United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), in collaboration with North Penn United Way and the United Ways of Bucks County, Chester County, and Southern Chester County launched 2-1-1, a free, easy-to-remember phone number that connects residents of the five-county southeastern Pennsylvania region with important health and human services in local communities.

“Navigating the nonprofit landscape and a host of government services can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start, so unfortunately many go without the services they need,” says Jill Michal, UWGPSNJ president and CEO. “2-1-1 is the place to start.”

Callers reach trained specialists who can help identify their needs and connect them to local human services organizations that specialize in meeting critical basic needs (such as food and housing); physical and mental health resources; employment supports; assistance for older adults and people with disabilities; and support for children, youth and families.

Help is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (TTY and language services are available in more than 170 languages and dialects), and 24 hours a day at www.211sepa.org

Individuals, families and communities can connect with 2-1-1 for help with everyday needs and in crisis situations. “2-1-1 often demonstrates its value during times of crisis. For example, in the weeks after Hurricane Sandy, NJ 2-1-1 helped coordinate response and served as an invaluable lifeline to thousands of New Jersey residents in need of evacuation and temporary shelter assistance, help accessing emergency food and water and dealing with utility outages,” says Michal.

“But 2-1-1 can also play a critical role in non-emergency times. With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to the resources of thousands of nonprofit programs and services that can help improve their quality of life — from quality early childcare centers, to job training programs or in-home health supports for an aging parent,” adds Ann O’Brien Schmieg, senior vice president, Community Impact, UWGPSNJ.

This launch is part of a broader goal to bring 2-1-1 services to every resident of the Commonwealth. One of seven regions within the statewide Pennsylvania 2-1-1 system, 2-1-1 in southeastern Pennsylvania will also help local health and human services providers to plan for the future.

“Data collected through the local 2-1-1 system can be used to identify prevalent or emerging community needs throughout the region to facilitate informed response, assess the community or region’s ability to address large-scale issues and identify gaps in services to help meet critical or growing needs,” says Michal. “In addition, based on data collected from calls, nonprofit agencies and local government can anticipate demand for services and mobilize resources to meet changing needs.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania’s Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey’s Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties , is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people’s lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way is advancing the common good in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by positively impacting the lives of people throughout the region in the areas of education, income, and health.

For more information, visit www.211sepa.org or email info@211sepa.org

URBAN WORKSHOP – DIGGING DEEPER
Sally Harrison, AIA, Director of The Urban Workshop at Temple University; Associate Professor
Vojislav Ristic, Project Collaborator; Associate Professor

February 18 – March 08, 2013
Architecture Building Lobby
2001 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

The Urban Workshop at Temple University is a design collaborative of architecture and other place-making disciplines formed to address design opportunities and challenges that emerge in rebuilding neighborhoods in the post-industrial city. Working at the scales of urban design, architecture, landscape, and site specific installation, the Urban Workshop directly engages community partners, working with them to create places that are beautiful, sustainable, and humane.

Digging Deeper is sponsored by a Pew Charitable Trusts Heritage Philadelphia Grant

March 13, 2013 at 2PM

School dropout is oftentimes an end result to a failure to effectively support youth and reduce risk factors across child development and formative years. OCYF’s efforts to reduce childhood truancy (chronic absenteeism) and the impact of dropout on parents and families will be discussed in this opportunity in the Perspectives Series.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register Now for Webinar #3 at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4578613057330321920

Archived Webinars and Powerpoints
Webinar #1-An Overview of the Dropout Crisis Recording
Click here for the Powerpoint
Webinar #2-Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Recording
Click here for the Powerpoint

You can also find this information in the News and Resource section of www.SucceedInPA.org
Pennsylvania Dropout Prevention Network
800 North Third Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17102
717.233.4330

“Breast Health/Breast Cancer 101…Early Detection is the Key”

Saturday, March 9, 2013
11:00AM – 1:00PM

For more information, please call Novella K. Lyons at 215-424-4180.

