Evening out the playing field: Finding fun and fulfillment as a youth tutor.

Making the Most of Summer: Time to make plans for your summer vacation.

A Walk in the Park: A first person account by a teen community worker.

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Get out and make a difference
By Cameron Livsey, age 19
Norfolk, Virginia

Summertime is here again. Teens everywhere are flocking to the beach or relaxing at home. Some critics would criticize that it's all part of Generation Y's lack of ambition to work on bettering themselves through summer jobs and volunteer work. This myth should be laid to rest. Students from all over the country are finding ways to improve their communities and are still finding time to enjoy their summer.

Jeff Erickson's sixth grade class at River City Middle school, in Charleston, South Carolina, is just one example of this balance. These ambitious young students decided that their environmental class project would address the issue of abandoned houses and vacant lots in the neighborhoods near their school. They gathered research on the damage to the houses and used it to create a lasting solution to the problem.

The students then process the information into a scrapbook to present to Charleston's City Council in February 2000. The book included over 50 pictures, maps, and detailed information of the properties. Not long after the meeting, the city began to cleanup some of the properties, including a lot near Rivers Middle School. One of the abandoned commercial properties has even been transformed into a community center that is decorated with artwork from the school.

The kids feel great about their contribution to their community. Student Vernita Akerman states, " We feel great [about helping the community]. With our help, people really took action and cleaned up their property the way they should have years ago. We feel so proud of ourselves!"

And they should be. The students were awarded the Presidential Service Award for their outstanding volunteerism they exhibited in their community.

About a year ago, in Washington, D.C., Kenneth Cain witnessed a fellow student and friend get shot because he was wearing cool shoes. Fueled by the thought that someone he loves could be a victim, Kenneth decided to fight against gun violence.

Last September, Kenneth contacted the Co/Motion Youth Gun Violence Prevention Initiative under the Alliance for Justice. Co/Motion helps to train students on how to conduct interviews and lobby officials so that their mission can be clearly heard. Kenneth and his fellow tenth-grade students, have use their training to research facts on gun codes in the Washington, D.C. area. The information gathered has been used to interview the District's Metropolitan Police Department on gun trafficking between Maryland and Virginia.

During the interview, the D.C. Police informed the students that they have programs to address gun violence, but there is nothing that specifically addresses trafficking.

Kenneth, along with fellow students Benrod Lockamy and Amber Floyd, published their findings and concerns in D.C.'s independent newspaper, The Common Denominator. Kenneth enjoys the attention brought on by his hard work. He had even been able to meet some celebrities such as Deloris Jordan and Oprah Winfrey. But his ultimate goal is to talk to the President of the Untied States.

The work involved with organizations such as these is definitely worth the time and effort out into them. Volunteering for organizations for personal reasons or interests can help persuade future decisions. Applications to colleges, scholarships, etc. recommend volunteerism as an extracurricular activity. But whatever the reason, make sure there is time to spend at the beach.

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