NYLC Blog
Service-Learning is Key Component in Student Engagement
Every day we are inundated with images of what is wrong with our nation’s schools. Box office movies accentuate disengaged students and inattentive teachers, nightly news stories feature violence in our schools, and newspapers showcase article after article about failing schools all around us. The fact is our school system needs help. There are 76 million youth under the age of 18 in America and 1.2 million of those in high school will drop out this year. There are numerous reasons that students leave school but one of the largest is engagement. Students don’t feel welcome, they don’t connect with the teachers, or they don’t feel like they belong. Students who are engaged are far less likely to drop out than those who aren’t.
There isn’t one silver bullet to education reform, but at the National Youth Leadership Council we know something that is working. On September 13, 2012, The National Youth Leadership Council hosted a public briefing to discuss how the Guilford County school district in Greensboro, North Carolina achieved high levels of academic success by implementing a character development and service-learning initiative that engages the students themselves in their own education.
Service-learning can ignite the passion that teachers have for teaching and the wonder and creativity in youth. This approach to teaching and learning engages the community as the classroom and exposes students to new fields and professions. The Department of Education has made civic learning and engagement a priority because they know that innovative approaches like service-learning have the power to lower the dropout rate.
At the National Youth Leadership Council we know that a high-quality service-learning opportunity not only engages students, but positions them as leaders in their own education. That is why we are working with members of Congress and national partners to look for opportunities to include service-learning in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind). We want to make it easier for schools and teachers to utilize service-learning as a strategy and by ensuring it is part of the reauthorization, schools can have the resources they need to replicate the successes we are seeing in Guilford County. In the words of Superintendent Maurice, “Mo” Green, “We cannot lose focus on we are developing children, developing young adults, and so the policies need to be sure that they allow for educators to do what they do best, be great educators.”
Service-learning isn’t the sole solution that will magically fix failing schools, but it is a proven strategy, that when combined with district-wide investment, supportive teachers and community members, and youth leadership, is making an important difference in schools around the world.
To learn more about the successes in Guilford County watch the abridged Hill Briefing video on YouTube or visit nylc.org/programs/public-policy-and-advocacy.
NYLC to Participate in Give to the Max Day on Nov. 15!
This year, NYLC will join thousands of other nonprofit organizations based in Minnesota in an exciting event on November 15 called Give to the Max Day. This one-day event supports local nonprofits through an online giving website called GiveMN. Give to the Max Day is a day for anyone who supports nonprofits and schools to come together and raise as much money as possible in 24 hours — starting at midnight on November 15, 2012 through midnight on November 16, 2012.
GiveMN is an online giving platform with a plethora of new and exciting tools for nonprofits to build awareness and raise much-needed funds simultaneously. According to Razoo, the parent website that hosts GiveMN, more than $100 million has been raised for nonprofit organizations that fundraise through its online interface.
Why would a national nonprofit participate in a giving event happening only in Minnesota?
NYLC has been located in Saint Paul since it was founded nearly 30 years ago and remains committed to working with partners from across the state and the nation to pilot new programs in schools and districts. GiveMN is a chance for us to raise funds and awareness for the programs and services we offer like our National Youth Leadership Training — a week of adventure, self-discovery, cultural exchange, leadership building, and service offered to teams of high school students with an adult mentor. Support for these programs is essential, and GiveMN is a great opportunity for us to ensure that we can continue to provide this life-changing experience to participants.
Those who donate to NYLC on Give to the Max Day have many other incentives to contribute that day, including:
- Prestige! GiveMN will award $12,500 to the nonprofit (hopefully us!) with the largest Give to the Max Day donations.
- Golden Tickets! Anyone who donates that day will be randomly selected each hour to have $1,000 added to their donations. At the end of the 24-hour event, one donor will receive a super-sized Golden Ticket, adding $10,000 to their donation!
- Energy! During last year's Give to the Max Day, $13.4 million was raised to benefit nonprofit organizations. Social Media will be buzzing all day with Facebook, Twitter, and a live internet broadcast from the Mall of America – you can be part of something huge!
Mark your calendars for November 15! Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about the NYLC Give to the Max Day campaign and how you can rally your troops to contribute to our goal. Sign up for our e-newsletter, The Leader, follow us on Twitter (@nylcorg), or Like us on Facebook, and remember the words of Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Bringing A Youth Perspective to Capitol Hill
I never imagined that I would be invited to a Capitol Hill Briefing as a junior in high school and then to be there as a panelist, presenting and answering questions about the success of service-learning in Guilford County Schools was an experience that I will never forget. When we arrived in Washington, D.C. we went directly to the Senate offices to speak with Senator Kay Hagan from North Carolina, and it was a delight to meet with her. We shared candid dialogue with her about some of the many service-learning projects in Guilford County. She was very pleased with the work we are doing in our school system and was looking forward to the variety of projects we have working on this coming year.
