Youth Leaders for Literacy Available to Young Volunteers Who Inspire and Encourage Reading

Youth Service America is partnering with the National Education Association to offer Youth Leaders for Literacy grants to children and youth, ages 5-25, who offer innovative ways to increase literacy skills and appreciation for reading among their peers. Youth can submit their applications through October 30, 2009.Youth Leaders for Literacy will award 30 young people from across the U.S. each with $500 grants and $500 in books from the Pearson Foundation. Successful projects will be youth-led and address an established literacy need in the applicant’s school or community. The projects will follow the framework of YSA’s Semester of Service initiative, launching on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in January and culminating on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25. An activity should also occur during the NEA’s Read Across America Day on March 2. Access the application at: http://tinyurl.com/neaysayll