August 27, 2026 | Volume 33, No. 35 | Published Weekly Since 1994

Get Recognized for Your Community Service

Every hour you spend helping others makes a difference — and now it’s time to be recognized for it through InnerView's National Community Service Awards program, now sponsored by Youth Service America.

As part of A New Era of Youth Service in America - and with the support of AmeriCorps through a MLK Day of Service grant - we're celebrating high school and college-age students whose time and talent strengthen their community and advance the issues they care about while making progress toward the Global Goals.

All community service activities between June 1, 2026 and April 15, 2027 count - volunteering, tutoring, fundraising, running collection drives, organizing cleanups, donating blood - it all makes a difference and we want the world to see it!

School Service Leaders can request a free toolkit with posters, handouts, and digital graphics to help share award opportunities with students. Just complete this short registration form and we’ll send the toolkit right to you.

For More Information, Go To InnerView.org/Awards

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

State of Young People Report 2026

This year's report from America's Promise Alliance explored three topics: social impact careers, the postsecondary pathways young people weigh after high school, and thriving. Together they address one question: Do young people aspire to make society better, and if so, how do they imagine doing that through their careers and postsecondary educational experiences?

What Gen Z Wants: The Future of Volunteerism

Gen Z and Gen Alpha have emerged as the most socially conscious generations we’ve seen yet, but they’re also more discerning with their time. Do Something and American Red Cross set out to answer the question: How do you capture the attention of Generation Z and Generation Alpha to recruit them to volunteer or serve? When it comes to motivating Generation Z/A to participate in causes or volunteerism, three key factors stand out: Community Impact, Connections and Careers.

STEM Is Our Future – Afterschool Programs Are Leading the Way

A new study finds a huge leap in afterschool programs providing STEM education, but students in rural communities and low-income families lag behind. Also, read "Why STEM skills are civics skills: what that means for afterschool programs."

The Future of Youth Development Building Systems

This report provides an updated look at OST programming in the U.S. This report examines the effectiveness of OST programs, identifies access and quality improvements, and outlines a future research agenda for the youth development field.

GRANTS & AWARDS

Target Community Engagement Funds - Deadline: September 4

This grant program empowers Target stores and distribution center leaders to make meaningful, localized giving decisions that meet the needs of the communities where our team members and guests live, work, and thrive. Priorities include: Thriving Families, Vibrant Neighborhoods, Emerging Creative & Culture, and Economic Opportunity. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $15,000.

Up to Us Fiscal Advocacy Competition - Deadlines: September 2, September 15

Join the Up to Us Fiscal Advocacy Competition to raise awareness about national debt, develop leadership skills, and compete for cash prizes and valuable opportunities. Students receive up to $400 in campaign funding, an all-expenses-paid trip to our leadership workshop, and full support from the Net Impact staff. The top 10 teams receive prizes totaling over $20,000!

RESOURCES & TRAININGS

National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential

In partnership with the Forum for Youth Investment and Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR), NAA is developing the National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential — a first-of-its-kind credential grounded in essential, observable youth development practices. The Foundational Practices Credential creates a shared national approach to recognizing the practices that drive positive youth development and strengthens the use of trusted observation tools and professional learning systems.

Advancing Youth-Adult Partnership: A Toolkit for Shared Leadership Across Generations

Organizations nationwide are partnering with young people to help shape programs, policies and systems impacting their lives. Youth engagement, however, can take many forms. Absent a shared framework, organizations can use similar language while still operating from very different assumptions about roles, authority and leadership. This tool kit from the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides a practical framework for creating and advancing genuine youth-adult partnership for community change work.

Every Hour Counts Youth Engagement Guide for City and State Agencies

This is a practical tool for intermediaries, city agencies, and state networks working to center youth leadership and share decision-making power in out-of-school time systems.

Engaging Young People As Partners in Policy and Practice: Summary of Lessons from 25 Years of Global Youth Development

This report documents the evolution of USAID's approach to global youth development and youth engagement from 2000 to 2025.

STORIES OF SERVICE

Everyday Young Hero: Naomi Herman

Before Naomi Herman (17 | Chicago, Illinois) was born, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the disease has impacted her family tremendously ever since. Naomi is grateful for all the help they have received and is dedicated to paying it forward. She started Carrying Hope, a philanthropic service organization dedicated to bringing comfort and joy to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Chicagoland area. They realize that many times patients are alone in their cancer journey and that a small personal gift during this difficult time goes a long way.

Naomi and her team of volunteers provide thoughtfully curated tote bags filled with essential items for patients undergoing chemotherapy, supporting them throughout their treatment journey. To date, Carrying Hope has raised $10,000 and has delivered more than 400 essential supply bags to patients at five hospitals. In June 2026, Carrying Hope partnered with Northwestern Medicine’s 2026 Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk and 5k, making them the official participant tote bag provider for Chicago’s biggest cancer survivor walk. Carrying Hope provided filled totes to 150 VIP survivors and 3,500 reusable bags to all participants. Carrying Hope’s letter writing and bag stuffing events bring together teens from at least 10 middle and high schools in Chicago.

Nominate an EYH

The Everyday Young Hero Award is sponsored by

SERVICE SONGS OF THE WEEK: DOLLY

Week #43 / 64 of the Service Songs Bracket First Round

In honor of Dolly Parton and her legacy of service and philanthropy, this special bye week in the voting features all eight songs of Dolly's that have been Service Songs of the Week.

"Try" - Dolly Parton