Deadline: January 27, 2014

http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=247913

Dress for Success Philadelphia is currently seeking interns to assist with client services, administrative support, and marketing and fundraising efforts.

We seek a commitment of at least 12 hours per week over 2 days, for a minimum of 10 weeks.  Hours are weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Suitable candidates should have experience in Microsoft Office Suite, Facebook, Twitter; Constant Contact and YouTube are a plus.

Please send a cover letter and resume to barbara@dfsphilly.org, using the subject line INTERNSHIP APPLICANT.  Please include your desired weekly hours/schedule, and your target start and end dates.  We are also interested in hearing what your academic and/or personal outcomes are for the internship.

Since its founding in 1981, Philadelphia LISC has:

• Invested $274.5 million in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods
• Through its investments, leveraged $882.2 million in additional capital
• Contributed to the development of over 6,665 units of housing
• Contributed to the development of 1.5 million square feet of commercial space and other facilities

Read their 2012 Annual Report here:

http://www.sciphilly.org/userfiles/file/LISC_11-12_Annual_Rpt_Final_Web.pdf

The first step in the submission process is to send me (jphoward@umich.edu) an abstract or precis by December 20th, preferably no more than a page in length. Invitations to submit an article will be made by email no later than mid-January,  with invited articles due the last Monday in March (3.31.14).

The MJCSL is a national, peer-reviewed journal with faculty and administrator subscribers and readers all over the world, and publishes articles on:

– research, theory, pedagogy, and other issues pertinent to curriculum-based service-learning,
– campus-community partnerships,
– scholarship of engagement, and
– scholarship on engagement.

Please consult submission guidelines for more information ( http://ginsberg.umich.edu/~mjcsl/ ) and to review articles from all past issues.

There are no length guidelines for abstracts.  Please submit a description that adequately conveys the focus/plan for the article, along with your email address.

If you have any questions after reviewing the submission guidelines, please email me.

And please consider subscribing to the Michigan Journal. The cost is only $29.00. Doing so will contribute to sustaining the Michigan Journal.

Creating Capacity Collaboratively: Connecting Learning and Civic Outcomes

March 26-28, 2014 | Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Featuring speakers:

Timothy Eatman
Imagining America

Judge Helen Shores Lee
Author & Judge, 10th Judicial Circuit

David Phillips
FSG Social Impact Consultants

and more than 100 presentations and workshops!

Register Now

Early Bird Registration

Deadline: January 31, 2014 (4pm CT)
Click here to register early!
https://mell-base.uce.auburn.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=C140327

http://www.gulfsouthsummit.org

Reciprocity in Action: Strengthening Communities Together

June 12-13, 2014, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI

Co-sponsored by the Campus Compacts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, this event offers faculty, professional staff, student and community leaders opportunities to network and learn from and with one another while discussing challenging issues facing our campuses and communities. Proposals for 60-minute skill-building or issue-focused sessions, 15-minute innovation mini-sessions, and posters are being accepted now through February 10, 2014. See the Request for Session Proposals and online submission form here.

https://uwmadison.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3JIW1mFJT5TRQc5

Keynote Speakers: Pardeep Kaleka and Arno Michaelis of Serve 2 Unite

http://www.midwestengagementsummit.org/

In the eight months since sequestration was implemented, media outlets have reported on how sequestration has effected low income households. NLIHC collected and analyzed 314 articles published between February 25 and September 30, 2013 that cover the local impact of sequestration of housing programs that serve the lowest income households. The analysis was released on November 18 and is entitled “Using the Media to Track the Effects of Sequestration on Low Income Housing Programs.” NLIHC was assisted in the compilation of articles by the Coalition on Human Needs, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

The compilation of articles is available in three formats: by state of media report, by date of media report, and by impact type as categorized by NLIHC.  The report will be updated to reflect new problems that emerge in the coming months as they are reported in the media.

http://nlihc.org/article/sequester-media

According to Housing Instability Among Our Nation’s Veterans, 1.5 million veteran households suffered from severe housing cost burden in 2011, spending more than 50% of their income on housing. There were also significant disparities among veteran households, with veteran households headed by a racial minority, females, and those with a disability more likely to be cost burdened than their counterparts.

NLIHC’s report provides a deeper understanding of the housing needs of veterans by examining several characteristics, including household income, race/ethnicity, family type, service-related disabilities, and period of military service. Data used for the analysis was drawn from 2011 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) population and housing files of the American Community Survey.

http://nlihc.org/veterans

Please mark your calendars for Friday, January 10th, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm for our next Green Your School Workshop:  Moving Ideas to Action. This Conference will highlight green building, sustainability, and energy sessions focused on real progress and real solutions to environmental concerns that our schools, students, teachers and administrators face every day.

