St. John's University recently received a $90,000 Summer of Service grant that will
engage 180 students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the borough of Queens in New
York City. With the support of older students serving as mentors, middle school
students will participate in service-learning activities that address environmental
issues and develop leadership skills. Six local middle schools will operate summer
programs for students in which participants will each complete over 100 hours of
service, but will also commit significant time to reflecting on their work and discussing
the experience with peers and mentors. The academic component will utilize the K-12
Service-Learning Standards and make good use of existing curricula to ensure that
students are involved and engaged in the learning process.
An outstanding feature of this program is St. John's University's commitment to
over-match the Summer of Service education award given to every student who ultimately
matriculates to St. John's University in the future. The Summer of Service grant
is $500. St. John’s will provide students who use their award at their university
with $500 for each of their four years of undergraduate education. This commitment
to the program demonstrates the passion and enthusiasm with which this program will
be coordinated and facilitated.
New Yorkers Volunteer’s Executive Director, Mark Walter, commended the University
on its commitment to the development of service and leadership skills in the children
who live near the University.
The St. John’s grant is one of 17 service-learning projects funded for this summer
by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The agency awarded grants
totaling $2 million to 17 nonprofits, universities and schools to engage at-risk
youth in grades 6 through 9 in innovative service projects that address environmental
and disaster preparedness issues. “These grants will help put tomorrow’s leaders
to work solving American’s most pressing problems today,” said Patrick Corvington,
the Corporation’s CEO. “Thousands of young people will now have an opportunity to
make real and lasting impact in their communities, while starting on a lifelong
path of service.”
The grants will support innovative projects that engage young people in addressing
environmental or disaster preparedness issues. Students will participate in a myriad
of activities including assessing local environmental issues, planting gardens,
“greening” homes, preparing and distributing disaster preparedness kits, and undertaking
service projects in local and national parks. In addition to the grant funding,
participants in the Summer of Service program who complete at least 100 hours of
service will be eligible to receive a $500 education award that can be used to pay
for post-secondary education expenses.
The Summer of Service program is a new initiative that was established under the
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in April 2009. More than 200 organizations applied
for grant funding. Click here for a complete list of grantees and
information on their projects.
Learn and Serve America grants provide support to organizations that involve over
one million young people in service-learning projects that simultaneously support
student development and meet community needs. Service-learning is a method of teaching
and learning that connects specific learning objectives with meaningful service
to the community. Students build civic and leadership skills while strengthening
communities through service.
Project Contact: Richard Sinatra
(718) 990-1557
littmanj@stjohns.edu