CalServe Network

YSA Grants Support GYSD Projects Addressing Childhood Hunger, Environment

2011-02-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

YSA (Youth Service America) is currently accepting applications for 3 grant programs supporting Global Youth Service Day projects, including:

Sodexo Lead Organizer Grants (Deadline: February 10)
$2,000 grants for organizations in the United States to mobilize at least 500 youth volunteers and 10 community partners to address childhood hunger, beginning on GYSD.

Sodexo Youth Grants (Deadline: February 25)
$500 grants for youth-led projects in the United States addressing childhood hunger in their communities on GYSD

Disney Friends for Change Grants (Deadline: March 10)
$500 grants for youth-led projects around the world to help the environment on GYSD.

Please consider applying, or sending this information to others you know who might be interested. More information is below, or visit www.YSA.org/grants

More Information About Current YSA Grant Opportunities

Sodexo Lead Organizer Grants (Deadline: February 10)

YSA is accepting applications from organizations across the United States to serve as 2011 Sodexo Lead Organizers, supported by a $2,000 planning grant from YSA and the Sodexo Foundation. Sodexo Lead Organizers will work with partner organizations to engage at least 500 youth volunteers in learning about and addressing the issue of childhood hunger in their communities, beginning on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) (April 15-17), and continuing through Hunger Action Month (September) and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 14-20). Sodexo Lead Organizers will also build new partnerships in their community and increase public awareness about the issue of hunger and young people's role in solving the problem. Applications are due by midnight on Friday, February 10. Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoleadorganizer

Sodexo Youth Grants (Deadline: February 25)

Over 17 million children in the United States live at risk of hunger; that's 1 in 4 children who rely on free and reduced-price school breakfast and lunch programs as their only guaranteed meals. YSA (Youth Service America) and Sodexo are calling on young people, ages 5-25, to help make sure your peers don't have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and can instead focus on learning and leading healthy and productive lives. YSA will award 100 Sodexo Youth Grants of $500 each to support youth-led service projects that address the issue of childhood hunger on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011.) We're looking for projects that engage your peers, friends, families, neighbors, Sodexo employees, and other community members in creative, youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in your community. Applications are due February 25. Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoyouth

Disney Friends for Change Grants (Deadline: March 10)

YSA (Youth Service America), together with Disney, is now accepting applications from youth around the world for the Disney Friends for Change Grants. The grant funds youth-led service projects that focus on making environmentally friendly changes and engage youth on Global Youth Service Day, April 15-17. The Disney Friends for Change program will award 50 $500 grants to youth-led service projects around the world that demonstrate youth leadership, creativity, and the commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. Applicants must be between the ages of 5-25 and be associated with a school or organization. Applications are due March 10. Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/disney-friends-change-grants

Service-Learning Grants

2011-01-14T17:23:00.001-08:00

NEA Youth Leaders for Literacy Grants (Deadline Extended: January 16)
The National Education Association (NEA) is partnering with Youth Service America to offer Youth Leaders for Literacy grants to support service-learning projects focused on increasing young people's interest in reading and improving literacy in schools and communities. Youth Leaders for Literacy will award 30 young people from across the U.S. with $500 grants. Successful projects will be youth-led and address an established literacy need in the applicant's school or community. The projects will launch on NEA's Read Across America Day on March 2nd and culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 15-17. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply. Youth ages 5-25 are welcome to apply along with an adult ally. The application deadline is midnight January 16, 2011. Access the application at: www.YSA.org/grants/nea-youth-leaders-literacy

Special Olympics Get Into It Grants (Deadline Extended: January 26)
Special Olympics is partnering with Youth Service America to offer Get Into It grants that bring together students of all abilities to fight childhood obesity in their schools and communities through service-learning projects developed using the Get Into It curriculum. The program will award approximately 40-80 grants of $500 or $1,000 to help youth create and implement local, hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. Get Into It grant projects will launch on Spread the Word to End the Word Day (March 2, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). This grant program is open to youth in schools, after-school programs, and youth development or community organizations. Applicants do not need to have a current connection to Special Olympics or the Get Into It program, but must agree to use the Special Olympics Get Into It curriculum to develop their project. The application must be completed together by a teacher or adult program leader and a unified pair of students (one with and one without an intellectual disability). All 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by midnight, January 26, 2011 To learn more about this opportunity, download the planning resources offered, and access the online application, visit www.YSA.org/getintoit

Sodexo Hunger Grants (Details To Be Announced Later This Month)
YSA (Youth Service America), with support from the Sodexo Foundation, will offer grants to engage youth in addressing the issue of hunger in their communities through service-learning. This program will include:

· Youth grants of $500 to support Global Youth Service Day projects addressing hunger

· Organization grants of $2,000 to support community organizations mobilizing youth volunteers beginning on Global Youth Service Day through Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November 2011

· School grants of up to $5,000 to support teachers engaging their students in a fall Semester of Service focused on addressing hunger

YSA will begin to announce details about these grants and accept applications in January 2011. Further details will be included in the January Grants Alert and posted at www.YSA.org/grants

Spring & Summer Jobs in Service-Learning

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Spring & Summer Job Opportunities
Facilitating Service-Learning Programs

for Middle & High School Students

The Civic Education Project (CEP) at Northwestern University is NOW HIRING exceptional staff for our Spring & Summer 2011 service-learning programs. CEP offers weekend, weeklong and three-week service-learning courses for outstanding middle and high school students during the spring and summer. CEP programs engage motivated students in exploring complex social issues, provide students with hands-on opportunities to examine their role in creating change, and inspire students to take action. This year, CEP will offer programs in Chicago, Baltimore, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, covering topics such as law & criminal justice, politics & urban development, education policy & school reform, public health and civic engagement.

Available Job Opportunities

We are looking for outstanding teachers from public and private schools and universities, service-learning practitioners, other education, youth development and nonprofit professionals, and graduate and undergraduate students. Instructional, residential, and administrative positions are available, ranging from two-day to seven-week sessions. Staff generally receive a cash stipend, room & board and training in service-learning and experiential education. However, the biggest payoff comes from the opportunity to work with bright, motivated students, build community with passionate, dynamic colleagues, and gain valuable experience educating young people about civic engagement and social responsibility.

How to Apply

To learn more about CEP programs and staff positions or to apply online, visit our website at:

http://www.civiceducationproject.com/jobs

Spring staff consideration begins NOW, and summer staff consideration begins February 1, 2011. Applications are accepted at any time but are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration.

Apply now to join a group of people working together for a common cause -- inspiring young people to make a difference!

Civic Education Project

617 Dartmouth Place

Evanston IL 60208

Phone: 847/467-2572

Email: cep@northwestern.edu

Web: www.CivicEducationProject.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CivicEducationProject

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General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grants (Deadline: December 15)

2010-11-05T20:16:00.003-07:00

The General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program is a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation, and the President's Council on Physical Fitness. The goal of the program is to encourage U.S. communities to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people, ages 2-18. In 2011, the program will award 50 grants of $10,000 each to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies throughout the country that offer innovative programs to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. (All funded programs must have at least one nutrition objective and at least one physical activity objective.) Local organizations that work with children, including park districts, health departments, government agencies, Native American tribes, municipal organizations, schools, YMCAs, Boys & Girls clubs, etc., are encouraged to apply. Online applications must be submitted by December 15, 2010. www.generalmills.com/en/responsibility/community_engagement/grants/champions_for_healthy_kids.aspx

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

2010-11-05T20:16:00.001-07:00

(Deadline: March 15, 2011 - Activities Take 3-12 Weeks to Complete)

As citizens and future stewards of our planet, today's students are in a unique position to become active agents of environmental change. Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge - Encourages students from grades K-12 to team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their schools (grades K to five), community (grades six to eight) and world (grades nine to 12). The goal of the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is to do more than just give kids a chance to formulate an experiment and carry it out. Contestants explore an environmental problem that affects their community. As part of the challenge, students must also put together guidelines for how other communities could repeat the project, and they share those guidelines as part of the contest. Prizes include scholarships, savings bonds, teacher awards, school grants, adventure trips, green prize packs, and more!

www.wecanchange.com

Whale Tail Grants Up to $50,000

2010-09-21T17:50:00.001-07:00

WHALE TAIL^® Grants

Introduction: The WHALE TAIL^® Grants Program distributes funds from sales of the WHALE TAIL^® License Plate. The grants support programs that teach California’s children and the general public to value and take action to improve the health of the state’s marine and coastal resources. Adopt-A-Beach programs, as well as other beach maintenance and coastal habitat restoration projects that have an educational component, are also eligible for these grants. This grants program focuses on reaching communities that are currently poorly served in terms of marine and coastal education.

Available Funding: A total of $226,000 will be distributed. Applicants may request any amount up to $50,000, and 25-50% of the funding will be allocated in small grants under $10,000.

Categories of Grants: The WHALE TAIL^® Grants Program funds projects that fall into any one of the following three categories: 1) Adopt-A-Beach programs; 2) Youth programs; 3) Programs for the general public.

Eligibility: Applicants must be either a non-profit organization or a governmental entity. For beach operation and maintenance projects, the applicant must be a non-profit organization or local governmental agency. For proposals in the Adopt-A-Beach category, both current and new Adopt-A-Beach managers are eligible to apply.

Deadline is November 1, 2010

Some clever proposals that were funded last year:

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/plate/wtgrant-recipients.pdf

More information at: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/plate/plgrant.html

FW: Presidio Trust Job Announcement - Fort Scott Project Coordinator - Please spread the word

2010-09-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I am very pleased to announce that the Presidio Trust is hiring a Project Coordinator to help with the Fort Scott project. As you know, we are continuing to explore the redevelopment of Fort Scott as a place dedicated to national service and leadership. The new hire will be an integral part of our small team, assisting with all aspects of the project - from constituency development and planning to logistics and communications.

Information about the position and application process can be found under "Project Coordinator" at: http://www.presidio.gov/trust/jobs/

If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks for helping to spread the word!

Take care,

Joshua Steinberger

Project Manager – Fort Scott Reuse

Presidio Trust

415.561.5367

Grants for Youth! Kids Care grants due Sept 27th online

2010-09-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

KIDS CARE WEEK GRANTS!

APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY

Only one application per youth or youth group.

Youth must be 18 years of age or younger on September 27th, 2010 to qualify.

Youth receiving a generationOn Kids Care Week mini-grant must partner with a registered 501(c)3 (school, non-profit, community group) to develop a project that addresses community needs. Awards will be made payable to partnering 501(c)3 organizations.

Individual youth, classrooms, clubs and groups can apply for the mini-grants. Take these simple steps to go the extra mile:

Check out the Kids Care Week Fact Sheets on the honorees to learn more about their social issues and how you can help today. To access fact sheets visit www.kidscare.org and use limited time log-in: Makeyourmark and password: kidscare.
Think about your passion, your community and the world and develop a service project that tackles one of the honoree's social issues.
Apply for a mini-grant to fund your project at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KidsCareWeekGrants

Grant applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. EST on September 27, 2010. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Grant recipients will be notified by October 1, 2010. Please email questions regarding the grant to info@generationon.org or call us toll free at 1-866-269-0510.

generationOn is a global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world. During Kids Care Week 2010, October 17^th to the 23^rd, we are asking young people to "make your mark on the world: go the extra mile."

To inspire youth to make their mark on the world, we are connecting Kids Care Week 2010 projects to The Extra Mile – Points of Light Volunteer Pathway. This national monument in Washington, DC is dedicated to the spirit of service and honors heroes of our Nation's service movement from founders of major service organizations to civil rights leaders.

Thanks to our partnership with Hasbro Children's Fund, in celebration of Kids Care Week 2010, generationOn will award mini-grants in the amount of $250, to support service projects that are related to the social issues the Extra Mile Honorees addressed. Issues include:

Aging &the Elderly Animals Civil Rights Disabilities

Disaster Relief Economy Education Environment

Health & Health Care Homelessness Human Rights Hunger

Immigration Peace Poverty Unemployment

Youth

About generationOn

Newly created within the Points of Light Institute, generationOn brings the nation's leading youth service organizations and programs under one umbrella including New York-based Children for Children, The League, Learning to Give and Points of Light's KidsCare Clubs, HandsOn Schools and HandsOn Network's youth-driven programs. With service learning and volunteer action at its co re, generationOn mobilizes the energy, ingenuity and compassion of young people, starting at an early age, to discover their power and potential to solve real world problems through service.

About Kids Care Week

Kids Care Week, presented by generationOn and celebrated the third week of October, recognizes the power of kids to help others in their community and the world. During the week, young people focus their compassion on a specific social issue through a service project. Kids Care Week culminates on Make a Difference Day, a national day of doing good sponsored by USA Weekend and held in partnership with HandsOn Network.

Rebecca Kraus

Manager of Youth Leadership and Family Engagement

Children for Children | generationOn

Grants and Awards

2010-08-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

The following grant and award opportunities are provided by Youth Service America for more information, visit YSA.org/grants

Cities of Service Youth Service Institute Grants (Deadline: September 10)
Young people are critical assets for community change and helping mayors achieve their vision of a stronger community through service. Youth Service America (YSA) invites Cities of Service to engage youth volunteers through Global Youth Service Day and/or Semester of Service. To support Cities of Service in engaging youth, YSA is offering up to 30 Cities of Service $1,000 grants to cover registration, travel, and lodging for one staff member to attend its annual Youth Service Institute on October 13-15 in Detroit. In addition to this opportunity, applications from groups affiliated with a City of Service will receive preference for YSA's other grant programs throughout the year. (YSA will distribute over $1 million in grants for Semester of Service and Global Youth Service Day 2011.) The application deadline is Friday, September 10. Learn more about Youth Service America, and access the short, 3-question online application at: www.YSA.org/institute/citiesofservice

State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants (Deadline: October 15)
State Farm is proud to team up with Youth Service America to offer grants of up to $1,000 for youth-led service-learning initiatives is all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Eligible programs will engage youth in service-learning, an effective teaching and learning strategy that promotes student learning, academic achievement, workplace readiness, and healthy communities. State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants encourage semester-long projects (following YSA's Semester of Service framework) that launch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 17, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). Eligible candidates include teachers, service-learning coordinators and students in a public school, or staff and youth in a community-based organization working with a public school. Applications must be submitted by midnight, October 15, 2010. Learn more and access the application at www.YSA.org/goodneighbor

UnitedHealth HEROES (Deadline: October 22)
UnitedHealth HEROES is a service-learning, health literacy initiative designed to encourage young people, partnering with schools and nonprofits, to create and implement local hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. Educators, nonprofit leaders, and students are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $1,000 to engage youth in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Youth participants raise awareness around their work by culminating their service projects on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 15-17, 2011, an international day of service that occurs in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries.

