Written By Guest Blogger: James "Dewey" Harris

POWERED BY SERVICE APPLICATIONS DUE NOVEMBER 6TH

If you're a young person or know a young person with an idea to use a talent to create change Usher's New Look has the money to make it happen. We're looking to award 150 grants before the year is out. Make sure your idea is in the mix! First round applications are due November 6th - that's next Friday! All you have to do is be between the ages 12 and 20, live in one of six communities - Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans and New York - and have a unique idea to change your community.

Just like youth who participate in other Usher's New Look initiatives - youth who receive Powered By Service grants will combine their unique talents with business skills and service to create change in their community. To learn more and apply for a grant go to www.poweredbyservice.org.

PREVENTING MALARIA IS POWERED BY SERVICE

One of Usher's New Look's Moguls In Training, James "Dewey" Harris, successfully completed his Powered By Service project this past weekend. Dewey and fellow members of Urban Republic hosted a concert in Kansas City to raise awareness and funds to prevent malaria in Africa. Usher's New Look is partnering with the Nothing But Nets campaign in an effort to raise 40,000 bednets to cover the refugee camps in Ethiopia.

Dewey's was the first Powered By Service project completed for this campaign and he raised over $500 for the Nothing But Nets campaign. The primary way youth are raising nets is through a mobile texting campaign where individuals can donate $5 by texting "bednets" to 90999.Dewey and members of Urban Republic reflect on their experience below:

Maria Juliet: "First off I would like to thank New Look for helping us with the event. I feel very blessed in having the opportunity to be apart in such a great cause. I've always wanted to reach out and help the community and those in need and also use our talents. The Urban Republic Serve Swagg Fest was exciting; people came out and showed love. We rose over $500 in donations and selling hot dogs. I was happy to see people in the community take time out and support us and show that they cared about the people all the way in Africa. It was a once in a lifetime feeling and I’m looking forward to doing this again. Thank you so much."

Dewey: "This was an experience of a lifetime I enjoyed it; all the grinding trying to get the word out posting flyers, organizing friends in the community and just seeing how everyone came out for one good cause and seeing so much diversity amongst the crowd. It was really moving to start from nothing and raise over $500 I say it was a success.Overall it was fun. I was honored to be a part of this Powered By Service project. Once again thank all of y'all for everything!!!! People are still talking about the event wondering when we are going to do it again!!!

Nova: "The experience I received today was amazing, and I was very glad to be a part of this event. The fact of helping make a difference beyond my city, state, region and even country truly makes this an unforgettable experience. Raising over $500 in donations and hot dogs made me realize that our voice was truly heard and awareness raised with the help of our community. The community made me feel really good that they cared about a cause that was hundreds of miles from their residence. Performing was really fun and using my talents to help a cause was great also. Overall the event was fun and a wonderful experience. I look forward to doing this again and I would like to thank you for providing such a great experience."

PUBLIC ALLIES ARE POWERED BY SERVICE

Public Allies is changing the face and practice of leadership to meet the demands of new times. Public Allies operates nationally and in 20 communities across America through a 10-month leadership development program, an Alumni network, and The Leadership Practice consulting group. Public Allies' mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation. Young people who commit to a year of service through Public Allies are truly Powered By Service!

Usher's New Look is fortunate to have three fantastic Public Allies on our team to support youth in three communities plan and implement their Powered By Service projects.

Lila Starbuck is representing New York City. She has been living in New York for a year now and just completed another AmeriCorps program during which she worked with teens in the South Bronx as a Health Educator. Before that, she worked for HIV/AIDS and domestic violence organizations. Her home state is New Jersey and she graduated from Brandeis University '08, with a BA in Psychology. Other passions of hers include community activism, creative arts, and bicycling. Lila is extremely honored to be part of the team and looks forward to an amazing and challenging year to come!

Rachel Neal is bringing it in Milwaukee. Rachel hails from the farmland of the frigid southwest region of Wisconsin. She recently graduated from UW Milwaukee with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts. She is the proud mother of a very energetic 4 year old and is looking forward to making Milwaukee a great place for him to grow up in. She is very excited to be working with Usher's New Look and Public Allies.

And, Jay Esquerra is holding it down in Los Angeles. Jay has a background in promoting youth activism and a background in media arts and filmmaking.Like many artists, Jay often work on his art with little to no budget, but still manages to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.He is serving as a second-year public fellow through Public Allies. He is an alumnus from UCLA where he majored in ethnic studies and was active in student-led retention and outreach projects while in college.

If you are in one of these communities and want to get in touch with our Public Allies send us a shout out on the Powered By Service website www.poweredbyservice.org/contactus.