Our First Online Fundraiser!

SLP is excited to announce the launch of our first online fundraising campaign.  All donations will be used to cover the expense of our Residency Program at multiple underserved public schools in Eastern Brooklyn, a neighborhood where more than 50% of children are living below the poverty line.  Although service learning benefits students from all backgrounds, the experience can help counter the invisibility and frustration felt by too many young people living in historically neglected NYC neighborhoods.  

Click here to view our campaign and to hear two of our amazing students describe the impact of their SLP experience:  http://igg.me/at/e7ki7wcnbzQ .  

More Service Learning for Youth = More Active Citizens

Another piece calls service learning the key strategy for creating more engaged citizens.  In an October 15th, 2015 Opinion piece, WNYC calls for more youth to "Step Up to the Political Plate." Calling out youth voters in the 2014 midterm elections for the lowest turnout (19%) in the last 40 years, WNYC challenges the U.S. to help young people understand that opting out will not fix what they consider a broken political system.   

Instead of luring young people with celebrities, the piece argues that we should make civic engagement fun and rewarding in and of itself. How can we accomplish this goal in the face of overwhelming disillusionment with the current system? More service learning in our schools. The piece describes an "action civics" project at a middle school in Queens.  Concerned about pedestrian safety, the students became politically active, had fun, and better understood their civic responsibility after seeing how politics directly affected their lives.

SLP Students Partner with NYC Non-profit Care for the Homeless

Last night, SLP students helped raise more than $25,000 for NYC-based non-profit Care for the Homeless (CFH)! 

CFH is an advocacy organization founded 30 years ago to provide healthcare to homeless individuals and families in NYC. During the research phase of their SLP project, 3rd and 4th graders at an elementary school in Brooklyn met with CFH staff to learn more about the growing crisis of homelessness, and how they could help.  Also attending the meeting were two members of the CFH Speakers Bureau, advocates who share their personal stories of homelessness.  This was a truly profound experience that challenged the students to question their assumptions about the causes of homelessness.  

During several weeks of intensive research, the class learned that a vast majority of the homeless population in NYC consists of families with children living in temporary shelters.  They decided to produce a Public Service Announcement to raise awareness in their community and persuade local legislators to make providing homes for children a top priority.  Last night, CFH screened the PSA for the guests at their annual gala to inspire them to participate in a text pledge drive. More than $25,000 in donations were pledged during the event.  CFH is also using the PSA in other fundraising and policy efforts. 

We are thrilled to partner with this amazing organization, and to see SLP students have a significant advocacy impact outside of their school community.  

To learn more about the critical work of the CFH, visit their website. 

Service Learning Creates Future Voters

November 25, 2014

Service Learning Creates Future Voters

According to the New York Times the turnout rate for the 2014 national election was one of the lowest ever with only 36.3% of the country participating.  

In this September 2014 opinion piece from the Gotham Gazette, Executive Editor Ben Man argues that service learning in schools is the best way to increase voter participation and create a flourishing democracy.  "We should provide opportunity for authentic experiences and community service learning and action civics.  We should allow young people to help make public policy."

Click here to read his piece.  www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/opinion/5310-solving-our-voter-turnout-crisis-max