Develop Skills and Knowledge

In this activity, students use critical thinking to deconstruct an issue they care about. They identify a problem, explore the root causes and effects, and research who the experts are. This is a great way to build community, use creative expression, and come up with different approaches to the next best steps in the service-learning process. 

These issue-focused Toolkits build knowledge, community connections, and ideas for service projects. Use these resources to guide instruction or to send students here to find sources of research and project planning.

This guide defines youth advocacy and includes activities to teach knowledge skills, and action of using one's voice for change. Learning about issues and using our voice is a right and a civic responsibility and vital to a healthy democracy. Teaching youth at the earliest ages about using their voice prepares them to be civically engaged as adults. It teaches them to learn more about issues and see each person as a valued member of society with an equal vote and an important voice.

These 3-minute videos may be used for any age audience to inspire and inform about our power to take action. Four Whiteboard style videos define philanthropy, give examples of advocacy, teach us to connect our interests to community needs, and outline the process of service-learning. Other videos share practice of living a philanthropic life with our time, talent, and treasure.

Civility is courtesy and politeness for others. It comes from the word "civis," which means citizen. We can teach civility and the skills of civil conversations to grow citizenship and action for the good of all.

Tips and resources about addressing important issues in the classroom. Follow these guidelines to establish a safe environment, promote respectful dialogue, leverage arguments with facts, and talk about news and current events with students.

Help students identify credible sources, evaluate the role of media, recognize bias, and use critical-thinking related to current events and controversial topics.

Identify community assets and potential partners in project planning. Students collect data in order to create a map of community assets and resources within a defined area. A community map highlights people, physical structures, organizations, and institutions that can be utilized to create a meaningful service project

These brief and engaging videos are great for the classroom, youth club, or grantmaking meeting to build understanding of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Each guide includes a 2-15 minute video clip, discussion questions, and a follow-up activity. Thanks to Dr. Salvatore Alaimo at GVSU for donating the clips from his feature length film, "What Is Philanthropy?"