Youth Service America

We’re kicking off ServiceVote 2024 by announcing some exciting news! From now until the election on November 5, we are adding a special Corner—your go-to hub for tools, resources, and info to power up youth advocacy—to our Youth Service Briefing newsletter! Youth organizers and champions, this space is for YOU. We’re also announcing a special opportunity ($$$) tomorrow as part of the campaign. Sign up for the YSB at YSA.org/Briefing to be among the first to find out!

It’s time to Today. Voices for National Service, States for Service, Service Year Alliance, and The Corps Networks are co-hosting a virtual day of action to urge Congress to reject catastrophic cuts to in the FY25 budget. Join us! It takes just 2 minutes to use these tools to send an email, place a call, or post on social media urging your lawmakers to invest in – not cut – AmeriCorps. https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

Every $1 Congress invests in AmeriCorps yields more than $17 in benefits for local communities, but despite this extraordinary local impact, the House has proposed devastating cuts to funding that would ELIMINATE the AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps NCCC programs and more than 71,000 service opportunities. Join us on July 24th for Today, a virtual day of action. Tell Congress that AmeriCorps matters to you! Learn more at https://socialpresskit.com/stand4service

Did you see the course we developed in collaboration with ASU? Designing and Implementing a Meaningful Service-Learning Experience will equip professionals to guide students through planning impactful service projects. If you're an afterschool professional, there's an opportunity to participate for FREE! Learn more at YSA.org/Afterschool!

Calling all afterschool professionals! 📢

Take your program to new heights with our online service-learning course. Apply by July 21 for a chance to receive professional development, a $100 stipend, and a $200 implementation grant at YSA.org/Afterschool!

Meet leaders, The Lunchmakers!

Crosby, Kaely, and Aaron are passionate about ending hunger across the United States and are providing a platform where youth of any age and ability can make an impact.

Read more about their work at YSA.org/TheLunchmakers!

Curious about what our new online, on-demand, self-paced service-learning course offers? Dive into the course overview at https://bit.ly/3X5Oojf!

Learn how you can create meaningful service projects and foster authentic youth/adult partnerships. with us!

Ready to take your afterschool program to the next level? has an incredible NEW service-learning professional development opportunity just for you! Learn more and apply by July 21 at YSA.org/Afterschool!

Registration is now open for our “Designing & Implementing a Experience” course w/ Arizona State University. Join us in empowering educators and school leaders to through service-learning. Enroll at https://bit.ly/3X5Oojf

On September 11, youth around the country will rise up in service as so many did 23 years prior. To help them make an impact on 9/11 Day, Youth Service America is offering $1000 grants to organize youth-led service projects. Learn more and apply by 6/23 at YSA.org/911Day

Meet Nora!

Wanting to address under-representation in STEM, Nora founded Talaria, a free summer STEM research mentorship program for female and genderqueer students. Over 400 students from around the world have participated, and many have returned as volunteers!

Read more about Nora's work at YSA.org/NoraSun!

Meet Colin!

As a dual South African-U.S. citizen, Colin was shocked by the low literacy rates of South African youth. To provide books to those in marginalized communities, he founded Libraries for Literacy and has created four libraries filled with books written in local languages, including Zulu, Xitsonga, Sepedi, and English!

Read more about Colin's work at YSA.org/ColinBloom!

In honor of the spirit of service and unity that brought people together in the aftermath of September 11th, YSA is awarding grants for youth-led service projects on 9/11/24. U.S.-based organizations, schools, and youth are all eligible to apply!

Learn more and tell us how you're taking action at YSA.org/911Day

Meet Azara!

After learning that school sports were being canceled due to financial limitations, Azara joined -Giving. She's collected and donated over $5000 and 3 tons of sports equipment to give all students the opportunity to play regardless of their family's income!

Read more about Azara's work at YSA.org/AzaraMason!

Meet Olivia!

