National Youth Leadership Council
Encyclopedia
The National Youth Leadership Council, or NYLC, is a national nonprofit organization located in Saint Paul, Minnesota
that promotes service-learning
in schools and communities across the United States. Founded in 1983 by Dr. James Kielsmeier
, NYLC is the host of the annual National Service-Learning Conference. The organization is a proponent of service-learning and national service
in the United States.
in Orlando. NYLC programs have included partnerships with schools, colleges, major corporations, government, faith-based organizations and other nonprofits. According to USAID, between 1993 and 1996 NYLC created successful literacy, vocational education, and public service programs for over 200 former militia and unemployed young adults through the Somalia Youth Service Corps. The organization built an adventure
and service-learning training model for a residential camp near Nairobi
that involved both in- and out-of-school youth from rural urban areas.
NYLC publishes an annual research publication, Growing to Greatness that seeks to document the scope, scale, and impacts of service-learning. Five full editions are now in print, published every year since 2004. Each edition features a series of topical research articles from leading scholars in the field as well as qualitative profiles of several U.S. states and territories and, increasingly, state-by-state data on service-learning and positive youth contributions.
In 2008, NYLC released the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice that detail the eight standards of quality service-learning, with three to five accompanying indicators for each standard. The standards are the result of a national review process that began with research from the field and vetted the previously-published Essential Elements of Service-Learning through a series of reactor panels to arrive at the final document.
In 2009, NYLC launched the Generator School Network (GSN), a community of schools with staff passionate about service-learning that have joined together to learn from each other and improve their service-learning practice.Through the GSN, educators are able to connect with other schools and experts in the field that share a common set of ideals. Members of the GSN are able to access exclusive resources created both by NYLC and the larger service-learning community. These resources are tied closely with the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice and the Service-Learning Cycle for a unique approach to professional development.
In 2010, NYLC created and launched a video-based training tool for service-learning called Lift: Raising the Bar for Service-Learning. By following service-learning projects at three schools, the videos and printable resources examine each of the eight standards of service-learning first published in 2008. The videos feature interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators in St. Paul, MN's Central High School, Harry Hurst Middle School in Destrehan, Louisiana, and New Foundations Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lift website is part of the resources of the Generator School Network, but also used as a standalone training resource.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
that promotes service-learning
Service-learning
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education...
in schools and communities across the United States. Founded in 1983 by Dr. James Kielsmeier
James Kielsmeier
Dr. James "Jim" Kielsmeier is founder and President/CEO of the National Youth Leadership Council, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also founded the Center for Experiential Education and Service-Learning at the University of Minnesota, where he is also an Adjunct Professor...
, NYLC is the host of the annual National Service-Learning Conference. The organization is a proponent of service-learning and national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the United States.
History
Founded in 1983, to "create a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world with young people, their schools, and their communities through service-learning", the National Youth Leadership Council began hosting the National Service-Learning Conference in 1989. In 1993 the organization became the main training and technical assistance for the Corporation for National Service focused on service learning. Dr. Kielsmeier retired from NYLC at the end of 2010, and the organization is now led by CEO Kelita Svoboda Bak.Programs
The annual National Service-Learning Conference draws approximately 3000 participants each year that represent every state and 35 countries. NYLC led a student news team to the Presidents' Summit in 1997 and cosponsored the subsequent 2000 National Youth SummitNational Youth Summit
The National Youth Summit, subtitled "Young People: Partners in Fulfilling the Promise," occurred June 22 through June 25, 2000 in Orlando, Florida. Coordinated by the Corporation for National Service, America's Promise and the Points of Light Foundation, the event drew approximately 1,200 youth...
in Orlando. NYLC programs have included partnerships with schools, colleges, major corporations, government, faith-based organizations and other nonprofits. According to USAID, between 1993 and 1996 NYLC created successful literacy, vocational education, and public service programs for over 200 former militia and unemployed young adults through the Somalia Youth Service Corps. The organization built an adventure
Adventure learning
Adventure Learning is a hybrid distance education approach pioneered by Aaron Doering, a 2008 laureate and associate professor at the University of Minnesota. It provides students with opportunities to explore real-world issues through authentic learning experiences within collaborative learning...
and service-learning training model for a residential camp near Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
that involved both in- and out-of-school youth from rural urban areas.
NYLC publishes an annual research publication, Growing to Greatness that seeks to document the scope, scale, and impacts of service-learning. Five full editions are now in print, published every year since 2004. Each edition features a series of topical research articles from leading scholars in the field as well as qualitative profiles of several U.S. states and territories and, increasingly, state-by-state data on service-learning and positive youth contributions.
In 2008, NYLC released the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice that detail the eight standards of quality service-learning, with three to five accompanying indicators for each standard. The standards are the result of a national review process that began with research from the field and vetted the previously-published Essential Elements of Service-Learning through a series of reactor panels to arrive at the final document.
In 2009, NYLC launched the Generator School Network (GSN), a community of schools with staff passionate about service-learning that have joined together to learn from each other and improve their service-learning practice.Through the GSN, educators are able to connect with other schools and experts in the field that share a common set of ideals. Members of the GSN are able to access exclusive resources created both by NYLC and the larger service-learning community. These resources are tied closely with the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice and the Service-Learning Cycle for a unique approach to professional development.
In 2010, NYLC created and launched a video-based training tool for service-learning called Lift: Raising the Bar for Service-Learning. By following service-learning projects at three schools, the videos and printable resources examine each of the eight standards of service-learning first published in 2008. The videos feature interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators in St. Paul, MN's Central High School, Harry Hurst Middle School in Destrehan, Louisiana, and New Foundations Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Lift website is part of the resources of the Generator School Network, but also used as a standalone training resource.
See also
- Youth serviceYouth serviceYouth service refers to non-military, intensive engagement of young people in organized activity that contributes to the local, national, or world community. Youth service is widely recognized and valued by society, with minimal or no compensation to the server. Youth service also provides...
- Service-learningService-learningService-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education...
- National Service-Learning Conference
- Youth Service AmericaYouth Service AmericaYouth Service America, or YSA, is a resource center that partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally." YSA has a reputation for supporting and promoting...
- Youth voiceYouth voiceYouth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...