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| From the Editors: |
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Welcome to the "back to school" edition of Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse e-newsletter. Gear up for a new year of service-learning activities with our new fact sheets, library items, and great new materials created by Learn and Serve America grantees. With The National Learn & Serve Challenge September 17-23, 2007, you'll also want to keep your eyes on our website for big changes.
We will post new resources on the website to help you participate in the Challenge. You can also order Bring Learning to Life video and print materials to showcase Learn and Serve America at your service-learning events. Be sure to take photos of your Challenge service-learning activities and submit them to us for the website. Don't miss the boat. Submit your photos
and your Success Stories today!
Very soon, you will see major changes to the look of the NSLC website itself. Based on your feedback, we will launch a brand new design we hope will help make the site easier and more fun to navigate. And, we will use lots of your gorgeous photos and Success Stories to brighten up the site and call attention to your programs! Thanks to those who have already submitted photos and stories, and we look forward to hearing from more of you.
One of the features of the new NSLC website will be resources in support of Learn and Serve America's new Youth Speakers Bureau being launched in time for the Learn & Serve Challenge. Over the last year, a group of youth has volunteered to be spokespersons for service-learning and its many positive benefits. You'll want to check out the roster and consider inviting a youth presenter to bring enthusiasm and inspiration to your next service-learning training event, conference, or strategic planning meeting. More information on the Youth Speakers Bureau will be released in the coming weeks so stay tuned and in the meantime, check out our Hot Topic on Youth Speakers Bureaus and Youth Advisory Committees to find ways to incorporate these youth leadership opportunities into your own program.
Are you curious about recent research on service-learning and civic engagement? Lots of terrific research work is done by graduate students but these research reports can be hard to find since they aren't often widely published. We continually monitor dissertations and theses written on service-learning and related topics and organize them into bibliographies with abstracts to help you find topics of interest to you. You can find earlier editions of dissertation abstracts today here. In October, we will launch the most recent volume, 2004-2006, at the 7th International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Community Engagement! You'll also find it on our website starting on October 10! Check it out to look for new evidence regarding service-learning impacts and practices.
Remember we are always happy to hear from you, so send your feedback, ideas, or questions to us. Have a terrific new school year and a great Learn & Serve Challenge Week!
Barbara and Liberty
Barbara Holland, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Director
Liberty Smith, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Program Manager |
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| News: |
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 2nd Annual "President's Honor Roll" is Open!
 Online applications for the 2007 Honor Roll, focusing on community service by colleges, are now available on the website. The due date for applications is October 5, 2007 and covers July 2006 through June 2007. Honor Roll members will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the American Council on Education in February 2008, receive national and local media attention, and be listed on the Honor Roll website.
Here is more information on the President's Honor Roll. |
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The National Learn & Serve Challenge
September 17-23, 2007
The National Learn & Serve Challenge, organized by the National Service-Learning Partnership, is a weeklong series of local, state, and national events designed to raise awareness and public support for service-learning. See the new website!
- Tell about your event
- Find Activity Tips & Tools
- View information on other events taking place during the challenge
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 Grant Funds Available to Engage Youth in 2008 Summer of Service
Following its inaugural Summer of Service in 2007, the Corporation for National and Community Service today announced that it will make nearly one million dollars available for youth service organizations to engage even more middle-school aged, disadvantaged youth in the Summer of Service for 2008.
To learn more about this grant opportunity and to apply for funding. The deadline for submitting applications is 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on October 10, 2007. For further information, please email summerofservice@cns.gov or call 202-606-7507. |
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| New From NSLC: |
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Models of Service-Learning Partnerships
This bibliography highlights a few Learn and Serve America Programs as well as provides resources for organization, school, and university practitioners who are interested in fostering service-learning partnerships.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/bibs/cb_bibs/models_sl_partnerships/index.php |
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Hot Topic: Youth Speakers Bureaus and Youth Advisory Councils
This Hot Topic highlights recommended resource items, both online and in the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse library, on Youth Speakers Bureaus (YSBs) and Youth Advisory Councils (YACs). YSBs promote youth voice and provide youth with an opportunity to speak publicly about the positive effects service-learning can have on youth, institutions, and communities. YACs are a group of young people, most often ranging in age from 12-25, working in conjunction with an existing organization to assure that youth are involved in achieving the overall mission of the organization.
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/hot_topics/ysb/index.php |
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| People are Talking About... |
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With both the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis and the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina last month, on many of our minds is the powerful and meaningful role service-learning can have in times of tragedy. To join a discussion of how national or local events have informed and inspired your service-learning practice, visit: http://lists.etr.org/read/messages?id=81229.
