July 2, 2026 | Volume 33, No. 27 | Published Weekly Since 1994

YSA Launches New National Strategy to Double Youth Participation in American Civic Life

Youth Service America celebrates America 250 by launching a new national plan to double youth participation in American civic life - through volunteering and service; voting and civic engagement; youth voice and leadership; and joining and philanthropy - over the next 10 years on the way to universal youth participation.

As we celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, we know that only 1 in 4 young people are regularly involved in the civic life of their communities. That means 64 million young Americans are left out of participating in our democracy.

Youth Service America (YSA) is leading a national alliance of organizations working to build A New Era of Youth Service in America. Launching during America250, the New Era of Youth Service National Strategy leverages the opportunities of this once-in-a-lifetime civic moment to focus the Nation’s K-12 schools and higher education institutions, afterschool and youth development programs, community-based and faith-based organizations, and state and local governments on creating a civic culture that builds on the progress of the last 250 years and strengthens our democracy for the next 250 years.

This strategy is the result of a year-long national listening tour and collaborative strategic planning process that gathered input from over 3,000 people and organizations across the country. With a focus on addressing the four most common barriers to youth participation (lack of opportunities and expectation, lack of knowledge and skills, lack of equitable access and resources, and lack of trust in the efficacy of participation), the strategy focuses on 12 activation, funding, training, and recognition priorities:

Activation Campaigns

1. Build more systemic opportunities for youth voice, leadership, and decision-making.

2. Collaborate with national youth development organizations to expand their existing youth service programs and help more youth join local chapters.

3. Support youth who are already involved to engage their peers who are not.

Funding and Resourcing

4. Develop a Common Grant Application system to allow partners and youth leaders to apply for funding from multiple sources.

5. Secure funding for partners to support new full-time or part-time staff and program capacity grants.

6. Secure funding for partners and youth leaders to support project implementation costs, including transportation.

Training and Skill Building

7. Support an online/hybrid professional learning community with peer mentorship and networking.

8. Offer training or professional development specific to adults in schools, afterschool, and youth development programs.

9. Offer training for youth project and program leaders.

Recognition and Storytelling

10. Help youth to tell their own stories and adults to tell stories about youth.

11. Provide recognition, honor rolls, awards, scholarships, or graduation honors.

12. Provide academic credit and skill certifications for service or service-learning.

Learn More and Join Us at YSA.org/NewEra

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

YSA developed the New Era of Youth Service National Strategy alongside our partner, Points of Light, as they developed the National Volunteer Strategy. Each organization conducted a national listening tour over the last year, and the two strategies are intentionally designed to complement each other, with both having goals to double volunteering and service over the next decade. YSA is proud to endorse the NVS.

Volunteer Strategy - Points of Light

A new chapter for volunteering in America has arrived. Last week, Points of Light launched the National Volunteer Strategy as the next step in Reimagining Service 2035, a bold effort to reinvigorate and double volunteering in America over the next decade. It provides a shared roadmap for strengthening the infrastructure, partnerships, investment, and innovation needed to make volunteering more accessible, impactful, and woven into everyday life.

AP News: Points of Light Unveils New Strategy That It Hopes Will Ignite a Volunteerism Boom

Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light, told The Associated Press that the group’s National Volunteer Strategy initiative is the first phase in its $100 million plan to double the number of U.S. volunteers to 150 million by 2035.

GRANTS & AWARDS

NYLC | Youth as Solutions Program - Deadline: August 28

Selected teams of middle and high school students will participate in a year-long experience from September 2026 through May 2027, receiving leadership training, coaching, service-learning resources, and opportunities to connect with peers from across the country. Teams may also be eligible for project implementation funding and will have opportunities to share their stories through NYLC channels.

Everyday Young Heroes Awards

Everyday Young Heroes are young people, ages 5-25, who are improving their communities through service. Each week, YSA selects one young person who receives a letter & certificate of recognition and is highlighted in YSA's newsletter & social media. With the support of The Hershey Company, the 50 Everyday Young Heroes recognized throughout 2026 will each receive a $100 award to support their initiatives.

RESOURCES & TRAININGS

4 Ideas to Connect with Family, Friends, and Neighbors on July 4th

• Looking for a way to connect with friends or family? Try these prompts from Monticello's Feast of Reason card game at the dinner table.

• This year’s Civic Season Guidebook includes a S’mores Recipe from American Heritage Chocolate along with the 36 Questions for Civic Love List to spark stories and curiosities.

• Bring neighbors and friends together for a shared meal on July 5th for America’s Potluck. Everyone can bring their favorite dish!

• Being a good neighbor doesn't require a grand gesture. In collaboration with Welcoming America, we're giving you some neighborly acts to try this summer like sharing a meal or welcoming someone new into your community.

National Summer Learning Week - July 6-10

NSLA’s National Summer Learning Week is a nationwide celebration that elevates the importance of summer learning in keeping kids engaged, safe, and healthy during the summer months. It helps communities raise awareness about the importance of summer learning and celebrate the programs making a difference.

STORIES OF SERVICE

Everyday Young Hero: Samantha Rosinski

Incredible community organizations often lack the resources to tell their stories. Without awareness, people miss out on assistance and nonprofits struggle to find volunteers and donors. Samantha Rosinski (21 | Langhorne, Pennsylvania) has made it her mission to bridge that gap through storytelling. She offers her skills as a filmmaker to nonprofits that otherwise couldn't afford professional marketing. Rather than simply creating videos, she helps organizations communicate their impact in ways that connect with the people who need them most.

Samantha believes service extends beyond the camera. At the Bucks County Opportunity Council, she packed and delivered senior food boxes, volunteered at food pantries, harvested produce, and created a "Share Your Story" campaign featuring clients of the organization's free farmer’s market. She also produced an instructional video to make first-time visitors feel more comfortable accessing services. At Chapman University, she serves as treasurer of the student documentary organization, helping secure funding for educational events and guest speakers. Through The Panther, the university newspaper, she encourages students from every major—not just film—to participate in creative projects and engage with the arts on campus. Her nonprofit videos also encourage community members to volunteer, donate, and support local organizations.

Along the way, Samantha has earned professional certifications, worked on Emmy Award-winning productions, and received recognition for her filmmaking. While those accomplishments are meaningful, she is most proud when someone tells her that one of her films helped them learn about a program, volunteer, or seek assistance they didn't know existed. Samantha hopes to build a career in documentary filmmaking, partnering with nonprofits, humanitarian organizations, and underserved communities to amplify voices that are too often overlooked. Beyond her own work, she hopes to mentor young filmmakers—especially young women pursuing careers behind the camera—and encourage them to use their creativity to make a difference. She aims to spend her career making communities stronger, one story at a time.

Nominate an EYH

The Everyday Young Hero Award is sponsored by

Letters to America - Youth250

Through Letters of America, young people shared what they hope our country will become. Their reflections capture the complexity of this moment, acknowledging both the progress we’ve made and the work that still lies ahead. Read through the collection and add your own! America’s next chapter is being written, and every voice has a place in it.

Letter to Young People: Let's Organize (Part 1)

A letter from Rhizome Co-CEO to young people on America's 250th:

"This letter is written to young people living in the United States of America. This is for you.

The purpose of this letter is to name the moment we’re in, and help you orient yourself to organizing in this moment of social change.

The story of America’s 250th birthday is the story of all civic life; it’s about the gap between the world as it is and ideas of what it can be, between who we are and who we can become."