The Sixth Annual National Urban Service-Learning Institute

On August 5-7, 2009 nearly 300 participants — more than a third of whom were youth — representing 30 cities gathered in Philadelphia, Pa. for the Sixth Annual National Urban Service-Learning Institute. Held at New Foundations Charter School, the event brought together urban educators, researchers, and community members invested in narrowing the inequities between urban and other communities through service-learning.

Keynote speaker Margaret Beal Spencer, a renowned developmental psychologist and professor at the University of Chicago, spoke about how service-learning may contribute positively to the resiliency of urban young people of color when they are faced with challenges. But “Equity is something that we still hope for and not something we have,” she warned.

To address the issues, the event included a day of preconferences, a research symposium, an Administrators Academy, a youth leadership track, triple the number of workshops offered during last year’s institute, daylong seminars, and a conscious effort to attract urban young people to the event. As NYLC Vice President of Programs Wokie Weah noted, “Urban schools will not be transformed by resources, policies, or test scores, but by the relationships that exist between adults and youth.”

Conversations at the Institute revolved around issues that mattered to urban stakeholders. For example, nearly 100 youth interested in creatively refreshing their understanding of service-learning filled NYLC Youth Advisory Council mentor Julia Sewell’s Service-Learning Remix workshop. Others joined conversations on narrowing the racial achievement gap led by Glen Singleton, author of Courageous Conversations on Race. Still others sought advice on sustainability and impact measures from Rob Gordon, Vice President of City Year.

Another highlight was the daylong seminar offered by students and adults from the Social Justice Academy, a language arts service-learning program at Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago, Ill. Through their innovative partnership with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, students access community experts on a wide range of topics. “We get to pick subjects that relate to our lives,” said sophomore Dawn Burton.

For Amy Andrews, the service-learning specialist at Education Works in Philadelphia, participating in the Institute was a way for her to learn how to increase the number of youth involved in her program. “We do great work, but this is something we need to work on,” Andrews reflected.

Dedicated to bridging existing gaps between urban stakeholders, the Institute was presented by NYLC in collaboration with the Institute for Global and Educational Service-Learning and New Foundations Charter School.