Get involved in the 2013 National Service-Learning Conference!

The National Youth Leadership Council would like to invite you to join us more than 1,000 educators and 800 young people from around the world for the 24th Annual National Service-Learning Conference® in Denver, Colo., which will take place March 13-15, 2013.

At the 2013 conference you will hear from national experts and leaders who will inspire you to make a difference in schools and communities. Previous conference speakers include President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, urban educator Geoffrey Canada, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. NYLC believes, as you do, in the power of young people. With their passion, creativity, and innovation, young people can address world issues while strengthening academic and learning outcomes through service-learning. The National Service-Learning Conference is the largest annual gathering of youth and practitioners, foundation and non-profit leaders, corporate and government officials, and advocates who join together to showcase what they have accomplished in their schools and communities, share best practices, and enrichment  through professional development opportunities.

Each year, hundreds of individuals – youth and adults – choose to get involved as presenters, planning committee members, emcees, and volunteers. The combination of energy and enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of leaders in the field distinguishes the unique opportunities afforded by the National Service-Learning Conference.

The 2012 conference drew more than 1,800 attendees from across the United States and a dozen other countries. Conference attendees participate in three days of plenary & thought leader sessions, showcases, and workshops. They also address local needs, both on-site and off-site, through service projects that range from tree-planting, to eyeglass restoration, to home and church renovation.

The 2013 conference in Denver will be inspiring, imaginative, and innovative. There are numerous ways for you to become involved today: 

• Make a commitment to attend. Send a group of youth and adults from your organization. 69% of our conference participants attend as part of groups, which are most often intergenerational.
• Showcase your organization in the exhibit hall. The epicenter of the conference, the exhibit hall is the gathering place for meals, exhibitors, the service-learning showcase, as well as entertainment.
• Become an affiliate. Share information about the conference on you or your organization’s social media accounts, website, newsletters, and with your networks. Gain recognition of your organization or event with our conference audience.
• Submit a workshop proposal or showcase application. Ninety-minute workshops are at the heart of the conference. If hosting a 90-minute workshop isn’t for you, consider presenting a service-learning showcase — a great opportunity to share your successful, high-quality service-learning project with others.
• Join a planning committee. Volunteers from Denver and beyond participate in one of five volunteer committees that will assist in the planning of everything from entertainment, to youth room activities, to on-site staffing.
• Become a sponsor. The National Service-Learning Conference is seeking sponsorship for many activities. Your sponsorship of this premier event sets you apart from your competitors and offers an incomparable opportunity to connect with the education leaders of today and the emerging leaders of tomorrow.

This conference will be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to grow as leaders and adults to expand their expertise. We encourage teachers, administrators, practitioners, students, or anyone who believes in the power of young people to attend this event and then return to your schools and communities with enriched leadership qualities and a renewed commitment to make positive change.

We look forward to seeing you in Denver!

To get a glimpse of what to expect this year, visit the NYLC Flickr page to see photos from the 2012 conference in Minneapolis, Minn.