Twin Cities Service-Learning Champion Wins National Honor
Saint Paul, Minn. — Nan Peterson, Director of Service-Learning at The Blake School in Hopkins, Minn., is the recipient of a national honor recognizing her work. The Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award, given by the National Youth Leadership Council, celebrates those who have equipped young people to lead and serve. The award will be given during the 23rd Annual National Service-Learning Conference® and youthrive PeaceJam Leadership Conference on April 11, 2012 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Peterson has been a teacher and administrator at Blake for 30 years. As a part of the Office of Equity and Community Engagement as the Director of Service-Learning, she develops service opportunities locally and globally for Blake students, staff and families. Peterson is also the first and only senior fellow of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, a role has given her the opportunity to lead a group of Blake faculty and students to Japan as part of a Peace Through Service trip in July 2010.
“It is with humility, surprise and excitement I am recognized as someone who encourages service at The Blake School and beyond,” said Peterson in response to the news about the award.
“Nan brings with her the magical qualities of compassion, sensitivity, openness to others and a fierce commitment to social justice,” said Scott Flemming, director of the Office of Equity and Community Engagement at Blake. “She has the rare ability to listen and to hear what an individual or organization's true needs are and then to build relationships among people and institutions to meet those needs.”
The Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award is presented to a teacher or community member who has created a living legacy through service-learning practice. The award recognizes practitioners who have equipped young people to lead and serve, both through their direct service-learning instruction with youth and by nurturing other practitioners to expand their service-learning skills and knowledge.
The Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award is presented annually at the National Service-Learning Conference. As the winning practitioner, Peterson will receive $1,000 to maintain and develop service-learning programs at Blake.
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About the National Service-Learning Conference
The National Service-Learning Conference is the largest gathering of youth and practitioners from the service-learning movement. It draws nearly 2,200 participants from all 50 states and many other countries each year. For more information, visit www.nylc.org/conference.
About NYLC
NYLC has been at the center of service-learning program and policy development since 1983. It annually convenes The National Service-Learning Conference, offers adult and youth trainings, develops service-learning resources, and advocates on behalf of service-learning at the state and local levels. For more information, visit www.nylc.org.
About Service-Learning
Service-learning is a teaching method that enriches learning by engaging students in meaningful service to their schools and communities. It integrates service with established learning objectives, emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving, and tackles real issues such as hunger, the environment, and literacy.
