Let the Learn & Serve Challenge Begin

October 18, 2010 - We live in a world facing critical challenges that require our collective attention and action. Young people—like all people—yearn to be a part of the solution. Every day in schools and communities across the country—and in fact, the world—young people are daring to make a difference by using what they learn in classrooms to create solutions to tackle important community problems. And, while serving others, they learn for themselves.

Accept the Learn & Serve Challenge.

Be a voice for service-learning this school year. Join this grassroot network of thousands of youth, educators, community partners, civic leaders, and families nationwide who share your belief in the power of service-learning to impact school success and transform communities.

The Challenge is a seven-month campaign to increase awareness and public support for service-learning. It begins this week and will culminate in April 2011 with a few key milestones along the way:

• December 6-10: Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Learn and Serve America
• January 2011: Engage local media through Service-Learning Solution Media Days
• April 6-9, 2011: Showcase and share effective strategies and activities to build support for service-learning at the 2011 National Service-Learning Conference
• April 15-17, 2011: Celebrate the culmination of your efforts in conjunction with the 2011 Global Youth Service Day

The Learn & Serve Challenge will help you take simple, but strategic ways to increase awareness of and build support for service-learning in your school and local community. Together, we will increase the number of service-learning opportunities available to young people in school and community-based programs.

Add Your Voice.

Make sure your service-learning site is represented on the Challenge map. Become a Proud Partner of the National Learn & Serve Challenge. Add your school or organization’s name to list of those who believe in the power of service-learning to prepare young people for success in school and in life.

Be a Solution: Your Voice Matters.

Service-learning prepares young people for school success. Service-learning also gives young people the chance to use their education to tackle our society’s most persistent problems. Help us tell that story. Spread the word about service-learning to your friends and colleagues. Invite at least five friends to join you in this Challenge. Visit the Learn & Serve Challenge Resource Toolkit to get started today.