In observance of Plant a Tree Day, three youth representing Youth and Students for Peace participated in a tree planting project hosted by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful on September 25, 2021. Gathering in downtown Indianapolis, IN, the trio joined dozens of volunteers and residents of the community to plant trees in the George Kessler's Pleasant Run Parkway. The host organization’s mission is “to engage diverse communities to create vibrant public places, helping people and nature thrive”. All the volunteers were taught how to properly plant the 6 foot and taller trees and spent three hours working together as teams to plant 116 native trees all over the park. This was the YSP Indiana group’s first volunteer activity and they are looking forward to the next volunteer project they can participate in.
Shine City Project at Duck Creek Trail, Wetlands Park
After more than 18 months, Shine City Project returned to Wetlands Park! On September 18, 2021, the group of volunteers met at Duck Creek Trailhead of the park in honor of International Coastal Cleanup Day. The Clark County Wetlands Park is an area of 2,900 acres along the Las Vegas Wash, and it has an important role of filtering water that collects from Las Vegas on the way to Lake Mead. The task for the morning was to help remove litter from Duck Creek Trail, particularly along the waterways. As the volunteers collected litter, they were asked to keep track and report about each of the items that were picked up. Much of the litter that was found included plastic bottles, styrofoam pieces, cigarette butts, and food packaging, but some of the more unusual items were stuffed animals, a book, and a coconut. Representing Shine City Project, a total of fourteen volunteers participated with several new volunteers joining them for the first time!
Volunteering at Ahern Orchard, Las Vegas, NV
With the temperatures starting to cool, the Shine City Project group returned to doing outdoor service projects. On September 11, 2021, they volunteered for the first time at Ahern Orchard. Only a mile away from the casinos of Downtown, this Orchard is located on land that once belonged to Las Vegas's earliest Korean immigrants. In the 1930s and 1940s, Korean immigrant Frank Kim and his Hispanic wife, Juanita Sanchez, owned and operated what was called the Kim Produce Farm. On their 20-acre farm, from the poor desert soil, they were able to successfully grow melons, tomatoes, and onions that supported the local community.
Ending Strong with the Las Vegas Rescue Mission
On September 4, 2021, Shine City Project had their eleventh and final week helping at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Six volunteers gathered to help serve dinner for those who are currently residing at the Rescue Mission. After serving a tasty dinner of barbecue chicken wings, pizza, fries, salad, and more, the young volunteers cleaned up the dining hall, stacking chairs, taking care of the trash and sweeping then mopping the entire hall. They then headed over to Harrison House for dinner and some fun and games. After spending some time each week at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission for nearly three months, the group hopes that they could conclude their time there strong!
Return to the Rescue Mission!
On August 28, 2021, for the tenth week in a row, Shine City Project returned to volunteer at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. For that Saturday, five volunteers met in the kitchen to help with the morning preparation work. After a couple hours of cutting strawberries and onions to fill the metal food bins, the volunteers also helped with serving lunch for the residents of the Mission. On the menu was tasty meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The group finished the service work at the Mission and ended the day with their favorite ritual of visiting the Harrison House and got to share some delicious meatloaf and mashed potatoes with the Historic site’s Executive Director, Katherine Duncan.
Bronx Community Garden Service Project with Peace Road
On August 18, 2021 a Peace Road service project was organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP). Over 75 youth and volunteers from IAYSP, UPF, CARP (Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles), GPA (Generation Peace Academy), and local city and church communities from the tri-state area came together to help at the Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx, NYC. The volunteer activities included picking pears and apples, weeding, clearing areas, and beautifying the farm.
Shine City August Volunteering at LV Rescue Mission
For the first week in August, Shine City Project continued to volunteer at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. On August 7, 2021, six Shine City Project volunteers helped to pack meals for the homeless. On the menu was orange chicken and rice in addition to some sweet treats. The group also helped with individually wrapping donuts for future meal services. It was an easygoing afternoon at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. After all the work was completed, the volunteers gathered at Harrison House to enjoy some Popeyes!
Shine City July Service Volunteering
Throughout the month of July, 2021 the Shine City Project team volunteered at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission every weekend. Five to ten Shine City volunteers gathered for five Saturdays to help with either dinner service, meal packing, or lunch preparation and service.
The Las Vegas Rescue Mission has been helping those in need for over 50 years by offering food, shelter, addiction recovery, and spiritual support. Started by a pastor and six businessmen who received a calling to help those who are homeless and hungry, the Mission began as a small storefront building that included a chapel, kitchen, and shelter. Today, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission is a campus covering two city blocks in Downtown Las Vegas and helping hundreds daily.
Reflecting back on the experience, Kinesha, a Shine City volunteer, shared, "When serving food to anyone who is less fortunate than ourselves, it's so important to keep our hearts and attitudes in a humble space. We hope that what we're offering is not only food, but love as well. Those who have the least can often sense the heart and sincerity behind what we give. Let all that we do be done in love!"
