Mayerson Service-Learning Program

News: Onward & Upward

The Mayerson Foundation is no longer operating the Service Learning Program.  After the 2017-18 Academic Year; The Mayerson Foundation was humbled to work with a network of impassioned and capable nonprofit partners to pass the baton of the most transformational program elements to their organizations. 

History: About The Program

The Mayerson Service-Learning Program (MSLP) began in 1994 to support the involvement of high schools in strengthening our community through volunteer service. Through the MSLP, The Foundation provided funding, training and technical support to 120 local high schools through a consultative process. We responded to requests for assistance from schools to implement or improve the fulfillment of mandatory service hours, to integrate service in the academic curriculum, to enhance community service with preparation or reflection activities, and to recognize student achievement in the areas of service and volunteerism. Other program offerings that were made available to high schools were as follows:

Student Service Conference & Challenge

This annual workshop includes students and teachers from each school to attend a day-long workshop to share ideas in service and service-learning, share best practices from other schools, and learn about ways various nonprofit organizations are engaging teens in community change.

One-on-One Consultation

Are you new to service-learning, or, looking to go deeper?  Want to integrate service with your curriculum?  Engage students with a nonprofit partner to help meet community needs? Magnified Giving is continuing this important resource to work through meaningful partnership and service-learning design.

Summer Service Program

For years, students from diverse local high schools lived in a local college dormitory during the summer and work full-time in social service agencies while learning about poverty, homelessness, health issues, housing, elderly, and children.  Thanks to a partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center for Service Learning and Magnified Giving, this program will continue to be hosted at St. Vincent de Paul!

Faculty or Staff In Service

Professional development for small to large groups of faculty and staff is available for free for your high school.  Topics range from action research integrated into the service-learning process, understanding IPDARD, reviewing best practices, and digging into the Quality Standards for Excellence.  Magnified Giving has a whole menu for you to choose from!

Grants

The Mayerson Foundation historically offered grants for service-learning and community service programs/projects. Grants were invested to reduce barriers of quality service-learning and community service projects, support the role of community service & service-learning in schools, and encourage meaningful reflection techniques following students’ service experience; including, but not limited to, art as a mechanism for reflection.  Contact Greater Cincinnati Foundation for opportunities to apply for Learning Links or Summertime Kids grants.

Mayerson Book Award

During the 25 years of operating the program, we provided seminal texts in the service literature field to be awarded by schools to an outstanding student in recognition of his/her contributions to service.

More about Mayerson Book Award & Texts Chosen

Shantytown: Thinking Outside the Box

Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky City-Wide Shantytown is organized through the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and encourages and supports student-led shantytowns or hunger & homeless awareness initiatives at individual school sites or in partnership with other high schools.

More about Shantytown