Act Locally
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Welcome! Whether you're a community leader, a seasoned advocate, a young person looking to turn your concern into action or somewhere in between, you'll find guides, tools and ideas to help you make a difference.
For more resources, inspiring stories and online tools, please visit the homepage of our Action Center.
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- The ABCs of Advocacy. Read our guide to strengthening communities through advocacy.
- Budging the School Budget. A SparkAction guide to influencing school district budgets, with real-world examples.
- The Federal Budget Process in Congress: 2009. What's it got to do with your hometown? Find out!
Volunteer Opportunities
President Bill Clinton writes exclusively for MTV's action blog on graduation rates, postsecondary success, technology, financial aid, and what he's doing about it.
Ayofemi Kirby, Director of Communications for Mobilize.org, reflects on Seth Godin's new book and what it means to be a leader for social change.
The Department of Education was present and listening at February's National Youth Summit: Voices in Action. This entry covers the top 5 most prominent issues.
Yesterday, March 23rd, students across the country participated in the first ever Democracy Day.
Though the statistics show Millennials are the least engaged generation, Tarsi Dunlop sees a number of promising trends both in the data, and from her own observations.
Across the country Boys and Girls Clubs and other after-school programs are demonstrating their impact on improving in-school performance for their members. The National Collaboration for Youth reports on evaluation research and success stories. Click the link below for the full report (PDF).
Are you a high school student and a citizen journalist? Michael Moore wants you.
Fifteen million troubled kids who need a mentor don't have one, according to The Mentoring Group, which links troubled kids with responsible adults. In Portland, Ore., Friends of the Children tries to bridge that gap through paid mentors. Anthony Blackmon credits the program for giving him confidence to pursue his dream in music. Listen to the NPR audio or read the story.
At the 2011 National Mentoring conference focused on cutting dropout rates in half, First Lady Michelle Obama helped launch the Corporate Mentoring Challenge - a call for U.S.
This is a story of a community bringing together a wide range of organizations to improve services and results for youth.
Tools to Improve Communities
August 29, 2011
Produced by: 
Afterschool Alliance
Join 1 million Americans and 7,500+ communities nationwide in celebrating the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. Click the link below to plan and find events in your community.
August 29, 2011
Produced by: 
Project Learning Tree
Do you have an idea for a school/community native plant garden, a forest improvement project, a streamside restoration plan, a recycling program, or energy conservation project for your students? Need funds to implement it? Apply for a Project learning Tree Greenworks grant.
August 29, 2011
Produced by: 
EdSource
Designed to help school leaders identify and implement actionable practices that set high-performing schools apart, the Middle Grades Action Kit for Superintendents and Principals is indispensable for middle grades leaders working to prepare students for high school—and get them on track for college and careers.
August 24, 2011
Produced by: 
Kaiser Health News
With the work of the 'super committee' picking up steam, news
outlets report on how, while back in their districts for the August
recess, some of the panelists are hearing concerns about Medicare and
other entitlement programs. Meanwhile, former GOP Senator John Danforth
recollects his first-hand experiences with the politics of
deficit-cutting commissions.
August 23, 2011
Produced by: 
Children's Leadership Council
The children's advocacy collaborative the Children's Leadership Council and their allies submitted this letter to Congress in April encouraging them to consider struggling American families in budget debates.
August 22, 2011
Produced by: 
Opportunity Nation
The OpportunityNation Leaders Program is a national network of vocal opportunity advocates with personal experience facing barriers to opportunity and a track record of making meaningful change in their respective communities.
August 16, 2011
Produced by: 
Campaign for Youth Justice
October is National Youth Justice Awareness month! The purpose of
this month of action is to raise awareness about youth
prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system. Over the past three
years, events have been held across the country and have been successful in raising awareness and participation in important
youth justice issues across the country.
August 9, 2011
Produced by: 
U.S. Department of Education
There are two Summer Seminars at Six--the Department of Education's summer seminars--left this year. ED's Summer Seminars at Six are designed to share information about
education policy that will help teachers to be engaged and participate
in policy discussions at the federal, state and district level.
August 3, 2011
Produced by: 
Every Child Matters
While most Americans—and many citizens around the world—are breathing a sigh of relief that the debt-ceiling ‘crisis’ is over, the damage it could cause to U.S. children is just beginning. Few mainstream economists believe the bill signed by the President will do anything to jumpstart a sluggish economy or create jobs.
August 3, 2011
Produced by: 
SAMHSA
September is National Recovery Month. The month of action increases the understanding of substance use and mental disorders to achieve the full potential of prevention and treatment support services. It also helps people recognize and seek assistance for these health conditions with the same urgency as any other condition and aims to reduce barriers to recovery.