2010 Summer of Service Grantees

Applicant: El Centro for the Study of Primary & Secondary Education, Tucson, AZ
Project Contact: Gloria Valenzuela
(520) 388-7394
gloria@luzsocial.com

Grant Award: $125,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 250

Program Summary:

El Centro for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education will involve 250 students in an environmentally-focused service-learning program to be added to its existing Summer Bridge program. Summer Bridge is an academic summer program aimed at improving student self-efficacy, study habits, and the literacy skills necessary to succeed in high school coursework. The academic component of this program will utilize the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens curriculum and include presentations by expert speakers around environmental issues. The students will engage in a variety of service-learning projects in their communities, including planting community gardens that minimize the use of water – a valuable and limited resource in desert communities, conducting watershed harvesting, and addressing soil contamination that has resulted from decades of copper smelting pollution. In tying the service projects closely to the needs of the region and pressing environmental issues, students will be improving their community and experience first-hand the power of making a difference.

Applicant: Conservation Corps North Bay, San Rafael, CA
Project Contact: Will Becker
(415) 454-4554 270
wbecker@conservationcorpsnorthbay.org

Grant Award: $70,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 140

Program Summary:

The Conservation Corps North Bay's Project ReGeneration will offer two 4-week sessions of summer day camps for 140 Marin County disadvantaged youth. The youth targeted for participation typically have little exposure to national parks, but through the program will complete over 200 environmental service projects in their community. Additionally, the youth participants will have an opportunity to develop a community service day in their own neighborhoods. This event will not only engage their communities in service, but will also enhance the youth participants' project development and leadership skills. The program will involve community partners, including Marin County Parks and Open Space, Muir Woods National Monument, and Las Gallinas Wetlands, to ensure a stable and successful summer program. The academic component of the program will utilize established environmental education curricula, including the Cool Earth program and the Cesar Chavez Service-Learning Principles, to build students' environmental knowledge and teamwork skills in conjunction with these many high-quality service-learning projects.

Applicant: Sacramento City Unified School District, Sacramento, CA
Project Contact: Zenae Scott
(916) 643-7992
Zenae-scott@sac-city.k12.ca.us

Grant Award: $250,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 500

Program Summary:

The Sacramento City Unified School District's 6-week Summer of Service program will give 500 incoming 9th grade students from disadvantaged circumstances the opportunity to participate in meaningful service-learning activities that address environmental and disaster preparedness needs in their community. Five comprehensive high schools, a small high school, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento, and the George Sims Community Center will serve as implementation sites, with additional support from the University of California Davis Center for Community School Partnerships, Target Excellence, the Youth Development Network, the Sacramento Metropolitan Utility District and others. The program will focus on supporting at-risk students during this critical transitional summer between middle and high school by orienting them to the new environment and increasing their feelings of school connectedness. To demonstrate the program's commitment to innovation and youth leadership, students will use social media tools to track their reflections and assist with program evaluations. Service activities will be coordinated and facilitated by a student-led Youth Action Team, enabling students to work with members of the community to promote positive change in their neighborhood.

Applicant: United Way of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara, CA
Project Contact: Jenny Lewallen
(805) 965-8591 x 138
jlewallen@unitedwaysb.org

Grant Award: $75,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 150

Program Summary:

Santa Barbara County Parks Summer of Service program will build on the 13 year-old Fun in the Sun summer camp run by United Way of Santa Barbara County. This summer program will engage 150 low-income children in service-learning activities to address the environmental needs of local parks. In building on the existing succesful summer camp, this Summer of Service program will be able to draw on a substantial pool of volunteers and community partners. The program will utilize the “Character Counts!” curriculum and incorporate state academic standards into the academic component of the program. Some of the service-learning projects will include wild land fire prevention, trail maintenance, and erosion control, all of which are immediate and pressing needs of the local community, and more broadly, of the region.

Applicant: Southwest Youth Corps, Durango, CO
Project Contact: Harry Bruell
(970) 259-8607 x 3
harry@sccorps.org

Grant Award: $205,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 410

Program Summary:

The Southwest Youth Corps will build on its existing community-based programs to implement a Summer of Service program in rural and urban areas across the Intermountain West. A coalition of organizations, comprised of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Weld County Youth Conservation Corps, and Western Colorado Conservation Corps, will involve 410 youth from disadvantaged circumstances in summer service-learning activities. These activities will address environmental needs of the region, including restoring land near rivers and lakes, noxious weed removal and habitat improvement. Working in crews of ten youth participants supported by two adult leaders, youth will be provided with the opportunity to develop leadership skills and become actively involved in improving their community by addressing and solving a tangible and pressing local need.

