|
|
October 19, 2012
Volume 19, No. 42
Circulation: 41,000
| | |
|
YSA Presents 2012 Wofford Awards at Youth Service Institute
|
YSA is proud to announce the 2012 Harris Wofford Award Winners: Shaun Verma, Joshua Johnson, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Cities of Service, and TIME & TIME for Kids.
Presented at the ninth annual Youth Service Institute and sponsored by State Farm, the Harris Wofford Awards were established in 2002 to honor former Senator Harris Wofford, one of our nation's greatest public servants. As the highest honor YSA awards each year, the Wofford Awards recognize those who do extraordinary work towards achieving Senator Wofford's vision of "making service and service-learning common expectation and common experience of every young person in America." The Wofford Awards recognize achievements in five categories: Youth, Young Educator, Public Officials, Organizations, and Media.
Shaun and Joshua shared their work and inspired Youth Service Institute participants during the Opening Plenary Wednesday evening in Houston. Mayor Parker will accept her award and speak today during the Youth Service Institute Closing Plenary.
Learn more about all five 2012 Harris Wofford Award honorees: http://www.YSA.org/blog/2012/10/18/2012-harris-wofford-award-honorees
|
|
Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
|
News From the FielD
|
Yesterday , 1 million Americans and thousands of afterschool programs in more than 7,500 communities around the world celebrated the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire learning and help working families. Whether you participated in a Lights On Afterschool event or not, there are still ways that you can show your support for afterschool:
* Take action online by adding your name to our growing list of afterschool supporters. http://bit.ly/r2kP2n
* Shine a light on your favorite afterschool program by entering Bright House Networks Facebook photo contest with a picture of how you celebrated. The top photos will win up to $2,000! http://bit.ly/WvyWZb
Now, more than ever, it's important that we show our communities, the media and policy makers the important role that afterschool programs play in keeping our kids safe, inspiring learning and helping working families.
|
World Polio Day - October 24
Join others around the world on World Polio Day, October 24, and make your voice heard. Rotary International has created a page on the social media service Thunderclap, which enables supporters to sign up to share a single message through their social media accounts. The message will go out at a designated date and time to amplify the voice of this cause. When people agree to add their accounts, the polio eradication message will be shared simultaneously across all supporting accounts on World Polio Day to raise awareness of the fight to end this crippling disease. Visit the page on Thunderclap to add your voice. http://bit.ly/T2tjdT For more information about polio, visit www.endpolio.org Want to be in the World's Biggest Commercial? Starting on World Polio Day, October 24, you can join Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jackie Chan, Amanda Peet and supporters around the world in Rotary's "This Close" campaign to raise awareness and support for polio eradication. The campaign will be live on EndPolioNow.org on October 24. From there, you will be able to upload a photo to be added into the constantly expanding commercial. Let's make history together! Watch this video to find out more: http://on.fb.me/WHCwxU
|
|
|
|
ServiceVote 12 for '12: Engaging Youth in the 2012 Elections Special Series
| |
With just under 3 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 share partner programs, resources, and events.
|
 Trick or Vote is the nation's largest get out the vote effort ... in costume! According to a 2001 Yale study, face-to-face interaction is the single best way to get someone to vote. Knocking on doors increases voter turnout by a whopping 8-12%, more than any other method. |
ServiceVote 12 for '12: Hold mock elections to teach younger students about the electoral process.
Mock elections can be a really exciting way to teach younger students all about elections and our government - and get them excited to vote for real when they're old enough. Get resources at www.YSA.org/ServiceVote#8
|
If knocking on doors is the best way to get out the vote, what is the one day each year people expect a knock on their door? Halloween.
And when does Halloween happen to fall on the calendar? Always a few days before the election.
So, while you may be too old to Trick or Treat, you're never too old to Trick or Vote. www.trickorvote.org
|
Grants & Awards 
| |
|
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. 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
|
President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
Deadline: November 29
The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll annually highlights the role colleges and universities play in solving community problems and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement. All accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States are eligible to apply. By being admitted to the President's Honor Roll, your institution will be recognized by the President of the United States as a leader and role model in community service for the higher education sector. In addition, Honor Roll institutions receive: assistance with gaining media attention for your achievement, recognition at a national awards ceremony, and a listing on the President's Honor Roll website. http://1.usa.gov/TAxkHr
| |
|
Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarships
Deadline: December 5
Sodexo Foundation is accepting applications through December 5 for the Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarships. These scholarships recognize students (kindergarten-graduate school) working to end domestic hunger with $5,000 for college and $5,000 to help those in need. http://bit.ly/Rc7meR
|
Sodexo Foundation Youth Grants
Deadline: January 31
More than 16 million children live in food insecure homes, not always sure where their next meal will come from. That's why YSA and Sodexo Foundation are calling on young people to "take hunger personally" and join the fight to end childhood hunger. Sodexo Foundation Youth Grants of $500 grants are available for youth-led service projects that bring together young people, families, Sodexo employees and other community members to address childhood hunger. U.S. young people, ages 5-25, are eligible to apply. Projects will take place on or around Global Youth Service Day, April 26-28, 2013. www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoyouth
|
Everyday Young Heroes
|
Katie Spotz
Mentor, OH
YSA recognizes 25-year old Katie Spotz from Mentor, Ohio for her efforts to increase access to clean drinking water around the world. Nearly a billion people today don't have access to clean drinking water. Unsafe drinking water is the world's leading cause of disease and death. Worldwide, it is estimated that on a single day women can spend over 200 billion collective hours fetching water.