Applications must be submitted online before midnight October 22, 2010. Grant recipients will be notified in December and January. To obtain an application, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES.

Applicants can find additional information about the grant, service-learning, and childhood obesity at www.YSA.org/HEROES, including "First Responders: Youth Addressing Childhood Obesity Through Service-Learning," a step-by-step manual that helps youths, parents, teachers, and other volunteers deploy YSA service-learning models to fight childhood obesity in their communities.

Nestle Drumstick Heroes Contest (Deadline: September 15)
Nestle will highlight exceptional youth in communities across the country with the Drumstick Heroes contest. Fifty children between the ages of 6 and 17 are eligible to win a summer celebration package, complete with enough Nestle Drumstick Sundae Cones for a party of 50 friends. To nominate an outstanding child or teen, submit the completed entry form, along with a short story (150 to 300 words) describing why the individual deserves to be honored as a Drumstick Hero. All entries must be received by September 15, 2010. For details on this opportunity, please visit www.drumstick.com/promotions/heroes.aspx

Youth Change Maker Award (Deadline: September 17)
Operation REACH's Gulfsouth Youth Action Fund, a youth philanthropy initiative that engages youth as leaders and empowers them with the resources to make strategic investments in their peers and their communities, is seeking nominations for the 2010 Youth Change Maker Awards. These prestigious awards honor outstanding young people, ages 7 through 25, who have shown exemplary leadership in recovery, education, entrepreneurship and community service initiatives in the Gulfsouth region. Self-nominations are accepted. Finalists will be recognized and winners announced during the Youth Change Maker Awards Dinner on October 16, 2010 in New Orleans. Each Youth Change Maker Award recipient will be honored with a $500 donation to a non-profit organization or project of his or her choice. The deadline for nominations is September 17, 2010 at 5:00pm. Forms can be downloaded at www.operationreach.org.

Staples Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition (Deadline: Ongoing Through September)
The Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition will search until September for eight outstanding youth changemakers; leaders of social ventures aged 12 to 24 who make a difference in the world. Youths can either nominate themselves or be nominated by someone inspired by their actions. At the end of the competition, the winners or representatives from winning teams will fly to Washington, D.C. for the November 13th TEDxYSE conference -a TED style conference run by Youth Venture on social entrepreneurship. There, they'll present their stories and achievements as well as receive $500 prize money. One of the eight teams will win the Staples grand prize for $5,000. Winners will be chosen on a rolling basis through September, so don't wait. www.genv.net/staples-yse

Red Robin Foundation U-ACT Program (Deadline: October 1)
U-ACT, which stands for Unbridled Acts, or random acts of kindness, is a character-building initiative specifically for middle and junior high schools with grades 6-8, which aims to inspire and energize students about the value of being kind to others. Throughout the school year, participating schools are asked to share Red Robin's "Unbridled" culture with their students by participating in a program that promotes kindness. At the end of the year, schools are asked to submit a program binder outlining their efforts during the school year for a chance to earn a grant between $1,200 and $15,000. The goal of the Red Robin Foundation U-ACT Champion Program is to help foster and create a sense of neighborliness inside and outside of the school. For program guidelines and information, please visit www.redrobin.com/rrfoundation/uactprogram.aspx.

KaBOOM! Play Day Grants (Deadline: Ongoing Through October)
Roll up your sleeves and play! Host a KaBOOM! Play Day, presented by Mott's, in your neighborhood and be part of a national celebration to save play in the lives of children. A Play Day is your chance to gather at your community's favorite park or playground for fun games and service projects that celebrate and improve your play space. If you include an improvement project at your Play Day you could win a $10,000 grant to further improve your play space. The KaBOOM! Play Day website helps you plan for your big day. You can watch YouTube videos with planning tips, print the set of game and activity cards, and post in the Scrapbook. Plan your Play Day to take place on any day during the week of September 18-26. Learn more at: http://kaboom.org/playday

Youth Garden Grants (Deadline: November 1)
Home Depot and the National Gardening Association (NGA) are partnering again to offer the Youth Garden Grants, given to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. Priorities will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration, nutrition or plant-to-food connections, environmental awareness/education, entrepreneurship, social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning. Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so, but must wait one year (e.g., if you won in 2010, you can apply again in 2012) and have significantly expanded their garden programs. This year, 100 grants are available, with five programs receiving gift cards valued at $1000 (a $500 gift card to Home Depot and a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog, and educational materials from the National Gardening Association. Ninety-five programs will receive a $500 gift card to Home Depot and educational materials from NGA. For more information, please visit www.kidsgardening.org/ygg.asp.

Project Ignition Grants Now Available (Deadline: November 15)
Applications for $2,000 grants are now available online for high school students and adults interested in addressing teen driver safety through service-learning initiatives. State Farm and the National Youth Leadership Council are proud to continue their collaboration on Project Ignition in this seventh year. Students and staff from any public high school in the U.S. and in the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick can apply. Applications are due November 15, 2010, and twenty-five high schools will receive $2,000 grants in December, 2010 to support implementation of their programs between January and April, 2011. To apply, please visit www.sfprojectignition.com

Office Depot Foundation Grants (Deadline: November 15)
The Foundation's funding focus includes: Making a Difference in Children's Lives - to support activities that serve, teach and inspire children, youth and families; Building Communities - to support civic organizations and activities that serve the needs of our community; and Disaster Relief - to support disaster relief efforts of recognized national, regional and local agencies, and to provide disaster relief to Office Depot associates who have experienced catastrophic loss. An online eligibility survey and grant application can be found on the Grant Making Guidelines page. Applications are retrieved on a monthly basis and are reviewed by a committee. Please allow at least 12 weeks after you submit your completed application before you receive a response. Grant amounts will be a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $3,000 (very limited). The majority of grants issued are in the vicinity of $1,000 and are supported by in-kind donations when inventory allows. The Office Depot Foundation will accept applications for the current funding cycle through November 15, 2010. Learn more at: www.officedepotfoundation.com/funding.asp

WaysToHelp.org Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)
WaysToHelp.org invites teens in the United States to apply for grants to fund their community service ideas across any one of 16 issue areas. You can apply for a grant, by visiting www.waystohelp.org and for any issue area, selecting "See Ways To Help" followed by "Apply for a Grant". Applications are short - just 5,000 words or less - and should summarize: how the project will involve others, who it will help, what effect it's expected to have, when it will start and how the funds will be used. Grant requests are reviewed and responded to on a monthly basis. www.waystohelp.org

Join the Great Califorina ShakeOut

2010-08-26T15:26:00.001-07:00

Consider organizing your students and school's participation in the Great California ShakeOut. This event highlights ways that school communities can prepare for earthquakes. The event represents an excellent opportunity for students to participate in service-learning by studying Califorina geology, the preparedness of their families, school and neighborhoods & then helping to organize preparedness and response capacity.

The drill (October 21, 10:21 a.m.) will reach 5 million participants, thanks in large part to schools, districts, and county offices aligning their earthquake drill schedules together. Nearly 250 districts and over 500 schools (including over 220 private schools) have registered so far, with over 3.8 million students and staff participating! This raises awareness of all Californians as the drill gets extensive local, state, and national media attention due to its size and scope.

You can find ShakeOut school resources and more information at http://shakeout.org/schools , including a letter of support from State Superintendent Jack O'Connell.

Celebrate Coastweeks - September 25 through October 17, 2010

2010-08-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, each fall, people across the country participate in COASTWEEKS, a celebration of our coastal and water resources. In 2010 the California celebration takes place from September 25 to October 17, kicked off by the 26^th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day!

This year the California Coastal Commission has compiled a calendar of over 270 coastal and water-related events taking place in 26 counties. Please visit the calendar at www.coastforyou.org and find just the right activity for you, your friends, and your family to celebrate our coast and inland waterways! For a list of events organized by county. click here.

Join the 9/11 Day of Service

2010-08-26T14:52:00.001-07:00

The August, 2010 National Service Briefing from Youth Service America details a variety of project ideas and approaches for developing service-learning projects related to the events of September 11, 2001.

Download 9 lessons for 9/11: Engaging Youth in September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance from Youth Serivce America here: http://tools.ysa.org/downloads/ysa/9for911.pdf

Environmental Grants, Awards & Contests

2010-08-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Trash to Treasure Competition
(resource for PLT’s PreK-8 activities “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” “Renewable or Not,” “Make Your Own Paper,” “A Look at Aluminum,” and PLT’s Municipal Solid Waste secondary module)
PBS's Design Squad invites kids ages 5-19 to turn their trash into treasure by recycling, reusing, and re-engineering everyday materials into an out-of-the box invention. The deadline for submission is September 5, 2010. Three winners will be chosen to see their ideas become a reality. Visit the PBS Kids website for more details and information.

How Green is My Town?
(resource for PLT’s GreenSchools! program)
"How Green is My Town?" is a grassroots effort to empower citizens and local decision makers to address the issues of climate change, sustainability, and environmental health at the local level. The website functions as a national clearinghouse of programs, ideas, and policies for exploring solutions. Learn how you can be part of that change by reviewing a list of actions any school or town can take.

Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation Grants
Deadline: September 20, 2010
K-12 teachers are invited to apply for grants up to $1,500 to implement environmental curricula, such as PLT, that integrate hands-on ecology exercises into the classroom. To facilitate learning and student empowerment, environmental curricula should be holistic and strive to synthesize multiple levels of learning (facts, concepts, and principles), including experiential integrated learning and problem solving. Visit the Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation website for more information and proposal submission details.

Earth Science Week Contests
Deadline: October 15, 2010
The American Geological Institute (AGI) is sponsoring three national contests in conjunction with Earth Science Week 2010, celebrating the theme of "Exploring Energy," October 10-16, 2010. Visit www.earthsciweek.org/contests for additional information.
Photography Contest, "We Depend on Energy" - Entrants should submit images that capture the way energy is used in their communities.
Visual Arts Contest, "Energy on Earth" - Students in grades K-5 should submit two-dimensional original pieces of art illustrating, in creative and engaging ways, where energy comes from and how it is used.
Essay Contest, "How Energy Powers the Planet" - Students in grades 6-9 should submit one-page essays focusing on how Earth system processes develop energy resources, how human use of energy affects the Earth system, and how people can be responsible stewards of Earth's energy resources.

PollinatorLIVE: GreenWorks! Grants and Ecoregional Pollinator Guides
Deadline: December 1, 2010
To support the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, PLT is providing GreenWorks! grants of up to $500 in conjunction with PollinatorLIVE, a free distance learning adventure featuring live interactive webcasts, web seminars, and satellite field trips for classrooms about pollinators, gardening, and conservation. Students and community members can invite pollinators to their neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in a garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere! Ecoregional Pollinator Guides, tailored to specific areas of the U.S., provide information about selecting native plants for pollinators. Visit www.pollinator.org to find out in which ecoregion you reside and download your free guide, and visit www.greenworks.org to apply for a grant!

More Grants and Awards

2010-08-12T11:16:00.001-07:00

UnitedHealth HEROES Service-Learning Grants (Deadline: October 22, 2010)

Youth Service America and UnitedHealth Group are encouraging youth to create and implement programs around childhood obesity in their local communities.

UnitedHealth HEROES is a service-learning, health literacy initiative designed to encourage young people, partnering with schools and nonprofits, to create and implement local hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. Educators, nonprofit leaders, and students are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $1,000 to engage youth in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Now in its third year, the UnitedHealth HEROES grants have funded 361 programs, engaged more than 20,000 youth, and contributed more than 436,000 volunteer hours. Youth participants raise awareness around their work by culminating their service projects on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 15-17, 2011, an international day of service that occurs in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries.

Applications must be submitted online before midnight October 22, 2010. Grant recipients will be notified in December and January. To obtain an application, visit www.YSA.org/HEROES.

Applicants can find additional information about the grant, service-learning, and childhood obesity at www.YSA.org/HEROES, including "First Responders: Youth Addressing Childhood Obesity Through Service-Learning," a step-by-step manual that helps youths, parents, teachers, and other volunteers deploy YSA service-learning models to fight childhood obesity in their communities.

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Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Grants (Deadline: September 10)
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is accepting applications for its annual national grant competition. The grantmaking program is designed to help develop or expand projects that support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children. The organization must operate an instructional literacy program that has been in existence for at least two years and includes one or more of the following components: literacy for adults, parent education, pre-literacy or literacy instruction for children pre-K to grade three, and/or intergenerational literacy activities. www.barbarabushfoundation.com/site/c.jhLSK2PALmF/b.4344681/k.8F91/National_Grants.htm

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Flextronics Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing - Quarterly)
The Flextronics Foundation provides aid to relieve human suffering caused by a natural or civil disaster or an emergency hardship, such as floods, fires, riots, storms, earthquakes or similar large-scale adversities. The Foundation also sponsors educational programs and other charitable activities where Flextronics employees volunteer their time, especially those organizations and programs that benefit students with socioeconomic issues, learning disabilities or handicaps. Applications are evaluated on a quarterly basis at the end of March, June, September, and December of each year. www.flextronics.com/about/flexfoundation

State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants $1,000

2010-08-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

State Farm and Youth Service America are asking young people to be “good neighbors” by partnering with their schools and community organizations to create and implement local programs addressing critical issues.

The State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant funds youth-led service-learning programs, a teaching and learning strategy designed to increase academic achievement and workplace readiness by connecting service to community with school-based curricula. Students partner with other youth, their teachers, nonprofit leaders, local government, and the media, to identify and address significant issues on a local, national, and global scale.

YSA will offer 125 grants of up to $1,000 to well-planned service projects that make curricular connections and provide opportunities for youth leadership. Each granted project will culminate on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), an international event occurring in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries, April 15-17, 2011. State Farm is the GYSD presenting sponsor for the United States.

Grant applications will be available early August 2010. Click here for more info

Looking for State Farm Youth Advisory Board Members, ages 17-20, Due Sept 10th

2010-08-12T10:09:00.001-07:00

State Farm Insurance Company - Youth Advisory Board Member Recruitment

http://www.statefarmyab.com/about.php

Applications due by September 10, 2010

Thirty students, ages 17-20, from across the United States and Canada comprise the State Farm® Youth Advisory Board. They are charged with helping State Farm design and implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to State Farm and communities across the United States and Canada (see State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant program below).

The board is made up of a diverse group of students. They were selected from more than 600 applications and were chosen based on their strengths as reflected in their application and through telephone interviews with finalists. Each member will commit about 15 hours a month to the board and participate in four face-to-face meetings during their year of service.

