National Youth Leadership Council

The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has been a leading advocate of service-learning since 1983. A Minnesota-based, national non-profit organization, NYLC works in partnership with young people, educators, administrators and community leaders to integrate service-learning practices into elementary, secondary and post secondary schools.

Service-learning is a teaching and learning model that integrates academic skills taught in the classroom with community service.  Service-learning impacts real community issues, such as hunger and diversity.

NYLC has a long record of promoting service-learning through training and technical assistance, innovative programs, curriculum development and leadership advocacy.  It’s mission is “to build vital, just communities with young people through service-learning”.  Since 1989 NYLC has convened the National Service-Learning Conference.  This annual conference is the largest gathering of service-learning practitioners and advocates in the United States; the State Farm Companies Foundation is the presenting sponsor.  Several recognition awards are presented annually at the conference, NYLC partners with State Farm to address car crashes among teen drivers.  Car crashes are the biggest killer of teens today; Project Ignition (http://www.sfprojectignition.com/00home/)  is out to change that.

Project Ignition (http://www.sfprojectignition.com/00home/)   gives high school students the opportunity to plan and implement creative service-learning projects promoting teen driver safety.

NYLC also has touched the lives of those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita through Resources for Recovery.  This program taps the power of young people through service-learning as a sustainable, effective part of the recovery effort.  The Gulf Coast WalkAbout is empowering students to make changes in their communities in schools in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

The State Farm Companies Foundation provides funding to NYLC and is a presenting sponsor for the National Service-Learning Conference. More information is available at the NYLC web site nylc.org.