Invitation: OKC Friendship Walk, 9/24/2016, 2:00 PM Myriad Gardens

http://www.ojb.com/_admin/_filemanager/Image/2015/OKCMG-Carl%20Short%20Photography-%20WEB.jpg
Oklahoma City Myriad Gardens Site of the first OKC Friendship Walk
Celebrating the United Nations International Day of Peace which occurs on a yearly basis on 9/21

The first OKC Friendship Walk will be on Saturday, September 24th, 2pm, at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City. The walk will be a part of the Turkish Festival, and it will demonstrate the rich diversity of Oklahoma's communities as well as our commitment to building a culture of peace and friendship. It will commemorate the International Day of Peace (9/21) as proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZkBR7ahVK2UtQKDat1jxUlpQO4WID9l6iF7x5RWo4GpMKVFdbCHTq2GI9LPBGRtnRWTcGdkjofuYLWAlUx-cbIlNA9BzkMqFGYsEsyB6FHb3GfN2Zdz0FxNn7itV5OUWG7k_XQoIYRs0/s640/5.25+HWPL%252C+5.25+Peace+Walk.png

Everyone is invited to participate -- there is no charge for admission to the festival, and the only requirement for walkers is to maintain a positive attitude and a peaceful demeanor. Flags, signs, banners are welcome, as well as expressions of support for the sustainable development of our planet in a global culture of peace. We might also offer a special word of encouragement to the people of Turkey who are suffering from the erosion of human and civil rights in their country. Peace, freedom, and human rights go hand in hand. 

 The Myriad Gardens will promote the events through their social media kits. 

Walk speakers: Sinead Maguina... will introduce the speakers and give instructions to the walkers.   The Executive Director of Myriad Garden Foundation Maureen Heffernan (405) 445-7081 mheffernan@myriadgardens.org and  Kuaybe Basturk ... Interfaith Dialog Institute , and Aamr Hasanjee ... International Students Association, UCO will welcome the walkers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_walk
A peace walk or peace march, sometimes referred to as a peace pilgrimage, is a form of nonviolent action where a person or groups of people march a set distance to raise awareness of particular issues important to the walkers.

Peace/Friendship Walk/Parade/Pilgrimage to take place on 9/24/2016 awaiting confirmation of location and time of the day for the Walk/Parade is issued a special invitation to Youth LEADERS and their schools to participate in the walk bringing banners, flags, and signs.

