MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH TO SPONSOR ANNUAL
GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY CELEBRATION
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Minnesota Alliance With Youth will host the annual Global Youth Service Day celebration on Saturday, April 18, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Southdale Center. The event, intended for youth of all ages and their families, will feature youth performances, prize giveaways for participation in on-site service projects and more.
Global Youth Service Day, held in over 100 countries, involves millions of youth globally, highlighting and celebrating the contributions that youth make to their respective communities through service. Minnesota consistently leads the service movement nationally, with the most youth service projects registered at www.gysd.org.
The Global Youth Service Day celebration at Southdale Center is sponsored by Minnesota Alliance With Youth in partnership with Delta Dental of Minnesota, State Farm and Youth Service America. On-site service projects, such as letter writing to veterans, Meals on Wheels meal bag decorating, dental kit assembly for Avenues for Homeless Youth and community garden seed packet creation will give participants an opportunity to take action at the event and make an immediate difference. Talented young people will be performing throughout the day, including a rock song by SoundCheck Music School students, Karen song and dance by the Fusion group at Nobles County Integration Collaborative, a hip hop performance by the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, the Robbinsdale Cooper Lady Hawks Step Team and more.
"Global Youth Service Day engages the girls I work with because they have built relationships with one another around something meaningful and fun,” said Mary Dedeke, an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow serving with Men As Peacemakers in Duluth, MN, whose Girls Restorative Program will be performing a dance at the event. “The event gives them a platform to share what they have worked on, and shows that they are more than the "at-risk" label subscribed to them. They are amazing, passionate girls who want to do good things!"
In support of Global Youth Service Day, Delta Dental of Minnesota also recognizes the recipients of its 12th annual Serve A Smile mini-grants program, with more than $30,000 donated to support youth-led service projects in Minnesota taking place April 17- 19. One recipient, the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, will bring together middle school girls at Lincoln K-8 to raise awareness on healthy lifestyles and eating habits by participating in a service learning opportunity with a local food pantry. The girls will give back to their community by highlighting healthy eating, exercise and responsible decision-making.
President and CEO of Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Sarah Dixon shares, “Global Youth Service Day is a great opportunity for the community to celebrate the meaningful commitments youth make to volunteer service. We’re honored to recognize young people who contribute to the advancement of our communities with an event that is truly designed with them in mind.”
Founded in 1997, the Minnesota Alliance With Youth ignites the spark in all young people in Minnesota to become actively engaged, develop strong voices, and acquire the skills needed for success in school, work and life. The Alliance is a leading convener, collaborator and capacity-builder for youth development, working with and for youth to ensure that all young people have access to five fundamental resources proven to ensure that youth succeed. Please visit our website, www.mnyouth.net, for more details.
###
