4/25/2013 - Jackson, Miss.

Thousands of Mississippi's young people will join together to tackle one of Mississippi's most challenging issues, the health of its citizens, for Global Youth Service Day. Volunteer activities and celebration events will be coordinated by America Reads-Mississippi (ARM) members and youth. ARM is the official organizer of Global Youth Service Day in Mississippi.

Global Youth Service Day plans across Mississippi will include community health awareness projects that will engage more than 3,000 youth and volunteers who will be creating ways to target Mississippi's health issues. Additionally, educational demonstrations are planned by local community leaders to assist with raising the awareness of the health issues in the state of Mississippi. The events will be held April 26-28, 2013.

America Reads-Mississippi has mobilized a coalition of over 100 local and regional nonprofits, community groups and schools to participate in Global Youth Service Day activities.

Mississippi's young people will join millions of others around the world for Global Youth Service Day. Now in its 25th year, Global Youth Service Day recognizes the positive impact that young people have on their communities 365 days a year. As the largest service event in the world, Global Youth Service Day is celebrated in more than 100 countries and all 50 states.

America Reads-Mississippi was selected to serve as a Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency by YSA (Youth Service America), the founder and chief convener of Global Youth Service Day. The designation includes a $2,000 planning grant from YSA and State Farm®, as well as ongoing support, technical assistance, and networking opportunities with other youth-service leaders across the nation.

"We are thrilled to work with America Reads-Mississippi and the thousands of young people in Mississippi who will serve and celebrate on Global Youth Service Day," said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of YSA.

"We are training and engaging our youth in service to become strong community leaders and ambassadors for their communities, not just on Global Youth Service, but everyday," said Nikitna Barnes, YSA Lead Agency Representative and ARM Special Projects Coordinator.

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ARM is an AmeriCorps program focused on improving the reading skills of students, encouraging public awareness and support of literacy, and helping to increase the number of certified teachers in Mississippi.

ARM is made possible through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and operates regionally through a partnership with six of Mississippi's public universities.

ARM oversight at the state level is a joint effort through the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). The IHL Board of Trustees, which governs public universities, has committed to helping ensure students are ready for college and teachers receive first-rate training at universities across the state.

To find out more about America Reads-Mississippi and/or ARM GYSD service projects, contact Nikitna Barnes at nbarnes@mississippi.edu or visit www.americareadsms.org.

To learn more about GYSD service activities around the world visit www.gysd.org.

State Farm® is the presenting sponsor of Global Youth Service Day in the United States.

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