%3Cp%3EBooks%20Not%20Bars%20is%20a%20dynamic%20and%20inspiring%20campaign%20created%20by%20the%20Ella%20Baker%20Center%2C%20a%20multifaceted%20action%20center%20that%20works%20to%20create%20peace%20in%20urban%20neighborhoods.%20Books%20Not%20Bars%20strives%20to%20reclassify%20resources%20away%20from%20youth%20incarceration%20and%20toward%20youth%20opportunities.%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0ABy%20working%20to%20close%20the%20juvenile%20prisons%2C%20which%20are%20often%20overcrowded%20and%20inhumane%2C%20Books%20Not%20Bars%20hopes%20to%20replace%20them%20with%20rehabilitation%20centers%20and%20community-based%20support%20groups.%20Make%20sure%20to%20check%20out%20their%20site%20for%20more%20information%20on%20the%20connection%20between%20prisons%20and%20education.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0AWhile%20you%27re%20there%2C%20sign%20up%20as%20a%20volunteer%21%20%26nbsp%3BVolunteers%20help%20out%20with%20fundraising%20events%20and%20spread%20the%20word%20about%20prison%20injustice.%20You%20can%20also%20make%20a%20donation%20and%20check%20out%20the%20latest%20news%20on%20Books%20Not%20Bars.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EIf%20you%27re%20ready%20to%20go%20to%20college%2C%20but%20are%20intimidated%20by%20the%20high%20cost%20of%20college%20tuition%2C%20volunteer%20for%20AmeriCorps.%20Created%20by%20the%20Clinton%20administration%20in%201993%2C%20AmeriCorps%20is%20a%20U.S.%20federal%20government%20program%20that%20uses%20volunteer%20teachers%20to%20improve%20public%20education%20throughout%20the%20country.%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0Aif%20you%20show%20that%20you%20are%20willing%20to%20help%20students%20in%20needy%20communities%2C%20AmeriCorps%20will%20pay%20you%20up%20to%20%245%2C000%20to%20help%20fund%20your%20future%20college%20education.%20%26nbsp%3BYou%20can%20also%20use%20this%20money%20to%20pay%20student%20loans%2C%20if%20you%20have%20already%20graduated.%20Some%20of%20the%20AmeriCorps%20placement%20programs%20even%20provide%20volunteers%20with%20a%20small%20living%20stipend.%20%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0AAlso%2C%20if%20you%20attend%20one%20of%20the%2086%20%22matching%22%20institutions%2C%20you%20can%20increase%20your%20AmeriCorps%26nbsp%3Bstipend%26nbsp%3Bwith%20matching%20funds%20from%20the%20college%20you%20choose%20to%20attend.%20So%20sign%20up%20today%20and%20show%20that%20you%20are%20ready%20to%20help%21%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3ECurrently%2C%20children%20who%20were%20brought%20to%20the%20United%20States%20by%20undocumented%20parents%20are%20attending%20high%20school%20and%2C%20subsequently%2C%20applying%20for%20college.%20However%2C%20they%20are%20not%20allowed%20to%20receive%20financial%20aid%20for%20college.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0ABut%20the%20Development%2C%20Relief%2C%20and%20Education%20for%20Alien%20Minors%20%28DREAM%29%20Act%20works%20to%20help%20the%2065%2C000%20students%20who%20are%20raised%20in%20the%20U.S.%20and%20deserve%20the%20benefits%20of%20graduating%20from%20high%20school.%20Because%20it%26rsquo%3Bs%20not%20fair%20that%20these%20students%20%26ndash%3B%20many%20of%20whom%20are%20on%20the%20honor%20roll%20and%20actively%20involved%20in%20extracurricular%20activities%20%26ndash%3B%20are%20punished%20for%20their%20parents%26rsquo%3B%20decisions.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0ASigning%20a%20petition%20to%20enact%20the%20DREAM%20Act%20would%20show%20Congress%20that%20you%20care%20about%20legally%20recognizing%20that%20these%20students%20belong%20here.%20So%20far%2C%20there%20are%20more%20than%2022%2C671%20supporters%20in%2050%20states.%20And%20it%20just%20takes%20a%20few%20minutes%20to%20do%20your%20part%20and%20sign%20the%20petition%21%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EAs%20the%20price%20for%20college%20tuition%20continues%20to%20increase%2C%20students%20need%20your%20help%20now%20more%20than%20ever.%20In%20addition%20to%20financial%20aid%20services%2C%20many%20students%20are%20pursuing%20scholarships%20to%20supplement%20their%20education.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0AScholarship%20America%20is%20dedicated%20to%20raising%20money%20for%20scholarships%20and%20educational%20support%2C%20in%20an%20ongoing%20effort%20to%20make%20postsecondary%20education%20a%20reality%20for%20all%20students.%20It%20was%20started%20in%201958%2C%20with%20a%20%26ldquo%3BDollars%20for%20Scholars%26rdquo%3B%20plan%2C%20and%20is%20now%20the%20largest%20non-profit%2C%20private-sector%20scholarship%20organization%20in%20the%20nation.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0ACheck%20out%20their%20site%20to%20learn%20about%20past%20students%20who%20have%20benefited%20from%20Scholarship%20America%2C%20and%20take%20the%20opportunity%20to%20help%20more%20kids%20pursue%20their%20dreams%20of%20going%20to%20college.%20You%20can%20also%20sign%20up%20for%20the%20Scholar%20Online%20e-newsletter.