleans elementary school as students create a community garden to address local fresh food needs - ultimately gardening with Louisiana First Lady Jindal. http://bit.ly/naEx6N
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Earth Savers Saves You: Lessons Learned in Launching a Social Venture Thursday, August, 11th @ 5:00pm EST
YSA Youth Council member Charles Orgbon is presenting a webinar for youth leaders. Exploring solutions to community problems can be daunting, but Earth Savers is here to help. Join this webinar to hear the mistakes and successes of a youth-led project with passion for change. Participate on August 11th to learn how you can improve your environmental project (or any other project!) with tips on: 501(c)3, fundraising and grantwriting, networking, partnership-building, and more. http://bit.ly/pOjFVu
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Visualizing Civic Health
Monday, August 1 @ 3:00pm EST
NCoC is constantly striving to showcase civic data in relevant ways. The infographic, a visual representation of data, allows people to quickly and effectively disseminate large amounts of complex information through a variety of mediums.
The webinar will focus on five major points:
1. Understanding the infographic
2. Creating an approachable infographic for multiple target audiences
3. Promoting the infographic through existing media and social networks
4. Customizing the CHI infographic for your organization
5. Exploring the financial feasibility and impact of the CHI infographic
Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/oyvl0d
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Quote of the Week
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"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Howard Thurman
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The Editors
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 Mike Minks Director of Outreach
Editor-in-Chief @michaelminks |  Danielle Miranda Manager of Outreach
Associate Editor |  Mike Man Manager of Outreach
Associate Editor |
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