• Presentations on proven student-led energy, resource conservation and other environmental and wellness programs in schools/Submit student proposal here (http://dvgbc.org/call-student-led-presentions-green-your-school-workshop-moving-ideas-action)
• Interactive break-out sessions to help build school based sustainability initiatives (Details coming soon!)
• Schoolyard Greening
• Solar Energy
• Moving to Zero Waste
• Energy Conservation and Climate Change
• School gardens and Storm Water Management
• Healthy Indoor Air
• Opportunities to network and learn with others interested in school sustainability in the region
• Expo floor with student-generated posters and industry displays

Bucks County Community College Newtown Campus – Gateway Auditorium
275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940

FREE for all School Personnel and
Students!
Other Individuals & Companies:
Standard Price = $40
Chapter Member = $25

REGISTER HERE!
https://dvgbc.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=312

I’m reaching out about our paid fellowship opportunity for college students to serve low-income communities while gaining real-world experience.

About the Fellowship

The Lend for America fellowship is designed as an incubator program for campus microfinance institutions, or “campus MFIs.” Students gain technical skills and experience with microlending, financial capability coaching, and innovative underbanked financial services products in order to start their own MFIs at their respective college campuses.

As part of the program fellows receive:

·       A 3-5 day classroom introduction to microfinance in North Carolina (travel is paid)

·       A full-time summer internship with an existing microfinance group in North Carolina, Rhode Island, or New Jersey accompanied by a stipend of $2,500

·       Year-round support from Lend for America as the students start their own campus MFIs in the fall

Lend for America is looking for students who possess vision and enthusiasm for helping low income communities in the U.S. We are looking to invest in the next generation of social leaders–and we need your help identifying these kinds of students. As one of our 2013 fellows put it:

“With the right resources and knowledge we can create impact in the ways we want to see it made, we don’t always have to follow someone’s lead. This fellowship has motivated me to be my own leader, follow my own goals, and make the impact that I’ve wanted to make.”

See the fellowship informational kit on our website (http://www.lendforamerica.org/fellowship) for more information and application instructions. We urge you to share this valuable opportunity with your network of socially conscious students!

Thank you for supporting our initiative to build a better country. Please let us know if you are able share the fellowship with the college students in your network.

Job Title:                           Senior Associate, Strategic Communications (Web Development)
Reports to:                        Executive Vice President, Strategic Communications

FLSA Status:            Exempt

Location:               Philadelphia, PA Office

About Opportunity Finance Network:

Opportunity Finance Network’s (OFN) core purpose is to align capital with social, economic, and political justice —we work outside the margins of conventional finance to help the underserved join the economic mainstream. Based in Philadelphia, OFN is the leading national network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs), creating growth that is good for communities, investors, individuals, and the economy. OFN’s Member Network provides innovative financial solutions that transform communities and improve lives.

To date, OFN’s Members originated more than $30 billion in financing to urban, rural, and Native communities, and financed 940,499 affordable housing units, 83,614 business and microenterprises, 9,341 community facilities, and created or retained 497,277 American jobs.

More information is available at http://www.ofn.org

Position Summary and Essential Functions

The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications ensures the suite of OFN Web sites deliver on brand strategy by developing highly compelling, user-oriented, and bold digital content via the coding and placing of text, photos, images, video, etc. This position is primarily responsible for Web and mobile site management and ongoing maintenance through a Drupal content management system (CMS) with occasional form creation and data capture through MySQL. Position requires a solid understanding of digital marketing and content distribution methods, including SEO, social media, and e-mail marketing.The job requires proficiency in core web technologies, including but not limited to: HTML; XHTML; CSS; Javascript/JQuery; PHP; Apache; Dreamweaver, and Photoshop.

The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications works both independently and on cross-functional teams that may include designers, copywriters, external ad agency, and various technology and third-party solution providers, and outside OFN Partners, as well as other Line of Business managers. The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications must have excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues using common terms. Moreover, the Senior Associate, Strategic Communications must be prepared to work effectively either independently or as a member of a team.

Responsibilities:

·         Responsible for maintaining the suite of company Web sites, and for ensuring they follow established brand strategy, design specifications, and brand “look and feel”; sites must deliver excellent user experience, optimum functionality and meet critical deadlines.

·         Assist in the development, optimization, and monitoring of digital marketing and landing Web and mobile pages/mini-sites.

·         Ensure Web site maintains responsive design standards across traditional and mobile platforms

·         Manage regular reporting and tracking of data  using analytic tools such as Google Analytics and flagging issues for internal stakeholders

·         Analyze and report program performance; provide recommendations and results for improvement and new programs.

·         Assist in the creation of feature specification documents to improve the Web site and other digital projects.

·         Develop thorough, insightful recommendations to improve design, technical, content, on-page and off-page optimization essentials.

·         Work with external Web hosting vendor, third-party solutions, and e-commerce providers to ensure that the sites function optimally and meet current industry and accessibility standards.

·         Oversee and conduct quality assurance and testing before posting new content live.