%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EThe%20process%20of%20applying%20for%20financial%20aid%20to%20go%20to%20college%20can%20be%20especially%20daunting%2C%20especially%20if%20you%20do%20not%20have%20any%20outside%20help.%20So%20if%20you%20know%20a%20student%20who%20is%20applying%20to%20college%2C%20offer%20to%20give%20him%20or%20her%20a%20hand%20navigating%20through%20the%20myriad%20of%20complicated%20forms%20and%20questions.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0AFinAid%20is%20especially%20useful%20for%20this%20since%20it%20has%20made%20a%20point%20to%20narrow%20down%20the%20financial%20aid%20process%20as%20much%20as%20possible%20for%20kids%20all%20over%20the%20country.%20Over%20the%20years%2C%20FinAid%20has%20proved%20to%20be%20an%20invaluable%20tool%20for%20students%2C%20parents%2C%20and%20guidance%20counselors%20by%20providing%2024-hour%20assistance%20about%20all%20issues%20related%20to%20financial%20aid.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0ABut%20not%20every%20student%20has%20a%20parent%20or%20guidance%20counselor%20to%20bring%20FinAid%20to%20his%20or%20her%20attention%2C%20so%20make%20sure%20to%20share%20this%20important%20tool%20with%20the%20kids%20in%20your%20life.%20Then%20volunteer%20your%20time%20to%20them%20by%20helping%20to%20find%20links%20to%20other%20useful%20financial%20aid%20sites.%20And%20don%26rsquo%3Bt%20hesitate%20to%20field%20your%20questions%20to%20the%20FinAid%20representatives%21%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EOne%20of%20the%20most%20effective%20ways%20to%20call%20for%20more%20aid%20to%20higher%20education%20is%20by%20voting.%26nbsp%3B%20The%20League%20of%20Voters%20Education%20Fund%20provides%20a%20simple%20voting%20guide%20that%20makes%20understanding%20the%20voting%20process%20a%20whole%20lot%20easier.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%26rsquo%3Bs%20a%20super-simple%20process%20but%2C%20of%20course%2C%20the%20first%20step%20is%20to%20find%20out%20if%20you%26rsquo%3Bre%20registered.%20From%20there%2C%20use%20their%20tool%20to%20find%20a%20voter%20guide%20for%20your%20area%2C%20and%20you%20can%20even%20make%20your%20own%20guide%20for%20other%20people%20to%20use.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThen%2C%20once%20you%26rsquo%3Bve%20gathered%20all%20the%20information%20you%20need%20on%20funding%20for%20higher%20education%2C%20it%26rsquo%3Bs%20time%20to%20go%20to%20the%20polls%21%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EThe%20National%20Association%20of%20Independent%20Colleges%20and%20Universities%20%28NAICU%29%20has%20been%20serving%20as%20the%20unified%20national%20voice%20of%20independent%20higher%20education%20institutions%20since%201976.%20NAICU%20works%20to%20represent%20colleges%20and%20universities%20on%20policy%20issues%20with%20the%20federal%20government%20by%20meeting%20with%20policy%20makers%2C%20tracking%20campus%20trends%2C%20and%20conducting%20research.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ENow%20you%20can%20work%20to%20find%20your%20local%20congress%20representatives%2C%20track%20important%20issues%20and%20legislation%20on%20funding%20for%20higher%20education%2C%20and%20use%20the%20site%26rsquo%3Bs%20informative%20media%20guide.%26nbsp%3B%20Use%20the%20NAICE%20Action%20Center%20to%20find%20your%20elected%20officials%2C%20issues%20and%20legislation%2C%20election%20and%20candidates%2C%20and%20media%20center.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Issues%20and%20Legislation%20is%20especially%20effective%20for%20tracking%20the%20important%20issues%20that%20relate%20to%20funding%20for%20higher%20education.%20Check%20out%20the%20page%20to%20follow%20current%20legislation%2C%20which%20is%20conveniently%20provided%20alongside%20summaries%20and%20status%20information%20about%20key%20bills.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

%3Cp%3EThe%20Council%20for%20Advancement%20and%20Support%20of%20Education%20%28CASE%29%20is%20a%20certified%20organization%20that%20works%20to%20serve%20higher%20educational%20institutions.%20In%20its%20support%20of%20the%20alumni%20relations%2C%20communications%20department%2C%20and%20marketing%20developments%20at%20a%20variety%20of%20colleges%2C%20CASE%20works%20to%20develop%20relationships%20with%20foundations%20that%20are%20willing%20to%20help%20fund%20higher%20education.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEvery%20year%2C%20CASE%20enlists%20the%20help%20of%20over%20350%20volunteers%20to%20serve%20on%20its%20boards%20and%20advisory%20groups.%20Also%2C%20more%20than%203%2C200%20individuals%20around%20the%20country%20sign%20on%20to%20volunteer%20as%20speakers%2C%20authors%2C%20conference%20and%20event%20planners.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESo%20you%20can%20dedicate%20as%20much%20time%20to%20CASE%20as%20you%20have%3A%20whether%20it%26rsquo%3Bs%20one%20night%2C%20hosting%20an%20event%2C%20or%20a%20multi-year%20term%20on%20the%20CASE%20Board%20of%20Trustees.%20No%20matter%20what%20you%20do%2C%20though%2C%20volunteers%20keep%20CASE%20going%2C%20and%20any%20amount%20of%20time%20counts.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A