Make plans to join colleagues from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and other Midwestern states at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri on October 11-12, 2012 for the Campus Compact Heartland Conference.  Dr. Ken Reardon, Professor and Director of the Graduate Division in City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis will keynote the two-day event on a theme of civic engagement.  The 2012 Heartland Conference will provide opportunities for faculty, professional staff, student and community leaders interested in higher education to network and learn from one another while engaging in skill-building sessions, as well as discussing challenging issues facing our communities and campuses. In an era of deeply polarized and uncivil public discourse, high-quality community work and learning prepares students to listen and speak respectfully across differences.  Share your successes in campus and community engagement, hear new ideas, and network with scholars and practitioners.

Date:  October 11-12, 2012

Place:  St. Louis Union Station Marriott, St. Louis, MO

Registration:  http://associations.missouristate.edu/heartland/

Contact:  Miranda Outon, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, mouton@osrhe.edu, 405-225-9150

Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Ken Reardon, Professor and Director of the Graduate Division in City and Regional Planning, University of Memphis

In recognition of the important role refuge friends organizations play in building critical community support for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, along with its partners, is requesting grant proposals for projects that help these organizations be effective co-stewards of important natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Friends Group grant program provides competitive seed grants for creative and innovative proposals that aim to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the refuge system nationwide. The primary purpose of the program is to provide assistance to new and existing friends organizations. For the fall 2012 grant cycle, friends organizations are invited to submit proposals that focus on start-up and capacity-building projects.

Grants will be provided to support proposals that fall within the following areas:

1) Start-up grants — Funds will be provided to assist starting refuge friends organizations with formative and/or initial operational support. For example, funds may be requested for such things as membership drives, tuition for nonprofit training programs, brochure and newsletter development, logo design, office equipment, or consultant fees for planning a mission and strategic plan.

2) Capacity-building grants — Funds will be provided to strengthen the capacity of existing refuge friends organizations. Capacity building refers to projects that enhance an organization’s abilities while allowing them to achieve measurable and sustainable results. For example, projects may include outreach programs aimed at increasing organizational capacity to serve the public; business plan development or other strategic planning costs; membership program development; board/ leadership development such as trainings; development of exhibits to expand community outreach efforts; tuition for skill-building training programs; and nature or book store start-up expenses.

Eligible applicants are official refuge friends organizations. Applicants must either be tax-exempt under section 501(c), or be in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status and submit with their grant application a copy of the letter from the IRS confirming their application has been filed.

Grants will range from $1,500 to $5,000.

The complete Request for Proposals and application instructions are available at the NFWF Web site.

http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Charter_Programs_List&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=25566

The Chicago-based Retirement Research Foundation, which is devoted exclusively to improving quality of life for the nation’s older adults, especially those who are vulnerable due to advanced age, economic disadvantage, or disparity related to race and ethnicity, provides support through its grant programs for direct service, advocacy, education and training programs for professionals and paraprofessionals working with elders, and research to seek causes and solutions to significant problems of older adults.

The foundation’s funding interests fall into the following four areas: 1) Improve the availability and quality of community-based and long-term services and supports by increasing the availability and effectiveness of comprehensive community programs designed to maintain older persons in their homes, increasing the availability and effectiveness of programs designed to maintain older persons in residential settings, such as congregate living with supportive services, group homes, and assisted living facilities, improving the quality of nursing home care; and coordinating the provision of acute- and long-term care for older persons with chronic conditions by supporting efforts that provide continuity of care, prevention, early intervention, and client education; 2) Provide new and expanded opportunities for older adults to engage in meaningful roles in society such as employment and volunteerism, advocacy, community leadership, community services, and intergenerational programs; 3) Seek causes and solutions to significant problems of older adults through support of selected basic, applied, and policy research for which federal funding is not available; and 4) Increase the number of professionals and paraprofessionals adequately prepared to serve the elder population through support of selected education and training initiatives designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants.

The foundation is particularly interested in innovative projects that develop and/or demonstrate new approaches that improve quality of life for older adults and have the potential for regional or national impact.

Direct service requests are accepted only from nonprofit organizations based in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida.

Research, advocacy, training, and other projects of national relevance are considered from nonprofit organizations located anywhere in the United States

Applicants are encouraged to discuss projects with foundation staff in advance of submitting a full proposal.

For complete program guidelines, the application package, and information on previously funded projects, visit the RRF Web site.

http://www.rrf.org/grants-programs/grants

Change the Story: Change the World
A Professional Development workshop by Andy Goodman
Presented by Freedom Rings Partnership
When: Tuesday, July 10, 1:00-5:00 PM
Where: Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Why: To laugh and to learn storytelling as a best practice
Fee: $75/person

Even if you have reams of evidence on your side, remember:
Numbers numb, jargon jars, and nobody ever marched on Washington because of a pie chart.
If you want to connect with your audience, tell them a story.

How can you reliably produce just the right story at the right time? As powerful tools for championing your cause, for conveying impact, for communicating substance, telling stories is good business, not just tall tales of laughably large fish. Good causes need to tell good stories. Andy has made a career by helping do-gooders do better, working with government, non-profits and foundations; he helps us find, sharpen and broadcast our stories. In this age of so much noise, cutting through the clutter and getting our messages heard is a craft and one that he cultivates with every workshop.

Please join us for this rare gem of a workshop led by one seriously good and funny Good Man.

Register here: http://www.agoodmanonline.com/keyspot/

This includes a full afternoon, hands-on workshop with a renowned story-teller and communications expert! Light refreshments and beverages included.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Donsky | donskyj@freelibrary.org | 215.686.5372 | http://www.freelibrary.org/hotspots

A Portfolio of Images by Robert J. Brand

Opening Reception: Tuesday July 17th, 5:30pm – 8pm

at the Brandywine Workshop’s Glass Lobby Gallery
728 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146

Please RSVP to bob.j.brand@gmail.com

ON VIEW: June 11th – July 31, 2012
HOURS: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
http://www.brandywineworkshop.com

For more information about the project:
http://www.robertjbrand.com

We are an organization charged with the responsibility of inspiring adults and youth to “give back” through helping children. The National Give Back for Kids Campaign, Inc. is a grassroots movement which recognizes that positive and substantial change can and will come about through the power of love and sacrifice. Lives will be changed and communities unified and empowered with the understanding that through “self- determination” many challenges can be conquered!

Xavier Lewis – “Give Back” Music Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X2Dy-uOu2Q

To purchase on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/give-back-single/id493095423

World Breastfeeding Week has been a global celebration for 20 years. This year, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Maternity Care Coalition are collaborating to celebrate breastfeeding on August 2, from 12-3pm, at the Temple University Student Faculty Center, on Broad and Ontario Streets.

There will be activities for adults & kids, prizes, free breastfeeding help, and snacks! We will also recognize Breastfeeding Friendly employers who have implemented successful lactation support programs for moms returning to work!

We have a lot to celebrate about breastfeeding in Philadelphia, and hope for a large turn-out of mothers, families and babies. Spread the word in your community

Thursday, August 2, 2012
12 noon – 3 PM
Faculty Student Union – 1st Floor Lobby
Temple University (Broad & Ontario)

Where: Myers Recreation Center at 58th Street and Kingsessing

When: Saturdays, starting July 14 @ 9AM

We are in SW Philly this year to celebrate the new biking and walking trail coming to the area. uGO is VERY excited to be brought to you free of charge by Get Active 58th!

For more details about our summer programming, go to http://www.pecpa.org/GetActive58th or call Charissa at 215.545.4570 x106.

September 13-14, 2012
DoubleTree Hotel
Broad and Locust Streets
Philadelphia

Presented by: PennFuture

For 11 years, the PennFuture Clean Energy Conference has served as the premier event for policymakers, business leaders, public interest organizations and investors to learn how to grow Pennsylvania’s clean energy economy.

In 2012, the Clean Energy Conference will take a new approach to addressing the changing clean energy landscape by highlighting how the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions can become America’s clean energy hub. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the myriad opportunities present in these regions and strategies needed to prepare for, and realize, success.
GET REGISTRATION INFORMATION!

Notably, PennFuture has partnered with America’s leading clean energy trade associations –- the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, American Council on Renewable Energy, American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industry Association –- to bring unparalleled insight to this year’s conference.

The two-day event in Center City Philadelphia will feature expert perspectives on the current status and future direction of clean energy markets. Additionally, the conference will host a networking event and exhibitor showcase, present nationally significant keynote speakers and offer a tour of the Department of Energy’s energy efficiency hub.

http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/o/9/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=8807

We are in the process of gathering information for our three-year strategic plan, to be known as the Pennsylvania State Service Plan, and have developed a brief survey so that citizens may provide input that will inform our work.  It is our expectation that in this way we may more efficiently and effectively benefit Pennsylvanians and the communities in which they live.

The survey may be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PennSERVE_State_Service_Plan_Survey.

We hope that you will take a few moments to provide us with your feedback, and that you will forward this survey link to your colleagues, stakeholders and network partners, to encourage the broadest possible range of answers and information.

Results will be compiled and tabulated in September 2012, and made available for viewing on our website. The 2012-2015 State Service Plan will be published in November 2012. For more information about PennSERVE and AmeriCorps presence across the state, kindly visit our website at http://www.dli.state.pa.us/pennserve; a link to the survey can be found on the homepage as well.

Thank you very much for your time, and for your commitment to the betterment of our Commonwealth.