A Semester of

Service,
A Semester of
Learning
March 2009
National Service-Learning
Conference
Andraéa LaVant, Youth Service
America
Manager, Global Youth Service Day

Nikitna Barnes, America Reads

Mississippi
Special Projects Director
Does this look
familiar?
 ?
Why a
Semester?
Maximizing Learning
“Recent research has
shown that projects
must be of a sufficient
duration, typically at
least a semester of 70
hours long to have an
impact on students…
Fewer hours simply do
not give students
enough time to
grapple with difficult
issues or to have deep
enough experience to
make the learning
endure.”
Shelley Billig
 Meeting the
Standards
• Duration and Intensity
• Link to Curriculum
• Partnerships
K-
• Meaningful Service
• Youth Voice
• Diversity 12
• Reflection
• Progress Monitoring
 Spring
Semester of Service
Martin Luther King Day
“A Day on, Not a Day
Off”

Global Youth Service

Day
“The Largest Service
Event in the World”
 Building on the
Dream
“Martin Luther King
was interested in
big results, not
the short-term.
So, the idea of
King Day being
the signal for a
long-term
commitment by
millions of
students over a
semester would
have warmed his
heart.”
Building on the
Dream
• “The Beloved
Community”
• Marches for
peace and justice
followed by
service projects
• Lessons to
examine poverty,
crime,
unemployment,
etc.
• Visit
www.mlkday.gov
and
www.thekingcenter.or
Global Youth Service
Day:
April 24-26, 2009
THE WORLD’S LARGEST SERVICE
EVENT
• Millions of youth across the
globe participate
• 100+ countries
• 40+ International
Coordinating Committee
Members
• 125 National Partners,
including
 From MLK Day to
GYSD
• Black History
Month
• Earth Day
• Women’s
History Month
• World Health
Day
• World Malaria
Day
• Cesar Chavez
 Custom Tools &
Resources
• Semester of Service Strategy
Guide
• GYSD Curriculum Guide
• GYSD Planning Toolkit
• Issues-Based Service-Learning
Modules
Semester of Service
Strategy Guide
• Civic Engagement
& Outcomes
• Connecting to
Academic
Standards
• Rethinking the
Teacher’s role
• Curriculum
Outline
• 2009 Season of
Service Calendar
 Building the
Movement:
Power in Numbers?
 Building the
Movement:
Identify Your
Stakeholders
Youth
Leaders

Faith-Based
Government
Organizations

YOU
Non-Profit Businesses &
CBOs Corporations

Schools /
Media
Education
 Building the
Movement:
Youth at the Table
 Fostering Inclusion
The number one reason
for participation cited
by people who
volunteer is that
someone asked them to
serve.
 Engaging Youth Not
Traditionally Asked to
Serve
 Bringing it Home:
America Reads MS
Spotlight
America Reads-Mississippi (ARM) is a statewide
AmeriCorps
program that focuses on literacy. The program
places 350
AmeriCorps members in 85 schools to tutor
students in one-
on-one and small groups, full-time during the day
in READING.
Additionally, ARM members are committed to
serving their
communities through volunteer community
service.
Tutors With A Mission
America Reads-Mississippi
Semester of Service

Make A Difference Day

October 25, 2008
“A National Day To Help Others”
ARM spearheads local events in their communities to get everyone involved.

MLK Day of Service

January 19, 2009
“Make It A Day On...Not A Day Off”
ARM celebrates and honors Dr. King by uniting and taking
action to make this world a better place to live.

Read Across America Day

March 2, 2009
“Dr. Seuss’s Birthday”
Get Ready—ARM hosts celebrations at all 85 host schools.
America Reads-Mississippi
Semester of Service

National & Global Youth Service Day

April 24 – April 26, 2009
“Youth Changing The World”
ARM facilitates youth-lead activities to
address local needs and to recognize youth
for their contributions to their community.
 

AmeriCorps Week
May 9 - May 16, 2009
“Changing The World”
ARM AmeriCorps members get things done
through service to others.
 
 This Is How We Do It:
Monthly Member
Trainings
• Planning for National Service
Projects
• How To Recruit and Keep
Volunteers
• How To Form Partnership
• Establishing Junior Citizen
Corps Clubs
• How To Engage Youth in
Service
GYSD Kick-Off
Celebration on
MLK Day
Engaging Youth In
GYSD
Common Challenges to
Avoid
• Volunteer Turnout is Lower than
Expected
• Rain
• Incomplete Projects
• Team Arrive Late
• Team Work
About Youth Service
America
Youth Service America improves
communities by increasing the
number and the diversity of
children and youth, ages 5-25,
serving in substantive roles.
His Legacy Lives…

“Everybody
can be
great,
because
everybody
can serve!”
Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.
 ?
Questions?
Andraéa LaVant
Manager, Global Youth Service Day
alavant@ysa.org
202-296-2992 ext. 112