S.Res. 421 (112th): A resolution designating April 20 through 22, 2012, as “Global Youth Service Day”.

SRES 421 ATS

Designating April 20 through 22, 2012, as ‘Global Youth Service Day’.

April 17, 2012

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. BEGICH, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. COCHRAN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. COONS, and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

Designating April 20 through 22, 2012, as ‘Global Youth Service Day’.

Whereas Global Youth Service Day is an annual event that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and young people who improve their communities each day of the year through community service and service-learning projects;

Whereas Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth Service America, is the largest and longest-running service event in the world dedicated to engaging youth ages 5 through 25;

Whereas, in 2012, Global Youth Service Day is being observed for the 24th consecutive year in the United States and for the 13th year globally in more than 100 countries;

Whereas nearly 1/3 of the population of the United States (approximately 104,000,000 people) and nearly 1/2 of population of the world is under the age of 25;

Whereas Global Youth Service Day assists children and young people to position themselves as active citizens and community leaders as they apply their knowledge, skills, idealism, energy, creativity, and unique perspectives to serve their communities and help address a myriad of critical issues;

Whereas thousands of students and teachers in conjunction with local schools, colleges, and universities are planning Global Youth Service Day activities as part of a Semester of Service, an extended service-learning campaign launched on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, in which young people spend the semester addressing a meaningful community need connected to intentional learning goals or academic standards over the course of not less than 70 hours;

Whereas Global Youth Service Day participants are serving in conjunction with other community events, including Earth Day, J-Serve, Great American Bake Sale National Challenge Weekend, National Volunteer Week, Kiwanis One Day, Alpha Phi Omega’s Spring Youth Service Day, Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s True Gentleman Day of Service, National Day of Silence, National Environmental Education Week, National Park Week, National Student Leadership Week, and World Malaria Day;

Whereas Global Youth Service Day engages millions of young people worldwide with the support of the Global Youth Service Network of Youth Service America, including more than 200 National and Global Partners, 125 State and local Lead Agencies and Lead Organizers, and thousands of local schools, afterschool programs, youth development organizations, community organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, neighborhood associations, tribes, and families;

Whereas Youth Service America will provide support to more than 800 schools and community organizations, including State Farm GYSD Lead Agency and Good Neighbor grants, UnitedHealth Heroes grants, Sodexo Foundation Youth, Lead Organizer, and School Engagement grants, Disney Friends for Change grants, and Learn and Serve America STEMester of Service grants;

Whereas, in 2011, youth volunteers who engaged in Global Youth Service Day projects served an estimated 1,417,000 hours of service that benefitted at least 885,000 individuals and contributed $30,267,120 worth of time to their communities;

Whereas high-quality community service and service-learning programs increase--

(1) the academic engagement and achievement of young people;

(2) the workforce readiness and 21st century skills of young people;

(3) the civic knowledge and engagement of young people;

(4) the intercultural understanding and global citizenship of young people; and

(5) the connectedness and commitment of young people to their communities; and

Whereas the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) calls on the Corporation for National and Community Service, other Federal agencies and departments, and the President of the United States to recognize and support youth-led activities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) recognizes and commends the significant contributions of young people of the United States and the world and encourages the continued engagement and support of young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and their countries;

(2) designates April 20 through 22, 2012, as ‘Global Youth Service Day’; and

(3) calls on the people of the United States to observe Global Youth Service Day by--

(A) encouraging young people to participate in community service and service-learning projects and to join their peers in those projects;

(B) recognizing the volunteer efforts of the young people of the United States throughout the year; and

(C) supporting the volunteer efforts of young people and engaging them in meaningful community service, service-learning, and decision-making opportunities as an investment in the future of the United States.

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