"The Ruddie Memorial Youth Foundation aims to identify and disseminate innovative and effective programs for helping underprivileged youth reach their full potential.

The foundation supports programs that provide youth (birth to 25 years of age) with new opportunities for health, personal growth, and success in the United States. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations based in the greater metropolitan areas of Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Madison, Milwaukee, New York City, Philadelphia (new this year), San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the foundation's Evaluation Grants program, the only grant opportunity available to first-time applicants, is to identify innovative methods that are effective.... Evaluation grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 each.

The deadline for online applications to the Evaluation Grants program is July 31, 2009."

"During the April bloom of 2007, Google introduced a refreshingly inventive new online social utility tool called Google My Map that, from my perspective, is a powerful addition to the youth media arsenal. The Google My Map (GMM) application allows users to add digital content (text, video, paths, shapes, photos) to a satellite-imaged map of Earth, creating a personalized and annotated mashup that can be shared online with anyone in the world. The tool is easily learned through Google’s own tutorials and beneath the surface lays an endless array of possibilities for youth media educators."

"Some video games can make children kinder and more likely to help—not hurt—other people.

That's the conclusion of new research published in the June 2009 issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

The article presents the findings of three separate studies, conducted in different countries with different age groups, and using different scientific approaches. All the studies find that playing games with prosocial content causes players to be more helpful to others after the game is over.

The report is co-authored by a consortium of researchers from the United States, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia."

"'Beyond the Bricks' Project is a film and discussion tour whose goal is to share and promote ideas on solving one of America's critical issues in education; the consistently low performance of school aged Black males in the public school system. Did you know that America's public schools are only graduating 47% of Black males students. The near 50% drop out is alarming and they are consistently the lowest performing students in 46 states. This is a national crisis....

We have engaged scholars who have focused their research on this problem; we speak with educators and administrators, politicians and activists in gathering these results. We also follow 2 students who tell of their struggles to improve their circumstances.

The Beyond the Bricks project's efforts are to promote hope by engaging communities, policy makers, schools, educators and students in constructive discussions about what we all can do to begin to help our kids better prepare for their futures. The project's website is presented as an additional portal to further the exchange of ideas and provide pertinent information on the issues."

Edutopia blogger Katie Klinger reflects: "Society today seems more likely than ever to accept the idea of holistic solutions to educational and community problems.... Liahona Youth Empowerment is a Polynesian organization doing exactly this. Nate and Linda Dudoit have given freely from their hearts to create a multifaceted service program for special-needs and at-risk youth.

The word liahona refers to a holistic approach, or navigational direction, based on personal empowerment through proper physical, spiritual, and life-skills training. Their chosen vehicle is after-school programs in Hawaii held in local parks and community centers.

In fall 2009, nearly 700 students will apply to participate in the five Liahona programs: Strength/Condition, Healthy Bodies Education, Performing Arts, Dance and Music, Vocational and Computer Programs and Life Enrichment, and Senior Volunteers. It is the design and delivery of these programs -- not the labels -- that has drawn students to the organization for three years."