United We Serve Education Week!

United We Serve Education Week begins on Monday, July 27. This is a great opportunity for people across the country to learn about the important work you do, and to understand how critical service-learning is to strengthening our communities and creating a culture of civic engagement in this country.

 

A few ideas for Education Week and for throughout the summer:

 

·        Put the United We Serve logo/link on your website.

·        If you're recruiting volunteers, post opportunities to Serve.gov.

·        Issue local and/or national press releases describing how what you do fits with the President's call to service, especially if you have an activity running during Education Week or later this summer, or if you can announce your plans for the fall. See sample media docs here and additional messaging points below.

·        Consider writing – or having one of your youth write – an op-ed describing the power of what you do and submit to local and national papers. Find a sample op-ed here.   

·        Submit stories (especially from youth) for the blog at Serve.gov to make sure service-learning is represented throughout the summer.

·        Begin planning for how you might use September 11, a new National Day of Service and Remembrance, to kick off your fall efforts.

 

If you do issue any United We Serve-related press releases, send emails to listservs, submit op-eds, etc, please also forward them to Phil Martin, Education Outreach Coordinator for United We Serve, at pmartin@cns.gov.

 

This email also includes Education Week-specific language you may use in any way you choose, and a list of upcoming issue-focused weeks.

 

Thanks for all you're doing out there.

 

Elson Nash, Acting Director

Learn and Serve America

Corporation for National and Community Service

 

 

In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, United We Serve seeks to harness the energy and ingenuity of Americans to renew their communities.  Throughout the summer, United We Serve will highlight the key challenges facing our nation and the ways that volunteers are providing solutions.  During Education Week, July 27 – August 2, United We Serve will focus on the countless Americans who strengthen communities by rolling up their sleeves to read with a child, volunteer at a library, or organize a book drive, among other education-related service activities.

United We Serve is President Obama's call to service challenging all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful community service.  United We Serve initially runs from June 22 through a new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.  United We Serve is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information, visit Serve.gov.

• July 27 Education Week
• Aug 03 Energy & Environment Week
• Aug 10 Health Week
• Aug 24 Safety & Security Week
• Aug 31 Interfaith Service Week
• Sep 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance