The theme of this year’s conference is Reinvigorating our Process of Discovery: Research Informing Practice in Service-Learning and Community Engagement.

The mission of IARSLCE is to promote the development and dissemination of research on service-learning and community engagement internationally and across all levels of the education system.

The keynote speaker is Parker J. Palmer, Ph.D., who has influenced educators, politicians and spiritual leaders for more than 40 years. This November, he will share his views on spirituality, politics and civic engagement at the 2013 International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) conference, which will be hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

Palmer, director and founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal, is the author of nine books, including award-winnings titles like “The Promise of Paradox,” “The Courage to Teach” and, his latest work, “Healing the Heart of Democracy.” Palmer also holds 11 honorary doctorates from institutions across the country and was named one of the 30 “most influential senior leaders” in higher education by 10,000 fellow educators as part of the Leadership Project. In 2010, Palmer was given the William Rainey Harper Award, which has also been given to visionaries such as Margaret Mead, Marshall McLuhan and Paolo Friere.

Palmer will provide the keynote address on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the IARSLCE conference. His remarks will draw heavily from his latest book, which addresses the negative effects of hyperpartisanship through spirituality and the ability to disagree while still respecting each other.

For more information about the 2013 conference, to view the call, or to submit a proposal, please visit www.researchslce.org/conferences

Deadline is extended to April 26th

Planned Giving and Endowments: Have No Fear!

Planned giving – large gifts made to nonprofits over long periods of time, or as part of a donor’s will and/or estate plan – can often feel like the last thing that a fundraising professional should focus on. When you need money to fund your daily operations NOW, why go after gifts that you won’t receive until LATER?

Likewise, many nonprofits never establish proper endowments because they feel as though all donations need to be put towards immediate operational needs, and that endowments are complicated to set up and manage.

Both assumptions are just that: assumptions. Join EHL Consulting during March’s free nonprofit workshop, where we will outline the basic information that nonprofit executives need to know to start a planned giving program, as well as discuss the long-term advantages of creating an endowment.

Have no fear! We will discuss easy steps that ANY nonprofit can take to begin this important process.

WHEN

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
5:30PM – 6:00 PM:        Networking with Nonprofit Professionals

6:00PM – 7:30PM:         Fundraising Workshop with Q&A to Follow

WHERE
Independence Hall (Indy Hall)
22 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

WHO
A discussion for nonprofit professionals in the Greater Philadelphia Area, featuring Avrum D. Lapin, a national expert in fundraising strategy and nonprofit leadership development.

Read more at www.ehlconsulting.com

RSVP
This event is free, but space is limited.

Please register and RSVP here: http://www.ehlconsulting.com/contact-us/meetups/

The youth-led Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit will bring together a diverse group of teens, college students, and adult allies to learn and strategize about food justice issues.

It will be held in West Philadelphia (exact location TBA) on Saturday, April 13th from 9am to 5pm.

The day will feature opportunities to share your organization’s work with other organizations in the region, as well as attend and lead workshops on food justice, civil rights and relevant skills. We are also excited to offer a youth panel on the Youth Food Bill of Rights!

Since we are aiming to provide an opportunity to organizations who may not otherwise be able to attend the National RIC Summer Summit (see here for more info), there is no registration fee for this summit. There is no particular limit on number of attendants per group, and we are committed to making this a safe space for our youth leaders’ voices. Please consider this when selecting your attendants.

Feel free to contact events@urbannutrition.org with any questions.

Click here to register your group for the Mid-Atlantic Regional RIC!

The program awards grants of up to $10,000 in support of innovative and promising ideas that teach math and/or science skills, reach a significant number of students, and demonstrate broad-based community support. To be considered, projects must develop math and/or science skills through the study of the environment or be designed to increase students’ awareness of energy efficiency and conservation, energy sources, or other energy-related topics.

Public and private elementary and secondary schools and public school divisions that are registered with the National Center for Educational Statistics, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are invited to apply. Grants are limited to applicants from Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

See the Dominion web site for eligibility and application guidelines.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Primary Subject: Education
Geographic Funding Area: National

– See more at: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=410900021#sthash.IV2hw1zf.dpuf

Deadline: May 1, 2013

Hours: 37.5 per week, non-benefit, temporary seasonal (March – August), full-time position

About PYN:
The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a nationally-recognized intermediary organization dedicated to improving the economic and education outcomes of Philadelphia’s youth.  PYN organizes its work around four core functions: leveraging, coordinating and managing public and private investment directed at youth education and workforce development in the Philadelphia region; convening and leading cross-sector partnerships and initiatives that enhance opportunities available to Philadelphia youth; 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; and organizing these program models into coordinated service and delivery systems.
About Program Services Division:
The Program Services Division (PSD) ensures that PYN program models are designed and implemented with fidelity. As a conduit for local, regional, and national best practices, the PSD ensures that programs are managed and evaluated to demonstrate the impact of the investment and services on youth in Philadelphia.  In partnership with stakeholders who invest in the youth workforce development system and sub-contractors who directly serve the youth, PSD manages resources over $15.9 million for services to nearly 20,000 youth annually.
General Description:
The Employment Specialist is part of a seasonal team designed to provide citywide access to all youth interested in WorkReady Philadelphia summer programs. This position requires a flexible schedule and the ability to work evenings and weekends beginning late March to August. This is a non-exempt position at $10 an hour.
Essential Functions:
•    Conduct youth enrollment sessions in accordance with applicable labor laws and practices
•    Verify accuracy of documentation in youth enrollment files
•    Enter information into the database
•    Maintain filing system for youth and sub-contractor files
•    Answer the Summer WorkReady hotline/e-mail; respond to inquiries and record statistics
•    Troubleshoot youth enrollment and payroll issues
•    Reconcile youth timesheets against payroll registers
•    Embody and integrate excellent customer service into daily work
•    Serve as an example of professionalism
•    Travel to sites throughout Philadelphia
•    Other duties as assigned by Provider Liaison, Summer Manager and/or Executives
Education, Experience & Skills Required:
•    High school diploma or GED as well as pursuing additional education (Bachelor’s Degree preferred)
•    Ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities  through to completion
•    Excellent customer service skills
•    Strong organizational, analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
•    Strong verbal and written communication skills
•    Detail-oriented
•    Ability to excel in a high-performing team and project a positive attitude
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Windows & Office
•    Ability to work nights and weekends is required
•    Successful completion of background checks (PA state criminal, Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse, and F.B.I. fingerprinting)

For more information, please go to http://www.pyninc.org/aboutpyn/employment-opps.php

Background

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), widely recognized as the nation’s premier community development intermediary, has a 32-year history of investing in community-based organizations focused on rebuilding urban neighborhoods and rural communities. LISC mobilizes corporate, government, and philanthropic support to provide local community development organizations with (1) loans, grants, and equity investments; (2) local, statewide, and national policy support; and (3) technical and management assistance.  LISC works throughout the nation to assist its various partners to implement our comprehensive, place-based community revitalization strategy that we call Building Sustainable Communities (BSC).  The BSC framework has five core activities:  developing, preserving and investing in housing and other real estate; increasing family income and wealth; stimulating local and regional economic activity; improving access to quality education; fostering livable, safe and healthy environments. For more information about LISC, visit www.lisc.org

Philadelphia LISC has incorporated the BSC framework into local Sustainable Communities Initiatives in Eastern North and West Philadelphia.  In addition, Philadelphia LISC works with community-based organizations throughout the city to develop affordable housing, commercial ventures, and community facilities, as well as to support commercial corridor, family income and community safety programs.

Position Description

The Deputy Director will manage the day-to-day operations of the Philadelphia office, including implementation of a recently completed strategic plan; the Sustainable Communities Initiatives and other programs; and community development lending.   The position will serve as team leader for program staff, providing strategic planning, direction and coaching, and will work closely with community development partners and consultants in planning, implementing and publicizing projects and programs.  The Deputy Director will oversee the identification and analysis of new opportunities; lead the development of workplans for new ventures and programs; and help manage evaluation of current and recent endeavors.  The Deputy Director will also work closely with the Executive Director to help manage multiple LISC and external relationships, including committees of Philadelphia LISC’s Local Advisory Board, and to achieve programmatic and development goals.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess:

¨      Strong managerial and interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate and work effectively with a diverse set of colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.

¨      Ability to lead multiple programs or projects.

¨      Extensive experience with urban community development, real estate development and/or lending.

¨      Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to be persuasive and compelling in advocating for community development programs and resources.

¨      Good facilitation and presentation skills.

¨      Minimum 10 years related experience. Bachelors Degree required.  Masters Degree preferred.