When I walked through the Capitol doors, doors that many famous politicians had walked through years before, it made me think how fortunate I was to be able to represent Guilford County Schools. The opportunity to tell students, parents, educators, business leaders, and congressional representatives about how service-learning has made an impact on me, my peers, my school, and community was inspiring and just plain awesome!
One special service-learning project that Weaver Academy, a performing and visual arts high school, does annually is our Very Special Arts Festival where we bring the performing and visual arts to Gateway Education Center, a school for the mentally and physically disabled. This project involves our entire school and we make it an interactive experience for the students at Gateway. It’s a service-learning project that we look forward to each year, where we prepare different activities to perform with the students and upon our return to Weaver we reflect and think of new and even better ideas for the next year.
The briefing was a huge success and I know the attendees walked away with a better sense of what service-learning is all about and how to implement it in their schools and communities. I know Guilford County Schools will continue to strive to make service-learning an important part of a student’s educational experience, which benefits not only the student but the entire community!
Read more the Capitol Hill Briefing news story or watch the video.
Celebrate My Drive: Minnesota!
After many months of planning, State Farm's Celebrate My Drive event finally arrived at our local Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota last weekend! From the moment I stepped into the rotunda and saw the huge red signs, I knew this event would live up to its charge to celebrate new drivers and young people, and I was glad to be there representing Project Ignition.
Our Celebrate My Drive event had a lot going on throughout the day, beginning with a live chat American Idol winner Scott McCreery. Voting and registration began right away with young people choosing which school they felt deserved the $100,000 grant for their region. It was great to see local high schools performing on the stage, and the giveaway contests kept bringing people back for more.
I talked to many people who came up to the Project Ignition booth asking to know more about the program. It was a great opportunity to share our $2,000 grant opportunity, as well as talk about some of the great work past Project Ignition schools have done, like Yelm High School, which placed their focus on the issue of distracted driving. They reached out to their community by providing hands-on educational activities to a local middle school, distributed fact sheets to parents during open houses, surveyed driving behavior on the streets, provided lesson plan packets to teachers, and hosted many other activities throughout the year.
Project Ignition is unique in that it funds high quality service-learning projects that are youth-led and have the support of an adult advisor. 10 out of the 25 new schools that will be funded this year will also be eligible to receive additional funding next year, as well as the opportunity to present their projects during the 2014 National Service-Learning Conference in Washington, D.C.! Getting to see the advisors and youth teams I work to support throughout the year present all of their hard work at the conference is one of the best parts of my job as the program manager, and I look forward to it every year.
I was proud to be part of a great event last weekend, one of 14 that took place that day. To view photos from the Minnesota Celebrate My Drive, check out the Project Ignition Facebook page.
Have you submitted your Project Ignition application yet, or know a school that should? Visit www.sfprojectignition.com to learn more and start your application today!
Rejuvenating the Heart
From August 10 - 12 I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend the 13th Annual Shinnyo-en Foundation Retreat at the beautiful Marconi Conference Center. The Center is located in a historic park on the shore of Tomales Bay in Point Reyes, Calif. Each year, the Foundation hosts the retreat to provide attendees with the opportunity to connect with people in the field of service, service-learning, and volunteering, and to think deeply about their own personal, cultural, and spiritual roots of service.
During the three day retreat, I had time to reflect on my own history of service, make new friends, and rejuvenate my personal commitment to serve. I also had the opportunity to celebrate with the others the appointment of
Nan Peterson of The Blake School in Minneapolis, Minn. and Steve Herrera, Deacon of San Jose Diocese and religious studies teacher at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif., as the Shinnyo-en Foundation’s 2012-2013 Senior Shinnyo Fellows. Steve and Nan received certificates of appreciation and gratitude from Ben Takagi, Vice President of the Foundation.
Senior Shinnyo Fellows are individuals who model lives of compassion and service, and lead others by their own examples of walking their paths to peace at work and in daily life. They are considered to be exemplary leaders in the field of service, education, and related fields. After three days in such company, it was impossible not to come home with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to the work ahead.
I am grateful to the Shinnyo-en Foundation, not only for their commitment to supporting organizations like NYLC, but for their commitment to rejuvenating the hearts of those who serve. Our path in service is not always easy, but when we walk together we can change the world.
Why it ROCKS to be a Project Ignition Advisor!
