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March 29, 2012
Volume 19, No. 13
Circulation: 40,100
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End Childhood Hunger on GYSD
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16.2 million children in America are at risk of hunger. That's more than 1 in 5. Help end childhood hunger on Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22, 2012).
Bake, buy, or sell at a Great American Bake Sale. The 3rd annual National Challenge Weekend is April 20-22. Help Share Our Strength reach their goal of having 500 bake sales - at least 10 in every state - on Global Youth Service Day. Sign up today at http://gabs.strength.org The Bake Sale Resource Center has everything you need to have a successful bake sale. Find templates for flyers and media alerts, stickers, tips for pricing your baked goods and taking excellent photos and much more.
Visit the No Kid Hungry 2 online resource center for age-appropriate ideas and resources to help young leaders, parents, and teachers organize volunteer activities and advocacy efforts to raise awareness in their schools and neighborhoods.
 Get even more hunger service project ideas from YSA's National & Global Partners on the GYSD.org Project Ideas page, or download YSA's No Kid Hungry Guide to help youth create and organize a childhood hunger service project for GYSD. The Guide also provides tips and suggestions on how youth can get others involved.
Join Sodexo employees during Sodexo Servathon (the month of April) to donate time, money and food to help those at-risk of hunger.
Planning a Great American Bake Sale or other project to help end childhood hunger for GYSD? Tell us about it at www.GYSD.org/register today.
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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Global Youth Service Day - April 20-22, 2012
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Ask Your U.S. Senators to Co-Sponsor the Global Youth Service Day Resolution
Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) is sponsoring a resolution in the U.S. Senate recognizing Global Youth Service Day. Ask your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the resolution and help recognize youth volunteers in your state. It's easy - find your Senators' office numbers here. Call the number listed, and ask to speak with (or leave a message for) the education or national service staffer. Tell them a little about your GYSD plans and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of Senator Murkowski's GYSD resolution before April 16. They should contact Rochelle Hanscom in Senator Murkowski's office to sign on.
| 871 projects are already on the GYSD Map: www.GYSD.org/map
Add your GYSD project or event to the GYSD Map at www.GYSD.org/register
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News From the Field
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Breaking News: Senate Confirms Wendy Spencer as CEO of CNCS
The U.S. Senate today unanimously confirmed Wendy Spencer as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Spencer, a well-known and proven leader in the field of national service, joins CNCS from the Florida Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, commonly known as Volunteer Florida, where she has served as CEO since 2003. Spencer will take the helm of the agency at a time when CNCS resources are in great demand. http://bit.ly/HpETj7 Congratulations, Wendy!
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Mobilize the Earth
Earth Day Momentum Building Around the World:
People all over the world are already mobilizing for Earth Day 2012. You can start an Earth Day event or join one nearby! Learn more: http://bit.ly/HpFGkh
 | | Mobilize The Earth Video |
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Apply to Serve on GenerationOn National Youth Advisory Council
Are you a young person or do you know a young person (13-18 years old) who is passionate about service and would make a great leader? GenerationOn will be accepting applications for its next National Youth Advisory Council in mid-March. This is a unique opportunity for twelve middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds across the nation to participate in a service-learning and leadership development program within generationOn. Applications will be accepted through April 10th, 5pm EDT. http://bit.ly/wnqowN
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Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood To Recognize Project Ignition At National Service-Learning Conference
NYLC is thrilled to announce that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will be in Minneapolis at the National Service-Learning Conference and youthrive PeaceJam Leadership Conference to recognize Project Ignition Leader Schools for their outstanding efforts to improve driver safety and save lives through service-learning. Secretary LaHood will present the awards to winning schools from the national teen driver safety program at the opening of the conference exhibit hall on Wednesday, April 11. http://bit.ly/HuE1X6
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Grants & Awards
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Disney Friends for Change - Latin America Grants
Deadline: April 22
Disney Friends for Change - Latin America Grants offer young change-makers an opportunity to receive a $1,000 grant for a youth-led service project that demonstrates youth leadership, creativity, and the commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. Youth ages 5-18 located in Latin America are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant. http://bit.ly/wYeWdb
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Battle for the Bands
Deadline: April 12
Create an original music video, parody music video, or spoken word video explaining why music education is worth fighting for! Celebs and music industry insiders will review the 10 videos with the most votes and award prizes. Prizes include a $5,000 grant, a Pop Up Video on VH1.com, concert tickets, a guitar, and $10,000 in scholarships. http://dsorg.us/GZt2Zh
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100 Best Communities for Young People
Deadline: May 17
The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition rewards and recognizes communities making extraordinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth. A grant of $2,500 will be given to every community that is named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The $2,500 grant can be used to help fund a local program or service, within certain parameters, or be used for a local event to celebrate the win. This grant is part of the winning communities' awards package. http://bit.ly/wrAkCF
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Home Depot Community Impact Grants
Deadline: August 13
Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work.
