On April 12, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution designating April 15, 2005 as “National Youth Service Day.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sponsored the resolution.
According to the resolution, “The goals of National Youth Service Day are to mobilize youth as leaders in identifying and addressing the needs of their communities through service and service-learning, to support youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement, and to educate the public, the media, and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders.” The resolution notes that young people should “be valued for the idealism, energy, creativity, and commitment they bring to the challenges found in their communities.” Finally, the resolution states that “through community service, young people build character and learn valuable skills, including time management, teamwork, needs-assessment, and leadership, that are sought by employers.”
Sen. Murkowski explained that National Youth Service Day “is a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the extraordinary contributions that young people make to their communities throughout the year. On this day, youth from across the United States and the world will carry out community service projects in areas ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. National Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world that brings millions of youth and over 50 local, regional, and national partners together to support and promote youth service.”