This Request for Proposal is to identify Philadelphia neighborhood-based organizations in need of gap financing for construction of commercial and the commercial portions of mixed-use development. This program is operated by the Office of Neighborhood Economic Development (ONED) of the Commerce Department. ONED seeks to identify and invest in opportunities that contribute to revitalizing neighborhood commercial areas, enhance community-based development projects, and expand the City’s employment base. Site control is critical. Evidence must be provided, either through proof-of-ownership (a deed), or an executed agreement of sale or option, or a lease-hold agreement of at least 15 years.

Pre-Proposal Briefing will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 NOON at:

One Parkway Building
1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor, Room 18-022
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 PM Philadelphia, PA, local time, on May 22, 2013.

To download the RFP:

1. Go to http://www.phila.gov/contracts/ (This site requires Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater running on Microsoft Windows to ensurer full functionality)
2. Click “eContract Philly”
3. Click “New Contract Opportunities”
4. Search Departments: “Commerce”
5. Click on Opportunity “21130214193553” for the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) Grant.

This program is funded with federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and is subject to CDBG requirements. Questions may be asked at the briefing and/or submitted via email in advance of the briefing. Please refer to the RFP for details on how to submit questions and for information on eligibility and due dates.

Feel free to forward this opportunity to other interested parties.

For more information and to apply, please go to http://www.realfoodchallenge.org/rfo
First Deadline: March 1
Final Deadline: March 22

In 1988 I helped to bring the Graduation Pledge to Manchester College, which also served as the second host school for the Graduation Pledge Alliance from 1996 to 2007. In 2007 the Graduation Pledge Alliance moved to Bentley University where it is currently hosted by the Bentley Alliance for Ethics and Social Responsibility (http://www.bentley.edu/centers/alliance) and is guided by the Graduation Pledge Alliance Executive Committee. I currently serve as Secretary for the Executive Committee and as a Senior Fellow with the Bentley Alliance.

Over the years, the Graduation Pledge has been implemented at over 300 high schools, universities, and professional schools.  Today, the mission of the Graduation Pledge Alliance is to build a global community of graduates whose commitment to social and environmental responsibility in the workplace and in the rest of their lives is helping to build a healthy, sustainable, and just world. The Graduation Pledge Alliance works toward this mission by providing support and processes for three levels of pledge activity:

·        Campus chapters of students who seek to incorporate the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility as a part of their graduation experience in order to make choices about their employment and other aspects of their lives in a more serious and life-influencing way.

·        High Schools, Colleges, and Professional Schools using the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility as a vehicle for integrating or strengthening values and citizenship education throughout their curriculum and the entire student experience along with the teaching of traditional knowledge and skills.

·        Pledge signers and alumni impacting the workplace and society to become concerned about more than just the “bottom line.”

In all of these activities the Graduation Pledge Alliance encourages individuals, chapters, and schools to determine for themselves – consistent with building a healthy, sustainable, and just world – the meaning of social and environmental responsibility; and to adopt and/or reword the pledge as appropriate for their situation.

If you are willing to help the Graduation Pledge Alliance pursue our mission on a global basis, promote the Graduation Pledge through your own networks, or just assist a single school, please contact our Executive Director Bill Benet at: BBenet@Bentley.edu

Check out Peter Edelman’s new book entitled, “So Rich, So Poor: Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in America,” which offers an uncompromising look at the increasing poverty in America today.

More about Peter Edelman:

Currently a professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center where he
teaches constitutional and poverty law, Mr. Edelman was a top advisor to Senator Robert F. Kennedy
and a member of President Bill Clinton’s Administration (from which he famously resigned in protest
after Clinton signed the 1996 welfare reform legislation). He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Arthur J.
Goldberg and for Judge Henry J. Friendly on the US Court of Appeals, and served as special assistant to
US Assistant Attorney General John Douglas. He is currently chair of the District of Columbia Access to
Justice Commission and is board chair of the American Constitution Society, the Public Welfare
Foundation, and the National Center for Youth Law. He received his BA from Harvard College and his JD
from Harvard Law School.

