Visit http://www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/SERVEPhiladelphia on a regular basis for the latest opportunities to support neighbors in need!

In the meantime, please consider the following:

American Red Cross Disaster Relief – Become an American Red Cross Spontaneous Volunteer by contacting Leslie R. Fletcher, Director of Volunteer Administration, at leslie.fletcher@redcross.org or (215) 405-8558 or (267) 246-4521.

Blood donations are needed not only because of the injuries caused by the powerful storm but also because 100 blood drives on the East Coast have been cancelled in 11 states. All blood types are needed right now. For more information on how to donate, go to http://redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

Salvation Army – The Salvation Army recommends having a three-to-five day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication and battery powered radios. It’s never to early to make sure you (and your neighbors, friends & family) are prepared for the next snow storm or natural disaster.

Those interested in volunteering should register at http://www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. Please note that disaster service training is a prerequisite for volunteering in a disaster zone and not all registered volunteers will be called on to serve.

Philabundance – While it’s not guaranteed that your donation will go directly to a Hurricane Sandy victim, the Philadelphia nonprofit is currently facing a critical food shortage. You can donate to the organization at http://www.philabundance.org.

Cradles to Crayons – Again, while it’s not guaranteed that your donation will go directly to a Hurricane Sandy victime, Cradles to Crayons accepts donations of new and gently used children’s clothing, books and baby items (i.e.  strollers, pack-n-plays, high chairs, etc.) for families in need.

Jersey Cares – Anyone who wants to volunteer in NJ can call 1-800-JERSEY7.

Literacy events and programs provide opportunities to improve the educational outcomes and quality of life in our city and beyond. Throughout November, schools, libraries, and other literacy organizations will be participating through read-a-thons, book drives, celebrity appearances, and more.

Here are several events worth checking out in Philadelphia.

http://thenotebook.org/blog/125301/november-family-literacy-events

Dinner Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Expansion of Northwest Interfaith Hospitality Network

Chestnut Hill College, in partnership with the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN), will host the NPIHN 20th Anniversary Empty Bowl Dinner on Wednesday, November 14, with two seatings at 4:30-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. The event is held in Sorgenti Arena, located at 9601 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. The K Ten Kids Foundation, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Pepsi, Prudential Fox and Roach, People Helping People Inc., sitiCare, The Goldenberg Group, and Chestnut Hill Hospital will sponsor this year’s dinner.

The 14th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner, a popular event at the College and with the surrounding community, combines the warmth of community and a hearty meal for the purpose of raising money in support of the NPIHN’s mission to mobilize resources and volunteers in direct response to the needs of neighbors who have lost their homes. Local businesses, schools, and artists donate bowls, while local restaurants donate soups, breads, and desserts. For a small fee, diners can select a hand-crafted bowl and enjoy fare from restaurants and bakeries in the Philadelphia area. At the end of the evening, diners take home their empty bowl as a reminder that every night in the City of Philadelphia more than 1,000 children go without a meal or a place to call home.

This year, the Empty Bowl dinner also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the NPIHN in Northwest Philadelphia and the expansion of the NPIHN into Northeast Philadelphia. It also honors those Congregations that have served NPIHN over the years.

“This year’s Empty Bowl Dinner celebrates the 20th anniversary of Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network,” says Rachel Falcove, NPIHN’s executive director. “Our work during the past years demonstrates that when an entire community joins together: congregations, schools, organizations, business owners, artists and community members, we really can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors in-need.  We are so proud that 92 percent of the families we served never needed a repeat stay in a shelter, and many of the parents and their children have accomplished so much. They are college graduates, professionals, and employees with full benefits and homeowners. So many of our NPIHN alumni return as volunteers to help other families in their journey from homelessness to self sufficiency, and that makes us doubly proud.  It truly takes a village, and this Northwest Philadelphia village is one of the best!”

