[YL] YouthLearn Newsletter, Issue 129

Tue Mar 25 14:30:19 EST 2008

YouthLearn
Newsletter, Issue 129 - March 25, 2008

The YouthLearn Newsletter compiles the latest entries to the YouthLearn News Blog. This innovative service to the YouthLearn community highlights youth, education, and technology news, tools, and resources. We hope this assists you in your important work. Please feel free to share this resource with friends and colleagues, and visit the News Blog often! http://news.youthlearn.org <http://news.youthlearn.org>  

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News 

Youth Enterprise Conference Call for Proposals
"Conference organizers are currently accepting session proposals for... the Global Youth Enterprise Conference September 15-16, 2008 in Washington, DC." You have the opportunity to "present to 350 other experts from the international youth enterprise, employment and livelihood community. The Call for Proposals is now open. Proposal submission deadline is April 18, 2008. Practitioners, funders, members of the private sector, academics and youth leaders from over 25 countries and all sectors will share learning, innovations, and ideas for strengthening and expanding opportunities for young people around the world. The 2008 Global Youth Enterprise Conference will focus on two themes our community has identified as the highest priority: Market-Driven Approaches, and Effective Methodologies and Practices for Monitoring, Evaluating, and Conducting Impact Assessments." 
URL: http://www.youthenterpriseconference.org/themes.asp <http://www.youthenterpriseconference.org/themes.asp> 

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Funding 

Reader's Digest Foundation to Donate to Nonprofits
"The Reader's Digest Foundation has announced that it will donate a total of $1 million to nonprofit organizations through a new initiative called 'Make it Matter.' Grants will be inspired by individuals who are taking action and giving back to their communities in significant ways. Every month, the foundation will select one individual's story of good deeds done and grant $100,000 to a nonprofit organization in honor of that individual. Reader's Digest magazine will then feature that person in its new column, 'Make it Matter.' Submissions for 'Make it Matter' will be accepted by the foundation on a rolling basis throughout 2008."
URL: http://www.rd.com/jsp/rdcom/makeItMatterLanding.jsp <http://www.rd.com/jsp/rdcom/makeItMatterLanding.jsp> 
Referred by: Foundation Center

Share Our Strength Seeks Grant Applications for Great American Bake Sale
"The Great American Bake Sale grants program will support efforts to increase participation among low-income children in summer and afterschool meal programs... Nonprofit organizations that work to increase the number of children that receive nutritious afterschool and summer meals may be eligible to apply for funds raised through the Great American Bake Sale." There are two types of grants: Grants for Program Sponsors, and Grants for Advocacy. "Grants will only be provided to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools with a valid NCES code, or local government entities that work to ensure children have access to afterschool and summer meal programs."
URL: http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org/grants <http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org/grants> 
Referred by: Foundation Center

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Resources 

Developing Spaces by and for Teens
Just published: "A guide to creating teen space, which highlights the lessons learned through the ten-year Facilities Initiative of the Children's Investment Fund and Build the Out-Of-School Time Network... Unlike younger children, older youth have more autonomy and independence regarding how and where they spend their out-of-school time. Whether you are constructing new space or renovating existing space, it is important to consider the voice of the teen user when creating your project.... BOSTnet and the Children's Investment Fund bring to you the lessons that they have learned throughout over 10 years of the Facilities Initiative. This initiative provided financial and technical support to programs creating new space or renovating existing space to improve the quality of before and after school time in Boston." Excerpts can be downloaded for free. You can order the complete guide for $10.
URL: http://www.bostnet.org/matriarch/MultiPiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_8_A_PageName_E_Publications#92 <http://www.bostnet.org/matriarch/MultiPiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_8_A_PageName_E_Publications#92> 

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Research 

Afterschool: Supporting Family Involvement in Schools
"There is no debate about the fact that family involvement in schools boosts student achievement," begins the new Issue Brief from the MetLife Foundation and Afterschool Alliance. "Afterschool programs are a natural way to link families and schools: Afterschool programs provide parents and schools the perfect venue to overcome these barriers to participation. Research shows that parent involvement in afterschool programs provides the same benefits to children, families and programs as parent involvement in the regular school day. Afterschool programs present a gateway into the school for many parents who do not otherwise feel connected to their children's school... While family involvement in afterschool provides the same benefits to children, families, and programs as family involvement in the school, afterschool is in the unique position to offer families additional support and services that are not possible otherwise."
URL: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/issue_briefs/issue_parent_involvement_32.pdf <http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/issue_briefs/issue_parent_involvement_32.pdf> 

High-Risk Families Limit Participation in Out-of-School Activities
"As research mounts, it seems certain that participation in an out-of-school program is related to better outcomes for children. Nevertheless, research to date has examined family and neighborhood risks as if they operate separately. So, Child Trends conducted a study that combines the two by analyzing data for children ages 6 to 17 from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health.... neighborhood quality does not seem to matter to children from high-risk families: nearly half are not involved in any activity regardless of neighborhood risk level. These findings suggest that active recruitment of children in high-risk families may be necessary if these children are to become involved in out-of-school activities."
URL: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2008_02_05_Risks.pdf <http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2008_02_05_Risks.pdf> 
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

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Activities 

YouthLearn's Resources for Audio Projects
Audio production has become an increasingly popular youth media activity that now includes music production, online streaming and podcasting, as well as production for broadcast. There is a wealth of materials to support this work online and a host of youth audio works to explore. In this resource list from YouthLearn's Youth & Media section, you can find examples of youth media programs, guides and pointers for facilitators, and related research and news articles.
URL: http://www.youthlearn.org/youthmedia/resources/audio.asp <http://www.youthlearn.org/youthmedia/resources/audio.asp> 

We welcome your feedback!

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This newsletter is produced by the YouthLearn Initiative at EDC especially for
members of the YouthLearn discussion group. Every two weeks, the newsletter is
compiled from the entries in the YouthLearn News Blog <http://news.youthlearn.org/> , including summaries
from various sources that YouthLearn staff periodically review.

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