One board member and one associate board member will represent each of State Farm's 13 zones across the United States and Canada. The Youth Advisory Board also includes a Corporate representative and three at-large members nominated by State Farm’s national service-learning partners – Youth Service America (YSA), the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), and the National Service-Learning Partnership (NSLP).

Students chosen presented a clear understanding of service-learning and its value to communities. They were highly motivated, exemplary team players, school and community leaders, passionate, compassionate, innovative, committed and enthusiastic.

Members of this distinguished youth board play a critical leadership role in creating and overseeing the initiative that will address five community issues chosen by the board. The 2009-2010 State Farm Youth Advisory Board chose financial education, access to higher education/closing the achievement gap, natural and societal disaster preparedness, teen driver safety and environmental responsibility to address through a competitive grant process. The board issued their Requests for Proposals on August 1, 2009 and will announce grant winners in February, 2010.

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Grant Announcements

2010-07-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

STEMester of Service Grants (Deadline: July 15)
Youth Service America is accepting applications for the second year of STEMester of Service. Funded by Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, STEMester of Service incorporates YSA's semester-long service-learning framework to engage educators and students in addressing critical environmental needs and connecting them to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curricula. YSA is seeking middle schools with large populations of disadvantaged youth; STEM schools must be located in one of the 19 states with highest dropout rates (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming). The $5,000 grant (that includes travel and training at YSA's Youth Service Institute in Detroit in October) supports teachers as they engage local partners and guide students in addressing local needs through planning and implementing sustainable service projects that launch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 17, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). www.ysa.org/grants/stem

Disney Friends for Change Grants (Deadline: July 15)
Disney's Friends for Change grants encourage kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. YSA will award 75 $500 grants to youth-led service initiatives around the world that demonstrate youth leadership and the commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. Eligible applicants will be asked to implement their projects between September and November and to connect their projects to International Coastal Cleanup Day, National Public Lands Day (both September 25), or other environmentally-focused days of service.. Disney Friends for Change Grants are open to schools, organizations, and individuals planning service projects. Applications submitted by younger children aged 5-14 are especially welcome. The goal of the grant is to inspire children to join their friends and families, schools, and communities to address critical environmental needs as "friends for change" at the local, national, and/or global levels. Grant applications are due Thursday, July 15, 2010. Learn more at: www.ysa.org/grants/announcements/friendsforchange2010

2011 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Grants (Deadline: July 15)

Lead Agencies are local, regional, or statewide organizations across the United States, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, or New Brunswick that increase the scale, visibility, and impact of Global Youth Service Day by leading GYSD in their city, region, or state. Lead Agencies convene a planning coalition of at least 10 partner organizations that collectively engage at least 600 youth volunteers in service on GYSD, engage local media and elected officials, and plan a high profile signature project or celebration of service. Lead Agencies receive a $2,000 GYSD planning grant sponsored by State Farm Companies Foundation, travel support to attend the Youth Service Institute, and ongoing training and technical assistance from Youth Service America to ensure a successful Global Youth Service Day. Past Lead Agencies have leveraged their position as a GYSD Lead Agency to strengthen their programs, form new partnerships, expand their volunteer base, garner media attention, gain support from local public officials, and secure additional funding. Learn more and access the application at: www.GYSD.org/content/2011GYSDleadagency

Anatomy of Prejudice Workshop at Museum of Tolerance

2010-06-15T14:38:00.001-07:00

Jane Elliott, internationally known teacher, lecturer, diversity trainer, and recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education, exposes prejudice and bigotry for what it is, an irrational class system based upon purely arbitrary factors. And if you think this does not apply to you. . . you are in for a rude awakening.

In response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. over thirty years ago, Jane Elliott devised the controversial and startling, "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise. This, now famous, exercise labels participants as inferior or superior based solely upon the color of their eyes and exposes them to the experience of being a minority. Everyone who is exposed to Jane Elliott's work, be it through a lecture, workshop, or video, is dramatically affected by it.

The Museum of Tolerance in partnership with the Diversity and Social Justice Committee of the California Council for Social Studies is hosting a workshop with Ms. Elliot on June 24^th. Participants will explore problems of racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia and enthnocentrism and the responsibility we share to eradicate them.

To register online, go to http://www.museumoftolerance.com/teachingforsocialjustice

Job announcemnet

2010-06-09T06:30:00.001-07:00

NORTH OAKLAND COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL

1000 42nd Street, Oakland, CA 94608

fax 510-655-1222

www.noccs.org

_______________________________________________________________

7/8th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies Core Teacher

About the Position

North Oakland Community Charter School (NOCCS) seeks an experienced, dynamic, progressive, and equity-minded 7th/8th grade core subject matter teacher (language arts/social studies) to join our powerful school community.

In 2010-2011 we will complete our expansion with a complete K-8 program and a total enrollment of approximately 210 students.

Next year, our 7th/8thgrade program will consist of two cores with 20 - 26 students in each class. Each core teacher will also be responsible for leading an advisory class as well as participating with the 6 – 8th grade team in continuing to develop and implement an innovative service-learning program that takes place each Wednesday at NOCCS.

We are looking for an excellent teacher and leader, who has a deep appreciation for students and the particular needs of 11-14 year olds. We are especially interested in educators who are invigorated by a growing school environment and are comfortable with innovation. The new member of our team must be a skilled organizer and collaborator. S/he must be able to work with other professionals in a team environment. In addition, we are seeking an educator who is enthusiastic about interacting with engaged families, and who wants to take an active role in shaping the school's growth, policies and educational practices.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of and experience with a diverse range of pre-adolescent and adolescent learners. They will be highly skilled in the use of workshop and/or inquiry-based methods and teaching strategies, the California content standards, a diversity of assessments to inform differentiated instruction, culturally relevant strategies for working with a highly diverse student body, the Teaching for Understanding Framework and/or other rich project-based learning modalities including art integration. S/he will possess a strong ability to design and implement rich, engaging, and relevant teaching units. The candidate must share our school's beliefs in and passion for the power of progressive education, high expectations for all learners, and the importance of equity-based educational practices.

About NOCCS

The North Oakland Community Charter School (NOCCS) is a public school dedicated to helping children to become thoughtful, informed, and inquisitive citizens. NOCCS is a vibrant, diverse learning community driven by respect for each child's unique intelligence and history. Our school's dynamic and challenging educational approach deepens the intellectual and social capacities of each child that we serve.

NOCCS is driven by ten core principles that anchor and guide our community and its work, and provide a vision to which we aspire as a learning community. These principles include: (1) respect for children and their learning; (2) high expectations; (3) a caring community of learners; (4) valuing diversity; (5) connections to the world; (6) a commitment to equity; (7) families' contributions; (8) respect for teachers and teaching; (9) creativity; and (10) teaching for understanding.

Since opening its doors in September of 2000, NOCCS has grown from a tiny one classroom school serving 20 students to a vibrant community of learners that, at full capacity in 2010 – 2011 will have a full enrollment of approximately 210 students. The NOCCS student body is a diverse group of learners that includes 16% African American, 48% White, 30% Multi-Ethnic/Decline to State, 2% Hispanic, and 4% Asian. Over 25% of our student qualify for free or reduced priced lunch. Over the next several years, we anticipate continued diversification of our student body due to a combination of our expansion to a K-8 educational institution, increased outreach efforts, equity-based policy efforts, and our new geographic location within a highly diverse neighborhood area.

NOCCS stands out as one of Oakland and the Bay Area's most successful progressive education urban charter school models. Since its inception in 2000, NOCCS has ranked as one of the area's top schools. For each of the past four years of our chartering period, the school has achieved an Academic Performance Index (API) ranking of over 800, with a recent significant jump of 30 points to our current level of 880. Our most recent API ranking places NOCCS as the 11th highest achieving school out of Oakland's 70 public elementary schools, and 4th highest out of Oakland's 23 public middle schools. Our charter was unanimously approved for a third five year term in February of 2010.

About our Educational Philosophy and Program

From the very beginning, NOCCS has embraced and been built upon a progressive and equitable educational philosophy and program. Directed by and aligned to our powerful guiding principles, a NOCCS education seeks to develop in students the ability to think critically, express creatively, and to act thoughtfully in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Students at NOCCS are consistently challenged – from a very young age – to critically consider, analyze, and synthesize multiple viewpoints and sources of data; consciously understand and implement a variety of strategies when attempting to solve problems; effectively work both autonomously as well as collaboratively, to develop, revise, expand and express their understanding of concepts and their demonstration of skills; and to authentically empathize and to work in a kind, caring manner to understand and resolve conflicts in a way that strengthens and builds our community of learners.

The NOCCS curriculum, with an emphasis on Teaching for Understanding, is designed to enable students to meet and/or exceed grade level standards through the exploration of in-depth, powerful, disciplinary-based skills, ideas, and strategies. As such, our pedagogy incorporates a number of best practices for effectively and equitably building mastery of skills and content as well as critical thinking and reasoning. These teaching strategies range from direct, explicit skills instruction to workshop and project-based formats that include and emphasize differentiated and individualized support for each learner and the use of reflection to build on-going understanding. Our well-articulated learning units include a number of inquiry, projects, and constructivist-based projects and modalities with a focus on higher level thinking skills that support the students in developing the skills of application, analysis, evaluation, and creation as well as the habits of collaboration, reflection and revision. The arts, environment, service-learning, peacemaking, and technology are integrated into our instructional units and strategies in order to enable students to both collect, learn, conceptualize, and internalize information as well as effectively, creatively, and meaningfully demonstrate their new knowledge, strategies, and skills – often ways that are connected to the "real world" and/or help others in our community to learn and grow as well.

Our educational program structure, school day, and culture are explicitly designed to support this ambitious and authentic vision of student achievement. Kindergarten through fifth grade students are placed in multi-age classrooms for the majority of their academic subjects, as teachers loop with student cohorts over a two year period, thus enabling teachers to develop deep relationships with each student and his/her family that support both developmentally attentive academic learning and social-emotional growth, as well as built-in leadership and community-building opportunities among and between students. Students in 6 – 8th grade participate in a variety of structures including team-taught cored block-scheduled classes, advisory programming, and service-learning cohorts that enable them to develop deep and supportive relationships with both peers and their teachers over a three-year period. The school day is flexibly designed to enable teachers and students to work on both single lesson workshops, as well as multi-day/longer term projects that allow teachers many opportunities to individualize and/or differentiate support and instruction to meet the needs of a variety of learners. Electives are scheduled in order to both expand the educational opportunities available to students, as well as to support effective team planning, reflection, and collaboration among teaching staff.

About Teaching at NOCCS

The NOCCS staff is an amazing professional learning community. Our current faculty members hold credentials from the area's leading teacher training and graduate programs and range in experience from 1 to 35 years, with an average of 9 years. Approximately 55% of our teaching staff hold master's degrees in education. Our director, Carolyn Gramstorff, is a highly respected educator now in her fifteenth year in education, ninth year of administration, and third year at NOCCS. She holds masters degrees in education from both Harvard University and the University of California – Berkeley, as well as a California Multiple Subject Teaching and Administrative Credential. In addition, the school employs an exciting and talented support staff including afterschool/enrichment, teaching assistants, and office support staff with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

NOCCS uses a highly rigorous process to identify and hire its teaching staff. All teacher candidates undergo a highly selective paper screen, followed by a several of three rounds of interviewing, including a phone interview, a demonstration lesson, an hour long interview with the hiring committee that is typically comprised of teachers from each grade level and the director, and an interview with a student panel.

Once hired, our entire staff participates in extensive professional development throughout their tenure at NOCCS. We begin each school year with a full week of professional development. Throughout the school year, staff members participate in a minimum of 160 hours of site-based professional development. In addition, many staff members participate in addition professional development over the summer and throughout the academic year. Many of our teachers have participated in Harvard University's Project Zero Classroom Institute, including several staff members who have worked as Teaching Fellows within the program.

Like our educational model, our professional development programming is focused on leveraging the individual strengths, knowledge, skills, and leadership of our staff members to enrich the collective work of the learning community. As such, we work to build the leadership capacity of each teacher so that our staff members can take on leadership and coaching roles with one another to move our educational priorities forward. Our professional development programming also utilizes a number of best practices for strong professional learning communities, such as the use of protocols to guide the development and peer-review of curriculum, examining student work, coaching models, and the use of teacher inquiry.

All staff are closely observed and evaluated each year. Our director undergoes a rigorous 360-degree evaluation process that includes input from staff, parents/families, students, the board, and a self-evaluation. Teachers are observed several times throughout the year. These observations as well as other student achievement data are used to provide staff members with a thorough annual review and serve as a basis for the annual extension of offers and consideration for leadership positions for the following academic year.

About Our Families

One of the most noticeable aspects people see when entering our school is a wall filled with group portraits of nearly every family at NOCCS. We do this for much more than the stunning aesthetic value that it brings to the building – we do this because we firmly believe and want to demonstrate our history of and continuing commitment to involving the entire family in the education of our students and the life of our school community.

NOCCS was founded by a group of parents and educators committed to the promise of public education. This commitment is evident throughout NOCCS' history, and continues to thrive as a guiding principle and practice of our school today.

NOCCS is also known throughout the area as a model of parent/family and community involvement. Our parents and families typically log over 7,000 volunteer hours per year. The volunteer services that our families provide are wide ranging, including teaching handwriting, organizing the gardening program, serving on our board of Trustees, teaching visual arts classes, directing fundraising efforts, and more. This level of involvement fosters a culture of shared responsibility and accountability for the school and the education of every child at NOCCS.

About Our Governance and Infrastructure

NOCCS is governed by its Board of Trustees. Five members of this board are elected by stakeholders within the school community. The board also includes two staff members – the director and a teacher as well as other appointed members, often from outside of the school community.

In the past decade, NOCCS has moved from a one classroom rental space on College Avenue, to a second rental facility located at local Catholic Church on Alcatraz Avenue to its current, permanent home in a 20,500 square foot facility located at 1000 42nd Street, adjacent to Linden Park in Oakland.

Our move to a secure, permanent home ensures NOCCS' long term stability, as well as an opportunity to further develop our role as an institution and important steward in our local, Linden Park neighborhood community. This year, NOCCS has taken a number of important steps towards this aspiration. First, with the support of a generous foundation grant, NOCCS has initiated an ambitious service-learning program focused on implementing a number of classroom projects that benefit our local neighborhood community. Our complete service learning and 6 – 8th grade Community Action Learning Program is further detailed in our charter renewal. Second, as the City of Oakland has reduced maintenance of many of its public parks, NOCCS has stepped forward to provide stewardship of Linden Park through the city's adopt-a-park program. Through these and other outreach efforts, we hope to form and strengthen important bonds and partnerships throughout our local community.

