NYLC

Sujay Rao on his 2013 NYLT experience, which led him to serve on the NYLC Youth Advisory Council
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Each year the center of spirituality, service and social justice (Wesley Center) plans five different catalyst trips over spring break at Hamline University. The purpose of the catalyst trips is to investigate issues of justice while serving in the community. more »

There are 74 million people under the age of 18 in this country. Unfortunately a far smaller number will have been engaged as leaders in their classrooms and communities this year. This gap represents a tremendous opportunity cost, a huge pool of untapped talent, ingenuity, and human capital. At a time when our nation is facing so many challenges, we cannot afford to leave 74 million potential problem-solvers, 74 million potential servant-leaders out of critical national conversations. more »

Throughout my adolescent years, volunteerism was always an important aspect of my family; several days a week we devoted our time to help give back to the community and serve those who needed it most. Volunteering and devoting my time to others seemed like a natural thing to do, but I never imagined it was the stepping stone that would lead me to a life of service learning and advocacy. more »

On March the 12th, 11 bleary-eyed twenty-somethings gathered on a dark street near the Mississippi river. They were encumbered with suitcases, garment-bags, pillows, and burritos - and one by one, they filed into two vehicles (“Mama” van, and “Horace” the subaru) and struck out West

You entrusted your money to these 11, under the impression that they would be using it to attend some kind of professional development conference - but what had become of them? Not only the 11, but the money? more »

I spend most of my time selling the idea and training on service-learning. I rarely, however, get the chance to sit down with a group of folks committed to service-learning as a best-practice pedagogy and analyze the method. That is why some of my favorite service-learning discussions happen with members who work in higher ed settings. Although I am committed to training on service-learning in the K-12 education field, I find university faculty more willing to talk openly about its challenges and successes with a probing eye. more »

On Saturday, April 6, several NYLC staff and friends gathered at Bethel University in Minnesota to celebrate Cheng Leng Xiong, winner of the Outstanding Youth Award, presented by HOBY. Cheng, a former NYLC Youth Advisory Council member from Saint Paul, MN, was celebrated with the award for his inexhaustible service to his peers, his friends, and his community. Like a tree that, through its growth, hopes to be of benefit to what it comes in contact with, Cheng is a steadfast support to all who have the good luck of coming to know him. more »

I was so happy to see Students Rebuild as one of our exhibitors at the National Service-Learning Conference this year in Denver, who offering attendees the opportunity to be a part of the One Million Bones Challenge. We first worked with Students Rebuild in 2010 in Atlanta, GA, when they hosted an onsite project building clay bones for the challenge. I remember hauling very heavy boxes of clay for them! more »

Deborah DeCovis is an exemplary service-learning educator. Her classroom has no desks, no whiteboard, and no electricity. For what her classroom lacks in bricks and mortar, it makes up for in student engagement, practical knowledge, and a lasting connection to the curriculum.

Her classroom is the great outdoors. more »