Launch of Youth Engagement Zones to Foster Community Service and College Preparedness

The Corporation for National and Community Service has committed $5.4 million to launch six new Youth Engagement Zones, enabling middle and high school students to participate in service-learning projects that address community challenges. These zones will facilitate collaborations between schools, community organizations, and community colleges to prepare students for college while fostering civic responsibility. The initiative aims to mold youth into positive contributors to society, encourage community-wide collaboration, and build enduring capacity to address community challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• The Corporation for National and Community Service has allocated $5.4 million to establish six Youth Engagement Zones across the United States.
• The zones will focus on service-learning projects that tackle community challenges such as river restoration, energy conservation, environmental revitalization, and fighting obesity initiatives.
• Six inaugural grantees were selected from a pool of 99 applicants, each receiving a multi-year grant to implement their service-learning projects.
• The grantees include buildOn, Children, Inc., Earth Force, Inc., Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Kent Intermediate School District, and Seattle Public Schools.
• The zones aim to foster community-wide collaboration and build enduring capacity within these communities to address their challenges.
• The Student Engagement Zone program is administered by the Corporation's Learn and Serve America program, authorized under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

Statistics:

• $5.4 million allocated by the Corporation for National and Community Service to launch six Youth Engagement Zones.
• 99 applicants submitted proposals for the grant, with six selected as inaugural grantees.
• Each grantee will receive a multi-year grant to implement their service-learning projects.
• The zones will focus on service-learning projects that tackle community challenges such as river restoration, energy conservation, environmental revitalization, and fighting obesity initiatives.
• The grantees were selected to establish Youth Engagement Zones in troubled communities such as the South Bronx, N.Y.; Covington, Ky.; Denver, Colo.; Cloquet, Minn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Seattle, Wash.

Sources:

• America's Promise Alliance
• Corporation for National and Community Service