Chestnut Hill College students volunteer as servers for the event, which attracted more than 1,500 attendees last year and raised over $16,000 from the dinner. All proceeds from the event are donated to NPIHN. There will be live music, raffles, children’s activities, and Mike McGrath of WHYY’s “You Bet Your Garden” will be a special guest that evening. New this year, for a small donation, participants can also sponsor the dinner as a Dinner Host.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $8 for students and children, and can be purchased in advance at http://www.philashelter.org. For a full list of participating restaurants, schools, potters, and artists, please visit http://www.chc.edu

Note: This year, there will be no on-campus parking at the College for those attending the Empty Bowl Dinner. Please note that parking is available for attendees at the following locations:

1. St. Philip Neri Church and School in Lafayette Hill: 437 Ridge Pike, 466 Germantown Pike, and 3015 Chestnut Street.

2. Chestnut Hill Hospital Parking Lot: 8835 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

3. Our Mother of Consolation Church: 9 East Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

4. Mt. St. Joseph’s Academy: West 120 Wissahickon Avenue, Flourtown, PA 19031

A shuttle will run continuously from 4-8 p.m. between the College and the designated parking lots.

Northwood would like to have volunteers work with small groups on graphing and conclusions before their Science Fair on December 6th.  The specific dates have not been set but their schedule is pretty flexible.  They prefer to have mentors work on graphing data sometime the week of the 12th and conclusions/presentation prep sometime the week of November 19th.

Northwood Academy Charter School (in Frankford and 2 blocks from the Market/Frankford line)
4290 Penn St, Phila, PA 19124

Science Fair judging:

We are looking for judges for our upcoming Science Fairs in December.  This one day opportunity is a crucial element of our mission and really furthers the students’ sense of pride in themselves and their work!

Cook Wissahickon Science Fair
Where: 210 East Salaignac St, Philadelphia, PA 19128 (in Roxborough)
When:  December 21st from 8:30AM-3PM; coffee and lunch will be provided

Northwood Science Fair

Where: 4290 Penn St, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (in Frankford)
When: December 6th from 8AM-3PM; lunch will be provided

Science Fair mentoring at Belmont:

Volunteer mentors (“Scienteers”) meet with a group of four students once a week for a 12 week period to guide the planning and implementation of a science fair project. Students engage enthusiastically in the application of scientific principles through this creative project-based approach, and enjoy a consistent relationship with Scienteers who model and encourage goal-setting, teamwork, research design, organization, presentation skills, and positive relationship building.

Belmont Charter School (Belmont neighborhood, W. Phila)
4030 Brown St, Phila, PA 19104
Time Commitment: approx. 90 minutes a week for 12 weeks.

7th grade – 8:10-9:42, 10:31-12:03, 1:39-3:11 on Nov 20th, Nov 26th, Dec 4th, Dec 10th, Dec 18th, Jan7th, Jan 15th, Jan 22nd, Jan 28th, Feb 5th, and Feb 12th

8th grade – 8:10-9:42, 10:31-12:03, 1:39-3:11 on Nov 19th, Nov 27th, Dec 3rd, Dec 11th, Dec 17th, Jan 8th, Jan 14th, Jan 23rd, Jan 29th, Feb 4th, Feb 11th

Scienteer mentors meet with a group of four students once a week for a 12 week period to guide the planning and implementation of a science fair project. Students engage enthusiastically in the application of scientific principles through this creative project-based approach, and enjoy a consistent relationship with Scienteers who model and encourage goal-setting, teamwork, research design, organization, presentation skills, and positive relationship building.

Belmont Charter School (Belmont neighborhood, W. Phila) 4030 Brown St, Phila, PA 19104 Time Commitment: approx. 90 minutes a week for 12 weeks.

Scienteer mentors meet with a group of four students once a week for a 12 week period to guide the planning and implementation of a science fair project. Students engage enthusiastically in the application of scientific principles through this creative project-based approach, and enjoy a consistent relationship with Scienteers who model and encourage goal-setting, teamwork, research design, organization, presentation skills, and positive relationship building.

Belmont Charter School (Belmont neighborhood, W. Phila) 4030 Brown St, Phila, PA 19104 Time Commitment: approx. 90 minutes a week for 12 weeks.

