Yo! Baltimore Selected As Lead Agency For The 15th Annual National Youth Service Day, April 11-13th

Baltimore, Maryland, February 10, 2003– Youth Service America (YSA) today announced the selection of The Baltimore Youth Opportunity Movement (YO! Baltimore) as a lead agency for the 15th Annual National Youth Service Day, April 11-13, 2003. Fifty lead agencies across the country will coordinate local, regional, or statewide celebrations of National Youth Service Day, promoting projects and events, coordinating volunteer recruitment, local media outreach, and hands-on participation of elected officials. As the presenting sponsor of National Youth Service Day 2003, the State Farm Companies Foundation is making a substantial commitment to youth volunteerism in Baltimore.

On National Youth Service Day, a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year, young people will design and lead service-learning projects in areas ranging from literacy and the environment, to healthcare, hunger, and help for the elderly. As the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of young people, National Youth Service Day draws together a remarkable consortium of local, regional and national partners, while recruiting the next generation of young volunteers. Youth in over 150 countries join their U.S. peers as part of the Fourth Annual Global Youth Service Day.

Twenty-six youth-focused organizations have joined in partnership with YO! Baltimore to make this a dynamic day of service. Baltimore youth are planning a wide range of projects. More detailed information about these projects, the kick-off and completion rally will be released when they have been finalized.

The mission of the Baltimore Youth Opportunity Movement is to increase the long-term employability of young people living in the Empowerment Zone by creating a systemic approach to youth services, by offering a broad array of coordinated resources and activities, and by helping each young person design and negotiate a career pathway to success.

YO! Baltimore is an initiative of the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and multiple partners. For additional information about YO! Baltimore and its center locations, visit www.yobaltimore.org, or call 410-396-6722.