Sunday, June 30, 2013

CASADY YOUTH LEAD, CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK CITY TEENS JOIN HANDS FOR TORNADO RELIEF



July 21- July 27 Tornado Relief Teen Team (Casady School, Youth LEAD OKC, Kent School in Connecticut, and New York Teens from YMCA):  Megan Tepper-Rasmussen Sokolnicki'95, 
Director of Community Service at Kent School in CT http://www.kent-school.edu/, a co-ed boarding high school in Connecticut will be in OKC July 21-28, 2013 with 6 teens to volunteer through Habitat helping the tornado relief effort in Moore.

Sidney J.'14 Casady YAC Junior Chair & Youth LEADER,  Mrs. Carmen Clay, Director of Service Leaning and Mrs. Shannon Presti, Youth LEAD OKC CEO and Director of YMCA Teen initiatives are helping recruit Casady, Youth LEAD OKC, and NY City YMCA Teens to volunteer with the Kent Teens.   If interested contact: Mrs. Carmen Clay at
clayc@casady.org
, 405-520-1325.  Must be 16 years old to serve onsite with Habitat.  Cyclones supervisor needed July 25-27!

Tentative Schedule


Sunday July 21: Youth LEAD OKC Meeting at the Casady Wing, 1-6 PM, Welcome .  Mrs. Carmen Clay, Cyclones supervisor, Casady teen host, Alex'16

Monday July 22: Service Project with New York and Connecticut teens.  Place TBA.  Mrs. Carmen Clay, Cyclones supervisor, Casady teen Host: Alex'16.

Tuesday July 23: Day at the Oklahoma Memorial Museum.  10 AM-5:00 PM.  Mrs. Carmen Clay, Cyclones supervisor. Casady teen Host: Alex'16.

Wednesday July 24: Habitat Tornado Relief and Reconstruction Mrs. Carmen Clay, Cyclones supervisor, morning only!

Thursday July 25: Habitat Tornado Relief and Reconstruction. Cyclones supervisor needed.  Possibility: Mr. Brad Philipson.  Casady teen host: Sidney'15

Friday July 26: Habitat Tornado Relief and Reconstruction. Cyclones supervisor needed.  Possibility: Mrs. Shirley Small. Casady teen host: Sidney'15

Saturday July 27: Habitat Tornado Relief and Reconstruction. Cyclones supervisor and Casady teen host needed.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Service Songs & Service Quotes

Selections From: National Service Briefing
 
June 27, 2013
Volume 20, No. 26
Circulation: 42,000
Looking for a little inspiration to get you to the weekend?

 You can always listen to songs featured in National Service Briefing at: http://bit.ly/servicesongs  We've also published a list of all the songs and artists at www.YSA.org/quotes-songs
YSA Service Quote of the Week in each National Service Briefing.are compiled in one place: www.YSA.org/quotes-songs


Big Thoughts From YSA

YSA & IBM: The Power of Partnership

"When it comes to service, if you don't have a youth strategy, you don't have a strategy at all. For 27 years, Youth Service America (YSA) has tapped into the passion, creativity and ingenuity of young people, and provided them with the opportunities and tools to improve their communities through service to others. YSA calls upon children and youth to find their voice, take action, and create real change. As YSA continues its commitment to support the power of youth, we know we cannot do it without the power of partnerships, such as that forged with IBM." Read more about how YSA and IBM have worked together with shared vision and values, to multiply our efforts, create new networks, and help youth change the world. http://ibm.co/110kwEp
 

Common Core and the Common Good

"So how does one teach a young person to think critically, to solve a real problem, to create, and to innovate? After centuries of a culture, and an academic model, that encouraged rugged individualism, how does one teach students to communicate and collaborate as part of an effective team? ... Faced with this challenge, Common Core embraces the real world. Knowledge, in and of itself, is only a piece of a good education. Common Core focuses also on how knowledge can be best applied - to envision, prepare for, and build for the future." Read more of YSA's Vice President of Education, Susan Abravanel's blog about the connection between Common Core and service-learning at: http://bit.ly/13b7OnJ  

Service Calendars

Conferences & Events

 
November 1-3, 2013 - Washington, DC
 
People to People International's Global Youth Forum
November 6-10, 2013 - Washington, DC 
   
November 11-13, 2013 - Baltimore, MD 
 
April 9-12, 2014 - Washington, DC  

Seasons of Service

 

Song of the Week

Wailin' Jennys - "One Voice"
 
 
    
  "This is the sound of one voice
One spirit, one voice
The sound of one who makes a choice
This is the sound of one voice
...
This is the sound of all of us
Singing with love and the will to trust
 Leave the rest behind it will turn to dust
This is the sound of all of us
...
One people, one voice
A song for every one of us..." 

A Message from the First Lady

"I want young people here in the U.S. to join me on this journey so that you can engage with - and learn from - the African students I meet and experience the rich culture and history of each of these countries right alongside me. All you have to do is get online:

For updates from the road, follow my new Instagram account @MichelleObama and check out @FLOTUS on Twitter.

Every day on the White House blog, you can check out my travel journal - which will include photos and videos - to learn more about the places I visit and the people I meet.

Use the hashtag #FLOTUSinAfrica to discuss the trip and ask your questions - I'll be answering some of these questions throughout the trip."  
 