Belmont Mentoring flyer  – https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnolo6tbkmnl84l/Belmont%20mentor%20flyer.doc

Belmont calendar is attached or can be downloaded from here – https://www.dropbox.com/s/k357u4uo3ko2v4r/Belmont%20Volunteer%20calendar%202012-2013%20with%20times%20and%20no%20HW.rtf?m

In preparation for mentoring at Belmont, iPRAXIS will be holding Orientations to review the mentoring process, the Scientific Method for middle schoolers, and share the new exciting online component.  There will be one Orientation closer to Belmont’s start date.  The Orientations take approximately an hour.

These are exciting times and I hope that there is a volunteer opportunity for everyone!  And remember that there is also giving a presentation to a class or group.  If you know of people interested in this, please let me know a general topic and I can offer it to our teachers.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/90pbbjo855xsa8k/general%20scienteer%20flyer%20with%20school%20names%20-%20presenter.doc

Deadline: December 1, 2012

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C., seeks to provide books and reading materials to the school libraries and students that most need them.

The foundation provides grants of up to $5,000 to help school libraries expand, update, and diversify their book collections. In the last funding cycle, the foundation made grants totaling more than $1.1 million to two hundred and thirty-eight schools.

All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. Only schools where a minimum of 80 percent of the student body qualify for the free or reduced lunch program are eligible to apply. The foundation gives selection preference to schools in which 90 percent or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are likely to have the fewest books and reading materials at home.

Schools meeting the free or reduced lunch requirement in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, all American territories, and Department of Defense schools in other countries are eligible to apply. This includes all public, private, parochial, charter, city, state, county, and reservation schools — including special schools, social services schools, and juvenile detention center schools in any of those jurisdictions — that serve any combination of pre-kindergarten through high school students.

Funds are only available for library books and magazine/serial copies and subscriptions. The foundation is unable to honor requests for staffing, shelving, furniture, equipment, software, videos, classroom book sets, or any kind of book guides, tests, or exams.

Visit the LBF Web site for complete program information, an FAQ, and the online application form.

http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/

Deadline: November 9, 2012 (Intent to Apply)

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is inviting youth-serving organizations in the United States to apply for the second round of EMCF Social Innovation Fund grants.

The program’s goal is to expand the pool of organizations with programs proven to help increase the numbers of low-income young people — especially those at greatest risk of failing or dropping out of school, of not finding work, and/or of becoming involved in the foster care or juvenile justice system — who make the transition to productive adulthood.

The foundation seeks applications from youth-serving organizations in the United States that have compelling evidence of their programs’ impact on economically disadvantaged youth, ages 9 to 24; a track record of reaching the hardest-to-serve youth in communities of need; strong leadership and a potential for growth, including the ability to secure funds to sustain operations on a larger scale after the foundation’s investment concludes; and the financial and operational capacity to expand to scale, and to meet federal compliance requirements regarding the use of grant and match funds. The foundation is particularly interested in programs that can benefit philanthropically underserved communities, including rural areas. Geographic priority will be given to nonprofits seeking to expand in North Carolina and South Carolina, Oklahoma, and California.

To be eligible, applicants must be an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a), or any entity or organization described in sections 170(c)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Organizations must have been in operation for at least three years directly serving young people in a community or communities of need in the U.S. The foundation plans to award up to five grants each totaling up to $5 million over two to three years. Recipients will be responsible for meeting a 1:1 match of these grants.

Applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by November 9, 2012; applications are due by November 20, 2012.

Complete program guidelines and application materials are available at the EMCF Web site.

http://www.emcf.org/our-grantees/applying-to-emcf/2012-13-grants-competition/

Deadline: December 10, 2012

A program of the Bruner Foundation, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence is designed to celebrate urban places that are distinguished by quality design and their social and economic contributions to American cities. Award winners offer creative place-making solutions that transcend the boundaries between architecture, urban design, and planning, and showcase innovative thinking about the nation’s cities.

The purpose of the award is to discover places that embody design excellence inclusive of social, economic, and environmental factors. The foundation does not restrict the kinds of projects that may apply. Award winners are not selected through an established set of criteria. Rather, the criteria emerge from the selection committee discussion of the applications.

Projects must be a real place, not just a plan or a program, and be located in the forty-eight contiguous United States.

The award is given to five winning projects in each biennial award cycle. One Gold Medal of $50,000 and four Silver Medals of $10,000 will be awarded. Award winners may use prize money in any way that benefits the project.