If you're not yet a part of a service-learning discussion list, please join us in discussing this and other topics in service-learning practice and scholarship by visiting http://www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/lists_news/index.php#ls. |
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| Access Materials from the NSLC Library: |
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Learn and Serve America Grantees can borrow from our library of more than 6,000 items on service-learning. Borrowers can check out up to three items at a time, for a one-month lending period. We ship the items to you via UPS 3-day delivery. To get started borrowing from the NSLC library, you'll need to have a Loan Agreement form on file with us (a brief form with your contact information). To get started, visit our borrowing information page here: http://www.servicelearning.org/library/phys_coll/index.php.
If you're not a grantee but would still like to access materials on service-learning, be sure to visit our growing e-Library collection at http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/fulltext.php. |
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| Featured Library Resources: |
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CBO:
 Citizens at the Center: A New Approach to Civic Engagement
Based on interviews with researchers and experts in service/civic engagement, politics, and marketing, this booklet offers specific recommendations for giving citizens the tools they need to identify problems and develop solutions.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=6977
HE:
 Community-Based Learning and the Work of Literature
This book examines how community engagement reimagines academic work in the humanities, proposing new methodological and theoretical approaches to scholarship and pedagogy in literary studies.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=6935
K-12:
 Service-Learning in Afterschool Programs: Resources for Afterschool Educators
Practical resources created, utilized, and compiled by afterschool educators for their peers. Featuring: real examples from elementary, middle and high school afterschool programs; seven elements of high-quality service-learning in afterschool programs; five easy steps to service-learning in afterschool programs; tried and true tool and resources selected by afterschool educators.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=6907
Tribal:
 The Tribal Enterprise Developer's Guides
This CD-ROM contains information pertinent to Native communities about marketing plans, feasibility studies, preparation of business plans, and financing for businesses. While geared towards for-profit ventures, this is also a useful resource for community-based organizations.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=6856 |
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| Order Publications from NSLC: |
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Did you know that as well as providing the most comprehensive library of service-learning materials, NSLC offers copies of many of our most popular resources for free or low cost to both grantees and non-grantees? As well as service-learning best-sellers like At A Glance and A Practitioner's Guide to Reflection in Service-Learning, you can order your own copy of the Bring Learning to Life DVD and brochure, or order NSLC promotional items for your next event. The order process is easy. Just fill out the form online and let us do the rest! http://www.servicelearning.org/pubs/index.php. |
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| What's Happening: |
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CNCS/LEARNS Institute for Youth- and Education-Focused Volunteer Programs
September 18 - 19, 2007
Holiday Inn Portland - Downtown/Convention Center, Portland, OR
Sponsor: Corporation for National & Community Service, Northwest Regional Educational Library, Bank Street College of Education
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=617
Learn and Serve America Grantees' Training Conference
September 26 - 28, 2007
Arlington, VA
Sponsor: Learn and Serve America / Corporation for National & Community Service
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=616
Midwest Consortium Fourth Annual Conference on Service-Learning: Service-Learning: Pioneering a Powerful Pedagogy
September 27 - 29, 2007
University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE
Sponsor: Corporation for National & Community Service / University of Nebraska at Kearney
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=595
7th International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Community
October 6 - 9, 2007
Tampa, FL
Sponsor: Florida Campus Compact
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=536
Seventh National Conference on Service in Indian Country
October 30 - November 2, 2007
Sparks, NV
Sponsor: The Corporation for National & Community Service and ACKCO, Inc.
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=636
2007 11th Annual Conference Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
November 8 - 10, 2007
Rochester, NY
Sponsor: Search Institute
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=583
Surfing the Wave of Change
December 12 - 14, 2007
San Diego, CA
Sponsor: Youth Service America
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=644 |
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| Learn and Serve America Grantee Materials Roundup: |
Did you start from scratch when your program began? Did you ever wish that you could benefit from what others had learned in their own beginnings? The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse is here to help make that connection between programs that are getting started, and those that have valuable lessons to share. By contributing the program materials you have created, you give new programs a head start. If you have produced surveys, forms, curricula, project plans, or any type of materials that could be shared with others involved in service-learning, send them our way! Check out this list of recent grantee submissions to find evaluation tools, program ideas, publicity ideas, strategies for measuring learning, etc.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/grantee_submitted_mats.php.
Whether or not you're a Learn and Serve America Grantee, let others know about the successful approaches used in your service-learning program. Submit today at http://www.servicelearning.org/library/mat_contrib/index.php.
Remember that Learn and Serve America grantees must submit publications and other resources developed through their funded activities. |
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Civic Engagement in Higher Education: Reflection, Power, Evaluation, Risk Management
Upper Midwest Campus Compact
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7178
Earth Force Evaluation: Summary of 2005-2006 Evaluation Results
Earth Force
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7172
Field Guide for Student Reflection
Institute for Global Education & Service Learning
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7190
Toward Asset-Building Approaches
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7230
Toward Citywide Movements
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7231
Toward Effective Service-Learning
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7228
Toward Interfaith Engagement
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7229
Wave Action Team: Implementation Guide
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7170 |
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| Shape NSLC! |
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We invite you to help shape Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (http://www.servicelearning.org/). If you know about a conference or an event, a book/resource, a job opportunity, a website, or another service-learning resource that is not on the website, please tell us about it.