The Deputy Mayor for Environmental & Community Resources/Parks & Recreation Commissioner is responsible for the management of the 10,600 acre, Fairmount Park and Recreation system. The Office also oversees the operation of all City of Philadelphia recreation facilities, programs, and events. In addition, the Deputy Mayor provides leadership for the Free Library of Philadelphia with 54 libraries located across Philadelphia.

The Deputy Mayor seeks a Community Organizer who will report to the Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor as well as having a formal relationship to the Director of Stewardship. The position requires an energetic, hardworking, and organized person to help build community capacity and support for Parks & Recreation facilities system wide.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide direct program support to creating Friends organizations in Cobbs Creek and Tacony Parks working with Director of Stewardship, Volunteer Coordinators and community organizations in surrounding neighborhoods;

• Do on-the-ground organizing work to build support for the above listed watershed parks as well as specific neighborhood parks and recreation centers (in response to strategic and specific objectives);

• Provide staffing for PPR 5K runs in the watershed parks including organizing community support groups for volunteer recruitment, sponsorship and outreach/publicity;

• Work with program staff to provide help building community capacity to support PPR special projects as part of strategic initiatives, i.e. expansion of youth development opportunities in specific neighborhoods;

• Assist in supporting Advisory Councils including, training for members

Qualifications:

• A skills set in building community meetings, identifying community leaders and leadership opportunities, and connecting people to meaningful work and resources;

• Demonstrated experience in community organizing in diverse communities for a minimum of three years; Philadelphia experience preferred but not required;

• Strong communications skills including in person, leading meetings, written communications;

• Computer literate and comfortable with social media;

• Highly organized and the ability to respond immediately and effectively to community issues and questions;

• Knowledge of public policy issues impacting children and youth in Philadelphia;

• Demonstrated ability and comfort in working in diverse communities; bi-lingual language skills preferable but not required;

• Ability to facilitate respectful accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;

• Willingness to work flexible hours.

For more information or to submit a resume/cover letter please email Patrick Morgan, Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Mayor Environmental & Community Resources/Parks & Recreation Commissioner at patrick.morgan@phila.gov

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded program administered by the States that helps fill the summer meal gap for low-income children by reimbursing organizations that serve children meals at feeding sites during summer months.
Schools, churches, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, and camps can provide summer meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low-income families, making a positive impact on the lives of hungry children. These summer food sites are safe and familiar locations where children naturally gather during the summer.

The USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is offering free webinars on SFSP, so you can learn more about how you can help your community feed children in need. The webinars will review SFSP participation requirements, cover resources and tools available to help you get started, highlight successful programs and outreach practices from around the country, and provides an opportunity to have your questions answered by FNS Program experts.

Agenda:
March 8 (Friday) – Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer – Getting State Elected Officials Involved
March 13 (Wednesday) – Summer Food Service Program – Alimenta a los Niños en el Verano (en español)
March 20 (Wednesday) – Already a CACFP Site? Then Become a SFSP Site Too
March 27 (Wednesday) – Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer – Getting Local Elected Officials Involved
April 3 (Wednesday) – Addressing the Summer Food Transportation Challenge

**All webinars will take place at the following times:
2:00pm – 3:00pm EST, 1:00pm – 2:00pm CST, 12:00pm – 1:00pm MST, 11:00am – 12:00pm PST

Please register online at: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g5263b

Or visit the USDA website at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/

Crayola, in collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, is accepting applications for the 2013 Creative Leadership Grant program.

The program will award up to twenty grants of $2,500 to elementary schools working to develop a team of leaders who can help increase arts-infused education within school and beyond. In addition, each program will receive an in-kind grant of Crayola products valued at $1,000.

Applications will only be accepted from principals who are members of NAESP. Principals whose schools received a Creative Leadership grant in 2012 will not be eligible to apply for a grant this year, but may apply again in 2014.

Every school that submits an application by June 10 will receive a Crayola product Classpack.

