Global Youth Service Day

WHEREAS, Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through community service and service learning, and the State of Alabama depends on youth as vital community assets; and

WHEREAS, Global Youth Service Day, is the largest service event in the world, the only day of service dedicated solely to youth engagement, and in 2011 is being observed for the 23rd consecutive year in all 50 states and for the 12th year globally in more than 100 countries; and

WHEREAS, thousands of students in schools and community-based organizations are planning GYSD activities as part of a Semester of Service, an extended service-learning campaign launched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, in which young people spend the semester addressing a meaningful community need connected to intentional learning goals and/ or academic standards over the course of at least 70 hours; and

WHEREAS, high quality community service and service-learning programs increase young people’s academic engagement and achievement, workforce readiness and 21st century skills, social, emotional, and behavioral skills, and civic knowledge and engagement; and

WHEREAS, community service and service-learning provide opportunities for young people to apply their knowledge, idealism, energy, creativity and unique perspectives to improve their communities by addressing a myriad of critical issues, such as health, childhood obesity, education, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, environment, climate change, violence and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Global Youth Service Day provides an opportunity for young children, teenagers and young adults to position themselves as assets and resources, active citizens and community leaders; and for schools, community organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses and families to engage youth as leaders and problem solvers; and

WHEREAS, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act recognizes Global Youth Service Day as a national day of service and calls on the citizens of the United States to participate; and

WHEREAS, Auburn University, West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross and HandsOn Greater Huntsville are mobilizing the citizens of Alabama to serve their communities on Global Youth Service Day; and

WHEREAS, the 23rd annual Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth Service of America, with State Farm as the presenting sponsor, takes place on April 15 through April 17, 2011:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim April 15 through April 17, 2011, as

Global Youth Service Day

in the State of Alabama and encourage all citizens of Alabama to serve their communities.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 6th day of April 2011.

      

Governor Robert Bentley