Red, White, and Green

Washington, DC (May 30, 2006)- The Red, White & Green Youth Action Campaign, a new joint project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute and Youth Service America (YSA), announces the availability of 60 grants for young people, ages 15-25, to create community service projects that address climate change. The $500 grants will support younger Americans as they develop their voice and impact public policy on the critical issue of climate change.

The ambitious three-year Red, White & Green Campaign is intended to encourage widespread youth engagement on the issue of climate change leading up to the 2008 national presidential election. Grantees will bring their project results and their public policy recommendations to Washington, DC for a three-day Youth Summit in late 2007. The young participants will share the outcomes and next steps of their service ventures, hear from climate change experts, and present their policy recommendations to Members of Congress, the Administration, and to candidates hoping to capture the White House in 2008.

"Young people will be affected by climate change throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, they are energetic, idealist, technically savvy, and more experienced in community service than any generation in American history. Youth leadership is always a critical component in any important advances in our society," said Steve Culbertson, President & CEO of Youth Service America. "Providing seed money to help young people think outside the box will ensure that they have the opportunity to voice their concerns and solutions about climate change."

Civil Society Institute President and Founder Pam Solo said: "Working to help young people find their voices on this vital public policy issue reflects our desire that Americans get real action on climate change and not merely lip service. Innovation and creative breakthroughs in science as well as social policy often come from 'non-experts' who take the intellectual and other risks necessary to solve the world's big problems. Young people are every bit as capable of making a difference when it comes to climate change as are their elders - and, in fact, it is young people who have the most at stake in the outcome."

Youth Service America is an international resource center that partners with thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, YSA's mission is to expand the impact of the youth service movement with communities, schools, corporations, and governments. YSA envisions a global culture of engaged youth who are committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership, and achievement. For more information, visit http://www.YSA.org.

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute is a think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business that can help to improve society. You can find CSI on the Web athttp://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org.

For more information about the Red, White & Green Campaign, visit Youth Service America.

Or contact:
Christina Wessell, Robert Bisi, or Ailis Aaron
Youth Service America
1101 15th Street, N.W.
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005-5002
202-296-2992 (phone)
202-296-4030 (fax)