August 11, 2011

Volume 18, No. 32

Circulation: 39,950

2011 All-America Service Team

From aiding Haiti earthquake survivors to feeding the hungry in local communities to educating peers about environmental issues, young people across the country are helping to shape their communities - and the world - through service. Fifteen of these young heroes have been named to PARADE's 2011 All-America Service Team. Charles Orgbon and Arne Duncan

On August 9, the All-America Service Team was honored at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., hosted by PARADE and generationOn, along with special guest U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Among the honorees were:

Charles Orgbon, a YSA Youth Council member (pictured above right with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan)
2010 YSA Harris Wofford Award winner Grace Li and 2011 YSA Harris Wofford Award winner Dylan Mahalingam (both pictured below with former Senator Wofford and YSA President & CEO Steve Culbertson)
Three youth recognized as Everyday Young Heroes in the NSB - Mary-Grace Reeves, Rajul Zaparde, and Joe Burgum.

Wofford Award Winners

Learn more about the All-America Service Team and see all of this year's honorees at http://bit.ly/ige3KJ

Connect with YSA

YSA Funding Partners

Corporation for National and Community Service

News From the Field

Volunteering in America 2011 Released

The latest Volunteering in America report finds that volunteers are resolute in their commitment to serving their neighbors and communities, with 62.8 million adults volunteering almost 8.1 billion hours in local and national organizations in 2010, service valued at almost $173 billion. Explore this website for the most comprehensive data on volunteering ever assembled including volunteer profiles for all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as hundreds of metropolitan areas, rankings, demographic trends, and profiles of volunteer organizations making an impact on some of our nation's toughest challenges. http://bit.ly/nGIpU9

International Youth Day - August 12

This year's International Youth Day (IYD) will represent the culmination of the International Year of Youth, and the 25th Anniversary of the first International Year of Youth. "Change Our World" is this year's theme. Learn more about International Youth Day at http://bit.ly/qfij0T
Michael Boampong, Founder of the Ghanaian-based NGO Young People We Care (a YSA Global Youth Service Day Regional Partner) reflects on International Youth Day in a YSA Blog post, calling on all youth development activisits to use the day as a time to take stock on what we've accomplished and what we still have to do. Read his post and share your reflections at: http://bit.ly/oR3KV2

Save Service District Day & Next Steps

At last count, nearly 2,000 people visited District Offices in 49 states on Wednesday and asked their Members of Congress to protect funding for national service programs! The Save Service coalition thanks everyone who turned out and made clear what's at stake for their communities. The next step is to reach the 12 members of the Super Committee who will decide how to cut over $1 trillion as outlined in the recent debt deal. National service programs - including AmeriCorps - will no doubt be considered for cuts. Stay tuned to www.saveservice.org for the latest updates.

U.S. House Ends Student Page Program

Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi recently announced the end of the House page program, saying, "We have great appreciation for the unique role that Pages have played in the history and traditions of the House of Representatives. This decision was not easy, but it is necessary.... Although the traditional mission of the Page Program has diminished, we will work with Members of the House to carry on the tradition of engaging young people in the work of the Congress." http://bit.ly/qeaiKs YSA Youth Council member (and former Senate page) Alex Wirth defends the program and explains the great value of the program. http://huff.to/nTTGKw

Grants & Awards

STEMester of Service YSA Grants

Deadline Extended: August 15

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

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

Do Something 9/11 Remembrance Grants

Deadline: September 1

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11th, Do Something and American Express are teaming up to offer grants to take action and start your own projects in your communities. We're looking for projects that have been started or are being planned in the spirit of September 11th including youth-led projects that recognize and commemorate our emergency responders, our troops, and programs that promote diversity all across the country. These can be on-going projects, or projects specifically planned around the 10th anniversary of September 11th. Winners will be announced on 9/11. http://bit.ly/qJSJ8y

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

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants

Deadline: October 14 or 1,500 applications

The Toolbox for Education Grant Program provides grants of $2,000 to $5,000 to public K-12 schools and school parent-teacher groups associated with public schools throughout the U.S. that develop projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit. Preference is given to funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) and landscaping/clean up projects. The deadline is October 14; however, if 1,500 applications are received before the deadline, the application process will close. http://bit.ly/orX4N1