See our website for more detailed information regarding our school: www.noccs.org

Position Requirements:

California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential OR California Single Subject Teaching Credentials in two subject areas (language arts & social studies – or any combination of these areas) and CLAD or AB1059, demonstrating compliance with the NCLB highly qualified teacher status as defined by the California Department of Education.

A minimum of two years of lead teaching experience in 6 – 8th grade classroom.
Demonstrated success in designing rigorous and engaging units of study for students aged 11-14 and/or upper elementary grade levels.
Knowledge of different 6th – 8th grade curricula and ability to design curriculum to address multiple cultural groups.
Demonstrated success working with youth from diverse cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and the ability to interface with their parents in productive ways.
Ability to manage a learning-centered classroom that includes age-appropriate, culturally responsive classroom management practices.
Knowledge of the California State Content Standards.
Ability to design and/or use a variety of assessment tools and techniques to guide instruction.
Demonstrated success in differentiating instruction in public school classroom settings.
Ability to collaborate and participate in critical relationships with other teachers to develop educational strategies jointly, both within and across grade levels.
Interest and skill in working as part of team to developand implement a state of the art advisory, service-learning, and elective program for 6th – 8th grade students
Interest in working in a school community with a high degree of parent/family participation.
Commitment and ability to attend committee meetings, lead school-wide initiatives, utilize parents as volunteers in the classroom, and attend evening meetings approximately once each month.
Teaching demonstrations required of all applicants.

Desired:

Teaching experience in a charter or new school setting
Ability to contribute to a growing school environment
National Board Certification
Knowledge and experience with alternative assessment practices
Bilingual Education experience (Spanish).

Salaries and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff andstrongly encourage candidates of color to apply.

Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, please email the following application materials to director@noccs.org or mail them to:

Hiring Committee

North Oakland Community Charter School

1000 42nd St.

Oakland, CA 94608

Absolutely no phone calls please.

1. Resumé

2. Cover letter, including a description of your grade level preference and experience

3. Photocopy of California multiple subject teaching credential(s)

4. Brief response to the following questions (maximum one page for each item):

 Describe your philosophy or approach to classroom management. How do you develop your learning environment to meet the varied social, emotional, and academic needs of a diverse class of students?

 Describe your philosophy or approach to teaching a language arts/social studies core class. How do you develop content knowledge while also balancing/helping students to develop important academic skills, work habits, and the ability to work in teams?

 Describe key needs of students in the 11-14 year old age range and how students in this age range can thrive at a K-8 school. How could you use your own unique skills and talents to approach meeting these needs through an advisory class, elective, and/or service-learning project?

Describe yourself in relation to how you work on a team. What roles do you tend to play in a team environment? What skills and resources do you bring to a team/colleagues in a collaborative environment?

Grants and Awards... due June & July

2010-06-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

AMA Foundation Healthy Living Grant Program (Deadline: July 15 )

The Healthy Living Grant Program, an initiative of the AMA Foundation, supports grassroots public health projects that encourage healthy lifestyles in communities across the nation. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in the following three categories: Nutrition/Physical Fitness; Alcohol, Substance Abuse, and Smoking Prevention; and Violence Prevention. Funded projects should target underserved and/or at-risk youth between the ages of 2-21. Organizations that have been in existence for at least one year and that have an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less are eligible to apply. Application guidelines and forms are available at: www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/ama-foundation/our-programs/public-health/healthy-living-grants.shtml

WhyHunger: Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards (Deadline: July 15)

The Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards program, administered by WhyHunger, provides grants to community-based organizations judged outstanding for their innovative approaches to fighting hunger and poverty in the United States by empowering people and building self-reliance. The awards honor those organizations that help people improve their own lives and the communities in which they live. Eligible organizations must offer program activities that go beyond emergency food, shelter, and other types of assistance to address the root causes of poverty. (Organizations providing only basic services will not be considered.) In this grant cycle, ten organizations will receive awards of up to $7,000. www.whyhunger.org/programs/grassroots-action-network/272.html

The Collaboration Prize (Deadline: June 16)

The Collaboration Prize, created by the Lodestar Foundation, is a national award program designed to identify and showcase models of collaboration among nonprofit organizations. Recognizing the impact that can be achieved from working together, the prize shines a spotlight on collaborations that cooperate to demonstrate innovative and effective responses to challenges or opportunities. To be eligible, a collaboration must involve two or more U.S. nonprofit organizations and must have been in operation for at least 18 months. Each of eight finalists will receive $12,500 and the winner will receive an additional $150,000. The online application process will open June 1, 2010 and close on July 16, 2010. http://thecollaborationprize.org/

For Previously Featured Grants & Awards, visit:

www.servicewire.org/nsb/Grants-and-Awards

Leadership and Environmental Action Forum

2010-06-01T16:35:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, EarthTeam, StopWaste.Org and the Alameda County Office of Education hosted LEAF- the Leadership and Environmental Action Forum.

LEAF provided a venue for students from across the East Bay to share best practices in environmental service-learning projects with each other while also learning new leadership skills from local non-profit organizations.

Students taught workshops in paper making, native plant gardens, Green Career Academies, urban farming, campus recycling systems, solar energy, and more. Participating schools are members of the Service-Learning Waste Reduction Project and have been working all year to reduce waste and improve environmental awareness at school, at home and in the community.

Photos, workshop descriptions, waste reduction resources, and samples of student work are available at http://schools.stopwaste.org

~Nate Ivy, Service-Learning Waste Reduction Project Coordinator

Grants Awards & Contests

2010-06-01T09:47:00.001-07:00

From Youth Service America-

My Idea Grants (Deadline: June 11)
America's Promise Alliance and AT&T are looking for the energy, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to help make this country a Grad Nation through the My Idea Grants program. My Idea will empower young people to examine the high school dropout crisis and take action to help more of their peers to graduate on time. National grants of $10,000-$20,000 will be awarded to 20 - 25 youth for the best of the submitted ideas to help increase a community's graduation rate anywhere in the United States. Additional opportunities are available for young people in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New York, New Orleans, Oakland, and Washington, D.C., with grants of $500-$1500 to support targeted local projects. www.americaspromise.org/How-to-Help/Young-Leaders/My-Idea-Grants.aspx

BIC 4 GOOD Grants (Deadline: June 15)

Did you create a sustainable community action project, program or organization that you want to grow? Lack the funds to take your project to the next level? If you answered "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a BIC 4 GOOD Grant! BIC 4 GOOD Grants are targeted towards established programs and organizations that have a large impact, proven sustainability, and measurable success. The best applicants are those that are self-driven, unique, community-oriented with measurable impact.
Ten outstanding projects or organizations will be awarded $2,000 BIC 4 GOOD Grants and 1 exceptional project or organization will be awarded the Grand Prize $5,000 BIC 4 GOOD Grant! www.dosomething.org/grants/bic4good

OAS Logo Design Contest (Deadline: June 21)

To promote youth participation in the hemisphere, as well as the theme of the Second Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Development, and public participation as a priority and a cross-cutting issue to its working areas, the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) is inviting all interested youth students of architecture, graphic design, art, marketing or related areas and nationals of an OAS Member State, to participate in the design of a logo/visual distinctive for the Second Inter-American
Meeting of Ministers and High Level Authorities on Sustainable Development.
The objective of the contest is to promote the participation and creativityof young students by participating in the design of a logo/visual distinctive for the Second Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Development, creating awareness and knowledge about the ministerial theme "Towards Sustainable Development in the Americas." The winner will be given an official certificate of participation, and be awarded a small monetary compensation from the DSD. Also, the winner will have the opportunity to do an internship at OAS headquarters in the fall of 2010. Learn more at:
www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/DocumentsII/Logo_eng.pdf and
www.oas.org/dsd/MinisterialMeeting/DocumentsII/CONTESTRULESfinal.pdf

FW: Action Now+Network - social justice information portal launched

2010-05-28T15:31:00.001-07:00

Action Now+Network is a new social justice information portal, the goals of which are twofold:

1) to inspire and motivate people to become involved in social justice, to learn about the issues and to find a social justice passion, and

2) to offer a central place from which to connect with all the wonderful organizations that have a social justice mission, and from which to make contact with them for involvement in some way.

There are two ways in which Action Now+Network will be relevant to schools in search of service learning opportunities or schools which are already involved with service learning programs.

First, upon entering the site (www.actionnownetwork.com), the user will see a Take Action Now index. This index contains profiles on organizations, organized within twelve social justice categories. New organizations are added all the time, with the expectation that each social justice cell eventually will be filled with profiles. A keyword search for service learning (must be registered and logged in to use the search function), immediately identifies those organizations with a service learning component.

There is also a virtual library on the site, which contains articles on social justice issues within the same twelve social justice categories; all articles link back to original sources, which themselves, often offer a wealth of information about related subject matter. Serious authors of original articles (students and others) are invited to submit material to the library as well, which, if accepted for the library, can be viewed by anyone entering the site to research the issues.

Ideally, Action Now+Network will be a great resource for anyone involved in service learning, with a research interest in social justice issues of any kind.

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the site, or any information contained within it.

Warm regards,

Sheila Wasserman

sheilajgw@gmail.com

Action Now+Network

Service-Learning Workshop with Cathy Berger Kaye

2010-05-28T14:46:00.001-07:00

Online Registration!!

http://formbuilder.sjcoe.org/form.aspx?f=156

Back by Popular Demand!

13^th Annual Service Learning Summer Institute

Presented by Delta Sierra Region Six Service Learning Programs

A Cooperative Effort of the San Joaquin & Stanislaus County Offices of Education

Cathy Berger Kaye

Includes Continental Breakfast, Lunch &

The New Edition of The Complete Guide to Service Learning with CD

Monday, June 14^th 2010

Deadline - Wed. June 9th

Registration Fee $50.00

Coffee & Registration 8:30am - Workshop 9:00am - 3:00pm

San Joaquin County Office of Education

Stockton, California

Veray Wickham

Community Involvement Coordinator/Regional Service Learning Lead

San Joaquin County Office of Education

(209) 468-9021

Childhood Obesity and Service-Learning Working Group

2010-05-20T10:58:00.001-07:00

Posted by request:

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generationOn—formerly Children for Children, now the youth arm of the Points of Light Institute, is pleased to announce the formation of the Working Group on Service-Learning and Childhood Obesity; sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

generationOn is the largest youth-focused organization in the country dedicated to service. As the youth and education arm of the Points of Light Institute, the resources and programs of generationOn bring together the cumulative best practices, created from more than 40 years of work in the youth and family service space.

generationOn is excited to unite a cross-sector network of leaders to focus on the area of childhood obesity prevention through service-learning. We are inviting leaders, specifically those in the service-learning and health and wellness industry, to connect, serve, and coordinate efforts that will provide industry and community input and direction on performance and measurement-related topics that most affect urban and rural low-income communities and communities of color.

Our goals will be to (1) promote service-learning and community/parent engagement as strategies for improving the built environment and preventing childhood obesity, (2) collecting and sharing best practices in service-learning from experts in the field, and (3) building cross-sector relationships among conference attendees that can scale up best practices as they relate to service-learning strategies in childhood obesity prevention. Topics can include but are not limited to:

Increasing the accessibility of affordable nutritious and unprocessed foods
Decreasing the saturation of fast-food restaurants
Increasing safe play places
Mandating physical activities—such as school recess

The working group will meet and begin planning at the annual the National Conference on Volunteering and Service at the Hilton New York, June 28^th-30^th 2010; at a private session on Wednesday, June 30^th at 10:30am, funding will support sustaining the working group activities through the year in preparation for a share out of our findings at the 2011’s conference.

I sincerely hope that you will join us in this important work to explore how service-learning impacts childhood obesity prevention and helps to create a healthier America. I also welcome you to forward this invitation through your networks and to those you believe should be involved.

To confirm your participation, or if you have any questions or concerns, please respond as soon as you are able; I am looking forward to our working together.

Best,

_____________________________________________

Shammara Wright

Senior Manager, After-School Programs

Children for Children

6 East 43rd Street, 25th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: 212-850-4140 | Fax: 212-850-4180

E-mail: shammara@childrenforchildren.org

Website: www.childrenforchildren.org

http://www.childrenforchildren.org/

Youth Lead Grants to Support Grad Rate

2010-05-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

America's Promise Alliance and AT&T are looking for the energy, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to help make this country a Grad Nation through the My Idea Grants program. My Idea will empower young people to examine the high school dropout crisis and take action to help more of their peers to graduate on time – improving outcomes for themselves and their community.

National grants of $10,000-$20,000 will be awarded to 20 – 25 youth for the best of the submitted ideas to help increase a community's graduation rate anywhere in the United States. Additional opportunities are available for young people living in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New York, New Orleans, Oakland and Washington, D.C. with grants of $500-$1500 to support targeted local projects. Applications must be submitted by June 11, 2010.

If you're a teen concerned about the dropout crisis, consider, plan and propose an idea to help increase the graduation rate in your community. With the help of a supporting non-profit organization or school, you or you and a group of your peers, will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community! If you're a youth service provider, this is a great opportunity to share with the high school-aged youth that you work with each day.

Young people, AT&T representatives and Alliance partners will review and select the local and national ideas that win the "My Idea" grants. The money will be administered by supporting non-profit or school, so you'll get plenty of help and support as you help bring an end to the dropout crisis.

A webinar was held this week to discuss this program. View the recording of the webinar to learn more.

What to Expect:

You will be asked to complete an America's Promise Alliance web site registration if you don't already have one.
Then you will Login and complete the Getting Started checklist to start the application.
Once you start your application, you will receive an email with contact information for further assistance.
Please complete all sections of the application. You can save your application as a draft and return to it.
When you have completed your application, click Submit Application. You will receive an email to let you know that we have received your application. Once you submit the Application, you will no longer be able to edit it.
Your application will be reviewed by a grant panel.
You will be contacted by the grant panel when they have decided whether or not your project will be funded.

For the online version go to:

http://www.americaspromise.org/News-and-Events/News-and-Features/APB-2010/Vol-19/Apply-for-the-My-Idea-Grants.aspx

Grants and Awards

2010-05-06T15:19:00.001-07:00

Ocean Guardian Grant

Deadline: June 1, 2010

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is offering Ocean Guardian grants of $2,000-

$6,000 to a number of California schools whose students create a school or community-based

conservation project that protects their local watershed and the ocean. K-12 schools in the

following counties are eligible: Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa

Clara, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. This website also

offer lesson plans and videos on ocean education. For more information, visit

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/.

