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August 25, 2011
Volume 18, No. 34
Circulation: 39,950
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EveryDay Young Heroes
In the News
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Several recent Everyday Young Hero Award winners have been featured in local media, including:
- Morgan Bowen of Americus, Georgia, honored for her work to provide support for troops deployed overseas was featured in the Americus Times-Recorder.
- Stephanie Jennis of Montville, New Jersey, honored for her work to educate her peers about children with special needs and her efforts to expand social inclusion programs at schools was featured on NJ.com and NorthJersey.com
- Yasmine Arrington of Washington, DC, honored for her work to provide college scholarships for students with incarcerated parents was interviewed on News Channel 8 Let's Talk Live.
- Madeline Cumbey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, honored for her work fighting childhood obesity in her school and community was featured in Greater Fort Wayne Family.
- Kelly Turner of Fort Myers, Florida, honored for his his work to address the issue of hunger in his community was featured in The News-Press.
Awarded weekly to a young person from around the world who exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to service, the Everyday Young Hero Award program is open to youth ages 5-25. Nominations must come from a parent, teacher or other adult mentor. Winners are announced in the NSB, featured on YSA's website and showcased within its social media outlets. Everyday Young Heroes also receive a certificate, award and press release. Nominate a young person you know to be recognized as an Everyday Young Hero at www.YSA.org/awards/hero
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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News From the Field
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September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
Join the 9/11 Tribute Movement by serving on 9/11 to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors and those that rose in service in response to the attacks.
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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 offers experience in engaging youth by suggesting the following ten lessons learned and related ideas for service-learning projects:
http://bit.ly/pKv13L
Are you planning a 9/11 Day of Service project that will engage youth ages 5-25? Send us an e-mail with a short description of your project, and we'll highlight projects on our website! outreach@ysa.org
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Interfaith Youth Core Launches Better Together 2012 Campaign
Students of all faiths and traditions are taking action together and changing the world. Better Together 2012 is bigger and better than ever, mobilizing college students to voice their values, engage with others, and act together to make the world a better place for everyone. Whether you're ready to run your first event, just want more information, or are a seasoned Better Together leader, sign up and get plugged in. Everyone who signs up receives our Campaign Dispatch emails with breaking news, stories, and tips to help you make your campus Better Together. Your campus will also be added to our national campaign map. http://bit.ly/nwCZnW
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Sparkseed Joins Mobilize.org
Sparkseed, the leading incubator for Millennial social innovators, is joining forces with Mobilize.org, to create a broader support network and investment vehicle for Millennial social entrepreneurs. The new Mobilize.org Fellowship Program will be a 12-month virtual and in-person leadership development curriculum that equips Millennials with the skills and resources they need to become civic entrepreneurs. Through partnerships with civic leaders, organizations, and institutions, the Mobilize.org Fellowship Program trains and prepares winners from each Mobilize.org summit to successfully launch and implement civic entrepreneurial ventures in their communities and on their campuses. Learn more about Mobilize.org Summits and Fellowships at: http://bit.ly/oFy6Xk
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Grants & Awards
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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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Make Your Mark Week Grants
Deadline: September 19
GenerationOn Make Your Mark Week (formerly Kids Care Week) is celebrated during the third week of October, this year October 16-22, 2011. Thanks to Hasbro, generationOn will award 200 mini-grants in the amount of $250 each to support service projects that enable youth to "make their mark" on one of the following issues: Animals, the Environment, Homelessness, Hunger and Literacy. We're looking for projects that engage youth (ages 5 - 18) to make a positive impact during the Make Your Mark Week. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/qY12bZ
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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
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Project Ignition Grants
Deadline: November 15
The National Youth Leadership CouncilŪ and State FarmŪ are pleased to announce the availability of $2,000 Project Ignition grants for public high schools to support their students in addressing teen driver safety through service-learning. Public high schools in the United States and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick are invited to apply for the 2011-2012 grants. 25 schools will be chosen to receive $2,000 grants to implement their campaigns from January to April of this school year. Ten of these schools will be selected to receive additional support. http://bit.ly/pKcD1c
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Everyday Young Heroes
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Stevie Nelson
Tilden, NE