The complete Call for Entries, the application form, and further information about the award (including a digital archive and case studies of past winners) are available at the Bruner Foundation Web site.

http://www.brunerfoundation.org/rba

THIS 2-year MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARDS GRADUATE AND LAW STUDENTS.

Founded in 1977, the Presidential Management Fellows Program is one of the Federal government’s most prestigious programs for leadership development and public service. Presidential Management Fellowships offer exceptional men and women first-hand experience working in a variety of Federal agencies, tackling some of our toughest challenges in a broad range of areas, including public policy and administration, domestic/international affairs, information technology, acquisition, human resources, science, engineering, health and medical sciences, mathematics, and financial management. Selected individuals typically spend two years working as full-time, paid Fellow, to senior officials. Fellows also participate in an education program consisting of leadership development, rotation within key areas such as human resources and financial management, and throughout different Federal agencies. The selection process is rigorous and highly competitive.

To view the full nationwide announcement, visit:

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/327157900?share=email

To learn more about the prestigious PMF program, visit: http://www.pmf.gov

Deadline: December 16, 2012

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seeking nominations for the 2013 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards, a series of annual grants that recognize inspiring teachers in the United States.

Now in their third year, the awards were created in honor of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who frequently attributes his success to the teachers in his life. The awards are presented each year on Sondheim’s birthday — March 22 — to a handful of teachers, kindergarten through college, who are nominated via the Kennedy Center Web site.

To be eligible, nominees must be legal residents of the U.S. Nominations must be based on experience as a full-time classroom teacher in a K-12 school in the U.S. or as a college or university instructor in the U.S. Nominators must be at least 18 years of age and have been a student of the nominee. Nominations for teachers by peers, parents, relatives, or other individuals based on non-teacher-student interactions will not be reviewed.

Last year, ten teachers were recognized for their outstanding influence on students. The recipients each received a $10,000 prize and their stories, as told by the nominating student, were featured on a Web site dedicated to inspirational teachers.

Complete program information and the online nomination form are available at the Kennedy Center Web site.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/awards/sondheim/

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB: This individual will manage the planning, implementation, and maintenance of the CCD’s wayfinding and other sign systems. They will also monitor the condition of public space amenities at CCD-owned and managed parks including CCD installed lighting, and other street furnishings such as honor boxes, trash receptacles, transit shelters and related transit shelter signs. This individual will also assist the Maintenance Technician as required on café improvements, fountain repairs, and equipment programming.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate the maintenance of existing sign systems and wayfinding signs in downtown Philadelphia. Including mapping and surveying existing signs for needed repairs, updating sign content based on new institutions in Center City, coordinating repairs with vendors and contractors, serving as a liaison with stakeholders, and supervising sign installation work;

• Assist with the implementation of an ongoing program of maintenance for streetscape features such as pedestrian signs, lights, street furnishings and landscape improvements. This may include extensive field inventory and analysis of existing conditions, development of work plans, and coordination with contractors and professional consultants along with City officials;

• Conduct frequent and regular inventory and analysis of existing conditions of streetscape amenities such as pedestrian signs, lights, transit shelters, street furnishings and landscaping, honor boxes, and trash receptacles;

• Identify maintenance needs and coordinate timely repairs with the Maintenance Technician;

• Work with the Sr. Director of Capital Programs with various duties in managing major streetscape improvement projects, which may include attending OPS meeting and researching and preparing data for operations and maintenance plans;

• Develop short and long range maintenance schedules;

• Maintain records related to assignments, projects and activities;

• Manage budget including monitoring inventory and expenses;

• Respond to constituent inquiries concerning all streetscape-related issues;

• Design sign message schedules and layouts for approval;

• Conduct various research, planning, and graphic assignments as directed;

• May be required to work outside of normal business day;

• Will be required to be the back-up to the Maintenance Technician;

• Other duties as assigned.

