Established by children’s book author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is accepting applications from public schools and public libraries anywhere in the United States and its territories for program or event mini-grants of up to $500.

The mini-grants program is intended to support projects that foster creative expression, collaboration, and interaction with a diverse community. The funding program provides an opportunity for educators, whose efforts are often inadequately funded or recognized, to create special activities outside the standard curriculum and make time to encourage their students.

Projects funded in the past include murals, pen pal groups, quilts, theater productions, newspapers and other publications, intergenerational activities, and programs that bring disparate communities together.

Public schools and public libraries are eligible to apply. Preschool head start programs also are eligible. Only public organizations are eligible; private and parochial schools should not apply. Charter schools also are ineligible. Applicants must be located in the U.S. or its commonwealths or territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam. Only one application from each library or school will be considered.

Complete program guidelines, a video tutorial for applicants, and the application form are available at the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Web site.

http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/minigrant-program/

The Avon Foundation for Women, which supports programs that address breast cancer or domestic violence, has announced a Request for Proposals for its m.powerment by mark Healthy Relationship College Program.

Now in its second year, the program is open to nonprofit college and university organizations in the United States.

Eligible organizations may apply for funding for programs that deal with dating abuse, sexual assault, and stalking prevention and awareness, including campus-wide outreach events, trainings, and/or workshops; peer education programs to increase the number of student ambassadors; awareness materials, including resource guides, Web site pages, posters, cards, and buttons; and video or print PSAs or short films.

The program should emphasize awareness and prevention through education. Funded programs should be able to provide a minimum of four on-campus outreach events, trainings, or workshops to be completed in the one-year grant period and report on numbers served at these programs; provide preventive education on issues of dating abuse, sexual assault, and stalking and promote healthy relationships; provide resources and referrals to the student population about community-based domestic violence agencies and advocates; and develop or expand data collection and analyses of their program’s reach and impact to demonstrate sustainability and garner additional program support.

Twenty-five grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded.

Complete program guidelines, an application tutorial, and application materials are available at the Avon Foundation Web site.

http://www.avonfoundation.org/grants/domestic-violence/

The LEGO Children’s Fund provides grants for collaborative programs, either in part or in total, to organizations that focus on early childhood education and development; technology and communication projects that advance learning opportunities; or sport or athletic programs that concentrate on underserved youth. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Deadline: January 15, 2013.

http://www.legochildrensfund.org/Guidelines.html

A new report from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation looks at schools in the Proficiency-Based Pathways Project (PBP), which implements mastery-based approaches to teaching in rural, suburban, and inner-city regions in New England. Competency education is rooted in mastering a set of skills and knowledge rather than simply moving through a curriculum. Students work on skills or knowledge until they demonstrate understanding and ability to apply them; they then move on. They cannot advance simply by showing up to class a sufficient number of days and earning a grade just above failing. The report finds time-based policies and systems — from schedules to contracts to credit systems, at both the district and state level — often impede implementation of competency-based designs, yet educators find ways to create flexibility, starting within familiar structures but locating strategies to support individualized pacing. The biggest logistical challenge to competency-based initiatives is the lack of high-quality data and technological tools to assess and monitor student progress. Expansion of competency education will likely be aided by evolving state policies that allow districts or schools to opt out of seat-time requirements. Adoption of the Common Core standards will encourage consistency in developing competencies grounded in high-quality college-readiness standards, and the assessment systems being developed for these by multi-state consortia will support the need to measure complex knowledge and skills.

See the report: http://www.competencyworks.org/resources/making-mastery-work/

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently laid out his priorities for the next four years in a speech at the Foundation for Excellence in Education, emphasizing he thinks teacher preparation is broken and the best educators should be teaching the highest-need children, reports Michele McNeil in Education Week. He also wants to renew focus on teacher and principal quality. Duncan said teacher education programs are “part of the problem,” and without getting specific, said there are a “number of things we plan to do,” such as a competitive initiative to foster innovation in schools of education. “We need to push very, very hard in schools of education,” he said. He also expressed concern that no schools or districts he knows of work “systemically” to identify the best teachers and principals, then place them with children with the highest needs. Duncan also indicated early education would get a renewed focus in his second term. This was the most widely viewed speech from the secretary since President Barack Obama was re-elected.

