30 national groups plan youth service push tied to America 250

By AI, Created 11:43 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Thirty national organizations met in Wisconsin to build a 10-year strategy aimed at doubling young people’s participation in volunteering, civic engagement, leadership and philanthropy. The plan will debut at the Points of Light Conference in June and launch around July 4 as America marks its 250th anniversary.

Why it matters: - Youth Service America says only 1 in 4 young people regularly participate in their communities. - That leaves 64 million young Americans outside active participation in democracy, according to the organization. - The strategy is designed to expand youth engagement over the next 10 years as the U.S. marks America 250 and looks ahead to the next 250 years of civic life. - The effort focuses on groups that are often served but not usually asked to serve, including young people from low-income families, young people of color and young people in rural communities.

What happened: - Thirty national organizations convened last week at Wingspread in Racine, Wisconsin, for the A New Era of Youth Service in America Summit. - Youth Service America, The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and The Hershey Company sponsored the summit. - The National Youth Leadership Council, Points of Light and America’s Service Commissions co-hosted the event. - The summit produced a National Youth Participation Strategy to double youth participation in volunteering and service, voting and civic engagement, youth voice and leadership, and joining and philanthropy.

The details: - The summit followed a year-long national listening tour that gathered input from more than 3,000 people and organizations across the country. - Summit participants discussed activation, funding, training and recognition as capacity-building strategies. - Participants also reviewed policy priorities meant to address barriers to youth participation. - The strategy targets four common barriers: lack of opportunities and expectation, lack of knowledge and skills, lack of equitable access and resources, and lack of hope and trust in democracy. - Participating organizations included AASA - The School Superintendents Association, Afterschool Alliance, American Red Cross, America’s Service Commissions, C&S, Camp Fire, Campus Compact, DoSomething, Generation Citizen, Girl Scouts of the USA, Giving Tuesday, iCivics, InnerView, JustServe, Kiwanis International, Legacy+, Lions Clubs International, Made By Us, National Council for the Social Studies, National FFA Organization, National League of Cities, National Summer Learning Association, National Youth Leadership Council, Points of Light, Rotary International, Service Year Alliance, The Aspen Institute Center for Rising Generations, The Hershey Company, The Purpose Project and Youth Service America. - The organization list also included an initiative of More Perfect: The Purpose Project. - More information is available at YSA.org/NewEra.

Between the lines: - The summit signals a coordinated attempt by civic, youth and service groups to turn engagement into a measurable national goal rather than a broad aspiration. - The emphasis on barriers like access, trust and skills suggests the strategy is aimed at structural fixes, not just recruitment campaigns. - Linking the launch to America 250 gives the effort a symbolic deadline and a public-facing moment that could help drive attention and participation.

What’s next: - The New Era of Youth Service in America National Youth Participation Strategy will be announced at the Points of Light Conference in Washington, DC, on June 22-24. - The strategy is set to launch around July 4, 2026, in celebration of America 250. - Youth Service America and partner organizations will use the launch period to build support for the 10-year participation goals.