United We Serve: Education Week (July 27 - August 2)

In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, United We Serve seeks to harness the energy and ingenuity of Americans to renew their communities. Throughout the summer, United We Serve will highlight the key challenges facing our nation and the ways that volunteers are providing solutions. During Education Week, July 27 - August 2, United We Serve will focus on the countless Americans who strengthen communities by rolling up their sleeves to read with a child, volunteer at a library, or organize a book drive.

United We Serve is President Obama's call to service challenging all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful community service. United We Serve initially runs from June 22 through a new National Day of Service on September 11, but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans. United We Serve is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information, visit www.Serve.gov

Engage your colleagues, families, and friends in United We Serve:

* Find service opportunities at serve.gov or create your own project using one of their toolkits. http://serve.gov/toolkits.asp
Also, find service-learning project ideas by issue area at the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse: http://servicelearning.org/instant_info/hot_topics/united_we_serve

* Submit your organization's volunteer opportunities at serve.gov: https://myproject.serve.gov/public/CreateUserAccount.aspx

* Bring five friends, family members, faith group members or colleagues with you next time you serve.

* Link to United We Serve using the logos & links provided: http://www.serve.gov/link.asp

* Link to the Facebook cause page for Serve.gov: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/192100

* Download our media tools from the newsroom at Serve.gov to invite local TV stations, newspapers and other bulletins to cover your activities, draw attention to the pressing community needs you are addressing, and help you recruit new volunteers. http://www.serve.gov/newsroom.asp

* Submit an op-ed ( http://www.serve.gov/assets/documents/09_0716_sample_oped.doc ) or a letter to the editor to your local newspaper ( http://www.serve.gov/assets/documents/09_0716_sample_letter.doc ) about the importance of service

* Plan a press conference for your organization to highlight an ongoing service activity and tie it to the President's call to service: http://www.serve.gov/assets/documents/09_0707_sample_advisory.doc

* Send a press release to local media outlets sharing the story of a volunteer or highlighting the impact of your organization: http://www.serve.gov/assets/documents/09_0707_sample_release.doc

* Share your service story and it might be featured on the Stories of Service Blog: http://www.serve.gov/share.asp