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BUILDING TOMORROW'S LEADERS THROUGH SERVICE
Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders - an old adage but true nonetheless. The lessons and skills we teach our children today are in fact the characteristics and capabilities they will use tomorrow. As a result, it is crucially important that we help Michigan youth to become civically-engaged, responsible adults who will lead our state, and world, to an innovative and bright future.
At the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), we know that service and volunteerism are one of the most effective ways to instill youth with a sense of civic responsibility. In addition, engaging youth in service also creates critical thinking skills, self-efficacy, and empathy for others -- all beneficial capacities for independent and successful leaders. To help build the next generation of leaders, the MCSC and other organizations throughout the state are using service-learning and youth service in a multitude of ways. Read on to learn more about these unique programs and how they're being used to shape tomorrow's leaders today.
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 Global Youth
Service Day 2012
Engages Youth
Statewide
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD)
is an annual event that
encourages children and youth
to address the world's most critical issues by partnering with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and government in service. Celebrated in all 50 states and more than 100 countries, GYSD is the largest service event in the world.
The 2012 GYSD was held on April 20-22. To help engage youth across Michigan for this event, the MCSC teamed up with The LEAGUE Michigan, with support from Youth Service America and the Corporation for National and Community Service, to award $8,000 in mini-grants to 19 different organizations holding GYSD projects. These projects not only enlisted youth in volunteer service, but the projects were also led by young people, with many engaging youth in the grant-writing process. By giving young people in Michigan the reins to design, create, and carryout their own service ideas, they are uniquely positioned to solve community challenges by using their passion, creativity, and fresh perspectives.
As a GYSD Lead Agency, the MCSC also provided training, tips, and tools to community partners throughout the state. This service allowed organizations to improve their project collaboration, promotion, and volunteer recruitment, among other things. In total, nearly 160 service projects will be held in honor of GYSD, with more than 1,000 youth dedicating nearly 4,500 hours of service for the annual event.
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 Ionia Kids Club Teaches Youth Value of Service
Though often under-utilized population, youth make excellent volunteers. The Ionia Kids Club not only helps to engage local youth in community solutions, but it also assists young people in understanding that they can make a difference in their community.
The Ionia Kids Club is a youth volunteer/service club made up of youth of all ages, from all schools, and all families. The young people get together each week to play games, organize service projects, and learn about how volunteering can improve their community. Youth work to plan 2-3 large service projects throughout the school year, such as GYSD, and volunteer as a group at several community events.
The Ionia Kids Club is supported by United Way and Volunteer Connections of Montcalm and Ionia Counties, the area's local volunteer center. For the past two program years, United Way and Volunteer Connections of Montcalm and Ionia Counties has received national service funding in the form of a Volunteer Generation Fund grant from the MCSC. This grant was awarded to assist the center in learning, developing, and implementing a series of volunteer engagement strategies. Through the MCSC's partnership with the Volunteer Centers of Michigan, a total of 14 Volunteer Generation Fund grants have been awarded throughout that state as a way to increase the total number of volunteers in Michigan.
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UM-Flint Vice Chancellor Sekelsky Accepts the 2012 Engaged Campus of the Year Award at the 2012 Giving and Volunteering Day Celebration.
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UM-Flint Builds Engaged Citizens Through Student Service
Across the state, many colleges and universities are
using service-learning and volunteer service as a way to increase the academic success of their students, while simultaneously building civically-engaged young adults. To commend their efforts, one higher education institution is recognized each year with the Michigan Campus Compact award for Engaged Campus of the Year. With a robust set of initiatives that help them achieve engaged citizenship, the University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) was recently honored as the 2012 Engaged Campus of the Year.
UM-Flint is one of only 115 schools in the country to have earned the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. As a way to recognize the selfless dedication of the many engaged students, their University Outreach office coordinates a student volunteer recognition program called Commitment to Service (CTS). CTS generates a community service/service-learning transcript and special graduation honors for students who complete 300 hours or more of community service during their time on campus. Students can earn community service hours in a variety of ways; at a site of their own choosing or by engaging in one of UM-Flint's many community service programs.
Sponsored service programs include initiatives such as Innovation Incubator, which provides a workspace for student-run businesses to explore and discuss innovative community initiatives; Semester in Detroit, which allows students to connect with the city of Detroit both academically and civically; Flint Corps, which provides a strong and sustained network of student volunteers to the community; and others.
Additionally, in the last year alone, UM-Flint engaged 64 students in their Alternative Spring Break program and together these students gave nearly 1,000 hours of service. Other students volunteer their time to the Discovering PLACE. This program helps Flint-area schools to make the community healthier for everyone regardless of race, income, or heritage, by supporting school gardens and outdoor classrooms. This program will engage 300 students in Beecher, Westwood Heights, and Flint area schools in academic projects to meet community needs.
Through many dynamic programs, UM-Flint is making impressive strides in civic engagement and service-learning, making them fully deserving of the 2012 Engaged Campus of the Year award.
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Are you ready to join youth in service? Explore volunteer positions that fit your skills and interest by searching our volunteer portal online.
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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2011-2012, the MCSC is granting nearly $8 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 24 AmeriCorps programs, 20 Learn and Serve programs, and seven Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.
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