After volunteering, the group would often head over to the Harrison House. Just a minute drive from the Rescue Mission in the Historic Westside, this historic home hosted black entertainers and travelers, such as Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey and Sammy Davis Jr. back when segregation laws didn’t allow them to stay in Las Vegas Hotels.
The volunteers would meet with Katherine Duncan, the Founding President of the Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce, as well as the current owner and resident of Harrison House, and friends of the Harrison house to share a meal together and discuss many topics, such as racism, the homeless population, the education system, and things affecting the community and ways to improve it. View Photos
International Leadership Conference Session on Youth Initiatives
From July 27-29, 2021 the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) held their second online ILC 2021 (International Leadership Conference) for North America. The online conference discusses how to bring about peacefully unifying the Korean peninsula and hosts speakers who are experts in various fields to share their knowledge and input on what realities we face and practical methods to be taken. This ILC was focused on Track II Diplomacy, humanitarian aid, NGOs and people-to-people engagement, including Faith-Based Organizations.
For the 6th Session of ILC2021, International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) was asked to moderate and share on “Youth Initiatives Toward Peace”. Moderating was IAYSP USA’s President, Miilhan Stephens and speakers included Mr. Koji Matsuda, IAYSP International President; Tarina Ahuja, Co-founder of The Greater Good Initiative; Samuel Read, Media & Communications Manager for IAYSP Korea; Kodai Abe, President of Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles Los Angeles (CARP LA); and Yoshie Manaka, Social Media Manager for Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA (FFWPU USA).
To watch the Youth Initiatives session recording CLICK HERE
For the full ILC2021 summary and details CLICK HERE
NJ City of Water Day Volunteering and Networking
On July 10, 2021 the national staff of International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IASYP) USA went to participate at a river clean up in Paterson, NJ organized by the City of Paterson, the Passaic River Coalition, the Paterson Green Team, and other organizations. Several members of the community and groups, such as the Appalachian Mountain Club and Silk City Anglers, also participated in the event at Westside Park with around thirty volunteers.
Representing IAYSP was the organization’s President, Miilhan Stephens, and National Program Coordinator, Naria Gaarder. Both came to volunteer and help with picking up trash along the water’s edge and were also able to connect and network with leaders of other environmental groups with prospects on collaborating on future environmental projects with youth.
Shine City at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission
After more than a year, Shine City Project’s volunteers returned to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission! The Las Vegas Rescue Mission was founded in 1970 as a nonprofit Christian organization focused on serving those in need through food, shelter, addiction recovery, and spiritual support. The Mission provides approximately 30,000 meals each month to hundreds of men, women, and children each day.
On June 26, 2021 the five Shine City volunteers were tasked with helping out the community dinner service. The group helped with keeping the water pitchers filled with ice water, assisting with check-ins and temperature checks, and distributing food trays. For several of the volunteers it was a new experience interacting with the homeless community members and offering the support and care that they need.
Intergenerational Volunteering with Healing Meals
On June 26, 2021 volunteers from International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) joined other volunteers once again at HealthBarn’s Healing Meals situated in Hawthorne, NJ. Healing Meals provides healthy meals for families with children undergoing treatment for cancer, serious blood disorders and sickle cell anemia, and recently added senior in need to the care list. The experience was meaningful, especially because those preparing the meals came from basically three generational ages. Regardless of the age difference, the shared activity created a strong sense of working for a common cause.
Shine City Park and Farm Service Work
The Shine City Project team has been busy in the month of June with participating in park clean up and maintenance with Get Outdoors Nevada and volunteering for the first time at the Las Vegas Farm.
On June 5, 2021 nine Shine City members gathered at Floyd Lamb Park to help with picking up macro and micro trash. The next week on June 12, seven volunteers helped at the Las Vegas Farm where rescued farm animals are cared for. On June 19, five members of Shine City joined a park clean up at Nicholas Flores Park where they were assigned to trim off “tree suckers” from the bases of trees. They also had the opportunity to meet North Las Vegas Councilman Scott Black who was also helping with trimming off these extra tree branches. June Volunteering Photos
Shine City May Volunteering
On May 22, 2021 four Shine City Project members volunteered at Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary in Las Vegas. Founded in 1979 by Bill Gilcrease, Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary is a place dedicated to providing a safe haven for animals in need. More than 500 animals make the sanctuary their home, including parrots, chickens, goats, pigs, turkeys, and tortoises. Some of their more unique residents include a mule deer, an ostrich, emus, peacocks, and llamas. The volunteers helped with cleaning and maintenance in preparation for the opening of the facility and got to interact with the animal residents. Project Photos
The following week on May 29, 2021, Shine City Project collaborated with CARP Las Vegas for a service project at the Vegas Roots Community Garden. This community-based garden provides Las Vegas residents an opportunity to grow their own food while promoting healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. A combined total of 24 volunteers helped with repainting structures, removing debris and weeding the gardens. Project Photos
Heart for People at the Oakland Chinatown Giveaway
On May 29th, 2021 young people from Youth and Students for Peace (YSP), Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) Bay Area, and Generation Peace Academy (GPA) gathered to help the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) for a service project in Oakland Chinatown, California. Many ACLC ministers had been working together for the past year to organize a giveaway project of food, backpacks, and school supplies. Read the full STORY HERE.