¨      Working knowledge of Philadelphia community development environment preferred.

To Apply

LISC offers a competitive salary and benefits package.  Moderate travel is required. Qualified candidates should send a resume (including salary history), cover letter, and writing sample by March 11th, 2013 to:

For more information on LISC visit: http://www.lisc.org

Event:  The March PYSC Networking Seminar will be on Tuesday, March 19, from 9:30-11:30 AM.

Topic:  “How to Motivated the Unmotivated”

Panelists:

What To Expect:  Refreshments, networking, program announcements, small-group discussions, and panel presentations.

Who Can Attend:  Administrative, direct-service, local, regional, current, past, and future staff are welcome, free of charge.

Register Here: March19SportsSeminar

Co-sponsored by Elizabethtown College and PACC Central Region

April 11, 2013—9:30 am-4 pm

This workshop will identify approaches to align assessment and evaluation of civic engagement programs with your institution’s mission. Its goals are to identify resources to:

1.      Identify resources and opportunities to assess and evaluate

2.      Share next practices (the new ‘best practices’)

3.      Create opportunity for networking with a learning community.

Topics will address institutional mission alignment for community engagement, weaving with accreditation and assessment into your community engagement strategies, and a simulation activity which explores casestudies of different university-community partnerships at various developmental stages.

Workshop Components include:

1)  Panel: Weaving Accreditation and Assessment Together
Lina Dostilio, Duquesne University, moderator of institutional researchers: LaMont Rouse, Executive Director for Assessment, Accreditation and Compliance, Cedar Crest College; Steve Thorpe, Director of Institutional Research, Widener University.

2) Presentation: Community-Based Research and Student Learning
Trisha Thorme, Princeton University, Director of Community-Based Learning Initiative

3) Two Case Studies: Building a Team & Process for Planning Assessment & Evaluation

Stay tuned for final program agenda.

To register, please go to:  https://www.elbowspace.com/servlets/cfd?xr4=&formts=2013-02-01 07:53:41.745218

Registration Deadline: March 25, 2013. $40 (Campus Compact members); $60 (non Campus Compact members).

Each of the three award winners will receive four free tickets to a Phillies game in the Mayor’s Box and will have their names engraved on a plaque to be placed in or around City Hall.  The top four finalists in each category will be invited to join the winners at a Professional Networking Luncheon in May, sponsored by Comcast and hosted by Richard Negrin, Deputy Mayor of Administration and Coordination, and Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia.

“AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members make an intensive commitment to service, and our cities and our nation are much better off because of their dedication and sacrifice,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.  “I salute Mayor Nutter for creating this new award to recognize the contributions of outstanding service leaders, which we hope will inspire others to follow their own path of service.”

Nominations will be accepted until Friday, March 15, 2013 and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 during an awards ceremony at City Hall to mark the first annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service.  Anyone may submit one or more nominations, including current and former national service members, program staff and board members as well as members of the general public.  Self-nominations will also be accepted.  A committee of the Mayor’s Executive Team will identify the top nominees in each category and present them to the Mayor for final selection.

Further information, including the nomination form, is available at www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com

In addition, a paper nomination can be picked up and submitted to the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service, Room 112 of City Hall.
About National Service Programs
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than 4 million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve.  AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment by making an intensive commitment to service.  SeniorCorps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 330,000 Americans age 55 and over to meet a wide range of community challenges through three programs — RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program.

For more information, visit: www.nationalservice.gov

About the Mayors Day of Recognition for National and Community Service:
To spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve, mayors across the country will participate in the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service on April 9, 2013. On this day, more than 200 mayors from across the country will hold public events and use traditional and social media to highlight the value and impact of national service to the nation’s cities. This initiative is being led by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; the Corporation for National and Community Service; Cities of Service; and other organizations.

For more information, please visit: www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com

Deadline is March 15, 2013

Eligibility:
Must be experienced with Quickbooks for more than a year.
Must have experience with co-ops and non-profits.
Must be flexible for scheduling meetings, often in evening hours.
Must have experience with accounts payable and accounts receivable, and reconciliations.
Must be able to communicate about financial matters to people with less financial literacy.

Preferred skills:
Familiarity with consensus decision making
Self-starter, self-directed
Familiarity with real estate and property taxes
Responsive
Patient

Please send a resume and cover letter to treasurer@lca.coop