July YSA Service-Learning News and Resources

July 14, 2016 | Volume 23, No. 28                             Make Every Day a Mandela Day Nelson Mandela International Day asks everyone around the world to take action and inspire change in honor of Nelson Mandela's birthday on July 18. Inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world's social injustices when he said that "it is in your hands now," the message behind Mandela Day is simple: each individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better. Mandela Day is a global call to action for citizens to help change the world for the better and in so doing, to build a global movement for good. Make every day a Mandela Day by taking action and inspiring change on Mandela Day's four focus areas:  Food security Shelter & infrastructure Education & literacy Environment Learn more at www.mandeladay.com   NEWS FROM THE FIELD Pokemon Go Serve!   Pokemon Go has become a cultural phenomenon in just over a week. To get in on the game, here are 3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Use 'Pokemon Go'. Find more ideas and examples of how nonprofits are using the game here, here, and here. For individuals looking to do good with the game You Can Use Pokemon Go To Raise Money For Charity or check out this guide from GenerationsUnited aboutHow to Use Pokemon Go to Strengthen Intergenerational Relationships. And a couple of our favorite Pokemon Go related service stories: This 7-Year-Old Makes Snazzy Buttons To Keep Pokemon Go Players Safe and Animal Shelter Is Letting Pokemon Go Fanatics Volunteer To Walk Dogs. Now, Pokemon Go serve! Watch Recent Episodes of Nickelodeon's The HALO Effect: Paper For Water and Purses For Primates  Extraordinary teens "help and lead others" (HALO) in Nickelodeon's series, The HALO Effect. Airing monthly, each 30-minute episode highlights a teen who is making a positive change in their community and inspiring others to do the same. One recent episode, Paper For Water tells the story of sisters Isabelle and Katherine Adams from Dallas, TX who help bring accessible clean water to people around the world using their love of origami. Over the past four years, the Adams sisters have raised nearly $800,000 to fund more than 100 water projects in countries around the world including Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, India, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua. Another recent episode, Purses For Primates tells the story of Allie Boyer, a teen who collects gently used purses to resell at fundraisers and donates the profits to Orangutan Outreach.  In just six years, her organization has raised over $14,000 and is directly responsible for sending 14 rehabilitated orangutans back to a protected rainforest. Summer of Service Idea: National Night Out - August 2  Begin your effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, and/or neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. National Night Out events could include: block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, or safety demonstrations and seminars.  www.natw.org  Find more Summer of Service ideas at www.YSA.org/summer GRANTS & AWARDS 2017 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Grants Deadline: August 21 YSA is now accepting applications for the 2017 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Program! Through the generous support of State Farm, the program offers organizations in the United States funding of $500 or $1,000 as well as ongoing capacity-building training to lead high-impact, high-visibility events for Global Youth Service Day on April 21-23, 2017. As the official organizer of GYSD in their region, Lead Agencies are a vital part of creating a culture where young people have the opportunities and support to create positive change in their communities. Learn more and apply at: www.YSA.org/leadagency  Disney Summer of Service Grants Deadline: September 30 Young changemakers who have ideas or projects that could make their neighborhoods healthier, greener, and stronger can receive $500 to gather their friends and bring their creative visions to life. Youth, ages 5-18, in the U.S. are eligible to apply for Disney Summer of Service grants by submitting service project ideas. Hundreds of youth-led service projects will be selected and $500 grants will be awarded to each winner's sponsoring organization to assist with the implementation of the