After adopting her dog Charlie, Olivia founded The Paw Plan to address overcrowding at animal shelters. Her team has already donated $6000 worth of supplies and helped 7200+ shelter pets!

Read more about Olivia's work at YSA.org/OliviaYang!

🚨 NEW GRANT ALERT 🚨

The 2024 We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day Grant Application is now open!

With the support of AmeriCorps, Youth Service America is offering 100 grants of $1000 to organizations, schools, and youth in the U.S. to plan youth-led service projects and honor those who lost their lives on 9/11/01. Applications will be accepted through June 23.

Learn more and apply at YSA.org/911Day

Thank you to the Mott Foundation for supporting . 43 GYSD Lead Agencies supported with grants sponsored by the Mott Foundation have organized 301 projects that will engage at least 32,711 youth in service!

The Mott Foundation building will be awash in color on April 26 to celebrate Global Youth Service Day, the largest youth service and civic action event in the world! Thank you to Youth Service America and other Mott grantees for their work in creating opportunities for youth to engage, lead and serve in our communities. Learn more at YSA.org/GYSD.

Global Youth Service Day 2024 is one day away! While is one weekend, it's a great starting point for continued action through service and volunteerism throughout the year and a lifetime! Looking for inspiration? We're excited to partner with Made By Us to introduce you to Jane Addams, one of the most well-known volunteers in American history, and five youth who are creating community change this weekend!

We're excited to announce our 2024 Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Youth Grantees!

This year, 134 youth changemakers representing 39 US states, territories, and Canadian Provinces have been awarded grants of up to $500 to lead projects to improve their communities during ! Learn more about the 2024 Grantees and their projects at YSA.org/Hershey

Thank you, The Hershey Company, for making this program possible!

LAST CHANCE! ⏰

Tomorrow (March 8) is the last day to apply to host a Youth Service AmeriCorps VISTA member for the 2024-25 academic year! VISTA members will work with organizations to identify barriers to youth service and leadership in the community, propose solutions that are achievable in the next 1-3 years, and support acting on these solutions.

Learn more and apply at YSA.org/AmeriCorps!

We're excited to announce our 2024 Sodexo USA Youth Grantees!

This year, 54 youth changemakers representing 28 states and D.C. have been awarded grants of up to $500 to lead projects aimed at ending childhood hunger in their communities this spring. Learn more about the 2024 Grantees and their projects at YSA.org/Sodexo!

Youth Changemakers! Are you looking for something to do over the long weekend? Consider applying for a Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes grant to support your community through service on Global Youth Service Day!

Learn more about the 2024 program at YSA.org/Hershey

Reese created Curb ID to improve the safety and security of her neighborhood. By painting high-contrast house numbers on the curb in front of each home, her work provides enhanced visibility for emergency services and first responders!

Read more about Reese's work at YSA.org/ReeseKirkland

Inspired by Full Court Peace, a nonprofit that works to unite and strengthen communities through basketball, George founded Homeland Hoops in 2022. Since then, he's renovated 4 basketball courts in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina!

Read more about George's work at YSA.org/GeorgeTodorovich

DEADLINE APPROACHING!
The priority deadline to host a Youth Service AmeriCorps VISTA member is THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2. If you are unable to submit an application by Friday, our team will continue reviewing applications on a rolling basis through March 8 or until space is filled, whichever comes first!

AmeriCorps VISTA members will: work with organizations to identify barriers to youth service and leadership, particularly for youth from low-income communities; propose solutions that are achievable in the next 1-3 years; and support acting on these solutions. VISTAs provide indirect, capacity-building service to their host organizations.

You can find more information about the program here: www.ysa.org/americorps

🚨 NEW GRANT ALERT 🚨

The 2024 Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grant Application is now open!

In partnership with The Hershey Company, Youth Service America is offering grants of $250 and $500 to youth in the U.S. and Canada who are passionate about creating change through service. Applications for projects to take place during will be accepted through March 10.

Learn more at YSA.org/Hershey!