Advocacy
National Priorities Project
http://database.nationalpriorities.org
An excellent research site for advocates seeking evidence to support their causes. Visitors can select a subject area or a specific issue and find annual spending or population statistics in that area for any state, going back to 1983. For example, they can compare state child health insurance spending in California and New York between 1998 and 2001. In addition to listing results and citing sources, the site will convert the findings into a graph.
Civic Engagement
National Youth Service Day
www.ysa.org/nysd/resource/nysd_resources_parent.cfm
The complete online resource for Youth Service America’s three-day spotlight on service learning for kids (April 16-18). The site links viewers to YSA’s tool kit for planning a service day project, as well as a curriculum and best practices guide for helping youth manage and get the most out of the projects.
Project Finland
www.projectfinland.org
An easy way to connect American youth with some of their peers overseas. Geared specifically toward youth, the site guides browsers through social and environmental tours of this small coastal nation and throws in interesting facts (Finland has more than 188,000 lakes) and vocabulary (“karhu” means bear) – the kind of random items that kids will remember. Financed by the Finnish Embassy in Washington, the site is a great way to get kids thinking globally.
Education
Read Across America
www.nea.org/readacross
A fun site packed with Dr. Seuss graphics that provides valuable information and activities for students and teachers. Sponsored by the National Education Association, this interactive site is full of advice and resources for teachers on how to plan a Read Across America event in their communities and classrooms. Youths can play educational games, get their stories published and get information about free reading material and other reading-related websites.
Employment
Workforce.net
www.workforceusa.net
A resource for professionals in the field of work force development, built through a collaboration of work force advocates and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Ford Foundation. The site presents research and analysis from all areas of work force development, including labor market analysis, program recruitment and program design. Free registration required.
Substance Abuse
Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV
www.beerfreesportstv.org
Provides links to studies on beer ads during sporting events, news on the campaign’s efforts and information on how to get involved in the movement to ban alcohol advertising from sports programming, which is viewed by millions of young people. The campaign is run by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
