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September 20, 2012
Volume 19, No. 38
Circulation: 41,000
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National Child Awareness Month Ambassadors Come to DC
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The National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassadors - one from each state - gathered in our nation's Capital this week to celebrate September's National Child Awareness Month and begin planning year-long service projects. To help them on their way, YSA and Festival of Children Foundation are providing all 51 Youth Ambassadors with funding, training and ongoing support. At a reception in their honor on Capitol Hill, we introduced many of the Youth Ambassadors to their elected officials in the House and Senate - leaders who, just like the Youth Ambassadors - believe in service to others. See pictures of the reception: http://on.fb.me/PM7vDw
Learn more about the National Child Awareness Month Ambassadors and find the one representing your state.
UnitedHealth
HEROES Grants
Webinar: September 25
Deadline: October 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. YSA will hold webinars to help applicants through the application process and answer all of their questions. The next webinar will be September 25th at 3:00pm Eastern - Sign up here. For more information, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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News From the Field
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September is Hunger Action Month
According to a new survey of public school teachers released by Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, childhood hunger remains a serious obstacle to learning. 3 out of 5 teachers say they have children in their classrooms who regularly come to school hungry. See the results of the Hunger In Our Schools survey: http://bit.ly/QG7ySn
During Hunger Action Month in September, take action for the one in five children who face hunger in America.
- Youth can visit www.NoKidHungry2.org or download YSA's No Kid Hungry Guide to plan a service project to help end childhood hunger in your community.
- Yesterday, Feeding America and Share Our Strength held a Congressional briefing. Help follow up by sharing the "Hungry Kate" video and sending a postcard to Congress. http://bit.ly/NFtdw0
- Join Half in Ten, Every Child Matters and others in a #TalkPoverty Twitter campaign to urge the moderators of the 2012 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates to ask candidates how they would address child poverty in their first 100 days. http://bit.ly/PMARBH
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2012 100 Best Communities for Young People Announced
America's Promise Alliance has announced the 2012 winners of the 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING. The competition spotlights communities that demonstrate a lasting commitment to, and cross sector support for, youth development through innovative programs and services in schools and throughout the community. In its sixth year, 19 communities are now six-time winners and 18 communities won for their first time. http://bit.ly/OHPz1B  | | 100 Best Communities for Young People Webcast |
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ServiceVote 12 for '12: Engaging Youth in the 2012 Elections Special Series
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With just under 7 weeks (less than 50 days) 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 share partner programs, resources, and events.
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ServiceVote 12 for '12: Host a Service Stop to engage candidates.
Candidates campaign all over the community - why not invite them to participate in a service project or visit your group/organization while they're campaigning? By engaging a candidate in a service project or a visit to your program site, you begin to build a relationship with the candidate and can include a discussion around the issues related to the service project. www.YSA.org/ServiceVote#6
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Campus Vote Project to Host Online Town Hall on Student Voting
Wednesday, September 26 at 3:00pm Eastern
Election Day is fast approaching. Is your campus doing everything it can to get students voting? Do you know what you need to vote? What can you do between now and November to get people in your community to the polls? Find out at Campus Vote Project's Town Hall. Test your knowledge with their voting quiz and then register for the event via the link: http://tinyurl.com/CVPtownhall
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Grants & Awards
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State FarmŽ Good Neighbor YOUth In The Driver Seat Grants
Deadline: October 15
Learning to drive is one of the most exciting milestones in a teen's life. To support teens and their teachers in this rite of passage, YSA and State FarmŽ are offering $1,500 YOUth in the Driver Seat Grants to implement a service-learning program that encourages safe driving habits, community service and student achievement. www.YSA.org/grants/YOUthInTheDriverSeat
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Kids Who Give Contest
Deadline: September 30
Kids Who Give honors young people with a passion for making the world better. Whether they're doing community service, raising money for worthy causes or helping others in need, this contest celebrates volunteerism among America's youth.
