2 Weeks Left for K-12 Educators to Sign Up for the Stop Hunger Classroom Challenge

On January 20th, congressional leaders unveiled their final bipartisan “minibus” ahead of the January 30th government shutdown deadline. The package includes the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies bill (which funds AmeriCorps).

The agreement rejects calls to eliminate AmeriCorps or impose deep cuts, and instead provides near-level funding for the agency ($1.25 billion). All service programs and the National Service Trust are funded at FY25 levels.

A free program for schools, libraries, and homes. Get access to 7 days of downloadable resources, celebrity activity videos, and giveaways! Crayola Creativity Week explores every subject - literacy, STEAM, social-emotional learning, and more. Creativity Week’s activities, resources, and themes are integrated into engaging, standards-aligned, hands-on creative experiences that empower kids to find their voice and express their originality.

A new era of youth service in America begins with the celebration of America's Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. The next era of our democracy depends on all of us participating in our communities through volunteering & service, voting & civic engagement, and joining & leadership opportunities. Help YSA develop a new national strategy to ensure that working together for the common good is the common expectation and common experience of every young person.

Complete the Community Partner Survey

Share the barriers you face to engaging more young people and provide feedback on which activation, training, funding, and recognition strategies you think would be most useful to you.

Reimagining Service 2035 is a bold effort to reinvigorate volunteering in America. Aiming to bring the benefits of volunteering—stronger connections, increased empathy and trust, and bridge building—to individuals, communities and societies, we’ll double the number of people who volunteer by the year 2035.

Take the community survey to share your experiences and help shape the National Volunteer Strategy. We want to hear from:

• Individuals: People in the U.S. who volunteer, help neighbors, participate in mutual aid, or care about community well-being.
• Organizations: Representatives of nonprofits, faith communities, schools, civic groups, or public agencies that engage volunteers.

YSA is looking for the best ideas from young people about how they can help end hunger today and help ensure people are not hungry in the future. 25 grants of $1,000 will support youth leaders, ages 5-25, and their peers across the U.S. to turn their ideas into action and make an impact on the issue of childhood hunger during Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26, 2026).

Don't miss this once-in-a-teaching-lifetime opportunity! Have a civic impact in your classroom by engaging your students with the legacy of the Declaration of Independence. Discover recommended resources and suggested activities to seamlessly integrate the key themes of the Declaration of Independence into your curriculum, regardless of subject. Teach the themes throughout this school year for more chances to win over 400 incredible prizes.

The competition is expanding to all 50 states in time for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The expansion marks the first time 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students nationwide will have the opportunity to compete, starting in regional and state competitions hosted by chambers of commerce, with top finalists advancing to the National Civics Bee Championship in DC. This year's prompt: How can you make a difference in your community? Prizes range from $125 in local bees to $100,000 for the National Championship.

The National Geographic Society believes that changing the future of conservation begins with small steps: that your ideas and actions will add up to progress protecting our planet. They invite 13-18-year-olds to submit a 1-minute video describing their idea for solving environmental issues for a chance to receive up to $10,000.

Over the past week, Minnesota’s young people have shown us — again — what leadership looks like when it is rooted in love for community, a deep sense of justice, and an unwavering commitment to one another. As students across Minnesota walk out of their schools, take to the streets, organize vigils, and raise their voices; they do so not out of defiance, but out of care.

When the country feels more divided than ever, young people are taking action and showing a way forward.

The YMCA of the North's Ramstad Institute for Civility and Youth Leadership carries forward Congressman Jim Ramstad’s lifelong commitment to bipartisanship, empathy, and public service, inspiring the next generation of leaders to build bridges and lead with respect.

From Hoops to Helping Hands: Teen Leads Food Pantry Volunteers

Seventeen-year-old Findley Gardiner of Maplewood, New Jersey, is a high school senior, balancing homework, his social life, drums, and basketball practice with something that’s become a core part of who he is – volunteering. Despite his busy schedule, Findley has devoted more than 250 hours to serving his community through Jersey Cares spending most weekends at food pantries stocking shelves, serving families, and leading volunteer teams. As one of the youngest project coordinators in the organization’s history, Findley helps events run smoothly and keeps volunteers motivated, all while finding ways to fight hunger and homelessness in his community.

Reaching for the Stars: Making Space Education a Universal Right

A fire was lit under Brandon Chang in middle school. When a STEM staff member dismissively suggested he “pick a more stable career” than one in space, Brandon didn’t just walk away; he came home furious and declared his ambition to bring space education to every school. That audacious goal was the genesis of GalaxSea Explorers, an organization he founded to ensure no other student felt deterred from their dream to work in space. Now, his passion project has grown into a powerful network of several hundred supporters, achieving an astounding impact on 262,000 individuals with just $17,000 in seed funding. While its flagship weeklong summer camps, workshops and popular Space DIY Kits provide tangible ways to engage with astronomy, the organization also focuses on broader life skills.

For the Love of the Game

For 16-year-old Molly Harrington, being on sports teams has been an important part of her life, but she knows it’s not always an option for everyone. Youth sports participation has been on a downward trend, and for many families, costs are a big factor in whether or not their kids can play. Molly’s older sister Katie founded Play It Forward in 2018 to remove financial barriers to sports by collecting and giving away used gear. Molly took over as community director in 2023 after Katie graduated. Together, they have facilitated the donation of around 10,800 items that have equipped more than 1,500 kids across 10 towns.

Shining a Light on Lesser-Known History

When Magdalena Mercado didn’t see her culture’s history reflected in her school’s curriculum, she knew it was time to take action. Magdalena founded Taking a Deeper Dive, a youth-led organization dedicated to creating student-made resources and educational toolkits for Asian American, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) cultural education and history. Now a senior in high school, Taking a Deeper Dive has grown exponentially. Magdalena has mobilized 20 schools nationwide and raised $10,000 to fight for AANHPI cultural education and systemic change. 

January 28, 2026 | 2:00pm Eastern

How DOES a nonprofit worker talk to people about voting? Particularly, people who hesitate to vote or who say that politics doesn’t impact them? If you’ve ever been frustrated trying to engage disconnected voters who say “I don’t care about voting,” you definitely want to join this session.   With the collaborative Why Vote? Tool developed by the Right Question Institute, you’ll have a go-to tool ready at hand to connect voting to the services our community members rely on every day. At our free webinar learn how to use and integrate this tool that's already used at hundreds of nonprofits across the country with dialogue prompts and questions.

January 29, 2026 | 11:00am Central

What does it take to truly center youth voice? This Thought Leader Panel explores how to engage young people as equal partners in decision-making across schools, nonprofits, and communities. Learn to shift mindsets, share leadership, and build spaces where youth voices are heard-and matter.