As Project Ignition rolls into its ninth year, we remember the dozens of advisors who have given their time to make an incredible impact on youth. Although the projects are student-led, these advisors from all across the country serve as mentors and use their professional expertise to help students brainstorm, organize, and lead their peers to safe driving habits. With the commitment and drive of our Project Ignition advisors, many, if not all, are already serving in public service fields as teachers, police officers, and school counselors, to name a few. Even though they already have busy lives serving in their careers, there is a somewhat unanimous song that they all sing: “this work matters and I’m lucky to be a part of it.”
After speaking with two Project Ignition advisors — Jennifer Wescoe, a teacher at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Penn., and Kathy Lostroh, a teacher at Springlake-Earth High School in Earth, Tex. — it’s clear to me why they continue to stand side by side with these dynamic young people.
How did Project Ignition impact you as an educator?
Jennifer Wescoe: I believe that I have grown as an educator in multiple ways through the help of Project Ignition. Through the creation and implementation of an effective service-learning plan, [the experience] allowed me to witness first-hand how this type of learning can empower students in ways I never previously imagined.
Kathy Lostroh: Project Ignition renewed an excitement in me. My kids took the opportunity to run with their project and activities, and I was able to watch as their fears subsided and their passions exploded. I saw kids complete activities and organize events that they never thought would be possible; I observed as they made phone calls and spoke with project partners better than many professionals. I enjoyed watching their creativity excel when trying to develop unique ways to reach their audience. After teaching for 10 years, my kids inspired me to think outside the box and challenge myself as an educator.
Why should others serve as Project Ignition Advisors?
Jennifer: If I could give some advice to other educators, it would be simply to keep your eyes and ears open for wonderful opportunities, such as Project Ignition, that help those you teach grow as students and leaders. If you allow them an opportunity to take on leadership roles, you might just be amazed at how much they shine.
Kathy: Kids must have ownership of what they’re doing or it won’t mean anything. Allow them the (reasonable) freedom to do what they want/need to do. Play the devil’s advocate, but don’t shoot down their ideas. Allow them to solve the problems and deal with the issues that arise, no matter how hard it is not to just tell them what to do. You will be amazed where their ideas lead them (and you).
If you are a student at a public high school and are interested in learning more or becoming involved in Project Ignition, visit www.sfprojectignition.com to apply for a Project Ignition grant and be a positive change in your community!
Without Limits, The 24th Annual National Service-Learning Conference®
We are pleased to announce that the official conference website for the 24th Annual National Service-Learning Conference®, Without Limits, has launched! Please visit www.nylc.org/conference for anything and everything that you would ever want to know about the 2013 conference. Find answers to your questions about conference programming, transportation, registration, housing, and much more. Check back often for updates.
Mark your calendar with these important upcoming deadlines:
Workshops and Service-Learning Showcase. Workshops are the heart of the conference, providing professional development opportunities for youth and adults alike. The service-learning showcase highlights high quality service-learning projects from across the country, and is an opportunity to connect with people and share how a project was implemented, how it was connected to curricular goals, and what made it effective. Don’t miss your opportunity to share your knowledge with the nearly 2,000 attendees of the conference.
» Apply online. Deadline to apply is September 21, 2012.
Youth Emcee. Do you have the desire to be on the plenary stage? Have you ever wanted to introduce a conference keynote presenter? Do you have the skills it takes to present in front of nearly 2,000 of your fellow attendees? If you answered “Yes!” to these questions, this opportunity is for you. Youth emcees are essential to the success of the plenary sessions. They introduce keynote speakers, set the stage for the day’s session, inform attendees about upcoming events, and keep the audience smiling!
» Apply online. Deadline to apply is October 12, 2012.
Scholarships. Each year, NYLC is pleased to provide scholarship dollars to conference attendees in need of support to attend the conference. Scholarship notifications will be made by October 10, 2012.
» Apply online. Deadline to apply is October 3, 2012. Be sure to also check out our fundraising tips.
Award Nominations. Recognize someone that you believe has been a service-learning superstar. Nominate youth, practitioners, and service-learning leaders for the Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Excellence Award, the Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award, and the Alec Dickson Servant Leader Award. What better way to recognize and thank these individuals for their work in the community?
» Review the application criteria online. Deadline to submit an award application is October 3, 2012.
Registration for the conference opens Thursday, September 6, 2012! Register soon to receive early bird rates by October 31, 2012.
Keep on top of upcoming deadlines for Without Limits by following @nylcorg on Twitter and use the official conference hashtag, #NYLC13.
Youth Membership Now Available on the GSN!
The dog days are over, the school year is nigh, and we have an exciting announcement for the Generator School Network — Youth are now welcome! By introducing the unique perspective of our future leaders to the GSN, we hope users will gain valuable expertise and continue to create partnerships between educators, service-learning practitioners, and students across the country.