In 2010, at the age of 22, Katie set off from Senegal, Africa to Guyana, South America for a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean. After 2,817 miles of rowing and 75 days alone at sea - with sharks, dolphins, and thirty-foot waves - Katie was recognized as the youngest person ever to row an ocean solo and the first American to row from Africa to South America. Katie's original goal was to raise enough money to provide water to 1,000 people in need. She surpassed that goal three times, raising more than $100,000 for Blue Planet Network. In May 2012, Katie launched her most recent project and collaborated with volunteers, youth and adults to launch Schools for Water. She partnered with ten schools in Ohio to help ten schools in Kenya with safe drinking water. The Schools for Water campaign made history when 474 school-aged children, volunteers and teachers broke the world record for the number of people balancing a bottle of water on their head while walking. The schools raised more than $100,000 to help 10,000 students in south western Kenya gain access to safe drinking water, a project led by Aqua Clara International. Katie was able to pair her knowledge of water facts with in-the-field community experience to build a collective effort that inspired hundreds of young children in America to help thousands of children in Kenya. Katie's four-year commitment to Blue Planet Network has raised more than $200,000 for sustainable water projects in Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Kenya. She has helped more than 10,000 of people gain access to safe drinking water. This year, Katie has set out for the biggest challenge of all, to help 50,000 people with safe drinking water by raising $1,000,000 dollars for water projects tracked, monitored and analyzed on Blue Planet Network's online platform. For her commitment and dedication to bringing safe drinking water to people in need around the world, we honor Katie 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. |
|
Resources & Trainings
|
Food Day (October 24) Resources
Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. The Food Day team and their partners have created a variety of resources to help you have successful, powerful, and fun events-and to Eat Real every day. Their Guides provide organizers and hosts with coalition-building tools, timelines, event ideas, and talking points. Promotional materials like a brochure, info cards, and logos help your events stand out. And the "Eating Real" resources, such as healthy and delicious recipes from chefs around the country, best and worst foods lists, and tip sheets give you the tools to Eat Real each and every day, no matter who you are. http://bit.ly/ThWqQZ
|
NYLC Webinar: Connecting Service-Learning to 9/11 Day Observance
Monday, October 29 at 12:00pm Central
Join David Paine for a webinar about making 9/11 a day of service. David will discuss the work his group does organizing volunteers, and will present resources for youth and adults looking to connect service-learning to this day of tribute. David Paine is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit group MyGoodDeed, which annually organizes the 9/11 Day Observance at 911day.org. MyGoodDeed also led the successful effort to secure the formal designation of September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. http://bit.ly/Rc6Ygl
| |
Free "I Support AmeriCorps" Stickers
Help support and expand national service programs, like AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, VISTA, City Year, Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, and others so we can serve and rebuild our country now. Proudly wear your "I Support AmeriCorps" stickers, take pictures with Instagram and share them on Facebook & Twitter -- inviting friends and family to sign the OneMillionNewJobs.org petition, asking President Obama and Governor Romney to pledge to create 1 Million New Jobs for national service. Funded as a Government-Private partnership, it's a win-win solution that creates jobs, further builds skills of young Americans and rebuilds our country. http://bit.ly/RJPQNw
|
New CIRCLE Fact Sheet Describes State Laws, Standards, and Requirements for K-12 Civics
With funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, CIRCLE has analyzed the standards, course requirements, and mandatory assessments relevant to civic education in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. This is the first such scan in 5 years. The full analysis is summarized in our new fact sheet entitled State Civic Education Requirements, and a spreadsheet provides details on each state. http://bit.ly/R7BSIl
|
Service Calendars
|
Conferences & Events
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
National Conference on Volunteering & Service
June 19-21, 2013 - Washington, DC
|
Seasons of Service
October 2012
Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October
Intergeneration Month - October
National Teen Driver Safety Week - October 14-20
Ally Week - October 15-19
World Food Day - October 16
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty -
Lights on Afterschool - October 18
Food Day - October 24
National SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Day - October 24
Teen Read Week - October 14-20
America's Safe Schools Week - October 21-27
Make a Difference Day - October 27
|
|
|
|
Song of the Week
| |
Jonathan Edwards - "This Island Earth"
"Calling all dreamers and optimistic fools
Don't let go of your dream, make it now, make it all come true
If you believe in a brighter day
I know we can find our way
To this island, in a starry ocean
Poetry in motion, this island earth
A beautiful oasis for all human races
The only home that we know, this island earth."
|
The Editor
|
 Mike Minks Director of Outreach and Innovation
Editor-in-Chief @michaelminks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