Read more: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/11/_this_marks_the_first.html

RIEJS is an academic peer-reviewed publication in electronic format and open access, that is edited by the research group “School change for Social Justice” (GICE) from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain, in collaboration with the Latin American Research Network on School Improvement and School Effectiveness (RINACE). It was created in November 2010 as a tool for promoting  quality research that sees education as a powerful instrument for social transformation.

You may consult the call for papers at http://www.rinace.net/riejs/proximos_numeros_english.htm
and submission guidelines at http://www.rinace.net/riejs/guia_autores_english.html

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As many of you know, for nearly four years, Civil Eats has been a labor of love. During this time, we’ve produced thousands of stories, promoted your work, and had millions of pageviews.

We need as much community support as we can: our twitter handle @CivilEats and we’re on Facebook.

Youth have more difficulty gaining a foothold in the U.S. labor market than at any time since the 1950s, according to a new KIDS COUNT policy report published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The report, Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity, estimates that nearly 6.5 million young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are disconnected from both school and the workforce.  It also identifies six recommendations for creating multiple pathways to success for disconnected youth.

http://www.nlc.org/media-center/news-search/kids-count-report-65-million-youth-and-young-adults-neither-in-school-nor-working

Strong partnerships among cities, schools, and youth service providers are the foundation of leading strategies such as collective impact and community schools.  The ability to share information helps these local partners set goals, evaluate progress, make smarter decisions, and advise educators and program managers who work with children and youth.

Join National League of Cities for a free, hour-long webinar on “School-Community Data Sharing Strategies that Get Results” on Tues., Dec. 11, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time to learn how cities, schools and community partners can work together to share information and produce better results for young people.

http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/education-and-training/event-calendar/school-community-data-sharing-strategies-that-get-results

The National Transition Conference was held on May 30-June 1, 2012 in Washington DC. Attended by over 800 people, the conference offered a diverse array of workshops and general sessions.

This site provides an overview of the conference program; materials provided by presenters and captioned video of both the opening session and the keynote speaker, Ann Wilson Cramer of IBM.

Breakout Session Materials
Breakout session materials have been organized by theme track. Clicking on a theme track will take you to a Dropbox folder with the presentation materials or a session folder if the presenter provided multiple documents.

You can download the material or view it in your web browser.

• Employment
• Family Engagement
• Partnerships
• Poster
• Program Policy
• Secondary and Postsecondary Education
• Student Development
• Unknown

http://www.transition2012.org/

Summary :
The Director of Partnerships and Outreach  will have a lead role in identifying and developing partnerships with relevant stakeholders, such as Business Chambers, Entrepreneurship Training Programs, and CDFIs, in order to ensure robust participation and full enrollment in a new grant-funded small business and entrepreneurship program. The Director of Partnerships and Outreach will work as a direct partner to the Executive Director of the program to coordinate partnership development strategies and implementation.

The Director of Partnerships and Outreach will be an employee of the Fund for Philadelphia; however,  as the umbrella organization for all economic development activity in the city, the Philadelphia Commerce Department has committed to having a lead role in providing outreach for this initiative. As such, the Director of Partnerships and Outreach position will work closely with the structure of the Commerce Department of the City of Philadelphia. The Executive Director and the Director of Partnerships and Outreach of the small business and entrepreneurship program will work together with the Commerce Department to develop a strategy to ensure that all local partners are informed and have the opportunity to become partners in this initiative.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
•    Develop a targeted outreach and marketing plan in order to attract eligible businesses to the program.
•    Develop high quality program collateral and marketing tools to utilize when approaching potential partnerships.
•    Develop and effectively manage relationships with key stakeholders who can contribute to the success of the program.
•    Work collaboratively with Commerce Department staff in order to leverage existing knowledge and relationships in the small business development arena.
•    Identify regional networking events, venues and activities targeting small businesses, and regularly attend these events.
•     Work with the Executive Director and Assistant Commerce Director to develop a strategy for coordinating efforts across partnerships in order to deliver a unified and comprehensive program.
Core Competencies/Qualifications:
•    Bachelors Degree in a business, communications and/or relevant field of study is required.  An advanced degree is preferred.
•    Five years experience in communications, public relations and/or business development. Knowledge of small business programs and stakeholders in Philadelphia a plus.
•    Knowledge of how to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and a wide range of business, industry, and community partners
•    Excellent interpersonal skills
•    Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
•    Proficient in Microsoft Office. Experience with graphic design software a plus.
•    Flexible work schedule to enable participation at evening and/or weekend events.
•    Must possess a valid Driver’s License.
•    Fluency in a second language a plus.