Nominate a Garden Crusader

Deadline: June 1, 2010

This year, Gardener’s Supply will award more than $15,000 in cash and gardening gear to

individuals across the country who are using gardening to make a difference in their

communities. For more information, visit http://www.gardeners.com.

NEA Foundation Green Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2010

With $150,000 in new grant funding designated for projects that integrate green-related topics

and experiences into the classroom, the NEA Foundation is growing its Learning & Leadership

and Student Achievement grants program for individuals and teams of educators. Public school

educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and

implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching “green” concepts. Visit

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/nea-foundation-green-grants

for more information.

NAAEE Pierce Foundation Photo Contest

Deadline: June 10, 2010

NAAEE seeks photos that will inspire people to achieve environmental excellence. Entries

should reflect the theme “Paint Me a Picture.” The photography contest is one element of a

larger effort by NAAEE to re-invigorate the use of the arts in the EE field, and is sponsored by

the Albert I. Pierce Foundation for the fourth year in a row. Information about the photo

contest can be found at the bottom of the following link: http://www.naaee.org/conference.

Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest

Deadline: June 16, 2010

Enter the Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest. Show how the beauty of

nature inspires you through poetry, essays, photos or dance. Entries must be from a team of two

or more persons, a young person and an older person. For more information, visit

http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm.

Got Environment

Deadline: December 1, 2010

Participate in the It's My Environment video project coordinated by the U.S.

EPA. Make a personal commitment to make environmental protection a part of your daily life.

Send a video clip of you saying "It's My Environment" and holding up a sign. Anyone can

enter! For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/earthday/.

Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA)

Deadline: June 1, 2010

The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is California’s

highest environmental honor. The program recognizes individuals, organizations, and

businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary

contributions in conserving California’s precious resources, protecting and enhancing our

environment, building public-private partnerships and strengthening the State’s economy.

Award categories, eligibility, and criteria are available at the Cal EPA website at

http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.

Webinar: Developing Inclusive Service Descriptions

2010-05-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is pleased to announce our next web conference to be held on Wednesday, May 26th at 3:00pm EST. This webinar will discuss strategies and tips for creating an inclusive service description. Developing inclusive service position descriptions provide greater detail to potential service members or volunteers by communicating the key responsibilities of the service position clearly. After attending this webinar, you will learn how to describe and incorporate all of the key content areas into a service position so that you may communicate a clear, concise, and inclusive service description to potential service members and volunteers.

Specifically, we will discuss:
- The purpose for developing an inclusive service description
- The process for gathering information for the components of your inclusive service description
- Strategies for writing essential and marginal functions in a service description
- The components of an inclusive service description

To register for this event, please email nsip@umb.edu by 12:00 PM EST on Tuesday, May 25th with the following info:

-Name
-Organization
-Affiliated program: AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, Senior Corps, VISTA, Cross-program, Other
-Email
-Phone
-If you require CART* to participate, please also indicate that in your email.

Please note: We will send out confirmation emails by Tuesday afternoon, May 25th with instructions how to sign into the web conference.

*CART service provides instantaneous translation of the speech text using real-time software. Teleconference participants receive caption services over the web. This is an accommodation we provide to participants who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is training and technical assistance provider on disability inclusion, under a cooperative agreement (#08TAHMA001) from Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). NSIP partners with the Association on University Centers on Disability, National Council on Independent Living, Association on Higher Education and Disability and National Down Syndrome Congress to build connections among disability organizations and all CNCS grantees, to increase the participation of people with disabilities in national service.

Cross-Age Tutoring Radio Webcast

2010-05-06T14:50:00.001-07:00

Mark your calendar for the next free
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
Radio Webcast on Solutions to the Dropout Crisis

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Lessons From the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program

presented by Linda Cantu

Learn about an assets-based approach to dropout prevention.
Discover key lessons learned in this award-winning cross-age tutoring program.

All children are valuable; none is expendable. But the fact is U.S. high schools lose more than one third of their students before graduation, and the cumulative impact of this attrition affects every person. But, schools can increase their “holding power” by transforming how they recognize students’ inherent value, their contributions, and their potential significance to their communities and society, as a whole. Dr.Linda Cantu will give an overview of this research-based, internationally-recognized dropout prevention program that is keeping more than 98% of participating students in school, young people who were previously at risk of dropping out. She will also present seven key lessons from 26 years of the program that can inform efforts to improve the quality of education for all students.

No registration is necessary. On the day of the webcast, log on 10 to 30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. You should just hear music until the program begins at 3:30 p.m. If you have problems connecting, call 864-656-4550.

All necessary information as well as supplementary materials are now available online at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast for this professional development opportunity. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the Web site www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the National Dropout Prevention Center at ndpc@clemson.edu or 864-656-2580.

Participation in this radio webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the Web site.

This webcast is produced in partnership with Clemson Radio Productions and with support from Penn Foster.

Instructors & Administrators Needed for Summer Service-Learning Program

2010-05-06T14:44:00.001-07:00

Outstanding Summer Job Opportunity

Facilitating Service-Learning Programs for Young People

Spend a few weeks this summer helping young people discover how to make a difference in the world! The Civic Education Project (CEP), a leadership and citizenship program at Northwestern University, is currently seeking a few more strong Instructor and Administrator candidates for our summer Civic Leadership Institute programs.

About the Civic Leadership Institute

The Civic Leadership Institute is a three-week summer service-learning program for outstanding high school students, offered on top college campuses in Baltimore (June 27 - July 16), Chicago (July 11 - July 30), and San Francisco (July 18 - August 6). Each Civic Leadership Institute integrates challenging academic work, meaningful service, hands-on field experiences, guest speakers, and facilitated reflection, designed to help young people develop the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills they need to make a positive impact on society.

About the Instructor Position

Each Instructor works with a Teaching Assistant to facilitate a service-learning curriculum on "Civic Engagement & Contemporary Social Issues" for a group of outstanding high school students. Instructors teach five hours of class daily, five days per week, for three weeks, to a single group of 14-16 students, and help facilitate an additional two-hour academic session in the evenings. CEP provides suggested curricula and sets up field experiences; Instructors prepare and facilitate all lesson plans and class activities, and evaluate student work. Instructors should have a minimum of 3 - 5 years of experience teaching high achieving students in junior high, high school, or university settings, as well as expertise in service-learning and/or experiential education. Instructors earn $2,000 - $3,000 per three-week session, plus room and board.

About the Academic Dean Position

The Academic Dean is a member of the site administrative team and assumes primary responsibility for supervising the academic staff and coordinating the academic program. Academic Deans support and guide instructional staff with a variety of educational backgrounds and teaching skills. Through classroom observations and conferences with staff, academic deans provide feedback and mentoring on teaching strategies and classroom management. Academic Deans also address student performance issues and oversee the editing of student evaluations. In addition, they furnish logistical support for field experiences, speakers, class projects and other academic activities. Academic Deans should have extensive experience teaching high-achieving students in junior high or high school settings, as well as a strong background in service learning and/or experiential education. Academic Deans should also have administrative and supervisory experience and strong communication, organizational and computer skills. The Academic Dean salary starts at $2,750 per three-week session, plus room and board.

Additional instructional, residential, and administrative positions are available at all of our summer sites.

Apply Now!

You can learn more about these programs and positions and apply online at: http://www.civiceducationproject.com/jobs/summer/

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so if you're interested, be sure to apply now!

You can be part of creating "eye-opening," "mind-blowing," "life-changing" experiences for young student leaders!

Civic Education Project

617 Dartmouth Place
Evanston IL 60208
847/467-2572
cep@northwestern.edu
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep

More grants and awards

2010-04-21T11:59:00.001-07:00

KaBOOM! Playground Design Competition (Deadline: April 30)
KaBOOM! is hosting a playground design competition in which communities can win $5,000 towards playground equipment. Through Friday April 30, communities can submit their playground designs online at www.kaboom.org. Then a panel of playful judges will look at each submission and rate it in regards to how creative, innovative, practical, comprehensive, age appropriate and fun it is. Once the judges have determined their favorites, KaBOOM! will post the top 5-10 on the website and voting will begin on Monday May 17. The three playground projects with the most votes will receive equipment grants worth up to $5,000 from a KaBOOM! Preferred Vendor. Regardless of who wins, all participants will get expert feedback on their final designs, getting their projects another step closer to success. http://kaboom.org/promote_your_project_design_contest

Six Flags Friends Scholarships (Deadline: April 30)
DoSomething.org has teamed up with Six Flags Friends to award college scholarships to young leaders who are taking action to make their community a better place. Scholarships will be awarded based on past, current and planned action in the community as well as the applicant's passion, commitment and proven leadership skills. Six winners will receive a $1,500 college scholarships. www.dosomething.org/grants/sixflags/scholarships

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (Deadline: April 30)
Nominate a young service-learning leader for a $2,500 Barron Prize! The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2010 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit www.barronprize.org

ING Unsung Heroes (Deadline: April 30)
The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education through monetary awards. Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000. Eligibility: full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff members with effective projects that improve student learning at an accredited K-12 public or private school. www.ing.com/us/unsungheroes

DoSomething ASPCA Animal Action Grants (Deadline: April 30)
DoSomething.org and the ASPCA want to support you and your efforts to promote animal welfare. Are you working on project or program that is focused on decreasing animal shelter intake or increasing live release rates? Do you need money to put your ideas into action or take your project to the next level? If you answered, "YES!", you are eligible to apply for an ASPCA Animal Action Grant! 2 outstanding projects will be awarded with $1000 ASPCA Animal Action Grants. 4 projects will be awarded with $500 ASPCA Animal Action Grants. These grants can be used to support ongoing projects or project ideas or to start something new. For more information please visit www.dosomething.org/grants/aspca

Target Early Childhood Reading Grants & Arts and Culture in Schools Grants (Deadline: April 30)
Target Early Childhood Reading Grants promote a love of reading and encourage young children to read together with their families by supporting programs such as after-school reading events and weekend book clubs. Maximum award: $2,000.
Eligibility: schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations.
http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031821

Target Arts and Culture in Schools Grants help schools and nonprofits bring arts and cultural experiences directly to K-12 students. Programs must have a curriculum component. Maximum award: $2,000. Eligibility: schools and nonprofit organizations.
http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031819

2010 Take Pride in America National Awards (Deadline: May 7)
Presented annually, the Take Pride in America® National Awards recognize individuals, groups and organizations for outstanding stewardship projects or awareness efforts involving federal, state and local lands and waters. The awards program is open to individuals, groups and organizations that have contributed to the protection and/ or enhancement of America's public lands. Examples of these include public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas. For all awards categories, nominations must reflect actual, measurable accomplishments achieved through volunteer service. To be achieved through volunteer service. To be eligible, projects must be "on the ground" activities, rather than advocacy. Nominated projects and efforts must have been started and/ or completed between May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010. www.takepride.gov/honors.html

Habitat for Humanity State Farm Service-Learning Partnership Grants (Deadline: May 15)
Service-Learning Partnership grants provide funds for teachers and schools to develop and implement service-learning projects in partnership with their local Habitat affiliate. For the 20010-2011 school year, teachers and local Habitat affiliates can jointly apply for a one-year grant of up to $7,000 to cover educational expenses associated with the service-learning project. www.habitat.org/youthprograms/parent_teacher_leader/grants.aspx

100 Best Communities for Young People (Deadline: June 1)
America's Promise Alliance and the ING Foundation are now seeking entries for the 2010 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The Alliance and the ING Foundation seek to recognize 100 American cities and towns whose top priority is keeping children in school and helping end the nation's dropout crisis through innovative programs that are addressing everyday challenges facing young people and creating better places for them to live and grow. Winning communities receive ational recognition and media exposure, financial and logistic support to celebrate selection at a local event, commemorative awards to be displayed in the community, exposure to Alliance partner resources and the insights of other winning communities through an innovative online space to exchange ideas, and invitations to exclusive online informational events featuring Alliance partners designed to strengthen local efforts. Interested communities can apply through June 1. www.americaspromise.org/100Best

Fizwoz Campus Challenge (Deadline: Ongoing)
The fizwoz Campus Challenge is offering ten $500 grants to school organizations that use the FREE fizwoz Assignment Desk to invite photo and video submissions taken at service projects for possible use by the news media. fizwoz.com is the premier online marketplace for iPhone captured media. Utilizing a state-of-the-art auction engine and cutting-edge mobile applications, fizwoz enables the average citizen to reach all levels of media buyers, from multinational media powerhouses to campus newspapers. Just tell fizwoz how your school organization would use $500 and the FREE fizwoz Assignment Desk to get students and others with iPhones to submit newsworthy pictures and videos of service projects on GYSD or anytime in April 2010. If they like your plan, your organization will get $500 to take your project and could receive $5,000 in December for the Best Use of Fizwoz by a student group. Learn more at www.fizwoz.com/college

World of Children Founder's Youth Award (Deadline: May 1)

The World of Children Awards program was created to recognize and elevate those selfless individuals who make a difference in the lives of children here in the USA and across the globe, regardless of political, religious or geographical boundaries. The 2010 Founder's Youth Award - maximum grant of up to $25,000 - recognizes youth that are making extraordinary contributions to the lives of other children. Nominee must be under the age of 21, and must have an existing non-profit organization in good standing, which can receive grant funds if awarded.
www.worldofchildren.org/index.php/awards

The International Award (Deadline: Ongoing)
The International Award is an exciting self-development program available to all 14 to 25 year olds. Over 6 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge. Young people design their own Award Programme, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve. The Programme is based around three Levels, each successive one requiring a greater degree of commitment.

- BRONZE is for those over 14. The minimum period of participation to gain this Award is 6 months

- SILVER is for those over 15. The minimum period of participation to gain this Award is 12 months

- GOLD is for those over 16. The minimum period of participation to gain this Award is 18 months

It is possible to start at any Level - some participants work their way through all three, while others start at Silver or Gold. To gain an Award, participants must complete activities in four Sections for a specified minimum period of time. www.intaward.org

Motorola Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)
Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates around the world, including locations in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially programs that support math and science teacher-training programs and charitable organizations that excite young people about these subjects. Other areas of interest include increasing access to communication technology for people in the developing world and supporting communities in areas where the company operates. The Foundation funds programs only in communities where Motorola has a significant presence. Organizations based outside the United States must be located in a country with a Motorola presence and be able to prove charitable status. Applications are accepted online throughout the year. www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Corporate/US-EN/corporate-responsibility/society/community-investment-motorola-foundation-apply-for-a-grant.html

Sign up to receive the weekly GrantStation Insider from GrantStation.com and Youth Service America with news about new funding programs, upcoming deadlines, conferences, seminars, and more.