For the Complete RFP and more information please go to http://www.crayola.com/for-educators/ccac-landing/grant-program.aspx

Many university campuses are seeking ways to promote increased civic engagement
by their faculty. This session focuses on a complicated issue which may
ultimately determine the success of these initiatives: how should engaged
scholarship be evaluated during the promotion and tenure review process
relative to more traditional scholarly activities

About the Presenter:

Jordan Karubian:  In 2012, NERCHE was pleased to present the Ernest A. Lynton
Award to Dr. Jordan Karubian, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

An assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at
Tulane University, Karubian’s community engagement, teaching, and research
focus on understanding and reversing environmental degradation and associated
loss of biodiversity. In the South American rainforest, he has developed a
multi-faceted program that blends scientific research with teaching, training,
and capacity building to improve the welfare and conservation capacity of local
residents, a model he is replicating in the savannah habitats of Australia and
Papua New Guinea. He works with students and community partners to research
threatened species and habitats, and to promote environmental awareness in the
Gulf of Mexico region. The common thread in his work is the integration of
community engagement with more traditional scholarly activities to empower
local residents to make informed environmental decisions. Karubian received his
B.S. from the University of California, San Diego and his M.S. and Ph.D. from
the University of Chicago

To register for Webinar, please go to: http://bit.ly/YW6vRW

Neighborhood Foods unifies communities through urban farming and civic action. They use farms to stabilize vacant lots and generate a financially sustainable business. In partnership with Urban Tree Connection a 501(c)(3) non-profit, they run educational programs for people of all ages, bring neighbors together through events, and make fresh local produce accessible in low-income neighborhoods. All of the income from their CSA goes to support these programs.

NF has chosen to confront urban health issues head on, because living a positive life starts with living a healthy life. Living healthy includes mental health, personal safety, and happiness.

Sign up now through the neighborhoodfoods.org or email neighborhoodfoods@gmail.com

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
•    The teen program assistant will be responsible for maintaining the teen student database. This includes daily attendance logs, sign in sheets and record keeping. Monthly reports on attendance.
•    Create and maintain teen incentives. Submit check requests, coordinate distribution of checks, submit invoices for re-imbursement.
•    Call parents when a student is absent on the day of the absence.
•    Admissions procedures and paperwork is to be monitored and collected. Files created and maintained for each student with all the proper paperwork.
•    Assist the Program Manager with administrative tasks.
•    Maintain proper procedures for the distribution of snacks to the teens upon their arrival each day. Monitor the snack room from 3-4 pm.
•    Monitor hallways and assist in the general order of the school.
•    Maintain the Google database, updating and soliciting the teaching staff for information.
•    Become van certified and provide appropriate student transportation when needed.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s Degree or currently attending an accredited university pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
•    Good communication skills (verbal & written)
•    Strong Microsoft and Excel skills
•    Some college credits; Bachelor’s Degree preferred
•    Respect for teens and their varied developmental processes.
•    Enjoy working with teens.
•    Valid Driver’s license
WORKING HOURS:
Monday – Friday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM during academic year, some Saturdays. Varied summer hours

Please visit our website:  http://www.projecthome.org to apply for this position.

You are invited to join us for the 2013 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis October 27 – 29, 2013.

Please consider submitting a proposal by March 29.  We would be particularly pleased to receive proposals addressing topics in any of the tracks listed in the bullet points below.

We will feature special track plenary sessions and workshops emphasizing assessment in:

To submit a proposal, go to: http://www.planning.iupui.edu/institute , select “Submit a Proposal” to download and complete the form, and email it along with a description to planning@iupui.edu .

Deadline is March 29, 2013

Each grant request must fall under one of these issue areas, chosen by the board itself:

Community Safety
Environmental Responsibility
Financial Literacy
Access to Higher Education
Health and Wellness

As of August 2012, six years after the initial launch of the YAB, the board has awarded more than $24.7 million in grants to organizations in the U.S. and Canada and impacted approximately 14.1 million lives.

Find out more at www.statefarmyab.com

You can also check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Please share this email with anyone you think might be interested and don’t hesitate to contact Brad.corriher.pz3k@statefarm.com with any questions!

Deadline is May 3, 2013.