The contest is open to youth who are US residents, between the ages of 7 and 17. Quarterly first, second and third place winners receive up to $3,500 for their charity, and they'll be in the running for the $10,000 grand prize, awarded in early 2013. http://bit.ly/SGbjpZ
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2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Deadline: November 6
If you're a middle or high school student and you've made a difference through volunteering over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., next May - by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, have honored more than 100,000 middle and high school students at the local, state and national level over the past 17 years solely for their volunteer work. http://bit.ly/Qkoqh8
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Nestle Very Best in Youth Program
Deadline: November 8
Nestlé helps young people, who want to make a difference, realize their dreams by donating $1,000 in the name of each winner to the charity of his/her choice. Nestlé also awards the winner a trip for them and a parent or guardian to Los Angeles, California for the Nestlé Very Best In Youth awards ceremony. The trip includes round trip coach air travel, hotel accommodations for three nights, and spending money. Contestants must be between 14 and 18 years of age and have parental or legal guardian permission to submit the entry form. Contestants must also demonstrate good citizenship, a strong academic record, and show how they have made a special contribution to their school, church or community. http://bit.ly/MYN5ED
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Everyday Young Heroes
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Cassandra Sterling
Woodbury, MN
YSA recognizes 23-year-old Cassandra Sterling of Woodbury, Minnesota, as an Everyday Young Hero for her commitment to volunteering at the Minnesota Children's Museum, which includes mentoring other volunteers while engaging children and families with hands-on museum exhibits.
After attending the Minnesota Children's Museum as a child, the spark of learning and imagination continue to remain dear to Cassie. Transitioning from a museum visitor to a museum volunteer or "Playologist", Cassie does countless projects while acting as a mentor to fellow volunteers. She assists with hands-on activities, supports the musem staff with tours and groups, and engages children and their parents in meaningful discussions that lead to learning. Cassie's contributions also helped create a strong sense of unity and inclusion among museum volunteers. Other volunteers feel comfortable asking Cassie questions, looking to her for leadership and direction in difficult situations. When there is little oversight on the floor, Cassie is the one that volunteers can turn to for help; she is consistently dependable. As the volunteer program becomes stronger and more unified, the Museum is better able to support the needs of the community. For her dedication to mentoring and using her passion for youth engagement, we honor Cassie 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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Reimagining Service Webinar
Tuesday, September 25 at 1:00pm Eastern
Join Reimagining Service to learn about the concept of a Nonprofit Service Enterprise. Reimagining Service is increasing effective volunteer engagement through the creation of more Service Enterprises - organizations that strategically leverage volunteers to outperform their peers and have greater impact. Webinar topics will include: What is Reimagining Service? What is a Nonprofit Service Enterprise? What does the data tell us about organizations that operate as Service Enterprises? How can you apply this work in your own organization? http://bit.ly/SaaObC
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NYLC Webinar: Planning That Starts With Goals and Evaluation
Wednesday, September 26 at 11:00am Eastern
Join NYLC's Teen Driver Safety Program Manager Melissa Mitchell for this webinar for a head-start on getting started with your teen driver safety program, and maximizing your impact through Project Ignition. This webinar will help youth and educators build a process that incorporates meaningful ways to observe and assess the impact of their teen driver safety project to meet both academic AND service goals. http://bit.ly/REHF4i
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GenerationOn October Moments of Service Webinar
Thursday, September 27 at 3:30pm Eastern
Through this webinar, participants will hear about generationOn Clubs and discover how kids, teens and adult advisors can start clubs in their own area. Participants will also hear about Good & Ready, a year-round online and on-the-ground emergency preparedness initiative. The program's goal is to engage five million Americans by 2014 by creating disaster readiness kits, preparing homes and neighborhoods, and becoming trained in disaster response and recovery. http://bit.ly/OKahrU
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NYLC Hill Briefing
 | | Watch 9/13/12 NYLC Hill Briefing |
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Song of the Week
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Michael Jackson - "Heal the World"
 "And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow.
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place.
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me."
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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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