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Support Learn and Serve America. Speak. Act. Now. Learn and Serve America is a national program that supports service-learning through grants to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and community-based organizations. Since 1990, Learn and Serve America has engaged more than 15 million young people in service-learning. In his budget request to Congress, the President proposed deepening the recent funding cuts to Learn and Serve America by more than $5 million – down to $32.1 million. If Congress adopts this cut, it would continue a severe downward trend from the program's traditional level of $43 million, initiated by the first major cut to $37.1 million in Fiscal Year 2006. Service-Learning United is requesting that Congress renew its commitment to service-learning with an FY2009 appropriation of $46 million. After your calls and messages last year, Congress voted to reject the Administrati on’s proposed cuts to Learn and Serve America and make a modest funding increase over the previous year. Unfortunately, Learn and Serve America’s funding is again in jeopardy. To learn more and to take action (including calling Congress, e-mailing Congress, showing service-learning in action, and creating a buzz,) visit www.servicelearningunited.org
Put Voter Registration on Your Website, Blog or Profile
Rock the Vote has an innovative, easy-to-use tool for online voter registration that anyone can use. Put our widget on your website, blog or social network page, and you can offer voter registration to your members, friends or readers.
Powered by Credo Mobile, the widget is simple to use and free to anyone. As of April 2008, we have more than 7,000 users, including Facebook, YouTube, Google, MoveOn.org, Care2.org, USAY Foundation, The One Campaign, Hip Hop Caucus, National Republican Congressional Committee, the Democratic National Committee, Hillary Clinton for President, Obama ’08, The Young Republican National Federation, Ron Paul for President, Youth Service America, League of Conservation Voters, National Council of La Raza, and more.
Put voter registration on your site and be a part of the largest registration drive in U.S. history!
Go to www.RockTheVote.com/partners to sign up.
Celebrate AmeriCorps Week on May 11-18, 2008
From May 11-18, 2008, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the national service field will celebrate AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. Together with the other federal initiatives Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps is meeting critical needs in communities and promoting civic participation for a healthy democracy.
For more information about AmeriCorps Week and how you can celebrate this important program, visit http://www.americorpsweek.gov/index.asp
To access several resources published by the Corporation for National and Community Service to promote AmeriCorps, including video, posters and presentations, visit http://www.americorpsweek.gov/tools.asp
Campus Progress Action Launches “I’m Voting For” Campaign to Highlight Issues Young Voters Care About Campus Progress Action, the youth organizing arm of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, today launched “I’m Voting For,”an online video testimonial campaign that gives young people a platform to talk about how their personal experiences and passion for the issues are driving them to the polls.
Through early on-the-ground efforts, the “I’m Voting For” website already hosts over 100 testimonials from young people across the country, covering a range of issues from health care to the economy, climate change to the war in Iraq. Starting today, young people will be abl e to upload testimonials themselves to the “I’m Voting For” website. Once uploaded, videos will be posted to YouTube and sent to presidential, congressional, and other candidates as well as major media sources, as a weekly update on what young people are really thinking about.
Throughout the 2008 campaign, “I’m Voting For” will create a narrative about why young people are voting in 2008, and focus the attention of candidates and the media on the issues that are important to young people. For an up-to-date account of what issues are driving young Americans to the polls, please visit www.imvotingfor.org
Mobilize.org Launches “Mobilize the Polls” Program Mobilize.org announced today the launch of its "Mobilize the Polls" Program, an initiative that aims to recruit 500 poll workers under the age of 30 for the 2008 Presidential Election. This election year, while youth are coming out to the polls in record numbers, Mobilize.org believes they also have the opportunity to contribute to their fellow citizens’ enjoyment of the democratic process by volunteering to be a poll worker.
Mobilize.org Chief Executive Officer Maya Enista discusses the need for youth poll workers: “In many cities across the country, there is a demonstrable need for poll workers. With the new technologies that are being explored to enhance the voter experience, members of the Millennial Generation can contribute their familiarity with technology to aid other members of their community to cast their ballot this November.”
If you or a Millennial you know are interested in serving as a poll worker in your district, please visit Mobilize.org’s website at http://www.mobilize.org or contact Mobilize.org’s Chief Executive Officer, Maya Enista, at 866.MOBILIZE.
Mobilize.org Announces the First Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summit Focused on Money in Politics National youth civic engagement organization Mobilize.org announced its first Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summit for 2008 today. The organization, dedicated to Millennial-generated ideas and projects to tackle critical national issues, has adopted a unique strategy to getting Millennial plans into action: give them the financial support to make ideas a reality.
The first summit will ta ke place in late July 2008, in Denver, Colorado. The topic, “Money in Politics,” will focus upon the impact of special interest-funded campaigns on citizen-centered democracy. Emphasizing the problem at the national level, Mobilize.org and Common Cause will challenge Millennials from across the nation to compete for grant monies to support projects working to promote clean elections practices.
