Global Youth Service Day is a public awareness and education campaign organized by Youth Service America (YSA) that highlights the valuable contributions youth make in their communities around the country.  Job Corps encourages all centers to participate in this nationwide event.  The goals of Global Youth Service Day are to mobilize youth as leaders in understanding, valuing, appreciating and engaging their communities.  An estimated 2 million youth will participate in the GYSD nationwide.  Over 100 students and staff will be participating in our Community Affair projects.

 This week the Jacksonville Job Corps Center will lead and participate in community service and service-learning projects in Jacksonville’s parks and beaches. The projects will begin on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 and will run through Thursday, April 19^th culminating on Friday, April 20th with Earth Day Activities.  On Tuesday, April 17^th the students will volunteer at Bethesda Park at 10790 Key Haven Blvd. from 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m. From 10:00a.m.to 12:00 Noon students and staff will be volunteering at Ocean Parkway and Community Center at 12223 Sago Avenue 32218.

 On Wednesday, April 18, 2012 the volunteers will be cleaning up at Blue Cypress Park-4012 University Blvd from 9:00a.m.-11:00p.m. and Arlington Lyons Club from 10:00-12:00 noon. Our final day of service for the week will be at Jacksonville Beach-2 Ocean Front North -9:00a.m.-11:00a.m.

 On Friday, April 20^th students and staff will participate in Earth Day by planting flowers, weeding, trimming hedges, laying sod, cleaning windows etc.  The day will end with a Center wide cookout celebrating all the hard work as we continue to save our environment.

 In addition to the impact on communities, research shows that sustained community service can lead to increased levels of academic learning and workforce readiness skills among youth.

 The Jacksonville Job Corps Center is also proud to announce that the center will receive the Hands On Jacksonville “Planned Acts of Kindness” Award for their commitment and dedication to community service in 2011.  The event will take place Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Times Union Performing Arts Center at 6:00p.m.  The center has an ongoing affair with the Jacksonville Community and provides 2-3 projects every month.