National Service Learning Conference

The National Service-Learning Conference was first held in 1988 to serve as "the largest gathering of youth and practitioners from the service-learning movement" of the United States. The conference is a program of the National Youth Leadership Council, and is co-hosted annually by partner organizations in the state or region where it is being held. Sponsors of the conference include the State Farm Companies Foundation, Youth Service America, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Shinnyo-en Foundation.

The conference focuses on service-learning as a way of teaching and learning that builds academic skills and citizenship while addressing community needs in a genuine way. It convenes teachers and other service-learning practitioners, administrators, researchers, policy-makers, youth leaders, parents, program coordinators, national service members, community-based organization staffs, and corporate and foundation officers. The conference is unique in that it typically has 900 or more youth attendees that are equal contributors. Youth present, exhibit, and attend the three and a half day event like their adult counter-parts.

The conference features over 200 workshop sessions, thought leader sessions, keynote addresses, an interactive exhibit hall with a service-learning showcase and college fair, both on- and off-site service-learning projects to allow participants an authentic learning opportunity, an administrator's academy, indigenous service-learning forum, preconfernece sessions for in-depth learning, as well as countless networking and professional development opportunities. The 2010 conference will introduce the "21st Century Presentation" room, sponsored by Microsoft. This unique event space will allow for hands on learning through new technologies as well as for video-conferencing of speakers from around the country and the world. Speakers as far away as Armenia will present at the conference to attendees in San Jose, Cal. Local artists, students and community members contribute to the ambiance of the conference each year. The hallways, exhibit hall aisles and general spaces are transformed with spoken word, drumming, murals, paintings, etc. The conference takes on the culture of the city that hosts it.

The Service-Learning World Forum began in 2008 as a pre-conference session of the larger conference and is now an integral program of the larger conference. Held on the third day, the World Forum engages attendees and international leaders. The Service-Learning World Forum explores youth service and service-learning as forces that span cultural and national boundaries, building communities and strengthening young people. Discover how service-learning is implemented from Ireland, to Argentina, to the Middle East. Hear from innovative youth leaders who are addressing the world’s most urgent global issues. This forum is useful for both those working internationally and those interested in expanding their programs.

Each year since 2003 the conference has highlighted the State Farm Service-Learning Awards. Awards are presented to leaders in the field of service-learning, both youths and adults. In 2006 the first William James National Service Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by the National Youth Leadership Council in conjunction with several leading service organizations. The award was give to former Senator Harris Wofford and presented by President Bill Clinton, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and Dr. James Kielsmeier. In 2010 the award will be presented once again, this time to Donald J. Eberly. The presentation will take place on Friday, March 26, 2010 at the San Jose Convention Center. Since its inception, the conference has planted trees in each city that has hosted the event. Trees are planted in honor of award winners.

The October 2009 issue of One+ magazine featured a four-page article highlighting the conference and its commitment to the community. One+ magazine is the official publication of Meeting Planners International. One+ is the leading voice of the meeting and event industry, reaching 30,000+ industry professionals on six continents.

Past conferences

Past speakers

See also

• Learn and Serve America
• Service-learning
• National Youth Leadership Council

External links

• National Service-Learning Conference
• [1]