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Letitia.McNeil@phila.gov by December 20, 2012. No phone calls please.

Act fast! This is a limited time offer!

Application Deadline: December 14, 2012

Thanks to special funding received by the Institute for Financial Literacy in support of its Senior Financial Safety project and its accompanying financial education programs, the Institute for Financial Literacy would like to invite nonprofit organizations to participate in an exciting opportunity to expand educational programming for older Americans. Organizations that qualify will receive their choice of three education programs at no charge.*

This is a cost savings of $398 per 40-book case!
Senior Financial Safety provides individuals aged 50+ with practical tools for managing and protecting their personal finances. This program also includes valuable information written specifically for those providing care to seniors, including those in the “sandwich” generation.

Guide to Credit and Debt Management is a groundbreaking financial education program that will change the way individuals think about their money. Dispelling the notion that all credit and debt is bad, seniors learn how to successfully use these tools to manage their finances and accomplish their goals.

Guide to Insurance and Investing is the keystone to long-term financial health. This content-rich program shows individuals how insurance and investing work together to help them achieve their goals and protect them in the event of death, serious accident or illness.

Each Program Includes:

• Workbooks
• Money Management Worksheets
• Consumer Resources
• Assessment and
• Evaluation Tools
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Teacher’s Guide

Don’t miss out on this limited time offer! Apply today!

To be considered for this valuable offer, complete a short Application Form. Once completed, please return it to the Institute before December 14, 2012.

Supplies are limited and all applications will be reviewed and processed in the order received.

For more information, please call (207) 221-3663.

The OMG Center is seeking referrals of diverse “exemplar foundations” that include specific DEI investment strategies for  understanding the ways inequities and disparities are produced and maintained for populations, request specific intervention strategies about how grantees will advance DEI in programming for groups of interest, and seek out and promote resources and expertise for grantees and philanthropies to strengthen DEI in their practice.

The OMG Center would like to include “exemplar  foundations”  representing:

-Different geographic regions
-Different annual giving sizes (lesser known foundations especially)
-Different foundation types (independent, individual/family, community, and corporate)

Please email georgia@omgcenter.org with any foundation recommendations.

The Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) is a competitive grant program created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that provides funding to states and tribes to support programs that provide pregnant and parenting women and girls with supportive services to help them complete high school or postsecondary degrees (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2010a). Only two states, Minnesota and Virginia, have used their PAF grants to provide services related to postsecondary institutions. This fact sheet describes several of the programs and initiatives created by these PAF grantees. Unless otherwise noted, all program information comes from interviews with program officials and staff.

http://www.iwpr.org/publications/pubs/the-pregnancy-assistance-fund-as-a-support-for-student-parents-in-postsecondary-education

Founded in 2001, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) is a growing community of independent, locally owned businesses that are committed to improving their environmental and social impacts as well as their profit margin. As a founding member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, SBN is a leader in the international movement that is building a future where businesses do well by investing in the quality of life for all citizens; serving community needs, sharing wealth, and protecting the environment.

SBN has a small, dedicated staff team, a passionate and engaged board, and a dynamic membership of business leaders. The mission of SBN is to build a just, green and thriving economy in the Greater Philadelphia region. For the past eleven years SBN has provided education, resources and a collective voice for our members and partners, while challenging, educating and inspiring policy makers and the general public to support local businesses and help them prosper. In all the operations and interactions of the organization, the board and staff of SBN are continually striving to set an unprecedented example for how businesses and communities can coexist, collaborate, and create a more sustainable society.

SBN seeks a new Executive Director to build upon the strong foundation laid by the first Executive Director, who is moving on after an eight-year tenure.

