Serve To Remember:
Engaging Youth on 9/11

We Serve to Remember: 10 Lessons for Engaging Youth on 9/11 As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we are challenged to explain the significance of the event to America's young people - many of whom have no first-hand memory of the occasion. YSA (a September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance partner) offers experience in engaging youth by suggesting the following ten lessons learned and related ideas for service-learning projects:  http://bit.ly/pKv13L  

"I will..." Public Service Announcement
In a drive to organize the single largest day of charitable service in U.S. history in observance of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, MyGoodDeed and HandsOn Network launched an inspiring national PSA campaign. The powerful campaign, themed "I will (pay tribute)," features relatives of 9/11 victims and survivors of the attacks, along with celebrities and others encouraging people everywhere to engage in good deeds and voluntary service in honor of those who perished in the attacks in observance of the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance. Watch the PSA at http://www.facebook.com/911day  

Rebuilding Community: Stories of Youth Service Responses 
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. YSA offers, "Rebuilding Community: Stories of Youth Service Responses to 9/11", an activity to learn about and honor the contributions youth made to their communities in response to 9/11. Through this activity, youth will find, document, and share similar inspirational stories. By interviewing individuals who were age 5-25 during 2001, youth will gain a better understanding of the significance of September 11th and the call to service, and will utilize these new understandings to design service projects for their communities. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/okRGti   

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News From the Field

Apply to Serve on the State Farm Youth Advisory Board

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 young adults ages 17-20 from communities across the country and Canada. The Board's mission is to oversee a $5 million signature service-learning initiative to address pressing issues that have a direct impact on communities. Youth Advisory Board members are responsible for identifying these issues, overseeing the site selections and grant making process, providing technical assistance to the site grantees, and assisting with communication and outreach. The application deadline is October 3. Information and applications are available at: http://bit.ly/p9TBNE       

Young Minds Competition   

The Young Minds competition is looking for exceptional young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who are changing their communities and the world.  Submit a 1 minute video describing how you're making a difference  and you could be one of 12 exceptional young people selected to attend Google's annual invitation-only, two-day Zeitgeist Americas event-where you'll join over 400 of the planet's top leaders and biggest brains - from businessmen to bloggers and inventors to activists. You'll also get tailormade master classes from Google.  http://bit.ly/oANSyA

   

Become a Host Family for a State Dept. Scholarship Exchange Student

 American Councils for International Education is seeking volunteer host families for incoming US State Department sponsored scholarship students arriving at the end of August. These students participate in Global Youth Service Day and carry the tradition back to their home countries as alumni!  They have won a rigorous competition in their home countries to qualify and students receive a small stipend to pay for some of their expenses. All types of families in which English is the primary language are welcome, including those with teenagers or children at home, retirees, "empty nesters," and single parents.  If you would like more information, please visit http://bit.ly/p8NKA4  

Tell President Obama He Needs a Presidential Youth Council

YSA, along with 38 other partner organizations, have signed on to a letter calling on President Obama to create a Presidential Youth Council to advise the executive branch on youth policy.  You can read the letter at http://bit.ly/owGglR   

To sign your organization on to this letter calling on President Obama to "empower disadvantaged youth across the country, ensure that scarce federal resources for youth programs are directed toward where they can do the most good, and help us win the future" please e-mail YSA Youth Council member Alex Wirth with your organization name and contact information.

 

Quote of the Week

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a leader."

- John Quincy Adams  

The Editors