To make this transition possible, we’ve beefed up our security. The GSN has for years been a safe place for our users to convene, share resources, and partake in professional development. We want our youth to enjoy that same environment. Our security updates include:
- A revamped Report Abuse function. It is now easier for users to flag inappropriate content.
- An age requirement: you must be at least 13 years old to join.
- An updated user agreement with clear privacy policies for youth members.
For existing members of the GSN, there’s nothing to fear with these changes. We will continue the same strong focus on providing professional development, and not one resource previously provided in the network is going away. In fact, bringing youth into the site will only expand its utility for users.
How can youth utilize the GSN?
Do you work on projects in an afterschool or extracurricular setting (like a youth advisory board or service club)? You can now use the GSN as remote meeting place. The online format allows the flexibility to juggle mismatched schedules and still keep your group connected. Teachers may also now integrate youth voice into the planning aspect of service-learning by hosting a safe, creative space for your students in the GSN.
The GSN already serves as an ongoing learning community for youth who attended this year’s National Youth Leadership Training. These young leaders formed teams that aim to address the achievement gap through a service-learning action plan. The Plan section of the GSN is the virtual home for their projects, where they can upload their action plans and monthly progress updates. The NYLT group they created in the Connect section will allow NYLC staff to guide these youth through regular activities and reflections focused on particular skills or topics. These 44 trainees formed 16 teams which, together with their home groups, will give the GSN its own youth voice like never before. NYLC’s Project Ignition grantees also have a GSN presence, where they utilize those same groups and project features to report on the progress of their teen driver safety campaigns.
We encourage our existing members to involve their youth, get students in the network, and use it as a creative extension of the classroom. We’ll be glad to have them, and you’ll be glad you did.
Questions? Email gsn@nylc.org.
Join Sen. Hagan, Rep. Coble, and NYLC on Capitol Hill to Showcase Successes in Education
Much of the national conversation today is about what is wrong with our educational systems. We are flooded with negative images of our public schools. Isn’t it time we hear from those that are making great strides in educating our youth?
NYLC has secured the support of Senator Kay Hagan and Representative Howard Coble, both of North Carolina, to host a Capitol Hill Briefing. The briefing will focus on what is working to drive excellence and achievement at K-12 public schools, highlighting Guilford County Schools in North Carolina. The briefing will analyze components that helped lead to the success of students, teachers, schools, and communities, with service-learning as a key strategy. We will hear from Maurice “Mo” Green, Guilford County Superintendent, students and staff from the Greensboro-area district, and from partners at Communities in Schools. NYLC will also provide perspective on the panel as we expand our systematic work in service-learning across school districts.
The Hill briefing is open to the public, please join us to show your support for young leaders and educators:
Thursday, September 13, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
SVC 203-02, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Washington, D.C.
RSVP to: dparker@nylc.org
NYLC believes that all young people should have the opportunity to contribute to society as part of their K-12 education. Guilford County Schools is proving every day that this empowering youth in this way also creates an environment of academic excellence and school improvement. With their passion, creativity, and innovation, young people can address world issues while strengthening academic and learning outcomes through service-learning.
I look forward to seeing you on the Hill next month.
Blog Reflection: My Summer as a Marketing Intern at NYLC!
This summer, my friends all thought I was crazy. They were out on the lake, playing golf, and enjoying their last summer before college and could not imagine why I would want to wake up at 6:30 in the morning, put on a tie, and work in an office all day. Except for the whole 6:30 a.m. part, I would not have it any other way.
My job was one that I would look forward to when I rolled out of bed every morning. I was a marketing intern here at NYLC this summer and was immersed in the best hands-on learning marketing course I could have received. I had heard of the amazing things NYLC has done for several years and had the opportunity to work with them during the National Service-Learning Conference in Minneapolis, MN this past spring. I was so impressed by the organization — the people, the impact, and energy the organization has are unmatchable. I decided during that conference that I wanted to be a part of that culture.
As the only youth in the office, I was not sure what to expect. However, everyone went out of their way to give me something I can take away to college and the rest of my career. I learned how much more there is to marketing behind the scenes than I ever could have imagined. The books I’ve read kindly left those out of the text. That is one reason why I truly value what I learned this summer — I learned so much more about marketing than I ever could have in a book.
This exciting opportunity (yes, I do think marketing is exciting) provided me with marketing knowledge and the chance to work with an amazing staff. Those are two wonderful things, but my favorite aspect of this job goes beyond those two. Every day when I walked out of the office, I could reflect on the work I did and think about the possible impact it could have on service-learning and those who benefit from it. I knew it before, but now without hesitation I can say that service-learning is truly the most impactful way to make a difference in the community.
Thank you to NYLC for providing me this opportunity and continue the wonderful work!