These are the essential functions of the position, other duties may be assigned. Incumbents may be required to follow any additional related instructions, acquire job related skills and perform other work as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise work of contractors, consultants, and in-house staff that may be performing or assisting with work related to this job.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in design or related experience in architecture, landscape architecture, graphic sign systems or urban design;

• Minimum of 1 year professional experience;

• Experience working with ArcGIS;

• Experience with graphic design applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign a must.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work productively with multiple constituencies, including colleagues, public agencies, vendors, contractors, and the general public.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.

• Must be detailed oriented.

• Demonstrated ability to perform wide variety of maintenance and operational tasks.

• Ability to read schematics.

• Ability to work with power tools, small motorized equipment.

• Able to work alone or in groups, in all weather conditions and be self-motivated.

• Comprehensive knowledge of current practices and procedures.

• Comprehensive knowledge of all equipment.

• Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports.

• Ability to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and or technology.

• Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks and responsibilities.

• Proficiency with office computer applications such as Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, and Filemaker.

• Knowledge of wayfinding systems environmental graphic design.

• Strong commitment to the quality of the public environment in Philadelphia.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid driver’s license or cycling experience required.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• In order to perform the duties of the position you must have the ability to sit, walk, reach, use fingers and hands, and lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.

• This position may require some weekend coverage.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Applicant must be able to pass a criminal background investigation and reference check.

Forward Resumes to:
Human Resources Department
Center City District
660 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Fax: 215.922.7672
e-mail: jobs@centercityphila.org

November 28-30 & December 5-7

Topics include:

* Legal Responsibilities of Board Members
* Time Management
* Nonprofit Administration
* Logic Models
* Grant Writing
* Public Speaking
* Financial Planning
* Strategic Planning & Fundraising
* Media Writing
* Legal Issues
* Special Event Planning
* Maintaining a Donor Database

For more information, contact Isabel Samson-Mapp, Associate Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships, 215-898-2020 or sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.

See also: http://www.upenn.edu/ccp/programs/npi/

Given the devastating impact of the storm, we know this will be a large-scale and long-term recovery. As with Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, national service programs will play a key role in the response and recovery effort. Already more than 850 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are serving in the affected area, assisting with shelter operations, call centers, debris removal, and mass care in seven states.

In the wake of the storm, Americans are asking how they can help.  Volunteer opportunities are limited at the current time, but in the weeks and months ahead, large numbers of volunteers will be needed to support the work of nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations working in the recovery.

CNCS is working with FEMA, Points of Light, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and other partners to help connect volunteers to organizations ready and able to support them. One of the strategies we are pursuing is encouraging organizations to post their Hurricane Sandy volunteer opportunities on the All for Good volunteer search engine used on Serve.gov  and other websites.

If your organization is looking to recruit volunteers for Hurricane Sandy, we encourage you to post them on All for Good. Doing so will bring more attention to your opportunity from individuals looking to volunteer. Here is what you need to do:

1) Fill out the Google Excel document with your opportunities and information.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av2uzfMXJ8MvdFVKajNicWg3cmJ1Um54blR2Z0xDV1E#gid=2

2) To ensure that new Sandy hurricane recovery related opportunities show up in the top of the search results, please include the keywords “disaster”, “Hurricane Sandy”, and “recovery” somewhere in the title and/or description.

3) The opportunity should include the actual start and end date.  Opportunities should not be entered as ongoing.   This will ensure your opportunity appears higher in the search results.

4) Email the excel document to: handsondisasters@handsonetwork.org with “Volunteer Opportunities to Post” in the subject line.  You must also include your organization’s contact information.

We thank all those working in public agencies, nonprofit organizations, national service programs and in the private sector who are supporting the recovery effort. Working together, we can provide vital support to communities in need through service and volunteering.

The Guerrilla Green Sustainable Showdown invites teams of middle and high school students across the U.S. to bring innovative solutions to their school buildings, outdoor spaces, and activities. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: middle or high school teams of one to four people. Deadline: December 3, 2012.

http://guerrillagreen.architectureforhumanity.org/

The Career Readiness Partner Council, a coalition of national education, business, philanthropic, and policy groups, has released a four-page statement on what it means to be career-ready. According to the group, a career-ready person effectively navigates pathways that connect education and employment to achieve a fulfilling, financially secure, and successful career. To be career-ready in the global economy requires adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning, mastery of key academic and technical knowledge, and skills and dispositions that vary from one career to another and change over time as a person progresses along a developmental continuum. Career-readiness incorporates engaging workplace experiences that allow a person to apply academic and technical learning to real-world projects alongside professionals, which can start with career awareness and exploration that includes job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and service-learning. Career-readiness requires a comprehensive system of supports that deliver learning when, where, and how it is needed, by a cadre of experts that includes teachers and career professionals. To accomplish this for every student, policymakers must align policy and funding infrastructures that break down long- standing silos between secondary, postsecondary, and workforce systems and provide the full spectrum of supports to ensure seamless transitions from high school to college and beyond. High school teachers, leaders, and counselors must engage with business and industry and higher-education leaders and faculty to better understand what is expected of high school students. And parents and students must expand the goal of “college-bound” to include career goals.

See the brief: http://www.careerreadynow.org/

Accelerated Schools: Growth, Challenges and Outcomes
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
1-3PM
1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Since 2004, accelerated high schools in Philadelphia have offered over-aged and under-credited students a different path to graduation.

Join us for a grassroots and grasstops discussion.

Grasstops: Presentation of Data, Year One Report: Philadelphia’s Accelerated High Schools

Research for Action will present findings from the firrst year of  a two-year evaluation of  the accelerated high schools, including characteristics of  the student population, and enrollment, retention, and graduation data.

Michael Norton, Research Associate and Eva Gold, Senior Research Fellow

Grassroots: Voices from the Field

Key players in the Accelerated Schools will discuss the successes and challenges of  their work.

Milton Alexander, Vice President of Alternative Education Programs for Camelot Schools

David Bromley, Executive Director and Founder of Big Picture Philadelphia

Marcus Delgado, Deputy CEO of Fairhill Community High School

Majeedah Scott, Re-Engagement Center

RSVP: info@pccy.org

A new report from the National Education Policy Center concludes that the concept of local control has all but disappeared from discussions of education policy. The authors define local control as “the power of communities, made up of individuals bound together by common geography, resources, problems, and interests, to collectively determine the policies that govern their lives.” In education, this has typically been elected school boards and their constituents. However, NCLB and subsequent federal policy has forced a surrender of local control, with localities accountable to state and federal officials. Local discretion is allowed for compliance, but constraints because of mandates are enormous. In this way, the authors find NCLB and its progeny, including policies advanced by the Obama administration, are fundamentally anti-democratic. The Race to the Top in particular promises federal funds for expanded testing, use of student outcomes in teacher evaluations, and expansion of charter schools. To remedy this anti-democratic trend, the authors recommend moving away from threats to withhold funding, supplanting these with a participatory model that offers support and incentives for school employees, parents, and community members to collaborate on resolving educational problems. States and local communities should adopt curriculum standards “that include a conscious and substantive focus on developing the deliberative skill required of democratic citizenship.” The privatization of public education resources must also be curtailed.

Read more: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/democracy-left-behind

A new survey from Teach Plus looks at attitudes of teachers who entered the profession after NCLB in comparison with their colleagues who entered before it. Teachers with 10 years or fewer in the classroom now constitute over 50 percent of the teaching force. The report indicates that newer teachers voice growing support for placing performance ahead of seniority. However, they join their veteran colleagues on the need for more collaboration time and the importance of smaller class size. Teachers joining the profession in the last decade are more receptive to use of student growth data in evaluation, as well as performance-based tenure and compensation systems, and believe high standards and greater accountability will elevate the profession. When asked what types of working conditions help them serve students more effectively, teachers across the experience spectrum are nearly unanimous: time in the school day for collaboration; more flexible class groupings; and better teacher preparation. When asked what changes would elevate the profession, all teachers cited raising salaries as a key mechanism. To pay for those higher salaries, slightly over half of all teachers suggest raising taxes as their preferred strategy, but do not support trading off class size, a longer year, or a new pension system to pay for the increase.

