ACTION GENERATION
Youth Service Summit and Day of Action in San Antonio
GenX, GenY, Millennials Move Over … Action Generation is here! Action Generation is the growing population of young people who believe they can make a difference in their community and want to get started now. In support of this movement on Thursday, September 11, there will be a Presidential Forum in New York featuring Senator Obama and Senator McCain as they discuss the importance of youth service in creating change in our Country.
As a follow-up, communities all across the US will hold a Day of Action on September 27. In San Antonio, this event is being called Action Generation and it will take place at the UTSA downtown campus. Action Generation joins students from all area colleges and universities as well as public and private high schools together to start making a difference here in our community. Here’s how:
1. Day of Action Service Projects
Several “done-in-a-day” service projects benefitting, the San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio Youth Centers, Avenida Guadalupe, San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Graffiti Wipe-Out, and more have been scheduled. To get involved with a project, students should sign up in advance. T-shirts and lunch will be provided for those who help with a project.
If you’re under 18, you will need to have a signed Parent Permission form. Register Now!
2. Count Me In! Service Opportunity Fair
Over 50 non-profit organizations will be on campus to visit with students about volunteer opportunities whether it’s helping with special events or on an ongoing basis – mentoring children, helping the elderly, protecting the environment, working with animals, assisting in an office, feeding the hungry or homeless, supporting literacy, the arts, sports -- there’s something for everyone. Register to Paricipate! Find out what organizations will be participating. Visit the blog!
Action Generation
Saturday, September 27
The Day of Action will run from 7:30am – 5:00pm
UTSA (Downtown Campus)
501 W. Durango, SA TX 78207
7:30-8:30 am Rally and Service Project Check-In
9:00-Noon Depart for Service Projects in Downtown San Antonio
12:30-3:30 pm Return to Campus for Lunch and Count Me In! Volunteer Fair
Noon-5:00 pm Guest Speakers and Live Music by Dead Men Poets and Kessler
September 2007
TIME Magazine runs a cover article entitled, The Case for National Service, A Time To Serve, by Richard Stengel in which he writes …
“It may seem like a strange moment to make the case for national service for young Americans when so many are already doing so much. Young men and women have made their patriotism all too real by volunteering to fight two wars on foreign soil. But we have battlefield in America , too – particularly in education and health care – and the commitment of soldiers abroad has left others yearning to make a parallel commitment here at home.” Read the Article
This article spurred greater discussion and helped to launch Service Nation.
September 11, 2008
Presidential Forum -- National Service Summit in New York City featuring Senator Obama and Senator McCain.
During the summit thousands of people – student, government, nonprofit and corporate leaders, as well as the media and celebrities – will rally to call attention to our country’s most pressing needs the opportunities for young people to address them. Two weeks later, over 1,000 community events will take place around the US, local City Year affiliates and their partners, will hold local Youth Service Summits to kick off a day of service and take steps toward fostering youth service in their cities.
September 26, 2008
UTSA along with Texas Campus Compact (TCC) will host a panel discussion called "Engaging Conversations" to continue a series started by TCC on service learning in higher education.
The goal of the panel will be to make service learning a priority on college campuses around the state. Patricia Paredes, Executive Director of TCC, will facilitate three panel discussions on service learning: 1)Defining and Evaluating Service Learning; 2) Experience with Service; and 3) Creating the Civically Engaged Campus.
September 27, 2008
Action Generation … San Antonio’s Day of Action will be led by City Year San Antonio and hosted by UTSA’s American Humanics program at the UTSA Downtown Campus and will draw 500 – 700 high-school and college students for a day of service and celebration.
The Summit will kick off a year of service, not only for City Year’s new service corps, but also for AmeriCorps and Vista Volunteers, UTSA's American Humanics students, and high school and college students dedicated to making a difference in communities around San Antonio.
For more information contact:
Francesca Rattray
American Humanics and Nonprofit Management Program
University of Texas at San Antonio
501 W. Durango
San Antonio, TX 78207
t: 210-458-2691
f: 210-458-2633
Paul Garro
Executive Director, City Year San Antonio
109-B North San Saba
San Antonio, TX 78207-0267
t: 210-247-4427
f: 210-247-4499
Kelley Farwell
Marketing Communications Manager
Firstmark Credit Union
t: 210.308.7858
c: 210.771.7161
kelleyf@firstmarkcu.org