Registration is open for the Nonprofit Management Training Program’s first workshop series of 2013! Strategic management is the focus of this nine-hour series, which is divided into the following three-hour workshops:

The Strategic Planning Process: Model and Methods
Thursday, March 14, 2013
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Managing the Plan with the Right Organizational Structure
Thursday, March 21, 2013
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Living the Strategic Plan: A Living Action Plan
Thursday, March 28, 2013
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

The facilitator for all three sessions is Skip Brown of ConnectSynergy. Temple University Harrisburg will host the series, which will be videoconferenced between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The cost for each workshop is $40 per person, and the entire nine-hour series costs $100 per person. Special discounts apply for groups.

For more information and to register, please go to http://sites.temple.edu/nesttraining/nonprofit-management-training-program/strategic-management-workshop-series/

Space is limited, so sign up today!

Questions? Please contact Susan Washinger at susan.washinger@temple.edu or Christina Reardon at ccreardon@temple.edu.

About the Trainer
Skip Brown is ConnectSynergy’s owner and principal consultant. Skip provides results-based organizational development and training services, including virtual workshops and long-term on-site consulting tailored to your organization’s needs. Skip’s passion is helping staff, executive directors, boards, committees and volunteers work mutually to achieve their agencies’ missions. Since 2005, ConnectSynergy has worked with dozens of nonprofit organizations in south-central Pennsylvania. Skip earned a master’s degree in community psychology from the Penn State University.

Thursday April 18, 2013

9am – 1pm
Fee:$15 –  includes Networking Lunch

Immaculata University, The Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies, and the Pennsylvania Service Learning Alliance are pleased to invite you to join us for a special mini-conference on Service Learning.  The focus of the conference will be on teaching and learning strategies that integrate meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

This mini-conference will demonstrate how service-learning can be applied in a wide variety of settings, including schools and universities, to create projects in areas such as education, public safety, the environment, and more.

Through a range of hands-on activities, participants will gain an understanding of the IPARD service learning process and acquire experience applying the process while generating ideas for potential service-learning projects that connect to academic standards and course learning objectives.

For more info or to register visit:
http://pcssonline.org/events-and-news/mini-conference-on-service-learning-on-thursday-april-18-2013-at-immaculata-university

Where: Peirce College, 1420 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Who: Campus facilities staff, faculty and students

Participate:
• Learn best practices for creating sustainability programs on your campus.
• Discover programming tools and resources that will foster cross collaboration on your campus.
• Connect one-on-one with industry and higher education sustainability experts.
• Pick up your Campus Sustainability Toolkit created by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Herman Miller.

Schedule of events:
2:00: Free registration opens
2:30: Lighting talks and panel discussion begin
3:30: Networking and refreshments
4:30: Event wraps

Visit campusphilly.org/gogreen for event details and registration.

Register before the day of the panel: March 13, 2013 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Thursday, March 14, 2013 – 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Program Activity
The Elaine Levitt Auditorium at the Gershman Y
401 S. Broad Street The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA 19147

About the Author:

Madeleine Kunin is the first female governor in Vermont and the only Jewish woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. Her wide-spanning political career includes serving as the Governor of Vermont, the Deputy Secretary of Education and the Ambassador to Switzerland. She is the author of the award-winning book The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family (2012), as well as Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead” (2008) and Living a Political Life (1995), which chronicles her career prior to joining the U.S. Department of Education.

About the Book:

Reflecting on her expansive experiences, Kunin analyzes where progress has stalled in the US, charts the successes of other countries and sets the agenda for the next big social movement — one that mobilizes communities to call for the kind of government and workplace policies that   improve the lives of women and strengthen their families.

About the WOMEN’S WAY Book Prize:

The WOMEN’S WAY Book Prize is awarded annually to an author who has made a significant contribution to furthering the dialogue about issues impacting women and girls.  For 36 years, WOMEN’S WAY has been the leading education, advocacy and grantmaking organization for women in the greater Philadelphia area. The Book Prize was created in honor of Ernesta Drinker Ballard, a WOMEN’S WAY founder, first president of its Board of Directors and an extraordinary champion for women and girls.

WOMEN’S WAY would like to recognize University of the Arts for their support of this event and Head House Books, who serves as our community partner.

Visit WOMEN’S WAY at: http://womensway.org/events/bookprize