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News Briefs
Four Ventura County Youth Earn Congressional Award
Jarthy Monterrso, Kelly McCormick (a member of the Rural Trust's National Youth Council), Azucent Ortiz and Nadia Osborn received the bronze medal Congressional Award for their achievements in four program areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration. The Congressional Award is a public partnership created by Congress in 1979 to promote and recognize achievement, initiative, and service in America's youth. In order to earn the bronze medal award, the four students set goals with an adult advisor in the four program areas that included 100 hours of volunteer public service, 50 hours of personal development, 50 hours of physical fitness and an expedition/exploration activity that included a minimum of one overnight stay. To learn more about the award and to register, go to www.congressionalaward.org.
Youth Survey Cites Lack of Time and Laziness as Obstacles to Civic Involvement
A recent study sponsored by the Levi Strauss Foundation and conducted by the non-profit Do Something, gauged the attitudes of teens toward civic engagement and identified the issues and concerns most important to students in 7th to 12th grade. Discrimination headed the teens' list of issues with which they are likely to get involved; helping self-esteem and improving schools/education are the next most likely issues. Although the study found that nearly one-half of teens surveyed had been involved in helping their community during the last year, it also found that one-third of teens are not likely to get involved in issues because of laziness and lack of time. The study found that most teens value community involvement and feel that they can make a difference. Through further funding from the Levi Strauss Foundation, Do Something will provide $2,500 to selected youths interested in creating community projects. The survey is free with an e-mail request: mail@dosomething.org.
Service Learning a Good Strategy for Rural Community Renewal and Revitalization
Steven Henness, a fellow with the Corporation for National Service for 2000-01 completed a study in July 2001 that showed service learning in rural areas geared toward community development as an effective strategy for rural community renewal and revitalization. The study found that this type of service learning helped rural communities seeking to ensure their own prosperous future, while also helping to engage students in community survival and develop relationships with community organizations and leaders. Henness found that when students take part in service learning that is both a part of their school curriculum and the local community development agenda, both the community and the students benefit -- more so than if the service learning is not linked to community development.
Henness recommends that teachers "engage students in service learning that addresses issues of greatest importance to communities." He also suggests that school boards and officials should "support teacher and school administrator involvement in community revitalization outside the school." For more information about this project, contact Steven Henness at the University of Missouri at (573) 882-7264 or sahfc6@mizzou.edu. The report is available at www.etr.org/nsrc/pdfs/fellows/henness.pdf.
Earth Day Network Provides Schools and Communities with Tips
This Earth Day (April 22), don't be left out of the celebration. Go to www.earthday.net to access learning materials and tips for schools and communities who would like to organize their own Earth Day 2002 activities. The site includes links for curriculum ideas and planning for teachers, as well as "get involved" tips for communities. You can also publicize your organization's planned activities on their events calendar database.
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