Grants and Awards

2010-04-21T11:21:00.001-07:00

Below are the grants and awards provided in the Youth Service America News Letter

KaBOOM! Playground Design Competition (Deadline: April 30)

KaBOOM! is hosting a playground design competition in which communities can win $5,000 towards playground equipment. Through Friday April 30, communities can submit their playground designs online at www.kaboom.org. Then a panel of playful judges will look at each submission and rate it in regards to how creative, innovative, practical, comprehensive, age appropriate and fun it is. Once the judges have determined their favorites, KaBOOM! will post the top 5-10 on the website and voting will begin on Monday May 17. The three playground projects with the most votes will receive equipment grants worth up to $5,000 from a KaBOOM! Preferred Vendor. Regardless of who wins, all participants will get expert feedback on their final designs, getting their projects another step closer to success.
http://kaboom.org/promote_your_project_design_contest

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (Deadline: April 30)

Nominate a young service-learning leader for a $2,500 Barron Prize! The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2010 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit www.barronprize.org

Fizwoz Campus Challenge (Deadline: Ongoing)
The fizwoz Campus Challenge is offering ten $500 grants to school organizations that use the FREE fizwoz Assignment Desk to invite photo and video submissions taken at service projects for possible use by the news media. fizwoz.com is the premier online marketplace for iPhone captured media. Utilizing a state-of-the-art auction engine and cutting-edge mobile applications, fizwoz enables the average citizen to reach all levels of media buyers, from multinational media powerhouses to campus newspapers. Just tell fizwoz how your school organization would use $500 and the FREE fizwoz Assignment Desk to get students and others with iPhones to submit newsworthy pictures and videos of service projects on GYSD or anytime in April 2010. If they like your plan, your organization will get $500 to take your project and could receive $5,000 in December for the Best Use of Fizwoz by a student group. Learn more at www.fizwoz.com/college

For Previously Featured Grants & Awards, visit:
www.servicewire.org/nsb/Grants-and-Awards

Redwood Education Grants

2010-04-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Save the Redwoods League is dedicated to supporting K–12 teachers, environmental educators and interpretive naturalists in their redwood education efforts. Grants are available for a wide range of projects. For more information, click on the links below.

» Grant Guidelines
» Previous Grant Recipients

The Education Grants Program was established in 2000 to foster a deeper understanding of redwood forests through personal visits and educational experiences among a broad, diverse audience.

Applications are due Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

Grant awards typically range from $500 to $3,000; exceptional projects may be awarded up to $5,000. Partial funding may be awarded. Larger proposals with matching funds are welcomed. Please forward this information to others who might be interested in applying. If you have any questions about the Education Grants Program, please contact Susan Ingersoll, Education Program Manager. We look forward to sponsoring many strong projects this year!

Learn about other great projects we've supported recently. Visit our Featured Grants page.

Safety/Emergency Preparedness Service Learning Showcase Conference Call Series

2010-04-12T14:05:00.001-07:00

Youth Organized for Disaster Action (Y.O.D.A.) Spring Showcase

Conference Call Series

Join Y.O.D.A. schools as they share their experiences over the last 3.5 years implementing service-learning projects focused on safety/disaster preparedness topics. Adult and youth presenters will share their program model and best practices for replication elsewhere. Time will be allotted for questions and answers.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 3:00pm EST hear from:

Valdosta High School from Valdosta, GA

Valdosta High School will showcase how their Y.O.D.A. – C.P.R. (Children Providing the Resources) service learning programs are bringing awareness to and preparing students, parents, teachers, and the community for the unexpected. We will also discuss how our programs help boost academics, improve attendance, and promote good citizenship skills through linking students’ experiences to the State performance standards, K-12 service learning standards and by providing students with new challenges and new skills.

Gorton High School from Yonkers, NY

Gorton High School will focus on the methodology of annually certifying over 300 individuals in American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer, 150 in babysitting safety, and 100 in disaster readiness all using student instructors in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Yonkers Office of Emergency Management. Discussion of other projects including assembling family emergency kits and a pet safety program will occur.

Thursday, April 29, 2010 @ 10:00am EST hear from:

Blythewood High School from Blythewood, SC

Blythewood High School will center their discussion on the Crime Scene Investigation project conducted with health occupation students. Visual aids including video, photo and sound clips will accompany the presentation given by students and teachers involved in the project.

Cullman Center for At-Risk Education “Drop in for Success” Program from Cullman, AL

The Drop in for Success program’s presentation will focus on service-learning as an effective dropout prevention strategy. A program DVD will be shared and questions will be answered.

Calls will be moderated by Joan L. Liptrot, Executive Director of the Institute for Global Education & Service Learning and will last approximately 60 minutes.

To register, email jcote@igesl.org or call 215.945.8118

Youth Organized for Disaster Action (Y.O.D.A.) is a service-learning program that focuses on helping young people prepare their families, schools and communities for emergencies and disasters. Supported by a Learn and Serve America grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, Y.O.D.A. began as a project of the Institute for Global Education and Service Learning (IGESL) in collaboration with the New Jersey Commission for National and Community Service and the National Dropout Prevention Center. Schools participating in the Y.O.D.A. program were located in rural, suburban and urban locations in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

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Grants and Awards

2010-04-12T10:31:00.001-07:00

Parade All America High School Service Team (Deadline: April 14)

Do you know a high school student who is making a big difference in the community? They can be nominated (or self-nominate) for the Parade All America High School Service Team. PARADE Magazine and The LEAGUE (a national youth service-learning organization which empowers young people to make a positive difference in their communities) are seeking nominations for a new form of award, The All America High School Service Team, to recognize students who have made exemplary contributions in the service areas of: health, education, environment, economics or community. These students show service as a solution to solve community problems and the power of stories to inspire others to action. All nominations must be received online by April 14, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Nominations will be scored by independent reviewers based on impact of using service to solve community problems. Final winners will be selected by a blue ribbon panel of leaders from across sectors and will be invited to receive an award and accept the challenge of a task: developing their own ideas as a national group for promoting service and service-learning in schools nationwide. The 15 winning students will be invited to travel to Washington DC with a parent or teacher for a special ceremony on June 9. www.parade.com/service or www.theleague.org

MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award (Deadline: April 23)

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation are partnering to develop and disseminate a series of Issue Briefs that address topics related to middle school youth and afterschool programs. Awards will be given out by the Afterschool Alliance in conjunction with the 2010 Lights On Afterschool and each recipient will receive an award of $5,000 to be used to continue or improve upon the highlighted program. Nominate a program by April 23, 2010 for a chance to receive a MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award and be highlighted in one of our Issue Briefs. Categories include: Providing Multiple Benefits for Middle School Students, Promoting health and wellness for pre-teens and teens, Preparing middle school youth for college and careers, and Merging middle school programs and STEM. www.afterschoolalliance.org/metLife.cfm

World of Children Founder's Youth Award (Deadline: May 1)
The World of Children Awards program was created to recognize and elevate those selfless individuals who make a difference in the lives of children here in the USA and across the globe, regardless of political, religious or geographical boundaries. The 2010 Founder's Youth Award - maximum grant of up to $25,000 - recognizes youth that are making extraordinary contributions to the lives of other children. Nominee must be under the age of 21, and must have an existing non-profit organization in good standing, which can receive grant funds if awarded.
www.worldofchildren.org/index.php/awards

For Previously Featured Grants & Awards, visit:
www.servicewire.org/nsb/Grants-and-Awards

April 15 Webinar: The Power of One: Greg Mortenson's Crusade to Promote Peace

2010-04-12T10:21:00.001-07:00

Edutopia is offering a free webinar on April 15 with Greg Mortenson about his Pennies for Peace service-learning program. You can learn more about it and register online at http://www.edutopia.org/webinar-greg-mortenson-april

April 15, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. EDT/10:30 a.m. PDT

Target audience: Ideal for K-12 educators interested in building students' skills, self-image, and global awareness through service learning.

Can one person really make a difference in the world? Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, describes his own unlikely path from mountaineer to humanitarian. His best-selling story has inspired thousands of students to contribute to school-building efforts in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan through a service-learning program called Pennies for Peace. Supported by a multimedia, standards-based curriculum for grades K-12, Pennies for Peace culminates with student-driven projects that develop leadership skills and build cross-cultural understanding. Mortenson explains how the program works, how teachers can get involved, and why students benefit from authentic opportunities to make their own difference in the world.

Enter the "Be Big in Your Community" Contest! $75,000

2010-03-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

Clifford wants to hear about your BIG ideas. The BE BIG in Your Community Contest will award $75,000 in community grants* to BIG ideas that best demonstrate Clifford's BIG Ideas which are Share, Be Kind, Help Others, Be a Good Friend, Play Fair, Have Respect, Be Truthful, Believe in Yourself, Work Together and Be Responsible.

Scholastic, HandsOn Network and American Family Insurance will work with the winners to bring their Big Ideas to life! Everyone is invited - parents, kids, teachers or community leaders - to submit their ideas now through June 30, 2010.

For contest entry forms and official rules visit www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contest

Please continue to encourage your network and partners to submit applications for their Big Ideas.

BIG Awards! One (1) Grand Prize honoree, Ten (10) first place honorees and Nineteen (19) second place honorees will be selected. The grand prize entry will be honored with a $25,000 community grant, the first place honorees will each be honored with a $2,500 community grant and the second place honorees will each be honored with a $1,315.79 community grant (via HandsOn Network affiliate organizations or designees) from the BE BIG Fund to be used towards implementing the winning proposals. *

Enter Now!

Make the Be Big Promise!

Clifford's BE BIG Promise is a quick way for everyone to embrace Clifford's BIG Ideas and learn how small, simple actions can make the world a better place. Write Clifford a special message on how you promise to BE BIG in 2010 and help us reach our goal of 25,000 promises by December 31, 2010. Clifford thanks you!

School Climate Radio Webcast

2010-03-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendar for the Next Live Radio Webcast!

Solutions to the Dropout Crisis

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

School Climate Through Students’ Eyes

presented by

Dr. Bill Preble

Learn how improving school climate and respect in schools offers an effective approach to meaningful school improvement.

Discover how student leadership and empowerment can effectively impact school climate.

Find out about the USDOE and the new National School Climate Initiative.

    Dr. Bill Preble and some of his student leaders will share the work that they have been doing to improve school climate and learning. They will show the importance of inviting disengaged students to serve as school climate experts and school leaders in the SafeMeasures School Climate Improvement Process. They will also share examples of the kinds of data that schools are collecting to better understand and address school climate issues. The broadcast will conclude with effective programs and strategies that are being used to improve school climate in schools throughout the country.

    Supplementary materials and all necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity are found on our Web site at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the National Dropout Prevention Center at ndpc@clemson.edu or 864-656-2580.

    Participation in this radio webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the Web site. On the day of the webcast, sign on early to ensure your connection. Link to the broadcast at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. If technical support is needed, you may call 864-656-4550 for assistance at that time.

This radio webcast is produced by the National Dropout Prevention Center in partnership with
Clemson Radio Productions and with support from Penn Foster.

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Film Your Issue 2010 Competition

2010-03-22T09:36:00.001-07:00

Film Your Issue 2010 Competition (Deadline: April 19)

Think you have a solution to problems with the environment, economic recession, education, healthcare, human/equal rights, national security/defense, poverty, public service or technology? Film Your Issue at www.youtube.com/filmyourissue or submit it through a song at www.youtube.com/whatsyourissuemusic. The Film Your Issue competition, in its 5th year, is looking for solution-project ideas to front-burner issues from young adults 14 to 24 in a 3-minute video format, with accompanying one-sheet description. Winning solution-projects will be presented to senior officials in the Obama administration, broadcast on screens in every Best Buy store on the planet, presented at a VIP reception in Washington, DC. Winners will be flown to Los Angeles for the Awards ceremony co-hosted by Sony Pictures Studios. Prizes include an Apple MacBook and iPod Touches, and Sundance Film Festival 2011 Film School Pass. www.whatsyourissue.tv

Call for Volunteers- National Service-Learning Conference

2010-03-18T11:29:00.001-07:00

The National Service-Learning Conference in San Jose, CA March 23-27 is recruiting volunteers to help with the conference.

Some highlights of the volunteer experience:

* The chance to attend a plenary session with the Lost Boys of the Sudan on Friday, March 26

* A ticket to attend the awards celebration event on Friday, March 26 with a karaoke lounge, a dance party, lots of great food and other fun events

* A free swanky conference t-shirt

* The chance to meet youth and educators from all of the US and more than 30 different countries

* The chance to listen in on lots of great workshops on service-learning

Here is the direct link to the volunteer sign up site.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEJmUmN0WFAyeTlJOThHcS1WemNhVXc6MA

If you have any questions about the volunteering opportunity at the conference, please let me know.

Thanks so much!

Heather Gordon

hgordon@nylc.org
Conference and Events Associate

National Youth Leadership Council
Celebrating 25 Years of Service-Learning
PH (651) 999-7360
FX (651) 631-2955
www.nylc.org

Don't miss The 21st Annual National Service-Learning Conference March 24-27, 2010, San Jose, Cal.

Visit www.nylc.org/conference to learn more!

Service-Learning Grants

2010-03-15T11:53:00.001-07:00

Captain Planet Foundation Grants (Deadline: March 31)

The Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) annually funds projects involving children and young adults. Recipients of these awards are often schools and non-profits that propose projects promoting understanding of environmental issues. These projects must include children and young adults (aged 6-18) and focus on hands-on involvement, interaction and cooperation within the group, development of planning and problem solving skills, and adult supervision. Generally, the monetary sum of awarded grants is between $250-2,500. www.captainplanetfdn.org/grants.html

Green America Awards (Deadline: April 1)

The Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be presented to groups and organizations that are making a difference in their communities. Eligible applicants include community groups who are committed to improving their local environment by planting trees, bushes, and shrubs to make their communities a better place to live. One grand prize winner will receive $2,500 in plant materials. The first place winner will receive $1,500 in plant materials, and the second place winner $1,000 in plant materials. The plant materials can contain trees, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs, perennials, and vegetable seeds. www.naturehills.com/green_america_awards.aspx

McCormick New Media Women Entrepreneurs Program (Deadline: April 10)
This program gives one-time funding of $12,000 to women with original ideas to create new websites, mobile news services, or other entrepreneurial initiatives that offer interactive opportunities to engage, inspire, and improve news and information in a geographic community or a community of interest. These can be solo ideas or team projects spearheaded by women. www.newmediawomen.org/site/proposal_guidelines

Student Fast For Nonviolence

2010-03-10T16:28:00.001-08:00

The link below highlights of the first week of the San Leandro Academy for Multi-Media's (SLAM) Fast for Non-Violence. Students learn multi-media skills while engaging their campus in a month long anti-violence campaign. This is the third year of this project. Students produce anti-violence media, share campus-wide messages over the school announcements, and fast one day for non-violence and peace.

