NYLC Prepares for Nation’s Largest Conference on Service-Learning

March 21, 2012

For the past several months, staff members at NYLC have been diligently working on the National Service-Learning Conference® and youthrive PeaceJam Leadership Conference by planning preconference and Thought Leader sessions, preparing the NYLC Youth Advisory Council to lead and network, and thinking creatively about how to interact with audiences outside of the conference walls in real time using social media.

“The conference is founded on an abiding respect for all young people as important and capable civic partners. From its inception, the conference has effectively engaged youth from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds,” said Amy Meuers, Marketing and Communications Director for NYLC.

The 2012 conference theme, Our World, Our Future, is a reflection of the importance of youth’s role in service-learning, and an opportunity to share how youth passion, creativity and innovation can address world issues. This theme resonates in the preconference sessions, which include the Sixth Annual Service-Learning World Forum, the Gathering of Elders, Youth Providing Solutions to the Achievement Gap led by NYLC’s YAC, and Designing Academically Rigorous Service-Learning led by Research Director Susan Root, Ph.D., and Program Strategies Director Caryn Pernu. Other workshops led by NYLC staff include Developing Young Leaders: Evaluation of the NYLT Experience, Service-Learning at the School-District Level, and Advocating for Outcomes through Service-Learning.

Much of the energy during the week comes from the active participation of young people, who make up about one-third of conference participants, many of whom will be leading workshops of their own. NYLC YAC and Project Ignition youth are facilitating several sessions, including Engaging Youth in Addressing the Achievement Gap, Teen Driver Safety Just Got Owned, and We Got This! Youth Claiming Strategies That Work.

“[Youth] bring such excitement, intelligence, and genuine interest in each other when they get to work together. It’s always a pleasure to be a part of what they’re working on and to be able to be a part of all of us making the most out of our week,” said Justin VerMeer, Youth Initiatives Fellow at NYLC.

NYLC’s involvement goes beyond facilitating workshops and Thought Leader sessions. Look for NYLC staff at these special events:

  • On day one of the conference, new attendees are invited to attend the Newcomers’ Orientation led by the NYLC YAC and Pam Siebert, Operations Director.
  • Project Ignition has recently announced that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, will be recognizing Project Ignition Leader Schools for their outstanding efforts to improve driver safety and save lives through service-learning at the Welcome Celebration.
  • The Generator School Network is sponsoring two Service-Learning Young Professionals networking events.
  • NYLC CEO Kelita Bak will facilitate a panel on Crossing Barriers to Reimagine Education for Civic Learning, in addition to speaking on the plenary stage alongside Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone, and Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Laureate and judge.
  • NYLC’s YAC will host an on-site service-learning project, “Recycle the Gap,” that will use recycled materials to create a visual representation of the definition and proposed solutions to the achievement gap.

This year’s conference will also have a strong social media presence, allowing anyone who is unable to physically attend to participate online. NYLC will be actively posting on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, sharing quotes, photos, and even hosting a live Service-Learning Tweetup on Thurs., April 12 from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. CST. Be sure to follow the official 2012 conference hashtag #nslc12 on Twitter or like the National Youth Leadership Council on Facebook to receive live updates and participate in a global exchange of ideas.

For a full list of NYLC’s workshops, please visit the conference website at www.nylc.org/conference. This website will be updated weekly as more programming is confirmed, so be sure to check regularly or subscribe to our e-newsletter, The Leader, for bi-monthly updates.