See the report: http://www.teachplus.org/

The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a nationally-recognized, intermediary organization dedicated to improving the education outcomes of Philadelphia’s youth. PYN organizes its work around four core functions. The first function involves leveraging, coordinating and managing the public and private investments directed at youth education and workforce development in the Philadelphia region.  PYN’s second core function is convening and leading cross-sector partnerships and initiatives that enhance opportunities available to Philadelphia youth.  PYN is also responsible for designing, managing and replicating effective program models that prepare Philadelphia youth for the future workforce, focusing particularly on youth that live in poverty, have dropped out, or are at risk of dropping out of school and/or are involved with public care systems. Lastly, PYN organizes these program models into coordinated service and delivery systems.

General Description:  The Business Partnerships Unit at PYN is the center of expertise for employer engagement, workplace opportunities, and regional and national workforce trends.  The Business Partnership Specialist will work within the unit to develop relationships with employers, partners and  business organizations. These relationships are critical to building the capacity of the city’s youth workforce development field and to securing internship and career exposure opportunities for youth through WorkReady  Philadelphia, a cross-sector partnership dedicated to improving the economic outcomes of the region’s youth by attracting, aligning and investing resources in research-based, youth workforce-development strategies. Each year, WorkReady programs provide thousands of young people with career exposure and preparation opportunities designed to enhance youth understanding and mastery of skills needed to be successful in a 21st century, global economy.

http://www.pyninc.org/downloads/emp_opps/BusinessPartnershipSpecialist.pdf

Do you need volunteers to work with your organization over the holidays?  Are you in need of specific items for your organization this holiday season? If so, consider becoming part of the United Way’s Community Action Center’s Holiday Network, which provides you with an opportunity to share your needs with thousands of people and organizations in our region. *

Each year during the holiday season, United Way’s Community Action Center works to mobilize the caring power in our region by promoting and providing information about opportunities to give and serve throughout our region.  To become part of this years Holiday Network click the link below to access the form.

Download Holiday Network Form

http://hosted.uwsepa.org/newsletter/holidayform2012.pdf

All requests will be reviewed and highlighted on United Way’s website and help promoted via our Community Action Center.  To have the most effective promotions, forms should be submitted no later than November 6th.

Questions?  Please don’t hesitate to contact us at actioncenter@uwgpsnj.org or (215) 665-2501 with any additional questions or concerns.

*Please note that being a part of the Holiday Network does not guarantee fulfillment of your needs.  Agencies who submit requests to the United Way’s Community Action Center Holiday Opportunities Network waive and release claims against United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, its directors and officers, employees, event sponsors, participating organizations and personnel, representatives or other affiliates for injury to himself/herself or property.*

Clemson’s EDGE  Program in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management: Using  Student Engagement Experiences to create a Meaningful and Effective Learning Environment

Presenters:

Dr. Francis A. McGuire, Alumni Distinguished Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University, and Fellow in the Strom Thurmond Institute.

Dr. Teresa W. Tucker, Lecturer and Coordinator of the EDGE Program in the Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Management at Clemson University. Teresa is also a Clemson University Service Alliance Faculty Fellow.

Ms. Rita Penniman, Junior in the Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management undergraduate degree program, with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation.

In Spring of 2010, Clemson University’s Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) implemented a collaborative and unique approach to delivering core PRTM content to all sophomore PRTM majors. The PRTM EDGE (Engaging in Diverse Guided Experiences) Semester looks and feels much different from the traditional approaches to teach and learn in a higher education setting. Both faculty members and students in the PRTM EDGE Semester have no course obligations outside of the PRTM EDGE Semester, freeing them from the constraints of covering course material in 50 minute or 75 minute time blocks. With this flexibility, core course content is interwoven throughout the semester and taught using a variety of modalities including but not limited to: field experiences, service-learning, small and large group work, learning portfolios, volunteer experiences in the community, participation in workshops and conferences, lectures, creative inquiry, and field trips to visit with leading PRTM professionals.

The focus of this semester is not only to prepare students for their chosen profession but to also assist them in the development of skills and knowledge needed to be contributing and engaged members of society.

This webcast will specifically discuss how the PRTM EDGE semester infuses service learning and community-based research in undergraduate curriculum.

Further webcast information can be accessed at: http://www.clemson.edu/public/servicealliance/faculty_fellows_program/webcast_page.html