Applicant: Northwestern Connecticut AHEC, Middlebury, CT
Project Contact: Patricia Harrity
(203) 758-1110 x 10
pharrity@nwctahec.org

Grant Award: $50,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 100

Program Summary:

The Northwestern Connecticut Area Health Education Center's (AHEC) Summer of Service program will adapt and integrate two successful service-learning programs, the YMCA Earth Service Corps and the Youth Health Service Corps, into a high-quality summer experience for 100 middle school youth. Existing partnerships among the program collaborators —Northwestern AHEC, Willimantic Public Schools' 21st Century Community Learning Center, Eastern AHEC and the Greater Waterbury YMCA – and a strong commitment to implementing high-quality service-learning programs will ensure the success of the program. Working in teams, participants will develop and implement service projects to address local environmental issues, including diverting waste from landfills through composting and conducting energy audits for senior citizens. Additionally, participants will be encouraged to begin environmental clubs at their schools as a way to engage new students and continue their service during the school year. The training curriculum includes modules on leadership development, cultural competency, career exploration and environmental education. Through participation in the program, youth will demonstrate increased civic and academic engagement and a greater understanding of how to prepare for high school and college success.

Applicant: International Center for Innovations in Civic Participation, Washington, DC
Project Contact: Ms. Jean Manney
(202) 775-0290
info@icicp.org

Grant Award: $297,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 594

Program Summary:

Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) will implement Summer of Service programs in six communities around the country with the common goal of fostering civic awareness, academic development and demonstrable positive impacts on the local environment. Using an intensive curriculum of environmental education, leadership development and college preparation, the service-learning programs established in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington State and the District of Columbia will create replicable models for further programming. With training and technical assistance from ICP, sites will engage 594 middle school youth in environmental service projects to include coral reef restoration, energy conservation and invasive plant removal. All of the sites will also offer continued opportunities for students to engage in service during the school year, a means to ensure that service continues to have an impactful role in the students' lives.

Applicant: Youth Volunteer Corps of America, Shawnee Mission, KS
Project Contact: Wendy Elliott
913-432-9822
welliott@yvca.org

Grant Award: $193,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 386

Program Summary:

The Youth Volunteer Corps of America (YVCA) will implement an intense summer program in which trained adult volunteers serve as team leaders to almost 400 youth participants engaging in service-learning projects that focus on local environmental and disaster preparedness issues. YVCA will subgrant to Volunteer Center sites in rural, suburban, and urban communities of Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Youth participants and team leaders, together with the community partner agencies, will engage in activities such as watershed restoration, the development and delivery of disaster relief kits, recycling and composting, and conducting energy conservation audits. Through involvement in this program, participants will develop valuable teamwork and leadership skills and a greater appreciation for civic responsibility, while engaging in a rigorous service-learning experience.

Applicant: Operation REACH, Inc., New Orleans, LA
Project Contact: Hamilton Simons-Jones
(504) 529-1922 x 110
hsimonsjones@operationreach.org

Grant Award: $200,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 400

Program Summary:

Operation REACH's Gulf South Summer Youth Action Camp will engage 400 urban middle school youth in meaningful summer service-learning experiences in Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The initiative is an intensive, cutting-edge youth leadership program for disadvantaged students that focuses on youth empowerment, community diversity, and service-learning. Youth service activities will address environmental issues relevant to the region, particularly those related to natural disasters such as flooding and hurricanes. Some of the service projects will include building rain gardens to improve drainage and prevent flooding, organizing an outreach campaign to engage households in recycling programs, and creating and distributing disaster preparedness kits to local families. Youth participants will provide much-needed community support through their service and, in doing so, develop increased leadership skills, civic engagement and environmental and disaster preparedness knowledge and awareness.

Applicant: Sanford School Department, Sanford, ME
Project Contact: Catherine Lounsbury
(207) 608-8295
clounsbury@sanford.org

Grant Award: $62,500 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 125

Program Summary:

The Sanford School Department's Summer of Service program will engage 125 disadvantaged youth in a variety of service-learning projects, including rehabilitating old bikes, weatherizing homes, gardening and maintaining local trails. Students will have significant freedom in choosing which of these projects to work on, allowing them to discover their passions through service. Some of the local partners include the Sanford Parks and Recreation Department, town council and the Trails Committee. With the backing and support of the local infrastructure, the program has worked to ensure the development of successful, useful and much-needed service projects. A significant element of this program is its connection to the town's larger mission of “greening” the community. This program supports the town's conservation plan, “Brownfields to Greenfields,” and will work directly to address the needs of the community.

Applicant: Our Community's Children, Grand Rapids, MI
Project Contact: Lynn Heemstra
(616) 456-4353
lheemstr@grcity.us

Grant Award: $50,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 100

Program Summary:

The Giving Tree Program of Our Community's Children will engage 100 middle school students in summer service-learning activities in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Participants will complete a comprehensive tree inventory for the South East neighborhood, perform tree maintenance where necessary, and educate residents about tree health. The program involves many community partners, including the city government, the Grand Rapids public school system and local universities and nonprofits. This well-rounded summer service-learning program is especially noteworthy because the students will provide much needed service that the city would likely be unable to provide on its own. The service-learning will increase students' science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and expose them to green industries, college preparation courses, and opportunities for civic engagement.

