Global Youth Service Days

[Page: S2545]  GPO's PDF 
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Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Begich, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Akaka, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Levin, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 156

Whereas Global Youth Service Days is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities each day through community service and service-learning programs;

Whereas the goals of Global Youth Service Days are--

(1) to mobilize and support young people to address the needs of their communities, their countries, and the world through community service and service-learning;

(2) to mobilize and support schools and organizations to provide meaningful opportunities for youth engagement;

(3) to educate the public, the media, and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders;

(4) to recognize and celebrate young people as community assets, resources, leaders, and problem-solvers; and

(5) to inspire and sustain a lifelong commitment to service and civic engagement;

Whereas Global Youth Service Days, a program of Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the world and the only service event dedicated to engaging young people ages 5 through 25;

Whereas, in 2011, Global Youth Service Days is being observed for the 23rd consecutive year in the United States and for the 12th year globally in more than 100 countries;

Whereas Global Youth Service Days provides an opportunity for young people to position themselves as assets, resources, active citizens, and community leaders through the application of their knowledge, idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspective to improving their communities by addressing a myriad of critical issues, such as childhood obesity, illiteracy, hunger, environmental degradation, public safety, and disaster preparedness;

Whereas, in 2011, thousands of participants in schools and community-based organizations plan to hold Global Youth Service Days activities as part of a Semester of Service, an extended service-learning campaign launched on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, in which young people spend the semester addressing a meaningful community need connected to intentional learning goals or academic standards over the course of at least 70 hours;

Whereas Global Youth Service Days engages millions of young people worldwide with the support of the Global Youth Service Network of the Youth Service America, including more than 200 national and international partners, 100 State and local lead agencies, and thousands of local schools, afterschool programs, youth development organizations, community organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, neighborhood associations, and families;

Whereas, in 2011, Youth Service America intends to distribute more than $1,000,000 in grants to more than 800 projects led by young people, including State Farm GYSD Lead Agency and Good Neighbor grants, UnitedHealth Heroes grants, Sodexo Youth and Lead Organizer grants, Disney Friends for Change grants, Learn and Serve America STEMester of Service grants, NEA Youth Leaders for Literacy grants, and MLK Semester of Service Lead Organizer Grants;

Whereas high quality community service and service-learning programs increase--

(1) the academic engagement and achievement of young people;

(2) the workforce readiness and 21st century skills of young people;

(3) the civic knowledge and engagement of young people;

(4) the intercultural understanding and global citizenship of young people; and

(5) the connectedness and commitment of young people to their communities; and

Whereas section 198(g) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653(g)) recognizes Global Youth Service Days as national days of service and calls on the Corporation for National and Community Service, other Federal agencies and departments, and the President of the United States to recognize and support youth-led activities on the designated days: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions of young people of the United States and encourages the continued engagement and support of young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and the United States;

(2) designates April 15 through 17, 2011, as ``Global Youth Service Days''; and

(3) calls on the people of the United States to observe Global Youth Service Days by--

(A) encouraging young people to participate in community service and service-learning projects and to join their peers in those projects;

(B) recognizing the volunteer efforts of the young people of the United States throughout the year; and

(C) supporting the volunteer efforts of young people and engaging them in meaningful community service, service-learning, and decision-making opportunities as an investment in the future of the United States.

(Senate - April 14, 2011)