The videos can be viewed with an updated version of Quicktime, and a little patience. Sometimes it takes awhile for the videos to download.

Here is a link to the Fast For Nonviolence:

http://www.slhs.net/200210121142512170/Blog/browse.asp?A=398&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=58722

The Fast for Nonviolence is the cornerstone project of the Season of Service, Period of Peace at San Leandro High School which runs from King Day to Chavez Day. Over the three years of the project, anti-violence and peace-themed service-learning projects have taken place in nearly every content area on campus. The Season of Service, Period of Peace started with 24 students in the SLAM Academy 3 years ago and now engages over 1000 students on the campus of 3000.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Evan Goldberg- we’d love to see this model expand across the nation!

*************************************

Evan Goldberg, Coordinator

Educational Services/ Character Education & Service-Learning

Alameda County Office of Education

313 W. Winton Ave., Room 220

Hayward, CA 94544-1198

Ph: (510) 670-4233; Cell: (510) 385-5927

Fax: (510) 670-4578

egoldberg@acoe.org

FW: NSLC Online Registration Extended Until March 12

2010-03-08T09:54:00.001-08:00

Online Conference Registration Extended

Online conference registration has been extended until midnight (CST) Friday, March 12. On-site registration rates will be higher, so don't miss your chance to save.

Get a Conference Hotel Room

Do you like to be close to conference events? Want to help keep conference costs down? Book your room at one of the three conference hotels with negotiated rates in downtown San Jose. Only a few rooms remain. To reserve space, please call 800-366-6952 or email nslc@nylc.org.

Register for a Preconference Session

Held on Wednesday, March 24, preconference sessions provide opportunities to explore subject areas in-depth. Already registered for the conference but want to add a preconference session? Call 800-366-6952 or email nslc@nylc.org.

Service-Learning REMIX
Inspiring Innovative Service-Learning Trainers
Advancing Service-Learning — A Three-Part Event
The Spirituality of Service-Learning: Engaging Students in their Path to Peace
Making the Past Work for the Future (Off-Site Service-Learning Project)
Service-Learning and the Arts: Celebrating Community and Watershed Renewal (Off-Site Service-Learning Project)
Innovation through Collaboration: The Partners in Learning Network

Join Thousands of Young People Supporting Peace in Sudan

Whether you’re counting down the minutes to the National Service-Learning Conference only a few weeks away, or won’t be there this year, you can get involved with the Salam Project!

If you’re attending the conference, you’ll hear directly from two of the “lost boys” of Sudan as part of a keynote address on-site on Friday, March 26. But your preparation can start now. Join a growing community of teachers and students accessing a wealth of resources on the history and peace-making efforts in Sudan.

Next, visit the project in SmallWorlds and interact with hundreds of youth who have already joined in the conversation since the kick-off event Feb. 12, with a Sudanese peace activist and two youth leaders. Please join this worthwhile effort!

For information about all of the items above and all other conference details, please visit our website at www.nylc.org/conference.

We can’t wait to see you in San Jose!

Sincerely,

Amy Meuers
Conference and Events Director

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The Service-Learning Listserv (K12-SL) is for the Learn and Serve America community for discussion and information sharing related to high quality service-learning and national service.

FW: PG&E Bright Ideas Grants, $1000, $2500, $5000, and $10,000, due March 20th.

2010-03-08T09:23:00.001-08:00

PG&E "Bright Ideas Grants" up to $10,000. Due March 20th, 2010

Dear Educators:

The PG&E Solar Schools Program is accepting applications for Bright Ideas grants through midnight, March 20.
Participating schools must receive utility service from Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
You may submit your application online at: http://www.need.org/pgesolarschools/big.htm

PG&E recognizes that public schools are facing hard economic times. This is why the company has expanded its Bright Ideas Grant Program to include new categories that will provide additional learning opportunities for students and teachers while creating energy and money saving programs for school campuses throughout northern and central California.

Who Should Apply:

Credentialed teachers, professors, instructors, principals, deans, department heads, district administrators and facilities managers may apply to receive a $1000, $2,500, $5000, or $10,000 grant to promote environmental stewardship in any of the five following categories:

Educational Solar Projects: Successful submissions will include innovative classroom and extracurricular programs/projects that explore the science of solar energy and the generation of electricity from solar

Youth Energy and Environmental Programs: Successful submissions will include energy efficiency, recycling, composting, water reclamation and/or gardening programs and clubs that serve as learning and leadership opportunities for students, the faculty, and the community at large.

Renewable Energy or Science Related Field Trips: Successful submissions will include transportation, admission, or expenses associated with field trips that excite students about science, energy, careers in energy and the environment.

Green Your School Projects: Successful submissions will include energy efficiency upgrades, energy monitoring systems, and communication tools that will promote energy education and smart energy use at the school and in the community.

Professional Development/Service Learning Projects/ Workforce Development Programs: Successful submissions will include projects that expand the teacher’s knowledge about renewable energy, energy resources and/or the future of the energy industry. High Schools and Community colleges may consider using the funding to create programs and curriculum to address workforce development in the growing renewable and efficiency industry and service learning opportunities in the local community.

What’s available?

Schools chosen to receive a "Bright Ideas Grant"are asked to designate attendees to attend the training programs provided by the PG&E Solar Schools Program.

How do we apply?

The 2010 application is available in an Online format to submit directly to us. Apply now for the Spring 2010 Grants - Deadline March 20.

A final report of grant activities for those receiving grants in the including photos, multi-media presentations, activities and lessons prepared for the project and documentation is due one year after the receipt of the grant. Reports should be sent to Mary Spruill, NEED Project, 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, Virginia 20110 via mail or via email to mspruill@need.org.

Anything else?
Create a scrapbook/portfolio of student work resulting from your project and submit to NEED Youth Awards for Energy Achievement!.

http://www.need.org/pgesolarschools/big.htm

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Barry

Barry Scott
Program Coordinator
The NEED Project
www.need.org
mobile: 209.482.5663
bscott@need.org

Even More Grants and Awards

2010-03-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

1st Annual Live Deliberately Essay Contest

Deadline: March 31, 2010
This first annual essay contest from the Thoreau Institute of the Walden Woods Project asks students to respond to Thoreau's famous call to "live deliberately." In 500 words or fewer, students are prompted to consider what their own deliberate lives look and feel like. Essays will be judged in two age categories: 13–16 years and 17-21 years.

http://www.worldwidewaldens.org/Activity-Guide/Ess...

GreenWorks! Service-Learning Grants Awarded

Through its service-learning program GreenWorks!, Project Learning Tree provides grants up to $5,000 to schools and youth organizations for environmental projects. Students "learn by doing" through community action projects they design to improve an aspect of their neighborhood's environment. PLT recently awarded 33 GreenWorks! grants for service-learning projects in 23 states. Since 1992, PLT has distributed over $800,000 to fund nearly 1,000 GreenWorks! projects across the country.

http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/31_41_66.html

Nominate a Teacher for the 2010 Presidential Awards

Deadline May 1, 2010
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is the highest award a K–12 math or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the U.S. The President officially names up to 108 teachers annually. Awards alternate between elementary and secondary teachers—with elementary teachers eligible in 2010—and are given to teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the outlying territories, and Department of Defense schools.

http://www.paemst.org

Siemens We Can Change the World Competition

Deadline: March 15, 2010
NSTA, the Siemens Foundation, and Discovery Communications partner to conduct this sustainability education competition for students to develop innovative green solutions for their schools, homes, and communities. This competition will involve a team of students identifying, researching, and recommending a solution to an environmental problem in their community.

http://www.wecanchangetheworldchallenge.com/

Community POWER Grants

Deadline: March 15, 2010
Community POWER (Partners on Waste Education and Reduction) is a project of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board that supports innovative, community-based approaches to waste reduction, toxicity reduction, and recycling projects. For nine years, Community POWER has educated and actively engaged over a half million residents of the six-county twin-city metro area in waste reduction by partnering with "non-environmental" organizations and schools. $168,000 is available, supporting projects up to $12,000 each.

http://www.rethinkrecycling.com/grants

More Grants....

2010-03-03T16:55:00.001-08:00

California State Parks Foundation Competitive Grants Program

http://www.calparks.org/programs/competitive‐grant/

Information: Alisha: 916‐442‐2119 or alisha@calparks.org

Deadlines: May 1, 2010; July 1, 2010

CSPF offers competitive grants (usually ranging from $200‐$6,000) to benefit our State Parks System and to support the Department's mission. Qualified non‐profit groups, as well as California state park units and park agencies, are encouraged to apply. In general (and as funds permit), CSPF grants are targeted in four main areas:

Volunteer Efforts and Recognition;

Education and Interpretation;

Natural and Cultural Resource Protection; and

Capacity Building for cooperating associations.

The Foundation also makes a number of discretionary grants each year that may fall outside the main target areas.

NEA Foundation Green Grants

Deadlines: June 1, 2010

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant‐programs/nea‐foundation‐green‐grants/

With $150,000 in new grant funding designated for projects that integrate green‐related topics and experiences into the classroom, the NEA Foundation is growing its Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement grants program for individuals and teams of educators. Public school educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching "green" concepts.

ATTEND a Preconference with Cathy Berger Kaye in San Jose!

2010-03-01T11:19:00.001-08:00

Sign up for a National Service Learning Conference PRECONFERENCE with Cathryn Berger Kaye (that’s me!) Due to a speaking commitment in southeast Asia, I will only be offering this session at the conference this year and hope to see YOU!

ADVANCING SERVICE LEARNING will be highly interactive, informative, and filled with practical ideas and experiences to heighten service learning for whatever population of youth you work with – in schools or youth service organizations. Also valuable for teacher ed participants. Register at www.NYLC.org. The description follows.

Any questions? Please email me directly at cbkaye@aol.com.

Cathryn Berger Kaye

www.abcdbooks.org

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

P103 Advancing Service-Learning — A Three-Part Event

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cathy Berger Kaye, CBK Associates, international consultant and author, Los Angeles

Service-learning is advancing at the speed of light! New ideas! New books! New possibilities to grow the field! Join other practitioners for a highly interactive experience exploring effective methods and strategies.

Part 1: Going Deeper with Service-Learning — This experiential process takes us through a service-learning sequence. Using the framework of climate change and global warming, you will develop essential questions, process and collaborate through an “open space” investigation, take research to new heights, conduct an “interview” with an expert, and plan for action. Take back new and practical ways to work with youth and teachers.

Part 2: Hot Off the Press — This brief segment provides a preview of 20 new books, fiction and nonfiction, that connect learning and literacy to service, and may inspire a new generation of readers.

Part 3: Coaching Colleagues — What strategies and methods capture the attention of teachers (and administrators), spark curiosity, and increase involvement? This session includes a blend of tried-and-true practices, a think tank, and time to exchange what we know and what works.

(Note: Due to her speaking schedule, this is the only workshop Cathy Berger Kaye will offer at this year’s conference.)

Cathryn's new revised The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action Second Edition (Free Spirit Publishing) will be available at the conference! Includes CD-Rom and much new information ... a valuable resource that is easy-to-use again and again and again.

Grants & Awards

2010-03-01T10:54:00.001-08:00

Hitachi Foundation Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs (Deadline: March 22)
The Yoshiyama Program will identify up to six entrepreneurs ages 18-29 who formed financially viable businesses that create jobs, supply goods or services, or use internal management practices enabling low-wealth individuals the opportunity to achieve greater economic security. The Foundation will provide these entrepreneurs with a cash prize up to $50,000 over two years, access to technical resources, and a peer learning community. www.hitachifoundation.org/yoshiyama

Do Something Battle of the Bands (Deadline: April 16)
March is Music In Our Schools month. DoSomething.org and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation want YOU to lead the fight to keep music education in schools. School budgets are being slashed nationwide, and music and arts programs are often the first to go. Starting March 1st, upload a video showing us your musical talent and tell us why music education matters to you. 5 Winners will get $1000 for their school music program, concert tickets, Fender guitars, and Rock Band video games. DoSomething.org and The VH1 Save the Music Foundation will present top videos to members of congress, urging them to increase support for music education. Make sure your video is registered by April 16th for a chance to win! For full contest rules and to get started visit www.dosomething.org/bands

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (Deadline: April 30)
Nominate a young service-learning leader for a $2,500 Barron Prize! The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2010 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit www.barronprize.org

Grants - Awards - Contests

2010-03-01T10:34:00.001-08:00

America's Greenest School Contest
A grant of approximately $20,000 plus a hybrid school bus and green audit by a LEED-accredited professional will be given to a K-12 school nominated by its students for efforts to make it a greener place. Deadline: March 8, 2010.

Student Essay Contest on Health Care
The topic for this year's KaiserEDU.org's Student Essay Contest for undergraduate and graduates students is on identifying the major health policy challenges still facing the U.S. in 2015. Deadline: March 8, 2010.

Home Depot Foundation’s Awards of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development
Projects that qualify for the Awards of Excellence in Sustainable Community Development program exhibit thoughtful construction of a neighborhood which includes green affordable housing and tree plantings and have gone beyond to address overarching community issues.

Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program Invites Nominations of Young Volunteers
Scholarships of up to $9,000 toward a postsecondary education will be awarded to youth between the ages of 6 and 18 whose dedication to service has made a positive impact on others and their communities. Deadline: March 15, 2010.

Arts in Education Models
These Department of Education grants support innovative, cohesive research-based arts education models. Deadline: March 16.

Jumpstart Invites Research Proposals to Measure Organization's Impact in Early Education
Three grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to programs that pair college students and volunteers with preschool children in low-income communities with the goal of curbing the early literacy crisis and develop the skills children need. Deadline: April 2, 2010.

Principal Leadership Magazine features Service Learning

2010-03-01T10:17:00.001-08:00

The February 2010 edition of Principal Leadership magazine features an array of excellent articles about service-learning. Thanks to editor Jan Umphrey, all of the articles are available online: http://www.principals.org/tabid/2043/default.aspx

Vote for the 2010 Service-Learning Multimedia Showcase Finalists!

