Realize the Dream Grades 7 to 12 - Community Service - Issue Card - Discussion Questions

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Decline in community service participation among youth from 2019–2021 is highlighted, with engagement still below pre-pandemic levels. The material explores causes such as lack of time, unawareness of organizations, assumptions about needing money instead of presence, uncertainty about how to begin, and limited encouragement or support. It connects volunteering to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and emphasizes volunteer necessity for charities and nonprofits, alongside growing demand for food banks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Issue Card

Decline in Community Service

Discussion Questions

Sustainable Development Goal Connection

Take Action

ISSUE CARD DECLINE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE From 2019-2021, the number of young people engaging in community service dropped significantly. Even today, young people’s engagement in service is still lower than pre-pandemic levels. Because of social media and the internet, young people have more exposure to local issues than ever before, and care deeply about different issues, yet they are not taking action. Why do you think this may be? Not having the time or being too over scheduled with activities and schoolwork? Being unaware of the organizations that need help? Assuming that local organizations need funds rather than physical presence? Not knowing how to get started? Being unsure about who will encourage or support their efforts? Sustainable Development Goal Connection Volunteering and Community Service connects to all 17 of the SDGs. In fact, there’s not a single goal that doesn’t connect service to greater peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future. | ONLY 25 % OF THE YOUTH POPULATION PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY SERVICE . | | --- | | | | VOLUNTEERS ARE CRUCIAL FOR CHARITIES AND NONPROFITS, MANY OF WHICH WOULD NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT THEIR VOLUNTEERS . | | | | THE NEED FOR FOOD BANKS HAS INCREASED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT THE LACK OF VOLUNTEERS HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MEET THE GROWING NEED. | ISSUE CARD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. mean when he said,“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” 2. How is community service a responsibility of Americans, like voting and civic engagement? 3. What types of community service do you see most often? 4. What are ways that you could help encourage more people to take action in community service? GO DEEPER Check out more info in the Community Service—Unifying Youth Through Action Campaign [at](at educationplus.org)[ ](at educationplus.org)[educationplus.or](at educationplus.org)[g](at educationplus.org) TAKE ACTION You’re invited to participate in the Realize the Dream initiative! Join today and make a positive impact on your community and inspire others to act and serve.

FAQs

What change in community service participation is described for young people?

From 2019–2021, the number of young people engaging in community service dropped significantly, and it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels even today.

What reasons are suggested for young people not taking action in community service?

Possible reasons include not having time due to being over-scheduled, not knowing which organizations need help, assuming organizations only need funds, not knowing how to get started, and being unsure who will encourage or support their efforts.

How does the document connect volunteering and community service to the Sustainable Development Goals?

It states that volunteering and community service connects to all 17 SDGs and supports greater peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and in the future.

Oct 19, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai