Sunrise of Philadelphia – Group Supervisor/Education Specialist.

Sunrise of Philadelphia is seeking a Group Supervisor/Education Specialist.  The full-time position reports to the CEO and is responsible for the year round development, organization and programs catering to youth in an after school setting.

Responsibilities include monitoring, supervising and evaluating all after school programs and staff, relating to youth development, education, life skills and job readiness; cultivating relationships and serving as liaison with youth leaders, public and parochial schools, other agencies, community leaders and funders; ensuring a youth focus by working with youth; enhancing the quality of after school and summer programs; developing quality youth employment opportunities; monitoring program budget; and writing, applying for and managing grants.

Candidates must have a Masters Degree in a related field and a minimum of two-three years in youth development, education or after school programming.  Email resume, a writing sample and references to the President/CEO of Sunrise at Asandvl@aol.com of Philadelphia by August 1st.  No phone calls please.

The recently launched CTK Foundation Philanthropic Fund is sponsoring the Heart and  Soul Grant – a national grant competition that provides the opportunity for one selected, eligible nonprofit organization to win a $10,000 grant and a professionally produced song by Grammy Award-winning recording artists Los Lonely Boys.

Nonprofits will submit a 4-8 line poem as part of their grant application. The poem should express the heart of their service mission. If selected, the poem will become the basis of a song, written and produced by Los Lonely Boys and presented, along with a video of the performance of the song, for non-commercial, community education and awareness.

The selected nonprofit will also receive a non-restricted $10,000 cash grant, which may be used for any purpose that fosters greater understanding of the nonprofit’s mission in their community.

The deadline for applications is August 15th.  To learn more about the grant and how to apply, go here.

http://www.communitytech.net/ctkfoundation/517/the-ctk-foundation

Ameriprise provides grants to nonprofit organizations in communities across the United States where its employees, advisors, and retirees live and work. The company prefers to direct funding to specific projects that can demonstrate innovative approaches with measurable results or capacity building rather than general operating support. In the Meeting Basic Needs category, the company supports programs and services that help at-risk populations stabilize their lives and become more self-sufficient. Consideration will be given to programs that help provide food, shelter, and self sufficiency. The Supporting Community Vitality category supports programs and services that build strong communities by creating economic vitality and cultural enrichment. Support is provided in the areas of community development, cultural enrichment, civic leadership, disaster response and recovery, and environmental awareness. The Volunteer Driven Causes category allows Ameriprise employees, advisors, and retirees to help determine where and how a portion of the grants are directed.

Deadline: September 1, 2009

http://www.ameriprise.com/about-ameriprise-financial/company-information/ameriprise-community-relations.asp

The National Eye Institute recognizes the importance of strengthening the capabilities of community-based organizations to develop innovative eye health education and promotion projects. The Institute provides the Healthy Vision Community Awards to collaborative initiatives that support the vision objectives in Healthy People 2010, including a focus on eye examinations and prevention, eye diseases, injury and safety, and vision rehabilitation.  Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including community-based organizations and groups, minority-based organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, civic and fraternal groups, and local health departments and agencies.

Deadline: August 31, 2009

http://healthyvision2010.org/news/hvca/

100 expected grants.  IRS is authorized to enter into agreements with private or non-governmental public non-profit agencies or organizations, exempt under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code that will provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who provide free tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their Federal income tax returns. Grant funds are used to reimburse volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses including transportation, meals, and other expenses incurred by them in providing tax counseling assistance at locations convenient to the taxpayers.  CFDA# 21.006

Deadline: August 3, 2009.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1101.pdf

Curbing HIV/AIDS Transmission Among High Risk Minority Youth and Adolescents (CHAT) by Utilizing a Peer-to-Peer Outreach Model and New Application Technologies Grant.

It is expected that applicants will ensure that their efforts will enhance current efforts and expand established capacity by federal agencies, and public and private youth service providers to engage youth who are currently in alternative education settings, alternative living arrangements ordered by the courts; and juvenile detention facilities. This project will also encourage partnerships among traditional services providers targeting high risk adolescents, such as substance abuse prevention centers for youth; foster care agencies working with youth; youth serving organizations; youth runaway shelters; and peer-to-peer education programs.

Deadline: July 20, 2009

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=48035

The Veterans Corporation’s Development Grant Program supports educational and outreach organizations that help veterans pursue business opportunities and careers. The focus is on supporting programs for veterans who are starting or growing a small business. Applications may be submitted throughout the year. Grants of up to $50,000 are provided.

Deadline: Open http://www.veteranscorp.org/developmentgrants/main_programs.html

Grants awarded at the state and regional level to programs that have a strong impact within the communities the company serves. The program provides grants of $25,000 and up in the following categories: Education grants support programs that address the educational needs of underserved young people ages 12-25. Workforce Development/Economic Opportunity grants target job skill training and support services for unemployed and displaced workers. Health and Wellness grants strive to improve access to healthcare, reduce healthcare disparities, and promote healthy lifestyles. Environmental Sustainability grants assist in the development or expansion of environmentally sustainable communities, with emphasis on green building and job training. The Foundation has a particular interest in supporting veterans and military families, traditionally underserved groups, individuals with disabilities, and people impacted by disasters.

Deadline: September 18, 2009

http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx

The National Gardening Association has announced that the Home Depot is returning as the Youth Garden Grants sponsor for 2010. NGA annually awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs across the United States. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18 years. For the 2010 grant cycle, 100 grants are available. Five programs will each receive gift cards valued at $1,000 (a $500 gift card to the Home Depot and a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog and educational materials from NGA). Ninety-five programs will each receive a $500 gift card to the Home Depot.

Deadline: November 2, 2009

http://www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp

Grants of up to $25,000 each will be awarded to U.S.-based nonprofits working to safeguard the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, eliminate prejudice and discrimination, and help government agencies be more accountable to the public.

Deadline: October 10, 2009 (Letters of Inquiry)

http://www.herbblockfoundation.org/HerbBlockFoundation/content.aspx?page=2183192&_redir=130

The Children’s Committee of the Family Service Provider Network has released Promising Practices for Agencies Serving Homeless Students, which offers a framework to improve how providers support homeless students.

The report describes techniques to build closer relationships between the shelter system and local schools, helping to coordinate distribution of uniforms, transportation, and other services, and address truancy and behavioral issues.

FSPN is a network of agencies that includes representatives from organizations that serve and advocate for homeless families and children from Southeastern Pennsylvania. FSPN has come together to develop ways to improve the existing shelter system.

For more information, click here.

http://www.pec-cares.org/news/family_service_providers_network_releases_promising_practices.html

The Philadelphia NAACP and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus will sponsor a public forum on economic stimulus efforts in Pennsylvania on Monday, July 20th from 8:30-11:30am at the African American Museum of Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street in Center City.

For more information, call the Philadelphia NAACP at 215-978-7500.

The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition’s Community and Economic Development department has released its Summer/Fall 2009 Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide.

GPUAC began distribution of the latest hard-copy edition of the Guide at a training conference GPUAC’s Foreclosure Prevention Task Force co-sponsored with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on June 30th.  Now in its second hard-copy edition, the report is designed to help professional housing counselors and homeowners better navigate the mortgage foreclosure process.

The Guide provides up-to-date information relevant to the Philadelphia five-county region. It has been used by policy makers, elected officials and community advocates, housing counselors and other professionals.

GPUAC is a leader in addressing foreclosure in Philadelphia. In 2007, GPUAC’s CED Committee, recognizing the looming crisis, convened a Foreclosure Prevention Task Force with a team of bankers, housing counselors, legal aid attorneys, community advocates and local government agency representatives.

The Foreclosure Guide is just one of the outcomes of the Task Force, which has also laid out a vision for a foreclosure prevention system in the Philadelphia region. Other initiatives include a social marketing campaign, new banking products, and local and state-wide advocacy.

The guide can be downloaded here.

http://www.gpuac.org/documents/ForeclosurePreventionGuideSumFall2009Edition.pdf

The Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board has released a new report entitled Help Wanted that documents the need for Philadelphia to take steps to bolster adult literacy – or face a workforce increasingly lacking the skills to compete in today’s global economy.

Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the report includes original research demonstrating the critical need to educate and improve adult literacy, while investing in our own talent to vastly improve the economic position of Philadelphia.

The report notes that Greater Philadelphia is able to lure good, high-paying employers to the area, but faces a growing gap between the essential needs of businesses and the skills of the workforce. The problem is especially acute in Philadelphia, where 52.2 percent of the population falls below the literacy standard required by businesses – meaning more than half of all adults struggle to follow written instructions or complete a form, such as a job application. That compares with 37.9 percent throughout Pennsylvania.

“This research shows the City of Philadelphia is at a crossroads,” PWIB CEO Sallie A. Glickman said.  “In a world where business can go virtually anywhere to find the right people, to compete Philadelphia must commit to becoming a city with a world-class, highly literacy workforce.  This report highlights our city’s major human capital issue and provides the full community with an opportunity to engage in proven solutions.”-

The report presents some stark statistics:
— More than 202,000 adults in Philadelphia have not obtained a high school diploma.
— 52.2 percent of working-age Philadelphians – approximately 550,000 people – are below the literacy standard.
— Those 555,000 adults can only compete for a third of the jobs available in today’s economy – roughly 211,000 jobs.
— Research suggests that a strategic investment of $12 million annually over the next seven years in work-specific intensive literacy courses would net more than $370 million in taxes and savings.

The report notes that the problem will only get worse without intervention. By 2015, there will be 120,000 additional vacancies in the city at higher level managerial and professional jobs, while by 2030, there will be 600,000 Philadelphians lacking the skills needed to compete in the economic mainstream.

“Tackling this problem is critical to all facets of our community,” said PWIB Chairman Roosevelt Hairston, vice president for community and government relations at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “We must insure Philadelphians have the requisite skills they need so our companies have the workforce necessary to grow and thrive in our city and region.”

Hairston highlighted the projected rate of return of 450 percent over the next seven years, based on an investment of $84 million – $12 million annually – to improve adult literacy. The average wage for Philadelphians with a high school diploma or GED is close to $6,500 higher annually than for those without. That translates into more tax money. And the current annual cost per high school dropout for services such as food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and unemployment amounts to $6,779 – meaning reduced social spending. Plus, businesses would benefit from 21,818 more individuals positioned to thrive in our dynamic knowledge economy.

The results of increased literacy pay off in ways that go far beyond the costs and savings, observed Glickman.  “For the city, it means a higher-caliber workforce to support economic growth, healthier children and greater overall wealth. For our businesses, it means a more productive labor force, increased employee retention and reduced recruitment and training costs. For individuals, it opens doors to better jobs, higher wages, job security and additional education, including college.”

The full report is available here.

http://pwib.org/help_wanted/

The Center for Families and Relationships, a family counseling center in Northeast Philadelphia, is looking for qualified volunteers to greet clients, assist with paperwork and answer phones.  Volunteers are needed 5-8pm weekdays and 9am-5pm Saturdays.

Interested volunteers should email Maryann Volk at Volkmc@aol.com or call 215-537-5367.

http://www.cfarcounseling.org/

On July 14, the event will focus on financing for minority-owned businesses.  Mayor Nutter will also attend.

Please join us.  The details and registration information are on the link below.

http://www.philadelphiafed.org/newsroom/press-releases/2009/062409.cfm

Director of Development
Job Description

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (“Ashe”), a long-standing nonprofit organization in the City of Philadelphia, is in search of a highly capable and energetic Director of Development to strengthen and execute a multi-pronged fund development strategy.

The mission of Ashe is to empower young people to achieve success as individuals and as active citizens in their schools and communities through innovative tennis, education, life skills, and youth leadership programming.  We support a diverse group of over 8,000 young people ages 4-18, with a particular emphasis on serving youth from under-resources families and communities.  To effectively carry out our mission, we have built a “hub and spoke” program model in which we deliver year-round programming at our brand new Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center on Ridge Avenue in East Falls, along with a vibrant set of grass-roots programs in neighborhoods across Philadelphia and Camden, NJ.

Our organization is currently in the midst of an exciting time for change and growth.  The Director of Development must bring a high level of competency, motivation, and commitment which is compatible with our rapidly emerging organizational culture.  The individual will report directly to the Ashe President and will be an active member of the staff’s senior leadership team.  In addition to having direct involvement with a wide array of individual and institutional supporters, the Director of Development will also have substantial contact with the Ashe Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Primary Responsibilities

– With the President and Board Development Committee, prepare comprehensive fund development strategic and operational plans with revenue projections in the range of $2 million annually, in the areas of individual donors, family foundations, corporate giving, local and national private foundations, and government grants.
– With the assistance of a Project Associate (to be hired by the Director of Development), execute all aspects of the fund development plan (i.e. prospect identification, research, proposal/materials preparation, solicitation, follow-up) in conjunction with the efforts of the Ashe staff team, Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and a cadre of volunteers.
– Work closely with the Part-Time Coordinator of the Ashe Annual Benefit, along with the Benefit Co-Chairs/Benefit Committee, to ensure maximum fund development potential.
– Supervise and support the Coordinator of Special Events to ensure maximum fund development potential of all Ashe signature events.
– Create high-impact communication materials for targeted audiences.
– Develop and Implement a Planned Giving program.
– Maintain up-to-date calendar and work plan for completing grant proposals and reports.
– Maintain up-to-date and fully robust database of all donor activity using SAGE development software.

Required Skills and Experience

    Minimum of four years of development experience in a fast-paced, outcomes driven organization
    Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred
    High level of initiative, energy and entrepreneurial instincts; ability to set priorities and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
    Commitment to urban youth and education issues, and more just and healthy communities
    Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
    Proven ability to communicate, both in writing and verbally, clearly and persuasively
    Well-developed capacity to work effectively in a dynamic team setting with a diverse group of passionate people
    Knowledge of major individual and institutional donors in the Philadelphia region
    Experience with database management; knowledge of SAGE a plus

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a full-time position requiring a minimum of 40 hours/week, with a salary range commensurate with prior professional experience.  The compensation package will also include the potential for an annual performance bonus.  Benefits include: health insurance, paid vacation, and sick days.

How to Apply

Send your resume including a list of three references, a cover letter, and a relevant writing sample of original work to Savanna Hailu at tdworecki@ashetennis.org.  Also send hard copies of five completed application packets to Savanna Hailu at 4842 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA  19129.   References must include name, nature and length of the professional relationship, and contact information.

The deadline for all applicants is Friday, July 24, 2009 at 5pm (EST).  Interviews will take place the week of July 27.  Applicants should be prepared to start employment in late August or early September, 2009.

http://www.ashetennis.org/

Written by Building Movement Project authors Frances Kunreuther, Helen Kim and Robby Rodriguez, the book offers a comprehensive approach to looking at leadership and generational shifts in the nonprofit sector.

It includes:

·         Fresh perspectives and practical advice on how to work across generational divides;

·         Research findings, real-life stories, useful charts and exercises;

·         Stories and case examples from across the country; and

·         Recommendations on how individuals, organizations and the nonprofit sector can all play an important part in paving the way for more vibrant and expansive leadership in the nonprofit sector.

“Instead of the “sky is falling” alarms about generational change that are reminiscent of the Y2K scare, Kunreuther, Kim and Rodriguez have written a real-world look at the context and complexities of the changes to come, and a practical approach for maximizing the opportunities that these changes present to us.”

– Jan Masaoka, Director & Editor in Chief, BlueAvocado.org

“A much-needed addition to the field of non-profit leadership. Nuanced, balanced, optimistic and practical, Working Across Generations should be required reading for anyone who cares about the sustainability of this essential sector.”

– Akaya Windwood, President/CEO, Rockwood Leadership Institute

Order your copy now!

For more information, including excerpts from the book, visit http://www.workingacrossgenerations.org . For orders of 10 or more copies, please contact Rick Skewes at specialsales@wiley.com

[ed: congrats to Doug on the culmination of this long project.]

From: Douglas Schuler <douglas@publicsphereproject.org>

“Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution” Is Now Available!

After eight years of work, the book on our information and communication pattern language project, “Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution,” is finally available. Liberating Voices
brings together a multitude of ideas and suggestions from a variety of perspectives including activism and social change, education, community informatics, governance, media, development, information science,
economics, journalism, arts and culture.

We believe that this book can be used by researchers, by practitioners in a variety of fields including teachers in the classroom, by activists, and by citizens and community members throughout the world.

I’m writing to you as a colleague or, in some cases, as a person whom I’ve never met but whose work I admire. In either case I’m hopeful that you’d find this work compelling. If you do, please read this note and
send it along to friends and colleagues who might also be interested.

I believe that this book is particularly relevant at this time in history. It is a holistic call to arms for social change based on a revolution in grassroots information and communication. It takes the form of a pattern language that contains 136 patterns. Each pattern is a template for research as well as social critique and action. And each patterns is linked to other patterns into a single coherent whole. We (myself and 85 co-authors) have tried to show that the struggle for liberatory information and communication systems is absolutely critical.

In recent decades we have witnessed the creation of communication systems that promise unparalleled connectedness. Now is the time to unleash our collective creativity—social as well as technological—and
develop the communication systems that promote community and civic innovation and engagement to address serious challenges like climate change and environmental degradation.

Inspired by the vision and framework outlined in Christopher Alexander’s classic 1977 book, A Pattern Language, the book presents a pattern language containing 136 patterns designed to meet these challenges. We are proposing a new model of social change that integrates theory and practice by showing how diverse information and communication based approaches can be used to address local as well as global problems.

The pattern language was developed collaboratively with nearly 100 co-authors using an online pattern language management system. The patterns from the book are all online as are approximately 300 other
patterns in work. We are treating the publishing of the book as an important milestone rather than the culmination of the project. While we are very enthusiastic about what we’ve produced so far we realize that
people and organizations who use the patterns will often need to adapt the pattern language to their specific needs which may even include developing new patterns. For this reason and others we are revamping our web site to encourage collaborative pattern language construction and allow people to readily share ideas and experiences with others.

Our goal was to create an intriguing and informative catalog of intellectual, social, and technological innovations, a practical manual for citizen activism, and a compelling manifesto for creating a more
intelligent, sustainable, and equitable world.

Finally, I’d like to share these endorsements with you. I think they capture some of the important ideas through independent eyes.

“If we keep following the well-trodden paths that have brought us to where we are, we’ll never get to where we want to go. Schuler and his colleagues believe that we can get out of these ruts, and better yet, they tell us how. This work goes beyond elections and demonstrations, beyond cynicism and business as usual. It asks the much deeper questions: what kind of a world do we want and what must we do to get there? Schuler and his colleagues show us that another world is possible and invite everybody to the project. I say, ‘Let’s get going.'”

—Jerry Greenfield, co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s

“In this wide-ranging analysis of the role of information in society, Doug Schuler proposes a grand theory that weaves together disparate information and communication activities into an organized, synergistic
fabric. He taps into the collective wisdom of citizens—both theorists and advocates—to develop a pattern language that can be used as a framework for rethinking how we build community and create a more
humane, equitable future.”

—Nancy Kranich, Former President, American Library Association, author of Libraries & Democracy

“It’s a wonder no one has attempted this monumental project before! Doug Schuler and his collaborators have produced a visionary manual rich in insights and directly useful in any attempt to connect people and
information technologies in the quest for real democracy. This is a crucial book for our time.”

—Langdon Winner, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

If this sounds interesting I encourage to take a look at the book. Also, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for any reason. And thanks in advance for sending this note to friends and colleagues!

— Doug Schuler

Liberating Voices: A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution can be ordered online at:
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11601

The Public Sphere Project
http://www.publicsphereproject.org/

The Liberating Voices pattern language project
http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/

Online portal to the patterns in the book
http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/pattern-table-of-contents.php

Changes in the WIC Food Packages: A Toolkit for Partnering with Neighborhood Stores

The selection of foods available through the WIC program recently changed for the first time in 35 years – a change that holds potential to transform the retail food landscape in low-income communities. All WIC vendors will be required by the new federal rules to stock their shelves with an array of products including fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and soy foods. Anyone shopping at a WIC-authorized store will have access to these healthy foods.

For advocates working with corner store owners, the WIC changes present an important opportunity. This new toolkit provides a range of tools and strategies for advocates to identify and work with prospective WIC vendors, and to help these retailers upgrade their offerings in accordance with the new, healthier WIC food packages.

You can download the new toolkit at http://www.healthyplanning.org/toolkit_WIC.html.

PHLP partners with community leaders across the country to help create healthier, more livable communities through a variety of policy tools. Visit http://www.healthyplanning.org or contact us to learn more.