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December 13, 2012
Volume 19, No. 49
Circulation: 41,000
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Disney Friends for Change grants are available now! This program offers young people across the U.S. the chance to make lasting, positive change in the world, awarding $1,000 grants for youth-led service projects that demonstrate youth leadership, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the community. Youth ages 5-18 located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant. Applications are open through February 10. For more information, visit www.YSA.org/grants/disney-friends-change-grants
Help Spread the Word!
Share this grant opportunity on Twitter and Facebook:
Twitter:
Apply for a $1K grant from @youthservice. Their Disney Friends for Change grant application deadline is 2/10: http://bit.ly/hm8kkh
Have an idea for a youth-led service project? Apply for a Disney Friends for Change grant. http://bit.ly/hm8kkh #Disney #YSA
Facebook:
Do you know a young person passionate about the environment, childhood hunger, literacy, or other important community issues? Encourage them to apply for a $1,000 Disney Friends for Change grant from @Youth Service America: http://bit.ly/hm8kkh
Young people, are you looking for funding to implement the service project of your dreams? Youth Service America is awarding $1,000 to youth-led service projects. Apply for a Disney Friends for Change grant by 2/10: http://bit.ly/hm8kkh
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Connect with YSA
  
YSA Funding Partners
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News From the FielD
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 21, 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. Learn more and get resources to help you plan a project, promote your project, recognize volunteers, or find service opportunities at www.MLKDay.gov
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Volunteering & Civic Life in America
A new national study shows that Americans significantly increased their commitment to volunteering and civic engagement in 2011, with the national volunteer rate reaching a five-year high. The findings come from Volunteering and Civic Life in America, a report issued by CNCS and NCoC. The report also finds that parents of school-aged children contributed more than 2.5 billion hours of their time to volunteer efforts in 2011, most of it to school-based projects, underscoring the pivotal role that schools play as hubs for local volunteer efforts. Get the latest national, regional, state, and city information at www.VolunteeringinAmerica.gov
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Children's Inaugural Address
On January 21, President Obama will deliver his inaugural address. More than one-third of the U.S. population is under age 24; that's a lot of ideas and perspectives that should not be ignored in Washington, DC. That's why with your help, Spark Action is creating a Children's Inaugural Address video to give voice to young people's priorities and ideas. Youth under age 24 can tell your story in a quick 1-minute video and make your call to action to the President and Congress for January and beyond. Submissions due by December 21st, 2012. www.sparkaction.org/inaugural
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Six U.S. Senators Call for a Presidential Youth Council - Add Your Voice!
The Campaign for Presidential Youth Council applauds U.S. Senators Scott Brown (R-MA) and Tom Udall (D-NM) for the introduction of S.R. 608 in U.S. Senate supporting the establishment of a bi-partisan Presidential Youth Council. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Mark Begich (D-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Patty Murray (D-WA) co-sponsored the resolution. U.S. Representative John B. Larson's (D-CT) has introduced a similar resolution in the House of Representatives. The Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council calls on youth across the nation to write their U.S. Senators asking them to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 608. http://bit.ly/VEZIsB
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Grants & Awards
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MADD Power of You(th) Video Contest
Deadline: December 28
MADD is asking teens to take a stand and create a one minute or less video to encourage their peers to avoid drinking alcohol before age 21 and to never get in a car with someone who's been drinking. The Power of You(th) is the power you hold to prevent some of the 6,000 deaths that result each year from underage drinking. Use your power to influence your friends and make an impact in your school, home and community with your Power of You(th) video. Upload your video to YouTube and send us the link using the form below by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on December 28, 2012. The winner will receive an iPad 2! http://bit.ly/Ag2znC
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Our Town Grants
Deadline: January 14
Through Our Town, the National Endowment for the Arts will provide a limited number of grants, ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, for creative placemaking projects that contribute toward the livability of communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core. Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, seek to improve their quality of life, encourage greater creative activity, foster stronger community identity and a sense of place, and revitalize economic development. http://1.usa.gov/TeCDPc
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J-Serve Repair the World Education Grants
Deadlines: Dec. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 28
Are you involved with a great J-Serve project that is helping to address education challenges (like literacy rates, math deficiency, and mentorship) in your community? Or do you have an awesome project idea in mind? Now's your chance to get your idea off the ground: J-Serve (The International Day of Jewish Youth Service) and Repair the World have teamed up to offer micro-grants for creative, volunteer-focused programs supporting education and child development. The micro-grants will range from $500-$1000 and fund J-Serve projects across the country that help to solve the problem of education inequality. (Preference will be given to programs in New York, Detroit, Baltimore and San Francisco, but all are encouraged to apply.) http://bit.ly/UoOUiL
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Sodexo Foundation Youth Grants
Deadline: January 31
Submit your application early to receive feedback!
Submit your application by December 16th and YSA will preliminary review your application and give you feedback by January 4th.
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 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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Jaron Boyd
Chicago Heights, IL
YSA recognizes 25-year-old Jaron Boyd of Chicago Heights, Illinois, as an Everyday Young Hero for his dedication to empowering youth through dance.
After overcoming many feats and touring worldwide with Madonna, Jaron decided to put his talents toward a greater cause and give youth hope through dance. In an area plagued with violence, crime and gangs, Jaron provided a safe outlet by showing kids that there is another life besides the one in which they are surrounded. Jaron recruited young people to join his dance group HAVOC, and has engaged thousands through his daily inspirational online postings. He also provides free shows on New Years Eve, offering a safe-haven for youth to have an opportunity to have fun and become educated on the issue while staying away from violence. Through his performances and online presence, Jaron has spread words of peace, hope, and positive change worldwide. Through Jaron's efforts, the community has seen a decrease in crime and an increase in graduation rates. For his dedication to empowering youth and stopping the violence, we honor Jaron Boyd 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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Using MLK Day to Launch a Semester of Service Webinar
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Justice Matters Schools That Rock Webinar: Rethinking Service Learning! Empowering Students of Color to Better Understand Their Lives and Help Change the World
Tuesday, December 18th at 1pm PST / 4pm EST Let's rethink what service learning can be! What does a service learning model look like when it is centered on empowering the students of color who are involved? What does service learning look like when students value, respect and better understand their lives and their community? What does service learning look like when values of social justice are at its heart? At the center of the discussion will be the unique service-learning model at South Valley Academy in Albuquerque, NM. Staff, alumni and a community partner from South Valley will share the service learning model they've developed to help student transform their lives and how they view their place in the world. Register and submit questions for the webinar at: http://bit.ly/XiUxA3
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Song of the WeeK
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Mumford & Sons - "Below My Feet"
"Keep the earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn..."
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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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