Rekindle the Spirit of Unity and Compassion on 9/11 Day of Service

July 25, 2024 | Volume 31, No. 29 | Published Weekly Since 1994

9/11 Day of Service asks all Americans to dedicate time each 9/11 to help others in need, and to rekindle the extraordinary spirit of unity and compassion that brought Americans together in the days following the 9/11 tragedy.

By inspiring millions of Americans and others to volunteer, donate to charities, and perform other good deeds and acts of kindness, 9/11 Day is a positive way for Americans to annually keep the promise to “Never Forget” those killed and injured on 9/11, as well as the many who courageously rose in service in response to the attacks – first responders, recovery workers, and volunteers – along with members of our military.

YSA offers eleven reflections and related project ideas to reimagine the date as one of engagement, service, and connection. The first four reflections are:

Reflection 1: We came together to rebuild communities.

Local Oral Histories
Spiffin' Up Main Street
Commemorate and Honor

Reflection 2: We became more aware of differences and more committed to understanding diversity.

Cultural Heritage Fair
Community Accessibility
Cross-Cultural Study Groups

Reflection 3: We grew to understand the importance of meeting basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter.

Emergency Care Packages for the Homeless
Gleaning Produce
Disaster Preparedness

Reflection 4: We renewed our commitment to democracy.

Register New Voters
Educate Voters
Create or Distribute Nonpartisan Voter Guides

Download the We Serve to Remember resource with all eleven reflections.

There are still 40+ We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants of $1,000 available for organizations, schools, and youth changemakers to lead service projects that engage at least 100 youth volunteers on or around 9/11 Day 2024.

Applications for these remaining grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the application will close once all grants have been awarded, so apply ASAP!

Apply ASAP at YSA.org/911Day

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

July is Park and Recreation Month

This Park and Recreation Month let’s unite and uplift the many reasons why local parks and recreation truly embodies the essence of belonging. Together, we can demonstrate why these spaces are Where You Belong.

Activating the Campus Vote: Engaging Your Students

July 30 at 2:00pm Eastern

Learn how to amplify student voices, increase voter turnout, and foster a culture of civic participation on your campus. Join GivePulse for a dynamic webinar and engage with experts from ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Motivote, Democracy Works, and Guides.vote as they share insights and strategies to mobilize and engage college student voters.

Greatest American Cleanup

Keep America Beautiful recently kicked off the Greatest American Cleanup™, a campaign to remove 25 billion pieces of litter from the national landscape and create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful America by July 4, 2026, our country’s 250th birthday.

Over the next two years, more than 25,000 communities across the nation will be invited to make a new “declaration” to clean, green, and beautify their neighborhoods and public spaces. In addition to picking up litter from parks, public spaces, roadsides, and waterways, activities will include planting trees and flowers, cleaning nature trails and recreation areas, painting community murals, and supporting local beautification and recycling efforts.

GRANTS & AWARDS

Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund - Deadline: August 9

Grants from $25,000 to $150,000 are available for youth and intergenerationally led 501c3 organizations working in the responsible tech space on topics like artificial intelligence (AI), mental health and well-being, and climate change.

Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program

Host a blood drive while school is out of session and join the impressive group of youth across the nation who are helping save lives with the American Red Cross! You could earn volunteer hours, a gift card, and be entered to win a scholarship.

STORIES OF SERVICE

Everyday Young Hero: Deeksha Khanna

Deeksha Khanna (18 | Decatur, Georgia) has been passionate about service, social justice, and social entrepreneurship throughout childhood and her teen years. As a young girl, one thing she noticed was the number of women who were homeless and was curious about how they handled menstruation without reliable access to restrooms, hygiene products, or pain relievers. To achieve menstrual equality and destigmatize menstrual health, Deeksha founded The Elea Project in 2022.

The Elea Project works closely with local and statewide shelters, organizations, and menstrual-related coalitions to provide hygiene kits (including pads, tampons, wipes, sanitizers, and pain relievers) and advocate for policies that would reduce and end period poverty, like ending the tax on period supplies. Over $3,000 has been collected and 14,000 products donated since The Elea Project began, and Deeksha has begun reaching women outside of Georgia, as far as California and Vermont. Deeksha has also been busy educating people about menstrual health through blogs and podcasts, and is hoping to expand her initiative to Atlanta schools to inspire students to incite palpable change in their community!

RESOURCES & TRAININGS

9/11 Day Webinar: Taking the Long Road Trust Building through National Days of Service

Explore how faith and NGO partners approach interfaith service and volunteerism to reach broader and more diverse audiences. Panelists shared how intentional relationship building, ally ship, and reflection are key tools to unite diverse voices in the name of helping others.

9/11 National Day of Service Resources for Teachers

Download the free Teacher’s Guide and age appropriate lesson plans to engage your students and parents in doing good deeds for 9/11 Day. Learn from 9/11 families, survivors, and other leaders. Sign up your class for a virtual field trip hosted by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.