UnitedHealth HEROES Grants

Deadline: October 17

The UnitedHealth HEROES program is a service-learning, health literacy initiative that awards grants to help youth, ages 5-25, create and implement local, hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. The grants encourage semester-long projects that launch on MLK Day of Service and culminate on Global Youth Service Day. Schools, service-learning coordinators, non-profits, and students in the health professions located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for the $500 - $1,000 grants. Learn more at www.YSA.org/HEROES

Everyday Young Heroes

Madeline Cumbey

Fort Wayne, IN

YSA recognizes ten year old Madeline Cumbey of Fort Wayne, Indiana as one of our Everyday Young Heroes for her work fighting childhood obesity in her school and community.

Madeline addressed the issue of childhood obesity because of a desire to overcome her own poor family health history of heart disease, cancer, and obesity, and to help other youth be a healthier generation. Madeline has created 2 healthy living clubs called SMART2BFit where she taught the 8-week EmpowerMe4Life curriculum. She covered topics such as hydration, nutrition, the need for 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and good sleep habits, and taught other kids how to make healthy and fun snacks. Madeline also started 2 community gardens called SMART(Service, Multipurpose, Activity, Really cool, Teaching) Gardens in Ft. Wayne, one at a local elementary school and another at a local church. Madeline enlisted help in writing grants and received two YSA UnitedHealth HEROES grants and other funding totaling $2,250 to fund the gardens. To date, Madeline has engaged over 600 children and 200 adults in her SMART Garden project which launched on Global Youth Service Day. 48 youth to date have joined the SMART2Bfit club and are tasked with maintaining the SMART gardens.

Madeline's work to fight childhood obesity has made a difference in her community. Pre-tests and post-tests given to kids in her SMART2BFIT clubs show that young participants are better informed and making healthier choices as a result of her club. Madeline's future plans include many more SMART2Bfit clubs and community gardens, with a goal of a community garden in every area of Ft. Wayne and a SMART2Bfit club in every community organization or school.

For her commitment to making her community a healthier place and her leadership in the fight against childhood obesity, we honor Madeline 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.

Resources & Trainings

DoSomething Boot Camp - Saturday, August 13

On Saturday, August 13th, DoSomething.org Boot Camp will be streaming LIVE from LA, so you can watch sessions on starting and growing your projects, ask questions, and make comments! Watch with your friends and make it a Boot Camp Party! Get all the materials for you and your guests when you register at www.DoSomething.org/training/bootcamp/videostream to host a Boot Camp Party! All you need is a bunch of friends, an internet connection, a computer screen, and a passion for social change. Send in a picture of your group watching the Boot Camp for a chance to win a $70 food reimbursement. http://bit.ly/qwEWlM

Around the CIRCLE

The July edition (v8. i3) of CIRCLE's quarterly newsletter, Around the CIRCLE, can be downloaded from here. The newsletter includes a variety of articles including:
    ·    Five Strategies to Revive Civic Communication
    ·    New Census Data Confirm African American and Asian American Youth Increased Turnout Rates in Midterms
    ·    How do State Election Policies Affect Youth Voting?
    ·    Check out CIRCLE's New Blog!
    ·    The Language of Youth Civic Organizations

http://bit.ly/q8HB84

Volunteering in America 2011 Profiles

See specialized Volunteering in America profiles for Generation X, Veterans, Baby Boomers, College Students, Older Adults, Young Adults, Teenagers, Millennials, Men, Women and Parents. The profiles find that teen volunteer rates have stayed consistently higher between 2002 and 2010 than they were in 1989, possibly reflecting the spread of service-learning in schools across the country, the influence of parental volunteering, and the rise of technology that makes it easier for teens to find volunteer opportunities. Volunteer rates for young adults (ages 20 to 24) tend to be lower than teenage volunteer rates, but the national volunteer rate tends to increase with age until mid-life. http://bit.ly/raM0Ca