project. Select grantees will have a chance to be recognized by Disney|ABC Television Group or their local ABC affiliate.www.YSA.org/BeInspired   Everyday Young Hero Award Deadline: Rolling Everyday Young Heroes are young people, ages 5-25, who are improving their communities through service to others and making significant progress in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each week, YSA selects one young person to receive this honor. Each selected Hero receives a congratulatory letter, a certificate of recognition, and is highlighted in YSA's newsletter and on social media, raising the profile of his or her good work. Thanks to generous support from Newman's Own Foundation, YSA will also select 12 winners throughout 2016 - one per month - to receive $250 grants to continue and expand their project. www.YSA.org/awards/eyh   STORIES OF SERVICE Everyday Young Hero: Graci Diggs  At four years old, Graci Diggs was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. At the age of seven, she decided that she wanted to help others who also struggled with JRA/Ra. Since then she has worked closely with the Arthritis Foundation to educate others about this health issue. In 2014, she founded the Cans for Cure fundraiser to bring awareness to the disease. At ten years old, she has raised approximately $20,000. Graci is currently an ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and is contacting local government representatives to gain support for House Bill 2029, which will help patients and doctors have control of which medications are administered for treatment, and limit the amount of power insurance companies have regarding a patient's treatment. https://www.facebook.com/GoGraci/   Kids These Days...  We think kids these days are pretty amazing... here are some recent stories of youth helping their communities. Girls raise $10,000 for shooting victims with lemonade stand - Dallas, TX Girl, 9, Uses Birthday Money To Buy Lunch For Detroit Police Officers After Seeing Dallas Shooting On TV - Detroit, MI Atlanta student's 'White Boy Privilege' poem goes viral - Decatur, GA Maryland non-profit inspires youth to ask 'So what else can we do to help?' - Silver Spring, MD Their lemonade stand is helping a family that's homeless after a fire - Wyoming, MN Schoolkids help homeless children in shelter feel super with hand-crafted capes - New York City, NY If you see a story in your local media about kids doing good, send us a link!    RESOURCES & TRAININGS Books to Teach About Global Issues and Inspire Kids to Change the World  Looking for books to read this summer with your kids? Check out these two lists of picture books that parents can use as conversation starters with their kids to talk about important topics and about how both small and large actions can change the world. Social Justice Books for Kids to Teach about Global Issues  17 Books to Inspire Kids to Change the World  Lead a Get Ready Get Safe Prep Rally   Make sure that your family and community are equipped to protect its littlest and most vulnerable citizens. Raise your voice, use your skills and together, we can help turn the tide and build a generation of prepared citizens. Lead Get Ready Get Safe Prep Rally activities and events to help build community awareness and educate children and families about simple things they can do to stay safe in emergencies. Get resources from Save the Children. Video Trainings in the YSA Learning Center  Have some extra time on your hands this summer? Check out the video trainings for three of YSA's most popular resources: Kids in Action Guide(project planning for children ages 4-11), Youth Changing the World Toolkit(project planning for teens and young adults ages 12-25), and the Semester of Service Teacher Toolkit (project facilitation for educators and mentors). Each video course walks you step-by-step through how to use the corresponding resource. Visit www.YSA.org/resources and look for the "Suggested Training" box seen above to take these free trainings.   SERVICE SONGS OF THE WEEK "Amandla (46664)" - Queen + Anastacia, Bono, The Edge, Dave Stewart     "Oh, the power comes from believing And I believe in human kind There is a strength in numbers, yeah And the meeting of our minds Oh, then let us, the people Take control of the situation And rise up together As one together." The complete Service Songs of the Week playlist from 2012-2016 is athttp://bit.ly/servicesongs

