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November 1, 2012
Volume 19, No. 44
Circulation: 41,000
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In his recent Huffington Post blog "Young People Who Serve Have Right to be Heard This Election" Steve Culbertson wrote, "At Youth Service America, we work with thousands of young people leading awareness, service, advocacy and philanthropy campaigns; when these and other young people serve their communities, they have a right to ask candidates about what they will do to address the issues that matter to them."
In that spirit, we offer "I serve, I ask, I vote" ServiceVote 2012 memes for you to share on Facebook and Twitter. There are 12 of them for you to choose from. Share them all, or select the one that reflects the issue you care most deeply about. http://on.fb.me/Sm6XGo
Take a few moments and let YSA know how you've engaged youth this election season at www.YSA.org/ServiceVote
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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News From the FielD
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Ways You Can Help in the Aftermath of Hurricane SandyThe devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy is still being assessed, but there are several ways you can help those affected by storm. You can volunteer, give blood, or contribute cash donations. Find links to recommended organizations to volunteer with and donate to at http://1.usa.gov/SfSkn5 National Service Responds to Sandy
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has deployed AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers to assist with shelter operations and call centers in response to Hurricane Sandy. Hundreds of national service members are deployed and serving in disaster-affected communities and nearly a thousand more are standing by for immediate deployment. Before the recovery is complete, thousands of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are expected to help in the recovery. http://1.usa.gov/Q9Kn7a
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Help Light the White House Purple to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of March of Dimes and as Symbol of Hope
The volunteers and supporters of the March of Dimes ask the President to light the White House in purple on January 3, 2013, to honor the 75th anniversary of the founding of the March of Dimes by President Franklin Roosevelt, and as a symbol of hope for families whose children have been born too soon. Just as the March of Dimes galvanized America to defeat polio, today millions of March of Dimes volunteers are working to support research and programs to identify the causes of premature birth. Help to honor babies born prematurely by lighting in purple the birthplace of the March of Dimes: the White House. 18,000 signatures are still needed to make it happen! Sign today at: http://ow.ly/ey0OA
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ServiceVote 12 for '12: Engaging Youth in the 2012 Elections Special Series
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With just a few days until Election Day, YSA concludes 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
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Youth Voices
Alex Wirth, a former YSA Youth Council member, calls on young people to vote in his Huffington Post blog "Why Vote?" http://huff.to/TX53e6 Rock the Vote is posting daily countdown images created by youth artists on their Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/TX5eGq
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ServiceVote 12 for '12: Vote!
46 million young people ages 18-29 years old are eligible to vote. Young people (18-29) make up 24% of the voting eligible population. Youth voter turnout rose to 51 percent in 2008; however, youth voter turnout still lags behind turnout of those over 30 years old. If you're eligible to vote, go vote!
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Y-Press youth reporters continue their election series covering stories about the campaign, the candidates, and youth perspectives on the political process: http://bit.ly/TePIar
Mikva Challenge students in Chicago are engaged and are getting media attention! http://bit.ly/WcOYbw
Student designs inspire a new approach to encourage voting: "E-Day" and "We're Closed (for the Election)" http://bit.ly/TeQWlT
3 teens triumph on the campaign trail as they help convince the Commission on Presidential Debates to have women moderators: http://bit.ly/Umjs42
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Grants & Awards
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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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Spreading Smiles Service-Learning Photo Contest
Deadline: December 3
Are you a K-12 classroom that is participating in a service-learning project and could use funds to complete your project? Capture a photo of your classroom participating in their project and submit a completed entry form for a chance to win $500, $300, or $200. Online voting takes place Dec 7-17; the top three most voted photos will win one of the three grants. http://bit.ly/Sr1QGy
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AmeriCorps State & National Grants
Deadline: January 23
The FY2013 AmeriCorps State and National grant competition is designed to help national service programs achieve greater impact by targeting resources on a core set of challenges: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families. In order to maximize the impact of the public investment in national service, CNCS will fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems using an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach (e.g. performance data, research, theory of change). http://1.usa.gov/YbABSf
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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
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Everyday Young Heroes
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Kyle Ashby
Boise, ID
YSA recognizes 16-year-old Kyle Ashby of Boise, Idaho, as an Everyday Young Hero for her passion and dedication to raising awareness about literacy and children's lack of access to books in the United States and the Caribbean through her organization, Friends Through Books.
Troubled after a trip abroad at the alarming rates of illiteracy and lack of access to books, Kyle and her sister founded Friends Through Books in order to supply books and school supplies to students across the country. Over the past four years, Kyle has raised over $25,000, delivered over 15,000 books and school supplies, and provided corrective eye surgery for two young students. Through her community partnerships with the local library, schools, and airlines, Kyle has galvanized hundreds of volunteers and supporters throughout Boise, as well as instituted a pen pal program that allows students to build cross-cultural connections as well as strengthen their penmanship and literacy. For her commitment and dedication to raising awareness about literacy and providing students with additional access to books and school supplies, we honor Kyle 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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CIRCLE: Youth Polling Results
This week CIRCLE released a groundbreaking poll of young people's views of the election.
Results detailed at www.civicyouth.org include:
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NYLC Webinar: Creating Meaningful STEM Learning Experiences through Service-Learning
Tuesday, November 6 at 1:00pm Central
In this webinar, you will learn how to use service-learning as a strategy to create meaningful STEM learning experiences for your students. NYLC will provide examples of middle school classrooms that are using service-learning as well as tools and strategies for using service-learning with your students. Through meaningful service-learning, students can discover how learning about STEM, including a career in science or engineering can go beyond the lab and lead to social benefits. By working with schools and community organizations to expose students to rigorous and engaging STEM learning, we can prepare innovative and creative thinkers for the future workforce. Register at: http://bit.ly/Q9FNpu
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Project Vote Smart's Vote Easy Tool
Try Project Vote Smart's award-winning Vote Easy candidate match tool for the presidential and congressional races. This powerful, interactive research tool lets you instantly see which candidates are most like you. http://bit.ly/Y9Lwg0
The Campus Election Engagement Project has turned the content from the Vote Easy tool into a Voter Guide, nonpartisan 2012 Presidential Election Voter Guide, which concisely summarizes the candidates' positions on major issues. http://bit.ly/SBtXUJ
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Thinking Beyond Borders Blogs on Social Innovation & Social Change
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Song of the Week
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Bob Dylan - "The Times They Are A-Changin'"
"Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'..." |
The Editor
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 Mike Minks Director of Outreach and Innovation
Editor-in-Chief @michaelminks |
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