2010-03-01T10:14:00.001-08:00

The National Service-Learning Partnership is proud to announce the FINALISTS for this year's We Are a Solution: Youth Changing the World Through Service-Learning Multimedia Showcase! Now, you have a chance to vote for the winners at http://slsolutionshowcase.blogspot.com. Limit ONE vote per person per category.

Vote by Friday, March 5 @ 5 PM Eastern Time!

FINALISTS
Middle School Division
Seven Springs Middle School (New Port Richey, FL)
Tchefuncte Middle School (Mandeville, LA)

High School Division
Abington High School (Abington, PA)
Clarkstown High School North (New City, NY)
Putnam City West High School (Oklahoma City, OK)

The winner in each division will receive $500 for their school, group, or program!

Christina Kwon
Director of Member Engagement

National Service-Learning Partnership

Academy for Educational Development
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.884.8982 (phone)
202.884.8422 (fax)
ckwon@aed.org

www.service-learningpartnership.org

Free Watershed Workshops for Teachers

2010-02-24T13:32:00.001-08:00

Save the Bay is offering a 3 day workshop for middle and high school teachers grades 5-12 to learn how to use the San Francisco bay as a focal point for studying ecology.

Participating teachers will have the opportunity to canoe, participate in a restoration project, and have facilitated time for designing lesson. Continuing education credits are available and teachers completing all three days will receive a $100 stipend. Click here for more information, or contact Trisha Allen at Save the Bay to register. (trisha@saveSFbay.org)

Grant list from What Kids Can Do

2010-02-22T12:39:00.001-08:00

This is a great site for grants… See below or go to:

http://www.whatkidscando.org/Shout_Outs/index.html

Michael Brugh, CalServe Program Director
California Department of Education,
CalServe Initiative, Suite 6408
1430 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Ph. (916) 319-0543
Fx. (916) 323-6061
mbrugh@cde.ca.gov
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/sl/

Supported by a grant from the Corporation for National Service, Learn and Serve America

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Pepsi Refresh Grants | Deadline: Monthly competition, with first awards made in February 2010

Pepsi is looking for ideas from individuals, non-profits and pro-social businesses that can make a positive impact in the community. Ideas should be feasible and completed 12 months from the date you receive the first funds. Each month, up to $1.3 million will be awarded as follows: 2 Grants at the $250,000 level; 10 Grants at the $50,000 level; 10 Grants at the $25,000 level; and 10 Grants at the $5,000 level. Winning proposals are chosen by voters visiting the Pepsi Refresh website. Eligibility: any age.

Learn more at: http://www.refresheverything.com/index

"Get Ur Good On" Grants for Young Volunteers | Deadline: February 22, 2010

Miley Cyrus recently partnered with Youth Service America to create Get Ur Good On, a social network that brings together youth to support each other in their mission to do "good" in their communities. On Wednesday, November 18, YSA launched Get Ur Good On Grants that fund youth-led service initiatives on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010. Available to children and youth around the world, YSA's Get Ur Good On Grants will award 100 $500 grants to support projects addressing critical community needs such as poverty, education, and environmental sustainability.Grant applications are due February 22, 2010.

Youth interested in sharing their stories about volunteering and community service, learning about important issues, and making civic-minded friends can visit www.GetUrGoodOn.org. They can upload videos that show how they have made a difference in their local, national, and global communities.

Learn more at: www.geturgood.og.

Guardian Life Insurance: Girls Going Places Awards | Deadline: February 26, 2010

The Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Program rewards the enterprising spirits of girls who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship, are taking the first steps toward financial independence, and make a difference in their schools and communities. Maximum award: three prizes totaling up to $30,000. Eligibility: girls between the ages of 12 and 18 as of December 31, 2009, who are enrolled in middle school or high school and are a U.S. legal resident.

Learn more at:
http://www.guardianlife.com/womens_channel/girls_going_places/girls_going_places.html

Huggable Heroes Award & Scholarship | Deadline: February 26, 2010

Do you know a young leader between the ages of eight and 18 who is making a difference in his or her community or around the world? Now through February 26, Build-A-Bear Workshop is accepting entries for its seventh annual Huggable Heroes® program, which recognizes everyday young people who go to extraordinary lengths to make life better for others. Ten Huggable Heroes from the United States and Canada will be selected and each will be awarded with a $7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 in the form of a donation to the 501 (c)(3) charity of his/her choice, as well as a celebration trip to St. Louis in July.

Learn more at: http://www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes

Sodexo Foundation STOP Hunger Scholarships | Deadline: February 26, 2010

The Sodexo Foundation opened applications for its national STOP Hunger Scholarship program on January 1, 2010. The scholarships were first introduced in 2007 in order to support the education of young people who are working to end hunger in communities across the country - and to draw attention to the innovative and effective solutions that they are implementing toward ending hunger in their lifetime. Up to five students selected as national winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship award and a matching $5,000 grant in their name, for the hunger-related charity of their choice. The scholarships will be presented on June 10, 2010 at the Sodexo Foundation Dinner in Washington, D.C. In addition, up to 20 regional winners will receive a $1,000 grant in their name, for the hunger-related charity of their choice. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in an accredited education institution (kindergarten through graduate school) in the United States and be able to demonstrate an on going commitment to hunger-relief activities in their community.

Learn more at: http:// www.SodexoFoundation.org

AFN International: Young Eco-Hero Awards | Deadline: February 28, 2010

Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognize the individual accomplishments of young people whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: youth ages 8-16.

Learn more at: http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/ecoheroawards.html

Do Something Awards | Deadline: March 1, 2010

Could you use $100,000 to change the world? The Do Something Awards celebrate young people 25 and under who are tackling a problem and changing the world. Five nominees will be rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in a live VH1 TV show, media coverage and continued support from DoSomething.org. The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 during the live broadcast!

Apply or nominate someone at: http://www.DoSomething.org/awards

Caring Institute: 2010 Caring Awards | Deadline: March 1, 2010

The Caring Institute is now accepting nominations for its annual Caring Awards. Nominees should exemplify caring and serve as worthy role models for others. Award criteria include length of service, scope and impact of work, challenges overcome, and imagination and innovation. Maximum award: All winners are honored at a special ceremony, and young adult winners receive funds for college. Eligibility: individuals from nine to 99 years old

Learn more at: http://www.caring-institute.org/caringawards.html

DASH+ Contest | Deadline: March 1, 2010

As part of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Education Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the DASH+ national high school contest challenges student teams to use their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to design a dashboard of the future that incorporates feedback mechanisms and supports behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The Grand Prize winning team has the chance to travel to Motor City for a VIP experience.

Learn more at: http://www.fuelourfuturenow.com/contest

Open Call for Youth Media from WGBH/Masterpiece Classic | Deadline: March 8, 2010

In its latest Open Call, public television stationWGBH has partnered up with MASTERPIECE Classic, and has launched The Video Diary Project, inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank. They are asking young media makers (ages 13 and up), to submit video diaries telling us about their lives – specifically areas where certain aspects of intolerance may be involved. How have they overcome being bullied or disrespected for the way they look, think, or for what they believe in – that kind of stuff. Portions of the diaries submitted may be selected for broadcast on MASTERPIECE Classic’s PBS airing of The Diary of Anne Frank on April 11th, 2010.

Learn more at: http://www.thewgbhlab.org/masterpiece

Kohl's Corporation: Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship | Deadline: March 15, 2010

The Kohl's Kids Who Care Program recognizes and rewards young volunteers who transform their communities for the better. Maximum award: $10,000 scholarship toward post-secondary education. Eligibility: youth 6 to 18 years old, not graduated from high school by March 15, 2010

Learn more at: http://www.kohlscorporation.com/CommunityRelations/scholarship/index.asp

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge | Deadline: Middle School, March 15, 2010

The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is a K-12 sustainability challenge where a class or group of students, work with a teacher/mentor to identify an environmental issue in their classroom or school community, develop a plan, collect data, analyze that data, and share the results they've found.

Maximum award: $5,000 + other prizes. Ages served: elementary and middle schools.

Learn more at: http://wecanchange.com/

Hitachi Foundation: Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs | Deadline: March 22, 2010

The Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program supports young entrepreneurs who have formed financially viable businesses that create jobs, supply goods or services, or use internal management practices enabling low-wealth individuals the opportunity to achieve greater economic security. Maximum award: $50,000 over two years, access to technical resources, and a peer learning community. Eligibility: entrepreneurs ages 18-29 who are operating businesses that are 1-5 years old and have been generating revenue for a minimum of the last 12 months.

Learn more at: http://www.hitachifoundation.org/yoshiyama/index.html

Questbridge: College Prep for Low-Income High School Juniors | Deadline: March 29, 2010

Questbridge, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving high-achieving low-income students resources during the college application process, is accepting applications for its College Prep Program for high school juniors. Maximum award: full scholarship to summer program, college admissions counseling, and attendance at college preparatory conferences. Eligibility: qualified low-income high school juniors.

Learn more at: http://www.questbridge.org/access/collegepreptext/

Alliance for a Healthier Generation Youth Advisory Board | Deadline: April 2, 2010

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is searching for a select group of young people to serve on our Youth Advisory Board (for 2010-2011) and roll up their sleeves for a few hours a month of critical thinking, engaging conversations, good fun, new friendships, and high-profile leadership. Applicants must be between the ages of 8 and 17 years old when membership begins July 2010 and live in the United States.

Learn more at: http://www.empowerme2b.org/2010-2011-youth-advisory-board

The Shortie Awards: Film and News Festival | Deadline: April 9, 2010

The premiere film festival for students ages 7 to 18 and their teachers! Established in 2001, The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival recognizes original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The Shortie Awards focuses on nurturing imagination and choice making in students.The Shortie Awards is part of MHz Networks' Education Department. The event grew out of the Department's EAT (Education Arts and Technology) program for young filmmakers in the Washington D.C. area and has since blossomed into a national and even international event, featuring submissions from all over the world.
Entry Categories: Live Action: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, PSA, Music Video, or Other Animation: Stop-Motion, Claymation, Machinima, Digital, or Other Daily News Program
Age Categories: 7-10, 11-14, 15-18, and K-12 Teacher.

Learn more at: http://www.shortie.org/festival/rules/

MIT: Lemelson-MIT 2011 InvenTeams | April 25, 2010

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams foster inventiveness among high school students. InvenTeams composed of high school students, teachers, and mentors are asked to collaboratively identify a problem that they want to solve, research the problem, and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project. Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: high school science, mathematics and technology teachers—or teams of teachers—at public, private and vocational schools; intra- and inter-school collaborations welcome.

Learn more at: http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/about.html

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes | Deadline: April 30, 2010

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: youth 8-18.

Learn more at: http://www.barronprize.org/

Earth Island Institute: Youth Award for Outstanding Activism in Environmental and Social Justice | Deadline: May 15, 2010

The Earth Island Institute Brower Youth Award recognizes young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy. Maximum award: $3,000; a trip to San Francisco for the awards ceremony, October 19, 2010; and a wilderness camping trip. Eligibility: youth activists ages 13-22.

Learn more at: http://www.broweryouthawards.org/article.php?list=type&type=54

Do Something Seed Grants | Deadline: Rolling

Are you working to start a community action project or program? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? If you answered, "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a Do Something Seed Grant. We give out a $500 Do Something Seed Grant every week to help young people just like YOU! Do Something Seed Grants are targeted towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started. These grants can be used to jump-start your program or to realize your ideas for the first time. These are grants for all types of community action projects around causes that you care about and are important in your community.

Learn more at: http://www.dosomething.org/grants/seedgrants

Do Something Growth Grants | Deadline: Rolling

Did you create a sustainable community action project, program or organization that you want to grow? Are you looking for funding to take your already successful project to the next level? If you answered "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a Do Something Growth Grant. We give out a $500 Do Something Growth Grant every week to help young people just like YOU! Do Something Growth Grants are targeted towards projects that are already developed and sustainable. These grants go towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact.

Leasrn more at: http://www.dosomething.org/grants/growthgrants

High Tech Camp for Girls | Deadline varies; see website.

Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives young people a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology tours and demonstrations, networking and hands-on learning workshops. Maximum Award: camp attendance. Eligibility: girls grades 7-12; must be 13 at the time of attendance. Deadline: varies; see website.

Learn more at: https://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/programs/digigirlz/hightechcamp.aspx

Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge | Deadline varies; see website.

The Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge program is designed to educate and empower students to take action to improve the environment. The program encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. Middle and high school teams comprised of 5 to 10 students and one teacher advisor are invited to participate in four initial challenges, each addressing a different environmental element -- land, water, air, and climate. Maximum Award: $75,000. Eligibility: students in grades 6-12 and their teachers. Deadline: varies.

Learn more at: http://www.scholastic.com/lexus

Mix It Up Grants | Deadline: Rolling

The Southern Poverty Law Center is accepting applications for its Mix It Up grants program to support on-going projects led and directed by youth (ages 13 years and older) that challenge the status quo, are creative in their approach to encouraging engagement in socially just behaviors, involve collaborations across social boundaries, and are fiscally responsible.

Maximum award: $500. Ages served: middle and high school.

Visit http://www.tolerance.org

New Research Documents Positive Impacts of Service-Learning

2010-02-12T15:14:00.001-08:00

Dear Colleagues:

A new research brief from the American Association of Community Colleges, "Improving Student Learning Outcomes with Service Learning," reveals that students who participate in service-learning score higher on institutional learning outcomes such as critical thinking, communication, civic responsibility, academic development, and educational success. Service-learners also saw themselves as more competitive in the job market than those who did not have service-learning experience.

In addition, 85 percent of these students believed that service-learning should be practiced in more courses at their colleges, and 87 percent would encourage other students to take courses that offer service learning.

The 16-page brief summarizes the findings and implications of a three-year study at 10 colleges that participated in AACC's 2006-2009 grant program, Community Colleges Broadening Horizons through Service-Learning. More than 2,300 students and 68 faculty across a variety of disciplines participated in end-of-course surveys and focus groups.

The entire text of the research brief may be found on AACC's website at

www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprograms/horizons/Documents/slorb_jan2010.pdf

Visit AACC's main website at www.aacc.nche.edu/servicelearning for other publications, resources, curriculum tools, and listings of upcoming conferences and events.

AACC's service learning initiative is supported by the Learn and Serve America program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Gail Robinson

Program Director for Service Learning

American Association of Community Colleges

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 410

Washington, DC 20036

202 728 0200 ext. 254

grobinson@aacc.nche.edu

www.aacc.nche.edu/servicelearning

AACC - the voice of community colleges