News From The Field

 

Updates from the 2013 Conference on Volunteering & Service

Last week, the 2013 Conference on Volunteering & Service convened in Washington, DC. The conference theme was "Service Unites."  
Check out this conference wrap-up for highlights, stories, and photos: http://bit.ly/19GFPed 
 
During the Conference, Points of Light and Chase launched the new One America campaign. 

Updates from the 21st Century National Service Summit

Earlier this week, the Aspen Institute convened the 21st Century National Service Summit in Colorado.
The Summit brought together leaders from diverse backgrounds to develop innovative policy and to build momentum around advancing national service. http://bit.ly/110KTKe   
 
As one of the co-conveners of the Summit, TIME Magazine featured service on its cover for the 5th time since 2007. 

Introducing One America
Introducing One America

One America is a nationwide, yearlong campaign Points of Light is leading, with founding support from Chase, to bring together rivals in politics, entertainment and sports with the goal of inspiring millions to unite in service to their communities. Visit the One America site and tell them who you'd like to see unite in service. Rival college basketball teams? Competing news anchors? Superheroes and villians? They'll collect the best pairings and let you vote on which ones will be asked to come together to serve. Also, stay tuned for details on a multi-city One America tour kicking off in July and tools for organizing One America events in your town. www.one-america.org   
 
Several other announcements were made in conjunction with the Conference, including:
 
Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment  
The Corporation for National & Community Service released a new study, "Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment," which found that those who were out of work and got involved with volunteering opportunities increased their likelihood of finding employment by 27 percent. http://1.usa.gov/1ct0YIC 
 
AmeriCorps Grants Announced 
CNCS also announced $200 million in AmeriCorps grants for the year. This includes 267 grants to national and local nonprofits to engage more than 45,000 AmeriCorps members. The full grantee list can be found at http://1.usa.gov/11Rgbyt     
  
Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study
A new study released by UnitedHealth Group and the Optum Institute finds that volunteering is linked to better physical, mental and emotional health. http://bit.ly/14dFIVs   


In the July 1 issue of TIME Magazine, Rick Stengel (TIME's Editor) declared, "Service is a Silver Bullet" and columnist Joe Klein wrote the feature story "Can Service Save Us?". Read it: http://ti.me/18jIaxT   
 
Download "A 21st Century National Service System: Plan of Action" discussed at the Summit that proposes the infrastructure to engage one million young Americans in service to their country through national service. http://bit.ly/11MAoJ4    
 
Also featured in TIME and at the Summit were the results of a nationally survey of American voters to gather their perspectives about national service. This survey of more than 1,000 Americans found broad support for the idea, potential, and impact of national service. See more at:  http://bit.ly/18jHtVf   
 
The combination of the Summit and the TIME cover story led to several other high-profile media stories about the importance of national service, including:
 
Politico opinion piece explores how "National service is key to national strength": http://politi.co/151jo2l   

Arianna Huffington calls national service "The Ultimate Shovel-Ready Infrastructure Project": http://huff.to/18jIxsq   

Michael Gerson writes in The Washington Post about the value of national service to heal our country: http://wapo.st/19GM1mF   
 
MSNBC's Morning Joe discusses how service work benefits recent war veterans: http://nbcnews.to/14dJApB   

Forbes explores investing in service opportunities for veterans increase our ROI: http://onforb.es/127FVGG 
 
 
 
 

Friday, June 28, 2013

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

90,000 pupils pen poems to bring Peace One Day

MORE THAN 90,000 schoolchildren are to take part in a nationwide poetry challenge to promote world peace.


Pupils-are-being-asked-to-explore-the-theme-of-world-peace-Picture-modelled- Pupils are being asked to explore the theme of world peace (Picture modelled)
Pupils are being asked to explore the theme and what it means to them as part of Peace One Day on September 21. The event is called Poems For Peace.
Children’s author Francesca Simon, who wrote the Horrid Henry series and won the 2008 Children’s Book of the Year prize, is to judge the national contest.
She said: “I’m thrilled to be involved in this worthy cause which engages not only the children but their families, asking them to use their creativity and ­imagination to write about peace.”
The Missouri-born writer, now living in London with her husband and son, has sold over 15 million copies of her books in 24 countries.
The winner will go on a trip to The Hague for this year’s Peace One Day concert, headlined by Carlinhos Brown, Miguel Bosé and The Feeling.
They will also have their poem printed on a tea towel, which will be sold through organisers Ocado, the online supermarket.
Jason Gissing, Ocado co-founder and Peace One Day ambassador, said: “As a father I want my children to grow up in a world where peace is a reality for all, not just a dream.
pupils, students, 90,000, write, poems, peace one day, poems for peace, ocado, theme, explorePeace One Day founder and film maker Jeremy Gilley
As a father I want my children to grow up in a world where peace is a reality for all, not just a dream
Jason Gissing, Ocado co-founder and Peace One Day ambassador
“Engaging school children is vital in this process as they are the next generation of peace makers.”
Non-profit organisation Peace One Day was set up in 1999 and the event was later adopted by the United Nations as an annual time of global ceasefire and non-violence.
Founder and film ­maker Jeremy ­Gilley said: “We’re ­delighted to be working with Ocado on this project. Young people have always been at the heart of our work and this competition is a great way to engage them.”
The global event has proved to be a catalyst for broad-ranging action by both individuals and groups.
In 2007 Mr Gilley and actor Jude Law travelled to Afghanistan to mark the event.
A Poems for Peace lesson plan is available online at peaceoneday.com/resource