The call for projects will address campaign finance reform, focusing particular on clean election practices like the public financing of elections, targeting the eighteen states that Common Cause is currently working on public financing within. For more information, visit www.mobilize.org
YouthBuild USA Unveils Updated Declaration of Interdependence and Think MTV group at “Our America” Town Hall Forum Nearly 500 low-income young leaders gathered for the first-of-its-kind “Our America” youth town hall on April 1 to ensure their voices are part of the national political debate on ending poverty in America and related key issues affecting low-income young people, including public education, family, crime and the economy. Senator John Kerry and Jesse Jackson energized the event participants. Young leaders presented their “Declaration of Inter-dependence,” a youth-written document detailing comprehensive policy recommendations on key issues. An Our America Think MTV Group was also launched as a place for young people to upload their ideas, issues, and videos
The Declaration of Inter-Depen dence was first written in 1999, updated in 2004, and again in 2008, by the YouthBuild National Young Leaders Council and the YouthBuild National Alumni Council. These councils include young leaders elected by our peers to participate in policy development for the YouthBuild Network. To view the Declaration of Interdependence, go to http://www.youthbuild.org/site/c.htIRI3PIKoG/b.1301943/
To join the Our America Think MTV group, go to http://think.mtv.com/Groups/OurAmerica/
News from Youth on the Campaign Trail: What happens when the most connected generation and politics unite? WKCD's team of Y-Press political reporters is active as ever. Here, Y-Pressers explore the extraordinary match up between this year's presidential candidates and Internet-savvy youth.
Take for example, Alex and Brett Harris, 19-year-old twins from Oregon who launched www.hucksarmy.com, a grassroots volunteering campaign in support of Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential nominee. “By the end of the campaign," says Alex, "we had over 20,000 grassroots volunteers in the 50 states with 49 state coordinators, regional coordinators and national campaign, a national campaign committee. We basically were able to build a whole national campaign infrastructure all online."
Y-Pressers also continue their profiles of young political activists who are making waves locally—from Shoshana Abacus, editor in chief of Political Fire, a political newspaper at Stuyvesant High School in New York to Megan Waggoner, a 17-year-old environmental activist in Palmer Alaska.
To read the latest features from Y-Press, go to http://www.wkcd.org/youth_on_the_trail/y-press_intro.html
Research Updates from CIRCLE Deep Education Divide in Primary Youth Vote, Worsened by Inequalities
in High School Civic Education - - - Although half of young Americans ages 18-29 have never enrolled in college, 79 percent of the young voters on Super Tuesday attended college, according to new CIRCLE research. This gap was also evident in youth turnout rates: one in four eligible young voters with college experience voted on Super Tuesday, compared with one in 14 eligible young voters with no college experience. Click here to download the research: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=275
Young Voter Registration and Turnout Trends: New Joint Report from CIRCLE and Rock the Vote - - - "Young Voter Registration and Turnout Trends," a new report from CIRCLE and Rock the Vote, takes an in-depth look at historical trends in youth voter turnout, the demographics of young voters, and the politics of the youth vote. The report offers research and data on young voters broken down by state, gender, ethnic group, religious affiliation and other key demographics for the 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 elections. Click here to read more: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=280
Young Voters in the 2008 Primaries - - - Youth turnout has been much higher in the 2008 primaries than in recent years. In some states, youth turnout has tripled or quadrupled. More than 5.5 million young Americans have voted in the primaries to date. Click here to read more: http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=265
YouthActionNet Global Fellows Program Accepting Applications If you're between the ages of 18 and 29, and have founded a social or BoP enterprise, this is a good opportunity for you.
Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation, YouthActionNet strengthens, supports, and celebrates the role of young people in leading positive change in their communities. Each year, 20 exceptional young social entrepreneurs are selected as YouthActionNet Global Fellows following a competitive application process. The yearlong Fellowship program includes skill-building, networking, and advocacy components. Global Fellows also have access to potential funding opportunities.
Eligibility
- Open to all young people, ages 18-29
- Applicants should be founders of existing projects/organizations with a clear vision for social change, or lead ing a project within an organization
- Proficiency in English is required; applications must be submitted in English
- Applicants must be available to attend the full retreat, November 1-8, 2008, in Washington, DC (all expenses paid.)
Completed application forms are due by the May 15th. Applicants may fill out the form online at www.youthactionnet.org
U.S. Public Service Academy April Updates
- Academy Hires Stellar Group of Summer Interns
- Academy Co-Founder Shawn Raymond Featured on Cover of Texas Super Lawyers magazine
- State & Local Politicians See Value of Academy
- Philadelphia…another potential site?
- Applications for Fall Internship Due April 15
- Academy Prepares for National Summit
- Search & Shop for the Academy
To read the update, go to http://uspublicserviceacademy.org/take-action/april-2008/
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Civic Engagement News 
