R&S Newsletter!

Dear Roots & Shoots Leaders & Members,

In this issue:

Announcing the "How Green is Our Future?" Essay and Art Contest
ING Unsung Heroes Awards
Conference Focuses on Campus Community Service - C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference
Civiconnections Program
Action Alert Update: Write a thank you letter to Comcast Cable

Announcing the "How Green is Our Future?" Essay and Art Contest

The Roots & Shoots program and Weekly Reader invite students in grades K to 12 to take part in our national essay and art contest, "How Green is Our Future?" The deadline is March 15, 2006. Three winners will be selected in each grade. Prizes will include: first prize $50.00 plus an autographed Jane Goodall book, second prize $25.00 plus an autographed Jane Goodall book, and third prize an autographed Jane Goodall book. The contests lead up to a poll designed to glean kids' thoughts about the environment and help them have a voice on environmental issues. The "How Green is Our Future? Kids Decide" Poll will be held March 15 to April 15. For more information about the "How Green is Our Future?" Essay and Art Contest, please visit http://www.rootsandshoots.org/about-us/contest.asp.

ING Unsung Heroes Awards

The Public Education Network's weekly NewsBlast brings word of the ING Unsung Heroes Awards. This program celebrates innovative and progressive thinking in education through projects that directly improve student learning. Past awards have gone directly to classroom educators and school leaders. 100 public and private school educators from the 50 states receive a $2,000 award. Three finalists earn further rewards: $25,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place. 2006 award candidates must apply by May 1. For more about the ING Unsung Heroes Awards, including a link to the application, visit http://www.ing.com/us/aboutING/communityconnections/ ineducation/unsungheroes/001137.html.

Conference Focuses on Campus Community Service - C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference

The C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference is the largest convening in the country of campus community members involved in service, activism, politics, and socially responsible work. For 21 years, this conference has brought together student leaders and activists, campus administrators, and nonprofit professionals for three days of networking, storytelling, and learning. College students and nonprofit professionals from across the country who are actively engaged in service, activism, and civic life on their campuses and in their communities are encouraged to attend. The conference will be held March 3-5, 2006 in Nashville, TN. For registration information, visit http://www.idealist.org/conferences/cool/2006/.

CiviConnections Program

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) CiviConnections program links local historical inquiry with community service-learning activities nationwide in 3rd-12th grade classrooms. CiviConnections projects during the 2006/07 school year will focus on: Poverty, Health Care, Discrimination, or the Environment. Maximum Award: $7,500. Eligibility: teams of three teachers from grades 3-12 in the same public school district with membership in NCSS or agreeing to join if selected; must partner with at least one local community agency and meet certain other requirements (see website). Deadline: February 24, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.civiconnections.org/.

Action Alert Update: Write a thank you letter to Comcast Cable

Great news! Comcast Cable has informed the Chimpanzee Collaboratory that they won't be using great apes in their ads in the foreseeable future! We are especially thankful to them for recognizing that the use of great apes in entertainment is not a responsible business practice. Please send Jennifer Khoury of Comcast a note to let her know you appreciate the decision.

Jennifer Khoury
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Comcast Corporation Headquarters
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Jennifer_Khoury@comcast.com