Submit Your Success Story
Send us stories and photos of your service-learning successes and we will publicize them on the Clearinghouse website and in our print material.
http://www.servicelearning.org/nslc/success_story_form/
Share Your Photos
Send us your high quality photos of your service-learning programs or projects to highlight on our sector pages, as well as on the rest of the site. Each photo used will include the name of the school, a link to the school/project, and a caption.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/mat_contrib/share_photo_form.php
Suggest a Conference or Event
Add your service-learning related conference or event to NSLC's calendar. It is a great way to advertise your event.
http://www.servicelearning.org/nslc/suggestion/
Make a Suggestion
At the bottom of most pages of the website, you will find a link titled "Make a Suggestion." This link allows you to fill out a form to suggest an event to add to the Conferences and Events database, suggest a library purchase, or suggest a link to add to the Links Collection (e.g., links to lesson plans and syllabi, service-learning journals and periodicals, funding resources, and service-learning tool kits).
http://www.servicelearning.org/nslc/suggestion/
Submit Job Opportunities
Our job opportunities page lists job opportunities in the field of service-learning across the United States . It also provides an email address so that you can submit your job opportunity to be included in the list.
http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/job_opps/
Contribute Materials to the Library
Click on the link below to download a materials contribution form to submit resource materials you have developed for evaluation by NSLC staff and possible inclusion in the NSLC resource collection.
http://www.servicelearning.org/library/mat_contrib/
We appreciate the contributions you will make to the enhancement of the National Service Learning Clearinghouse, "America's Resource for Service-Learning Information." |
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| Success Stories: |
| Success stories are a way for NSLC to highlight and show off what you have done and are doing in the realm of service-learning.
Submit your story. |
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Studying History by Studying People: What You Can't Learn in Textbooks (A Learn and Serve America Subgrantee)
 Washington - Student quotes:
"It is important that people tell their stories. Older people have stories and we can learn a lot from them that we can’t learn in textbooks…it opens your eyes to things you’re never going to experience." -- Tina Chandler Sophomore Windward High School.
"I used to think that history was a big picture thing. But now I realize that it impacts people differently and when you study history, you are studying people." -- Ryan Greene Sophomore Windward High School.
This May, Windward high school will host a community celebration to release Echoes of History: Lummi and Early Whatcom County History, a bound collection of oral histories from over 25 community members and Lummi elders researched and written by approximately 80 freshmen and sophomore students. The project, spear-headed by English teacher Paul Lewis and U.S. history teachers Adam Goldstein and Katie Ruthford, was modeled after a previous oral history project the teachers had taught. That project had focused on the stories of Ferndale residents during the early part of the twentieth century; it served as a foundation for the teachers’ instructional planning.
"Oral history projects are a great way to have our students experience the history that we are teaching," says Adam.
"The students are also conducting a service by recording stories that will be preserved and that could have otherwise been lost," adds Paul.
Prior to conducting the interviews, the students spent six weeks learning about the relevant history, reading locally produced texts and researching other Lummi oral histories. Working in small groups, the students developed interview questions, worked on interview techniques, and developed an awareness and sensitivity about cultural differences. While the students unanimously described the interview process as "nerve-racking," many also described facts and ideas that they learned from their interviewees, as well as new insights into a culture and group of people who they didn’t know much about.
"It’s so different talking to real people," says sophomore Ryan Greene. "You’re talking to an actual person and hearing how history has impacted them."
Following the interviews, the student teams reviewed their notes and listened to their audio-recordings in order to write up drafts of the oral histories, which were then sent to the interviewees for editing and fact checking. Juanita Jefferson, who works at the Lummi Archives and is a member of the Lummi Nation, was interviewed by a group of Windward students. She agreed to participate because she felt like it was an opportunity for two communities to "get to know one another and develop trust." Referencing a long history of racial tension between the Ferndale community and the Lummi Nation, Juanita says, "Through this project, Windward has taken a proactive approach to get to know the people in the community and not just accept stereotypes."
For more information about this project and the collection of oral histories, please contact Mary Beth Lambert at the Coalition of Essential Schools Northwest Service Learning Network, 7900 E. Greenlake Dr., N., Suite 212, Seattle, WA 98103, marybeth@cesnw.org - http://www.cesnorthwest.org. |
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View other success stories. |
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Spread the Good News! |
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NSLC is all about sharing, so please feel free to forward to friends and colleagues and invite them to subscribe by sending a blank email to join-nslc-newsletter@lists.etr.org. You're also welcome to incorporate excerpts from the newsletter into your own newsletter (just be sure to cite Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse NSLC Newsletter and send us a copy). |
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