Once grant applications are reviewed, all applicants will receive a written response within six weeks of receipt of a request. http://bit.ly/eIis5T
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Everyday Young Heroes
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Mia Douglass
San Diego, CA
YSA recognizes 25-year-old Mia Douglass of San Diego, California as an Everyday Young Hero for her work to promote driver safety, highlight the dangers of drunk driving, and awarding designated drivers.
Mia launched the campaign "Dominic's Designated Driver" after her brother, Dominic Deiro, was fatally injured in a crash last year. On December 23, 2011, Dominic was riding in an SUV with his younger brother and three friends when the driver lost control of the vehicle, slammed into a pole and flipped over. Dominic was taken off life support the next day. Through Dominic's Designated Drivers, Mia's main goal is to encourage bars and restaurants to reward individuals for becoming designated drivers by offering them free cover, non-alcoholic beverages, and/or food. Mia has contacted more than two dozen Stockton area hot spots to ask them to reward designated drivers who wear the campaign's orange-colored wristbands. The project is in the beginning stages, but thanks to Mia's work many are becoming aware of the consequences of not having a designated driver. Many of Dominic's friends, who previously thought it was okay to drive while intoxicated are learning the consequences. The community is inspired and moved by the program. Mia's future plans are to continue honoring her brother's legacy and to expand the program to all community because no family should have to experience the pain of losing a loved one to drunk driving. For her dedication to preserving her brother's legacy through Dominic's Designated Driver, we honor Mia 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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Democracy Class Toolkit
Democracy Class' 100 Days of Learning is just starting! There is no better time than today to tell an educator about Democracy Class. Once they sign up at www.democracyday.com, teachers will receive a FREE Democracy Class toolkit that includes all of the materials they need to teach the class - including the 45-minute lesson plan, voter registration forms, Keep on Rockin' the Vote cards, buttons, t-shirts, a banner, the "History of Voting" DVD and more. http://bit.ly/HmEv4x
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Service-Learning Twitter Chat
Tuesday, April 3 at 9pm Eastern
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board will host a service-learning Twitter chat on Tuesday, April 3 at 9pm Eastern. The first part of the chat will be a discussion on service-learning and the second part of the chat will provide users an opportunity to ask questions about the State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants. Participants can follow along at www.twitter.com/statefarmyab and join the conversation with the hashtag #YABchat.
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Archived Webcast of Grad Nation Summit General Sessions Available
Anyone who was not able to attend the Building a Grad Nation Summit or watch the live webcast can now relive the experience online at the America's Promise website. The two morning sessions and the two luncheon sessions are available for viewing. See key presenters such as Alma J. Powell, General Colin Powell, George Lucas, Arne Duncan, Michelle Rhee, Superintendents, youth leaders and executives from State Farm, Target, AT&T and many more. PowerPoint presentations and handouts from the Building a Grad Nation Summit sessions are also available. http://bit.ly/Ho81pC
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Global Citizen Corps Accepting US Leadership Applications
The Global Citizen Corps (GCC) is an international network of over 25,000 youth who raise awareness and mobilize their peers and communities through action projects. The GCC program is accepting applications from high school and university students in the United States to participate in its leadership program. Students will receive trainings from Mercy Corps experts in leadership, teamwork, program design and management, civic engagement, and community mobilization skills, engage in a videoconference with their international peers, and mobilize their communities through a Global Action project to address challenges related to poverty, hunger, climate change, education, health, and conflict. Applications are being evaluated on a rolling basis with a final deadline of April 30, 2012. http://bit.ly/Ho8M24
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Service Calendars
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Conferences & Events
National Youth Service Summit March 30 - April 1, 2012 - Cincinnati, OH 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 National Conference on Volunteering & Service June 18-20, 2012 - Chicago, IL |
Seasons of Service
March 2012
Best Buddies Month - March
Youth Art Month - March
National Nutrition Month - March
Great American Cleanup - March 1 - May 31
World Book Day - March 1
Read Across America Day - March 2
Teen Tech Week - March 4-10
International Women's Day - March 8
Girl Scout Week - March 11-17
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day - March 15
Areyvut Make a Difference Day - March 16-18
National Wildlife Week - March 19-25
World Water Day - March 22
National Youth Violence Prevention Week -
March 19-23
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Song of the Week
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Bruce Springsteen - "We Take Care of Our Own"
"Where's the eyes, the eyes with the will to see
Where's the hearts, they run over with mercy
Where's the love that has not forsaken me
Where's the work that set my hands, my soul free
Where's the spirit to reign, reign over me
Where's the promise, from sea to shining sea"
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The Editor
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 Mike Minks Director of Outreach and Innovation
Editor-in-Chief @michaelminks |
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