Schools and organizations honor King legacy with service-learning projects.
On January 18, schools and organizations across the United States honored the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. by launching Semester of Service, a service-learning framework developed by Youth Service America (YSA) where students apply what they are learning in the classroom to a critical need in the community.
Hundreds of schools and organizations are participating in Semester of Service. YSA re-granted funds from State Farm Companies Foundation, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and UnitedHealth Group to support many of service-learning initiatives throughout the United States and Canada.
Each Semester of Service program connects intentional learning goals and academic standards and offers effective learning opportunities by linking prominent days of service. Many of the initiatives launching on Monday will culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, the largest service event in the world. Extended service-learning experiences, lasting approximately 70 hours, have been shown to increase academic achievement for the student and have a greater impact on the community served.
YSA provided Twitter updates on participating schools and organizations on MLK Day. To find out how children, youth, teachers, and organizations are partnering with their communities, visit www.twitter.com/youthservice.
Examples of Semester of Service initiatives include:
• Fort Middle School, in Columbus, GA, will focus their STEMester of Service (a service-learning grant focused on science, technology, engineering, and math) on researching renewable and non-renewable resources. Students will develop surveys assessing community needs and report their findings through podcasts and PTA presentations. Working with guest speakers and community partners, students will serve as advocates in their community on the importance of recycling and energy conservation.
• Angevine Middle School, in Lafayette, CO, will implement Project Yes, hosted by the Angevine Middle School Youth Council. Beginning on MLK Day, students will begin identifying needs in their community. A day of exploration, the students will continue with weekly meetings, community mapping, and project planning. A recipient of the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant, their project will culminate on Global Youth Service Day in April.
• Excel Youth Zone, in San Diego, CA, launches on MLK Day with a community needs assessment led by club members. By investigating diverse needs such as the environment, health, homelessness, and education, the students gain a deep understanding of the history, policies, and resources related to each issue. The project culminates on GYSD with Servapalooza, a youth-led event that mobilizes 5,000 youth and adults in volunteer activities around San Diego County.
• New Jersey After 3, in New Brunswick, NJ, will focus their efforts on spreading Dr. King’s message of non-violence through youth-led literacy programs. Providing after-school programming, students at various schools will begin planning opportunities for encouraging their communities to contribute to a peaceful society. Throughout the semesters, students will plan “Speak Out & Listen Up,” a literacy initiative projected to increase the communications skills of the participating youth while promoting literacy and reading to the greater community.
“Dr. Martin Luther King believed in the power of service to strengthen communities. MLK Day provides children and youth an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities and to offer innovative solutions to our most important problems,” said Steve Culbertson, YSA president and CEO. “By using MLK Day to launch a Semester of Service in schools and colleges and universities, Youth Service America encourages students to see the day as a doorway to weeks and months of ongoing service, exploring and acting on the issues that are most important to them.”
In addition to the service-learning grants, YSA supports Semester of Service by providing resources such as the Semester of Service Planning Calendar; Semester of Service Strategy Guide; and GoToServiceLearning.org, a free online resource that offers teachers field-tested service-learning lesson plans. Additionally, YSA offers a variety of networking and professional development opportunities for participating teachers.
Any school or community and faith-based organization can participate in Semester of Service. To learn more about this teaching and learning strategy, visit www.YSA.org/semester.
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Youth Service America (YSA) improves communities by increasing the number and the diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. Founded in 1986, YSA supports a global culture of engaged youth committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership, and achievement. The impact of YSA’s work through service and service-learning is measured in student achievement, workplace readiness, and healthy communities.
Semester of Service links prominent national service events - such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Global Youth Service Day - through an extended service-learning framework of at least 70 hours. Young people ages 5-25, spend the “semester” addressing a meaningful community need connected to intentional learning goals and/or academic standards. Throughout, the teacher or facilitator supports the emergence of “youth voice” as young people guide the process.
Global Youth Service Day, the largest service event in the world, is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning.
