Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Let’s Read. Let’s Move. 2013 -- How to Get Involved

Dear National Service Colleagues:

Hello! I am writing to let you know that on May 29, 2013 we are launching the United We Serve: Let’s Read. Let’s Move. initiative for the summer! Let’s Read. Let’s Move. (LRLM) is in its fourth year, and while every year it has looked a little different, the goals haven’t changed – we want to encourage and support the activities of individuals and organizations that are working to:

• Combat summer learning loss by promoting summer reading
• Promote health and exercise to decrease childhood obesity rates
• Link children with summer food programs to eradicate summer hunger

The event tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29th will bring together the Junior League of Washington, celebrating its 100th year of service to the DC community, with DC Public Schools to provide more than 15,000 books to more than 3,000 students. Fifty second-graders will be treated to a book reading with Wendy Spencer, the CEO of CNCS, followed by a fun movement activity. They will also select four new books to take home! It’s a great way to start the summer.

Each month for the rest of the summer, we will be spotlighting one of the three issues noted above:

• June:  Nutrition and Summer Food for Hungry Children
• July: Movement and Exercise/ Childhood Obesity
• August: Reading, Literacy and Summer Learning Loss

We’ll provide information about these themes (maybe a few more events, too) but we also want to give you a chance to shine! Many of you already do work around these issues from running summer sports camps and hosting book giveaways to helping kids create gardens.

1. TELL ME ABOUT IT: Send an email, send pictures, or give us a heads up on upcoming special events. (Remember, if it falls under one of the themes, you can utilize the name in materials or talk about it using the Twitter hashtag #LRLM . Not sure? Ask us.)
2. GOT RESOURCES?: We are always looking to find and share great resources, toolkits, etc.
3. REGISTER YOUR PROJECT: If volunteers from the public can help you, then register your project on Serve.gov; and if that process seems too daunting, get in touch and we’ll be happy to get the information needed to make it happen.

Warmly,
Adriana Lopez (alopez@cns.gov)
Project Manager, Office of External Affairs, CNCS

PS: Want to get started right away? Send an email with the name of your favorite book as a kid, or of the kids you work with; it may get mentioned in a “Books of National Service” feature later this summer