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Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: Jonesboro’s Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council Is Redefining Youth Engagement
The Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council (MYAC) in Jonesboro is an innovative model for youth engagement, allowing high school students a direct role in municipal governance. Established in 2021, MYAC promotes community service and civic leadership through diverse representation and active projects, earning the title of Volunteer Community of the Year.
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How Arkansas Students are Making Multi-Million-Dollar Impact Through Community Service
Arkansas students are making a significant impact through community service, driven by the LEARNS Act, which mandates 75 service hours for graduation from 2027. This initiative connects classroom learning with civic engagement, enhances student involvement, and supports local nonprofits. Platforms like Launch for Students help track hours and recognize achievements, ultimately benefiting communities statewide.
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Building a Foundation for Future Educators: How Smart Start Grows Local Leaders Through Service
Smart Start, an initiative by the Southeast Arkansas Education Cooperative, places AmeriCorps members in schools to enhance educational support and develop future educators in rural Arkansas. This program fosters professional growth through hands-on experience and community engagement, ultimately nurturing a commitment to service and strengthening local educational foundations.
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97 Years and Counting: Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp on Building Service, Growth, and Community
Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, established in 1929, offers a transformative outdoor experience for Arkansas youth, ages 9–14. With a commitment to accessibility, the camp provides free programs that foster personal growth and community. AmeriCorps members enhance this mission, developing leadership skills while mentoring campers, thereby creating lasting impacts on both groups.
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New Youth Mental Health Initiative Launches Across Arkansas
Arkansas is launching the Youth Mental Health Corps to expand support for young people, strengthen communities, and build a dedicated mental health workforce.
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From Service to Leadership: The Impact of Global Youth Service Day/Month
From Service to Leadership: The Impact of Global Youth Service Day/Month Each April, young people around the world step forward to serve, lead, and create change on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), which has since expanded into Youth Service Month. Coordinated by Youth Service America and in collaboration with organization sponsorships, including its primary sponsor,…
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Arkansas Civic Leadership Academy: Preparation for a future as a Civic Leader
Arkansas Civic Leadership Academy: Preparation for a Future as a Civic Leader Throughout this academic year, I have had the unique opportunity to participate in the inaugural Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy. Organized through the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, it brings together junior- and senior-level undergraduate students from colleges and universities across Arkansas who share a…
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Smart Start Member Interviews: Preparation for Arkansas’s Next Generation of Leaders
AmeriCorps Member Experience: Preparation for Arkansas’s Next Generation of Leaders Over the past week, the Engage Arkansas team interviewed two members of the Southeast Arkansas Education Service Cooperative’s Smart Start Program for February’s civic challenge, spotlighting youth leadership across Arkansas. Smart Start, an AmeriCorps initiative, provides reading and math tutoring to K–5 students in Southeast…
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Volunteer Community of the Year: Jonesboro’s Investment in Youth Leadership
Volunteer Community of the Year: Jonesboro’s Investment in Youth Leadership In December, the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas, was named the 2025 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year in the Most Youth Engagement category. The Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Awards—administered by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism (Engage Arkansas) and the…