Thank you to YSA's sponsors who make our work possible:

Editor-in-Chief Vice President of Operations, YSA (Youth Service America) communications@ysa.org | (202) 296-2992 | www.YSA.org

Happy July 4th

June 30, 2016 | Volume 23, No. 26                             Celebrating the United States of Service Did you know that many of the "founding fathers" were actually in their twenties when they signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776? Talk about youth changing the world! As America celebrates Independence Day this July 4th weekend, YSA is proud to share stories of service that prove "there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America" - our young people! While this holiday honors the events of July 1776, it's also about celebrating the America of today... a country that lives up to President Truman's statement that "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." Meet 51 young people who are doing the job at hand of making their communities, the United States, and the world better: www.YSA.org/50states If you're inspired by these stories, help YSA spark even more service in the year ahead by making a contribution today at www.YSA.org/donate    NEWS FROM THE FIELD What's keeping young people from changing the world?  The answer may surprise you. YSA's President & CEO Steve Culbertson reflects on his 20 years of activating youth to change the world. We Waste An Insane Amount Of Food. Here's What You Can Do About It.   There is something fundamentally wrong when around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, yet more than 800 million people go to bed hungry each night. This is not an injustice that is limited to countries in the developing world. In America, up to 40 percent of food goes uneaten, while 15.3 million children live in food insecure households. The consequences of food waste do not stop there: It annually generates 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases worldwide, and uses more than a quarter of the world's available agricultural land. See what you can do to help and more atwww.huffingtonpost.com/news/waste/  Summer of Service Idea: National Summer Learning Day - July 14  Summer Learning Day is an annual national advocacy day led by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) to elevate the importance of keeping kids learning, safe and healthy every summer. Everyone - programs, families, schools, educators, policymakers, businesses - can make summer a season of learning by pledging to #KeepKidsLearning at www.summerlearning.org/?page=summer_learning_day    Find more Summer of Service ideas at www.YSA.org/summer GRANTS & AWARDS Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Curricula Grants Deadline: August 12 The Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental Foundation supports educators in the development, implementation, and field-testing of environmental curricula. The foundation hopes to empower student involvement in solving environmental and social problems. Schools, non-profits, governmental agencies and other organizations are eligible to apply for grants up to $1,500.   2017 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Grants Deadline: August 21 YSA is now accepting applications for the 2017 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Program! Through the generous support of State Farm, the program offers organizations in the United States funding of $500 or $1,000 as well as ongoing capacity-building training to lead high-impact, high-visibility events for Global Youth Service Day on April 21-23, 2017. As the official organizer of GYSD in their region, Lead Agencies are a vital part of creating a culture where young people have the opportunities and support to create positive change in their communities. Learn more and apply at: www.YSA.org/leadagency  Disney Summer of Service Grants Deadline: September 30 Young changemakers who have ideas or projects that could make their neighborhoods healthier, greener, and stronger can receive $500 to gather their friends and bring their creative visions to life. Youth, ages 5-18, in the U.S. are eligible to apply for Disney Summer of Service grants by submitting service project ideas. Hundreds of youth-led service projects will be selected and $500 grants will be awarded to each winner's sponsoring organization to assist with the implementation of the project. Select grantees will have a chance to be recognized by Disney|ABC Television Group or their local ABC affiliate.www.YSA.org/BeInspired   EVERYDAY YOUNG HERO Everyday Young Hero: Morgan Stasik Morgan Stasik is a college student who has a passion for helping others live healthier lives. As a future dietitian, she focuses on helping those in need gain a better knowledge of good health practices. Morgan actively helps low income individuals who have high blood pressure. She assists their needs by providing access to foods and diets that lower their blood pressure and provides relevant information to assist them in their food choices. She has put her plan into action by going out to local food pantries and providing supplementary food bags that meet the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) guidelines. The food bags provide nutritional information about how to get assistance at local healthcare clinics. Morgan is currently reaching out to healthcare facilities and plans to increase her efforts by involving her peers as volunteers. Along with help from other students in a community nutrition class, she has found three food pantries that are willing to support her project.    RESOURCES & TRAININGS The Vital Role of National Service in Building a Better Support System   Today, Voices for National Service released a new paper authored by Dr. Robert Balfanz, Director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, entitled "Creating a Continuum of Care for Children in High Poverty Communities: The Vital Role of National Service in Building a Better Support System." The paper examines why current student support approaches are not working; makes the case for moving toward a continuum of care approach fueled by national service; highlights emerging examples; explores the challenges of bringing this new approach to scale; and proposes a six-step path toward realizing a system in which low-income students receive the continuum of care they need to emerge from poverty and achieve adult success. 7 Ways to Cultivate Young People's Possible Selves   Having a clear, positive idea of their "best possible selves" can motivate young people to work harder and do better in school, particularly if they are shown connections between what they're doing in school and these future aspirations.  Teachers, youth workers, mentors, parents, and other caring adults can do a lot to help students connect today's learning and actions with future aspirations and goals. Here are seven ideas from Search Institute that can help you nurture a young person's sense of purpose and plans for becoming her or his best self. Growing Compassionate Leaders: Empowering Youth Through Service in Education   This week, more than 1500 educators from around the world started the Roots & Shoots online course, Growing Compassionate Leaders: Empowering Youth Through Service in Education. It's not too late to register and get started. This week, course participants are getting an introduction to Roots & Shoots and reviewing service-learning fundamentals. Next week, is Step 1: Engaging Young People and the first lesson with special guest instructor, Dr. Jane! This professional development course is free and open to everyone and teaches participants how to identify and implement a local service learning campaign using the Roots & Shoots program model. SERVICE SONGS OF THE WEEK "We Are The Ones" - Sweet Honey in the Rock    "We are the ones we've been waiting for." The complete Service Songs of the Week playlist from 2012-2016 is athttp://bit.ly/servicesongs

Thank you to YSA's sponsors who make our work possible:

Editor-in-Chief Vice President of Operations, YSA (Youth Service America) communications@ysa.org | (202) 296-2992 | www.YSA.org

Youth Service America, 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005