PRESENT SERVICE-LEARNING AT A PUBLIC MEETING
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GOAL:
Use your story to show that service-learning programs make a difference.
DESCRIPTION:
During the National Learn & Serve Challenge, make a presentation to your student government, Chamber of Commerce, school board meeting, a school assembly, or other audience on the subject of service-learning and the Challenge.
GETTING STARTED:
Think about your own service-learning experience. Your story can be an invaluable tool for making the case for service-learning.
- Get in touch with a contact from your intended audience (i.e. a school board member, PTA president, community relations officer for television or radio stations, etc.) to discuss setting a date for you to come and make a service-leaning presentation.
- Contact Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC) at 1-866-245-SERV(7378) or visit their website at www.servicelearning.org to order the free Bring Learning to Life campaign tools (8 minute DVD, brochure, posters, and getting started guides for parents and teachers). Remember to order enough materials for your audience.
Materials Needed:
Bring Learning to Life video or DVD and brochures.
VD player or VCR to play service-learning promotional video(s).
Flier for attendees that includes information on service-learning, state-specific statistics and impacts, short testimonials, etc., or you can simply use some of the Bring Learning to Life materials.
Before the meeting:
Remember that you want to convey a message that will stick in the minds of your audience. Give them clear ideas to take away from the meeting.
Your own story is the best example that you can give. Reflect on your experience and think about how best to describe the ways service-learning has affected your life. Ask yourself how service-learning impacted your learning, your commitment to service, and your future career and education plans. The answers can be the foundation of your presentation
Watch Bring Learning to Life and see if you have any ideas for a service-learning project particularly appropriate for your school or community during the Challenge or think about ways your community could use service-learning throughout the year. Make notes for discussing those ideas to make the meeting more personal and to help localize the idea of service-learning.
You can make individual packets containing all the Bring Learning to Life information or you can set up a display area to show off the materials.
Create your message, connecting what you say to the video. Possible themes could be how service-learning improves academic performance and/or engages students with hands-on, active learning.
During the meeting:
Use the visual appeal of the Bring Learning to Life materials to strengthen the message that starting a service-learning program will benefit schools, students, and the community.
Point out key information that you feel may really connect with your school. Remember: make it personal! Your story will help your audience visualize the advantages of a service-learning program at your school.
Follow up at the end of the meeting by reminding attendees of the benefits a service-learning project can have for youth and communities.
Answer questions attendees may have. If you’re stumped, don’t worry. Just send them to the NSLC website for more information or to ask reference questions (contact information is on all the Bring Learning to Life materials).
After the meeting:
Contact one or two audience members to follow up on questions, ideas and feedback.
RESOURCES:
Bring Learning to Life materials (from the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse)
Learn and Serve America logo
National Learn & Serve Challenge "Be A Solution" logo
National Learn & Serve Challenge Talking Points
Preparing Youth Who Speak to the Media (from YSA)
Preparing Young People for Public Speaking (from YSA)
"Making the Case for Service-Learning" toolkit (from NYLC)
EXTRA TIPS:
Make sure to check out the Learn & Serve Challenge media kit to help you learn how to talk about The National Learn & Serve Challenge. You can find the Learn & Serve Challenge media kit by visiting http://www.learnandservechallenge.org.
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