YSA recognizes six year old Stevie Nelson of Tilden, Nebraska as one of our Everyday Young Heroes for his volunteer efforts to advocate for homeless animals. Animals have always had a special place in Stevie's heart and his compassion for animals reached an entirely new level last year after his two Charcoal Labrador Retrievers, Bo and Luke, went missing from their family home in March 2010, two days before his fifth birthday. Stevie's ONLY birthday wish last year was to have his two best friends returned to him - a wish that was unfortunately never granted. He helped his parents search for their dogs for months through posting signage, rewards, articles, utilizing Petfinder and hiring a professional tracker. Unfortunately his "boys" were never returned. After watching a PSA for the ASPCA featuring Sarah McLaughlan, Stevie knew now more than ever that he needed to help animals in need. As Stevie says, "Without love animals will die and I don't want them to die." For his sixth birthday, he asked $6,000 worth of dog food, cat food, animal treats, various chew toys and money ($1,000 for each year of his life) to be donated to the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society (NENEHS). To date, Stevie has raised over $25,778.19 in monetary donations and over $6,000 in Product Donations to benefit Stevie's Furry Friends at NENEHS. He also continues to help spread the word about the need for a no kill animal shelter in Northeast Nebraska. Stevie inspired his classmates and friends so much that a number of his friends split their piggy banks to help Stevie with his fundraiser. As Stevie's story spread, he inspired folks to begin volunteering with NENEHS, including young community members and foster care families. For his dedication to advocating for animals in need, we honor Stevie 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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H20 for Life
H2O for Life partners schools, youth groups, businesses, faith organizations, clubs and individuals with schools in developing nations in need of water, sanitation and hygiene education. Donor schools learn about the global water crisis through service-learning, outreach and other educational avenues while raising funds to sponsor a WASH project at their recipient partner school. Students and adults learn that they can make a difference in the lives of others by becoming energized global citizens and activists for change Choose your H2O for Life partner school for the 11-12 school year now and get a jumpstart on your project. Staff and volunteers have dedicated time and energy this summer to updating and improving our Tool Kit, which will be ready to send out soon. Once you choose a partner, H2O for Life will mail you the materials. To learn more and choose your partner school, visit http://bit.ly/nogeWM
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The Right to Be Safe Handouts
Every student has the right to attend a school in which he or she feels safe, but in recent years, the pervasive problem of bullying has sparked a loud and clear public outcry to put a stop to bullying behavior. Parents, educators, and school administrators must take a step back and examine how school climate contributes to and can be changed to help the problem. Be proactive now, and take action against bullying with these sample handouts from The Right to Be Safe: Putting an End to Bullying Behavior. http://bit.ly/pb84o7
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Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center
The Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center, a division of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, is one of the most-recommended resources for educators and school administrators. Here you'll find a rich offering of free webinars and face-to-face events on a wide variety of topics related to improving conditions for learning - including addressing bullying, harassment and violence, and substance use. http://bit.ly/nyOo9E
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Service Calendars
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Conferences & Events
National Conference on Citizenship September 15 - Philadelphia, PA September 22-23 - Phoenix, AZ YSA Youth Service Institute October 24-26 - Philadelphia, PA 2nd World Summit for Youth Volunteering
November 3-5 - Barranquilla, Colombia People to People International Global Youth Forum
November 9-13 - Kansas City, MO National AfterSchool Association Conference
April 2-4, 2012 - Dallas, TX National Service-Learning Conference April 11-14, 2012 - Minneapolis, MN Best Of Out-of-School Time Conference April 25-28, 2012 - Palm Springs, CA See more events on the Conference Calendar. |
Seasons of Service
September 2011
Hunger Action Month - September
International Literacy Day - September 8
9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance
National Hispanic Heritage Month - 9/15 - 10/15
Constitution Day - September 17
Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids - September 17
International Day of Peace - September 21
October 2011
Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October
Intergeneration Day - October 2
World Habitat Day - October 3
World Mental Health Day - October 10
World Food Day - October 16
Intl. Day for the Eradication of Poverty - October 17
Make Your Mark Week - October 16-22
Teen Read Week - October 16-22
America's Safe Schools Week - October 17-21
National SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Day - October 19
Lights on Afterschool - October 20
Make a Difference Day - October 22
See more important dates on the Seasons of Service Calendar.
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Quote of the Week
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"What do I owe to my times, to my country, to my neighbors, to my friends? Such are the questions which a virtuous man ought often to ask himself."
- Johann Kaspar Lavater
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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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