International Day of Families Online Youth Discussion
May 15th every year is recognized as the International Day of Families. To commemorate this day the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) held an Online Youth Discussion in partnership with Universal Peace Federation (UPF). Sharing her work with the United Nations and Families was guest speaker, Mrs. Lynn Walsh, the Director of the UPF International Office of the Family and serves on the Executive Committee of the NGO Committee on the Family at the United Nations representing UPF. She spoke on the topic of “Strong Families as Essential for Peace”.
Watch the event recording HERE.
Shine City Team Service Activities from April to May
The Shine City Project group have been on a role with weekly volunteer activities throughout the community of Las Vegas, Nevada.
On April 24, 2021, in honor of Earth Day, four Shine City volunteers joined many others at Project GREEN: Friends of Pittman Wash. The group focussed on removing invasive plants, mainly tamarisk, palm, and cottonwood. By removing these plants, other plants such as cattail, reeds, and sedges would be able to thrive at the wash.
On May 1, 2021, Shine City Project helped with picking up litter at Desert Breeze Park with Get Outdoors Nevada. The five volunteers were tasked to collect litter at an undeveloped area of desert land located directly south of the park to help prevent trash from being blown in. An assortment of items including articles of clothing, the remnants of fireworks, and even old cassette tapes were found. Combined with the Shine City team and other volunteers helping with maintaining the main park area, a total of 118 pounds of micro and macro trash was collected.
On May 8th five volunteers helped for the first time with the Vegas Roots Community Garden, and on May 15th six volunteers helped at Cashman Middle School with Green Our Planet for some intensive weeding of their school garden and orchards. With over 277 outdoor and hydroponic gardens at schools across the Clark County School District and elsewhere, Green Our Planet is the largest STEM school garden program in the United States!
New Jersey Habitat for Humanity Volunteering
On May 1, 2021 representatives of International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) New Jersey and Y Service of North Jersey volunteered together for a Habitat for Humanity project in Paterson, NJ. The volunteers committed 7 hours of their Saturday to help with the project.
“We thought we were going to construct, but instead, we de-constructed,” said Rev. Carol Pobanz, secretary of Y Service of North Jersey. The six volunteers worked with the Habitat for Humanity, Paterson, NJ demolition crew to prepare a house for reconstruction. The group removed walls, old insulation and all protruding nails in preparation for new plumbing, wiring and heating – all of the reconstruction meeting all current Energy Star standards.
One of the volunteers shared, “This was my first time with Habitat for Humanity. Never thought I'd find myself tearing down the walls of a house! Pulling out nails and letting them drop to the floor felt like I was making money haha. Kaching! Absolutely loved it! So exhilarating! Best of all I had the chance to deepen my friendships with some people I have not seen for a long time, and meet some wonderful new people as well.” PROJECT PHOTOS
Shine City at All Friends Animal Sanctuary
On April 18, 2021 Shine City Project visited the All Friends Animal Sanctuary just outside of Las Vegas, NV. They worked with Tara Pike-Nordstrom who founded the sanctuary, and is also the University of Nevada, LV (UNLV) Recycling Manager and Sustainability Coordinator. She was also the faculty advisor for Shine City Project when it was still a registered student organization at UNLV! The group’s most memorable cleanups back then was with Ms. Pike-Nordstrom and their late-night cleanups at Sam Boyd Stadium where they collected all of the bottles, cans, plastic cups, and other recyclable materials from the bleachers. All of these items filled hundreds of bags which then filled several large dumpsters.
On this Sunday afternoon, sixteen volunteers, including members of Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles Las Vegas (CARP LV) and Generation Peace Academy (GPA) met at Ms. Pike-Nordstrom’s home where she runs the All Friends Animal Sanctuary. The sanctuary’s mission is to rescue and provide a safe, lifelong home to animals in danger of being slaughtered, neglected and/or mistreated in Las Vegas. It currently is home to more than fifty animals, including chickens, cows, goats, pigs, turkeys, turtles, sheep, and a sulcata tortoise. After a tour of the sanctuary the volunteers got to experience up close and personal encounters with many of the animals as they helped with removing manure in several areas and cleaning then refilling food and waters bins.
Learn more about the sanctuary at allfriendsanimalsanctuary.wordpress.com
New Jersey YSP Chapter Launch
On April 25, 2021 New Jersey officially launched their Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) chapter via online conferencing. Participants who tuned in were introduced to what YSP is and its goals, had some fun trivia games about the United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals, and were introduced to the new YSP local coordinator, Miss. Elissa McMahon, and Chapter Advisor, Mrs. Carol Pobanz. The YSP USA President, Miilhan Stephens, also tuned in and shared how he was grateful for people like Elissa and Carol who are passionate to serve and engage the community and is excited for all the great things the New Jersey chapter will do!.
Interested in starting your own YSP chapter? Contact info@yspusa.org to learn how!