STEP Into Service With UnitedHealth HEROES
Service-Learning Grants

"Step into Service" with UnitedHealth HEROES Service-Learning Grants! YSA and UnitedHealth are teaming up to offer $1,000 grants for youth-led service-learning projects which aim to combat childhood obesity through walking, running or hiking programs. UnitedHealth HEROES grantees will lead active service projects that encourage their peers to get moving, learn about healthy lifestyle choices, and do good for others. Whether walking or running, HEROES will count the number of steps they take in their journey towards healthier kids and healthier communities!  

Each UnitedHealth HEROES project will begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 21, 2013 and end on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 26-28, 2013. 

Schools, service-learning coordinators, non-profits, and students in the health professionals are eligible to apply. For more information and to view a detailed program overview and application guidelines, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES

The online application will close on October 15, 2012.   

YSA will hold webinars to help applicants through the application process and answer all of their questions.  The first webinar will be September 13th at 3:00 pm Eastern. Sign up here.

Connect with YSA

YSA Funding Partners

News From the Field

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance  

Good deeds unite us on 9/11. Join the 9/11 Day movement of people remembering through positive action. www.911day.org  

Volunteer with Veterans on Tuesday, September 11.
Join the official 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance service projects with The Mission Continues in NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft Worth and Minneapolis. Spots are being held for youth volunteers, so register today at http://bit.ly/QhxAtp   

We Serve to Remember: Lessons for Engaging Youth on 9/11  

YSA suggests ten lessons learned and related ideas for service or service-learning projects. www.YSA.org/911  

Resources for Educators

Download  age appropriate lesson plans and other resources for educators, developed in partnership with Scholastic and leading 9/11 groups at http://bit.ly/RR7TQL
Educators, YSA encourages you to use 9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance to launch a fall Semester of Service that goes through MLK Day of Service in January or Global Youth Service Day in April. Learn more at www.YSA.org/semester  

ServiceVote 12 for '12: Engaging Youth in the 2012 Elections Special Series

With the national political conventions wrapping up, and just under 9 weeks to go until Election Day, YSA continues this special 12-part series leading up to November 6.

YSA offers the ServiceVote 12 for '12 - twelve ideas of how young people can serve this election season (and only one of them requires you to be 18!) Get all the ideas, related resources, and let us know how you're getting involved at www.YSA.org/ServiceVote   

Each week until Election Day, we'll feature one way young people can get involved during the election, and highlight related programs, resources, and stories. 

ServiceVote 12 for '12:

Host a debate watch.

Over the last two weeks, millions of people watched President Obama, Governor Romney, Vice President Biden, Congressman Ryan, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ann Romney, and President Bill Clinton as they spoke to the American people.

The next major television events will be the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates on October 3, October 11, October 16, and October 22.  Your local TV and radio stations might air U.S. Senate, U.S. House, or Governor debates. Public access stations might air debates with candidates for city, county, school district, or state legislature offices. These events are great opportunities to organize a discussion with others about the issues important to you. 

Access resources to help you host your own debate watch - including the ServiceVote "Debate Party" tipsheet at www.YSA.org/ServiceVote#4         

National Voter Registration Day
September 25

It's easy to register voters in your community! Host or join a voter registration event on September 25. Learn more: http://bit.ly/Q2OShM   

Grants & Awards 

UnitedHealth HEROES Service-Learning Grants

Accepting Applications: Sept. 4 - Oct. 15

YSA and UnitedHealthcare are inviting schools and other community-based nonprofit organizations to Step into Service by applying for UnitedHealth HEROES grants.  Grants of up to $1,000 are available for youth-led service-learning projects which aim to combat childhood obesity through walking, running or hiking programs. The online application will open on September 4, 2012 and will close on October 15, 2012.  YSA will hold webinars to help applicants through the application process and answer all of their questions.  The first webinar will be September 13th at 3:00pm Eastern -  Sign up here. For more information, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES 

Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award

Deadline: September 30

YSA is accepting nominations for the Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award, recognizing two exceptional young people, ages 13 to 22, who are actively engaged in social entrepreneurship and in leading sustainable social change. Social entrepreneurs apply business practices to achieve positive social change and measure their success through their social impact. Two honorees will be selected to receive $2,000 to support their social enterprise and receive resources and technical assistance from YSA. Nominees must be between the ages 13 and 22 at the time of nomination and be located in United States. One of the two honorees will be selected from the Washington, D.C. or West Virginia region. www.YSA.org/grants/coccia-awards    

KIDS COUNT Infographic Challenge

Deadline: October 1

The KIDS COUNT Infographic Challenge is a crowdsourcing competition to give young people the opportunity to get graphic with KIDS COUNT data and enter to win great prizes, including state-of-the-art laptops. Visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center and find national trends on topics like education, health and economic security, or data that offers insight into your state or community. Turn the data into a compelling infographic or image. Upload your infographic (or video) to the Challenge platform. Then share it with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and ask them to vote for your entry. Voting begins October 1. To learn more visit: http://bit.ly/UvCreK       

Project Ignition Grants

Webinar: September 13

Deadline: November 15

The National Youth Leadership Council® and State Farm® are pleased to announce the availability of $2,000 Project Ignition grants! Public high schools may apply for the grants to address teen driver safety through service-learning. http://bit.ly/pKcD1c 

Want to know how to create a high quality application to Project Ignition and maximize your chances to get a grant? Not sure how to get started? Join NYLC's Teen Driver Safety Program Manager Melissa Mitchell on September 13, 2012 for this webinar to learn about the Project Ignition program and how to build a successful PI grant application.  http://bit.ly/QfeLN0     

Resources & Trainings

NYLC Webinar: What We Know Works in Teen Driver Safety

Wednesday, September 12 at 10:00am Central

NYLC's Teen Driver Safety Program Manager Melissa Mitchell on September 12, 2012 for this webinar to learn about the Project Ignition program and proven stategies for making an impact on teen driver safety in your community. Do you know what works to influence teen driver behavior? What types of messaging are most effective at producing lasting change in your target audience? How can you engage young people in efforts to impact the statistics of car crashes as the number one killer of teens? This webinar will help you identify those elements to make a real impact in your community! http://bit.ly/TokUad   

Search Institute Webinar: Making Sparks Fly: Help Kids Tap Into Their Inner Passions by Igniting Your Own.

Wednesday, September 12 at 12:00pm Central

The free webinar will be presented by Liv Lane, "Human Sparkler" and daughter of the late Dr. Peter Benson, Search Institute's former CEO and creator of the Sparks concept. In this webinar, participants will find out what sparks are and why they're so important to children's successful development, learn how to help children find theirs, discover useful tips for nourishing and nurturing  children's sparks, and learn how to light up your corner of the world by helping your school and community embrace the power of knowing and nurturing kids' sparks! Although the webinar is geared toward parents, anyone in attendance can apply this information about sparks to their relationships with young people. http://bit.ly/NWrD4v    

Service Calendars

Conferences & Events

International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Conference 

September 23-25, 2012 - Baltimore, MD

YSA's Youth Service Institute 

October 17-19, 2012 - Houston, TX  

Summer Changes Everything National Conference 

October 22-24, 2012 - Pittsburgh, PA

People to People International Global Youth Forum
November 7-11, 2012 - Chicago, IL  

24th Annual National Service-Learning Conference 

March 13-15, 2013 - Denver, CO 

Seasons of Service

September 2012
Hunger Action Month - September 

International Literacy Day - September 8
National Day of Service and Remembrance - September 11
National Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15-October 15
Constitution Day - September 17
International Day of Peace - September 21 

Song of the Week

Jewel - "Hands" 

 

The Editor