Grant Funds Available For Montana Youth-Led Service-Learning Projects

-Introduction to Service Learning: Free Webinars Available in June –
The Governor’s Office of Community Service (http://serve.mt.gov/) and Hopa Mountain (http://hopamountain.org) a Bozeman-based nonprofit organization, announced today the availability of competitive grants of up to $15,000 dollars for Youth Leaders in Service. This Learn and Serve America grant program is designed to engage rural and tribal youth, ages 11-17, living in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, in leading service activities that create healthier communities.

Local youth organizations are invited to work with youth leaders to determine a meaningful community service project and apply for grant support to implement their youth-led initiative during the Fall 2010 through the Summer of 2011.

Hopa Mountain’s mission is to invest in rural and tribal citizen leaders, adults and youth, who are working to improve education, ecological health and economic development.

"Through Youth Leaders in Service, rural and tribal youth will have the opportunity to design and implement innovative service projects in cooperation with local community partners," said Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer, Executive Director of Hopa Mountain.

"Hopa Mountain’s commitment to engaging youth in service- learning and building community leaders is good for our youth and good for Montana," said Jan Lombardi, Director of the Governor’s Office for Community Service.

To be eligible for the grant, a preliminary application must be completed by June 30, 2010. The preliminary application includes participation in a four-day service learning training that will take place August 9-12 at Luccock Park Camp in Paradise Valley. The preliminary application can be found at http://hopamountain.org/programs. Final applications will be due October 1, 2010 and will be made available to attendees at the August service-learning training.

Up to sixteen grantees will be chosen in a competitive application process to receive up to $15,000 in funds. Funds must be matched 1:1 in cash or in-kind support by grantee organizations. Rural (towns with less than 35,000 people) and tribal communities are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to participating organizations that serve a high percentage of children through free and reduced lunch programs.

Hopa Mountain will provide ongoing training and technical assistance to selected youth program leaders and teen citizen leaders throughout the Northern Rockies.

Hopa Mountain will host 5 free, informational webinars, throughout June, on Youth Leaders in Service. Each webinar will offer an introduction to service-learning, a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction on civic responsibility and building community leadership and connections.

Free Webinars:

• June 2, 2010 from 2:00pm-3:30pm

• June 4, 2010 from 10am – 11:30am

• June 8, 2010 from 2pm – 3:30pm

• June 10, 2010 from 10am – 11:30am

• June 14, 2010 from 2pm – 3:30pm

Learn and Serve America, a federal program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (http://www.nationalservice.gov/) helps over one million students every year make meaningful contributions in their communities while building their academic and civic skills and establishing a lifelong commitment to service.

The Governor’s Office of Community Service (http://serve.mt.gov/) was created in 1993 to expand volunteer and service opportunities for all Montanans.

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Contact:
Marissa Spang,
Hopa Mountain (406) 586-2455

Contact:

Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer
Executive Director, Hopa Mountain (406) 586-2455
[email protected]