Position Summary:

As the leader of a community of entrepreneurs, SBN requires a dynamic, innovative and entrepreneurial executive director (ED); one who will build on existing programs and partnerships to accomplish our mission, and propel us towards achieving our collective vision. The ED functions as the Chief Executive Officer of SBN, and is responsible for implementation of the policies, and planned strategic goals and objectives of the organization. The ED is the chief fundraiser and oversees the financial, program, and administrative management of the corporation. As the public face of SBN, the ED must embody and champion our values and principals. As CEO the ED must have the ability to see the larger picture, while skillfully managing details and establishing a stable, nurturing and productive working environment. The ED is expected to make well‐informed decisions, and respect and be empowered by diverse perspectives. The salary will be commensurate with experience.

http://www.sbnphiladelphia.org/jobs/view/executive_director2/

Members for the Community Schools Leadership Network discuss where community schools fit in the landscape of place-based initiatives and share strategies for aligning and partnering at the local level in this webinar. Webinar presenters include members of the West Coast Collaborative and guests from PolicyLink and cradle to career efforts.

Session objectives:

• Share thinking and lessons from the field on alignment of community schools initiatives with other place-based efforts.
• Articulate position on community schools as complementary and effective implementation strategy for other place-based initiatives.
• Hear perspectives on alignment from colleagues outside the community school field.
• Identify key messages and strategies for aligning in your community.

Presenters:

• Diana Hall, SUN Community Schools, Multnomah County, OR
• Ellen Pais, Los Angeles Education Partnership, CA
• Leilani Dela Cruz, Community Schools Collaboration, South King County, WA
• Michael McAfee, Promise Neighborhoods Institute at PolicyLink
• Rebecca Boxx, Mayor’s Children & Youth Cabinet, Providence, RI

Webinar Resources:
Webinar PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.communityschools.org/assets/1/AssetManager/12_10_24_WCC_Webinar_FINAL.pdf
An Audio Recording of Webinar: http://iel.org/communityschools/webinars/archives/2012-10-24/

COALITION REPORT: Community Schools and Place-Based Strategies: http://www.communityschools.org/assets/1/AssetManager/CCS%20Place%20Based%20Report(website).pdf

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781610486064

The nation’s top community and economic development leaders gathered in Washington DC recently to spark a dialogue about a pressing domestic problem – how to reverse record high rates of poverty in America and create communities that are healthy places to live, learn, work, and play. They also celebrated launch of a new book, Investing in What Works for America’s Communities, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Low Income Investment Fund with generous support from the Citi Foundation. What Works includes contemporary essays by recognized experts, analysts, financiers, researchers, philanthropists, and public policymakers.

Jennifer Tescher, President & CEO, and Ellen Seidman, CFSI Board Chair, each authored a chapter about innovative interventions that are transforming neighborhoods around the country. Seidman also served as a contributing editor while in residence as Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The publication highlights lessons learned for building sustainable communities, and what steps the public and private sectors need to take to foster prosperity.

Copies are available without charge at http://www.whatworksforamerica.org/contact-us/.

Date: Wednesday, December 12 at 2 p.m. EST
Place-based workforce development efforts are giving way to more specific, sector-based workforce strategies. By matching workers’ skills to the needs of growth industries, cities are amplifying impact and driving local economic growth. In this What Works webinar, Janet Lees will discuss SFMade’s “Hiring Made Better” program. Learn how Hiring Made Better connects low-income workers with job opportunities in San Francisco’s manufacturing industry. Learn more and register.

http://www.icic.org/connection/event-detail/event-what-works-industry-specific-workforce-development-strategies

Bloomberg Philanthropies have selected 20 finalists in the Mayors Challenge — a boot camp style competition where the winner will receive $5 million to invest in their idea; four runners up will receive $1 million each. Winners are chosen based upon the idea’s vision, potential impact, ability to be implemented and replicability potential. We take a deeper look at three of the cities: Milwaukee’s Home Gr/Own, San Francisco’s City Job Works, and Syracuse’s International Village. These ideas could have a profound effect in inner city communities.  Read more.

http://www.icic.org/connection/blog-entry/blog-20-ideas-that-could-change-our-cities

[Ed note: Philadelphia is in the running.]