Applicant: North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
Project Contact: Deborah Bailey
(919) 530-7078
dbailey@nccu.edu

Grant Award: $100,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 200

Program Summary:

North Carolina Central University's (NCCU) Summer of Service Durham! will engage 200 low-income students attending Shepard Middle School in an environmental service-learning and leadership program in Durham's Eagle Village community. Participating students will be exposed to the connection between service, civic engagement and leadership. They will develop and increase their leadership and academic skills, specifically around literacy and communication, by developing community gardens and recycling projects. Youth participants will also be exposed to higher education through interaction with NCCU students, faculty and staff; college student volunteers will mentor and supervise youth participants in structured service-learning activities. This summer of service initiative will strengthen community partnerships and build youth-community relationships to support economic development through environmental stewardship.

Applicant: Paterson YMCA, Paterson, NJ
Project Contact: Anne Thompson
(973) 593-0246
annelthompson@hotmail.com

Grant Award: $50,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 100

Program Summary:

The Paterson (NJ) YMCA will implement ScienceFaction, a summer enrichment service program that builds upon a pilot program operated by the Paterson YMCA designed to address environmental issues and disaster preparedness. ScienceFaction will add a service-learning component and target 100 middle school-aged youth for participation. Youth will engage in various service projects, including river clean-up, designing and creating bio-retention filters, and developing and launching a campaign to encourage businesses in the community to recycle. Strong partnerships with the Paterson Education Fund and Roche Pharmaceuticals will contribute to the success of this summer program. The service-learning component will utilize Paterson public school's science curricula to engage students on environmental issues that would likely not be covered during the school year. The ScienceFaction program effectively integrates this rigorous and exciting academic component with tangible and impactful service work.

Applicant: St. John's University, Queens, NY
Project Contact: Richard Sinatra
(718) 990-1557
littmanj@stjohns.edu

Grant Award: $90,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 180

Program Summary:

St. John's University will engage 180 students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the borough of Queens in New York City. With the support of older students serving as mentors, middle school students will participate in service-learning activities that address environmental issues and develop leadership skills. Six local middle schools will operate summer programs for students in which participants will each complete over 100 hours of service, but will also commit significant time to reflecting on their work and discussing the experience with peers and mentors. The academic component will utilize the K-12 Service-Learning Standards and make good use of existing curricula to ensure that students are involved and engaged in the learning process. An outstanding feature of this program is St. John's University's commitment to match the Summer of Service education award given to every student who ultimately matriculates to St. John's University in the future. This commitment to the program demonstrates the passion and enthusiasm with which this program will be coordinated and facilitated.

Applicant: Ohio University, Athens, OH
Project Contact: Donna Jensen-Besaw
(740) 593-9703
jensen-b@ohio.edu

Grant Award: $75,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 150

Program Summary:

Ohio University's "Fun and Service Together" (FAST) program will engage 150 middle school youth from five local school districts in 6 weeks of environmentally-focused service-learning programming. To ensure success, the FAST program will build upon the 14-year strong Kids on Campus university-community partnership. Youth participants from low-income, rural Appalachian communities will work to maintain outdoor parks and recreation facilities, archeological and historic sites, and wildlife habitats, while enhancing their teamwork, leadership and critical thinking skills and civic engagement. Participants will work with field experts and certified teachers throughout the summer and, as a result, be exposed to some of the career possibilities available to them after graduating from college. The FAST program will engage a variety of volunteers: parents and families, Foster Grandparents, AppalCORPS members, Ohio University students, Upward Bound participants, and local members of the community. The integrated support, including the involvement of local and state government agencies and the community as a whole, will ensure a successful and impactful summer service-learning program.

Applicant: Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh, PA
Project Contact: Megan Schreck
(412) 720-9737
mschreck@pittsburghcares.org

Grant Award: $50,000 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 100

Program Summary:

E-Serve: Educate, Engage and Environmental Impact is a summer service-learning program organized by Pittsburgh Cares to expose 100 urban middle school students to a variety of environmental issues and enlist them in efforts by local organizations to address community needs. The 8-week program features 20 organized service days during which students will contribute to the work being done by local environmental agencies. Each agency will determine the individual service projects, but every service day will include a leadership development activity and a reflective discussion with the adult chaperones and project staff. Environmental issues that students will address include water scarcity, deforestation, pollution, green living, and recycling. This program seeks to engage students in the service-learning experience by providing unique and varied service projects, many opportunities to learn about professional opportunties, and frequent activities for leadership development and growth.

Applicant: Youth Venture, Arlington, VA
Project Contact: Lior Ipp
(212) 278-8930
lipp@youthventure.org

Grant Award: $57,500 Summer of Service

Education Awards: 115

Program Summary:

The Youth Venture New Orleans (YVNO) Project will engage 115 youth participants in 4 weeks of service-learning programming in communities around New Orleans. The participants, all from disadvantaged communities in New Orleans, still struggle with the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina every day. This program will provide a service-learning curriculum to all its participants, with service projects that will include revitalizing Gulf Coast wetlands and other natural protections against storms, and rebuilding and “greening” local homes. The program will include strategic partnerships with Tulane University, the local school district and local nonprofit organizations dedicated to addressing environmental needs, to ensure that the service work is closely linked to rigorous academic content. As the Gulf Coast continues to rebuild and revitalize local neighborhoods, the YVNO Project will work to provide a valuable service-learning experience for its participants and much-needed service to the community.