Expert Advice

Community Engagement

• Campus Compact
  Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents— representing some 5 million students—dedicated to promoting community service, civic engagement, and service-learning in higher education. The site provides information and resources on civic engagement, service learning, and activism in higher education.
• Center for Action Civics
  The Center for Action Civics is the professional development branch of Mikva Challenge and provides teachers, schools, and non-profit organizations with the tools and strategies needed to engage young people in high quality Action Civics programming and experiential learning opportunities—either in a classroom, an after-school club, or as part of a community organization. Their website includes a growing database of free lesson plans and resources on a variety of civic education-related topics (including the 2012 election); descriptions of and information about how to order Mikva's complete Action Civics curricula; various examples of Action Civics projects undertaken by Mikva students and others; information about upcoming events and workshops; and details about how CFAC is working to promote and spread Action Civics work on a local and national scale.
• CIRCLE
  CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) conducts research on civic education in schools, colleges, and community settings and on young Americans’ voting and political participation, service, activism, media use, and other forms of civic engagement. It is based at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University.
• City Year
  City Year is an education focused, nonprofit organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep students in school and on track to graduation. City Year’s work in schools is strengthened by its deep history in community service. Since 1988, City Year has been a leader in the national service movement, leading to the establishment of AmeriCorps, the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, and the creation of Voices for National Service. City Year’s In School & On Track initiative is designed to bring City Year corps members to 50% of all of the students falling off track in City Year’s 24 U.S. locations, which will require expanding the number of corps members to 6,000 and engaging school districts, the private sector and the federal government through AmeriCorps as partners.
• Constitutional Rights Foundation
  Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to educating America’s young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society. It provides technical assistance and training to teachers, coordinates civic participation projects in schools and communities, organizes student conferences and competitions, and develops publications in the areas of law and government and civic participation. Several CRF programs support action and leadership by high school students in Los Angeles, its home base.
• Council on Michigan Foundations: Learning to Give
  How do we engage children in civic life? How do we harness youthful idealism and combat growing cynicism? How do we teach caring about others, particularly those less fortunate? What is missing from our courses in government, history, economics, sociology, psychology, and philosophy that results in young adults without understanding or passion for the noble ideas of their society? With these questions as starting points, Learning to Give has evolved into a comprehensive K-12 program for transmitting the philanthropic tradition to the next generation.
• Do Something
  Do Something is a nationwide network of young people taking action to change their own communities and the world around them. Do Something programs sponsor a membership network, the Kindness & Justice Challenge, a Community Connections Campaign, and the Brick Awards. Its website offers program descriptions and wide-ranging opportunities for expressing student voice—from contests, polls, and discussions groups to the posting of young people’s stories, essays, poetry, and artwork.
• Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing
  Established in 2000, the Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing (FCYO) is a collective of national, regional, and local foundations and youth organizing practitioners dedicated to advancing youth organizing as a strategy for youth development and social change. In addition to program descriptions and information, the website’s downloadable resources include a request-for-proposal, and a newsletter. The list of grantees provides links to grassroots youth organizing groups all over the country.
• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
  The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC) supports the service-learning community in higher education, kindergarten through grade twelve, community-based organizations, tribal programs, and all others interested in strengthening schools and communities using service-learning. NSLC offers the following: Website with information and resources to support service-learning programs, practitioners, and researchers Email discussion lists for K-12, community-based, tribes and territories, and higher education service-learning Library collection available to grantees and subgrantees of the Corporation for National and Community Service Staff who assist with materials, reference and referrals, information, and technical assistance
• volunTEENnation
  Launched in 2009 by two St. Louis teens, this website provides an up-to-date directory of volunteer opportunities for teens and tweens, along wite resources and suggestions for project funding. Youth volunteers provide the content and energy. "When my dad was deployed," the site's founder Simone Bernstein writes, "my siblings and I were touched by the generosity of the St. Louis community, neighbors and even strangers offered to help our family. I wanted to give back, too. I actively searched for organizations that would allow me to volunteer."
• Youth Commissions
  In California alone, there are nearly a hundred youth commissions and councils om the state's cities and counties, contributing their actions, ideas and services to improve their communities. Nationwide, there are thousands. This website, maintained by the Califronai Institute for Local Government, provides a range of resources, briefing papers, and reports to support this local yuyouth civic activity across the country.
• Youth on Board
  Since 1994, Youth on Board (YOB), a program in the Education Department of YouthBuild USA, has forged partnerships between youth and adults to create positive communities in which young people are valued, engaged, and heard. Youth on Board works with youth organizers to provide programming, play an active role in local, regional, and national policy debates related to youth voice in decision making, and provides training and consultation.In 2002, YOB began working to bring student voice and engagement to the forefront of the educational movement on a national level. On a local level, YOB has formed unique partnerships with both the Boston Public School (BPS) district and independent youth advocates throughout the city.
• Youth Service America
  Founded in 1986, YSA supports a global culture of engaged youth committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership, and achievement. It does this through: Public Mobilization Campaigns such as Global Youth Service Day, Semester of Service, Service Vote and engaging public officials; Funding and Recognition through grants and awards geared toward youth, educators, service-learning coordinators, and program partners. Resources and Training includes the GYSD Planning Tool Kit, the Service-Learning Curriculum Guide, the National Service Briefing, the Youth Service Institute, webinars, and individual support.YSA coordinates Global Youth Service Day and Semester of Service, distributes over $1 million in grants annually, and provides resources and trainings.
• Youth Venture
  A nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, Youth Venture is working to build a mass movement of young people with the vision and energy to make positive change to benefit their communities. Youth Venture also builds partnerships with other local, regional, and national youth-serving organizations to support young people in creating and launching their own enterprises. The website features articles and newsletters, descriptions of successful ventures, and links to other youth empowerment organizations, resources, and contacts for technical assistance.  A “members only” section offers chat rooms, listservs, and opportunities for Venturers to share ideas, questions, and common concerns.