·         Provide regular progress reports and attend staff meetings as needed.

Education and Experience:

·      Bachelor’s Degree

·      5-10 years creating and managing Web sites required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Physical Requirements:

·         Demonstrated experience working with core web technologies: HTML; XHTML; CSS; Javascript/JQuery; PHP; Apache; Dreamweaver, and Photoshop.

·         Experience with Drupal, or similar content management system required

·         Experience with MySQL

·         Excellent written, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.

·         Must be flexible and able to adjust to changing conditions and circumstances.

·         Familiarity with Mac OS X a plus.

·         Familiarity with Exact Target email management and Salesforce a plus.

·         Must possess excellent organizational/time management skills in order to prioritize work arriving simultaneously from different departments.

·         Familiarity with web analytics software, preferably Google Analytics.

·         Familiarity with integrating multi-media, such as video from Vimeo or YouTube, and RSS feeds.

·         Familiarity with best practices and latest industry developments.

·         Familiarity with Photoshop and Illustrator a plus.

·         Occasional travel may be required (approximately 10% of time)

·         Job involves normal physical requirements for an office position

EOE/ADA Compliant

Qualified candidates please submit cover letter, salary requirement and resume to:

Search: Senior Associate, Strategic Communications
Opportunity Finance Network
620 Chestnut Street
Suite 572
Philadelphia, PA 19106
FAX: 215-320-4357
EMAIL: resume_hr@opportunityfinance.net

Women and Minorities encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for Community School’s new report, The Growing Convergence of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities, captures the scope and nature of expanded learning opportunities in community school partnerships. The report includes a new ELO typology and state-of-the-art ELO practices that community schools are implementing.

Download the report and access other ELO resources here.

http://www.communityschools.org/elo/

December Dates
Tech Impact’s ongoing Cloud Computing for Nonprofits webinar series demystifies cloud computing and provides information on topics such as Microsoft Office 365, moving your nonprofit to the cloud, cloud backup and disaster recovery, cloud-based phone systems, and more.

LinkedIn:  How Well Connected is Your Nonprofit?
Tues. 12/10 @ 2 PM EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=jxjvjxt&user_id=

LinkedIn can show you connections that you never knew your donors had. This webinar will show you how to use LinkedIn to dive deep into your donor’s network and learn more about your donor than ever before.

Choosing a Cloud Vendor
Wed. 12/11 @ 4 PM EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=hyyfzyv&user_id=

Getting used to the idea of giving up control of your IT to a cloud provider can be difficult. We can make it easier by helping you understand what to look for when selecting a cloud provider.

Moving Your Databases to the Cloud
Tues. 12/17 @ 2 PM EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=kbtkhcm&user_id=

For many organizations the last remaining piece to the cloud puzzle is an old on-premise database.  This webinar will break down the process of selecting a new cloud-ready database or moving your existing database into the cloud.

Cloud Computing Solutions Demo Webinars

Tech Impact’s experts demonstrate the capabilities of our Cloud Computing solutions in free bi-weekly one-hour demo webinars:

Office365 and SharePoint Demo
Next Demo: Thurs. 12/12 @ 2 PM EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=wvmvshc&user_id=

E-mail, Calendars, Messaging, and File Sharing. Work from anywhere with Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint.

Salesforce Demo
Next Demo: Wed. 12/18 @ 2 PM EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=szsjcbw&user_id=

Salesforce.com is a cloud-based solution for managing donors and grants, and also provides event, workshop, program, and case tracking and management.

VolunteerConnect Demo
Next Demo: Thurs. 12/12 @ Noon EST

Click Here to Register
https://techimpact.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=szsjcrw&user_id=

VolunteerConnect is a volunteer management system, built on the Salesforce.com platform, which allows you to leverage more volunteers than ever before while saving time in the process.

View our Events Calendar
http://blog.techimpact.org/events/

NCHE is hosting a webinar on December 11 beginning at 2:00PM.

In this interactive webinar, presenters will review important information about supports available to homeless youth as they seek to attend college. Attendees can hope to gain a better understanding of:

• Fee waiver options for college entrance exam and college application fees
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process for both accompanied and unaccompanied homeless youth
• College Cost Reduction and Access Act provisions pertaining to unaccompanied homeless youth and the FAFSA
• Options for seeking financial assistance beyond federal financial aid
• Options for undocumented youth wishing to attend college

Register for the webinar here.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/117174586

See more future webinars here.

http://center.serve.org/nche/web/group.php

I am pleased to announce that applications have opened for our 2014-2015 M.Ed. Community Engagement Fellowship programs. This is a full-tuition, 36-credit graduate fellowship leading to a Master’s in Community Engagement in one year.

This program focuses on diversity, social justice, community development, and organizational change. Students gain a broad understanding of civic engagement in the nonprofit sector and pursue careers as nonprofit leaders, social change activists, and leaders in the national service learning movement.

I would be grateful if you could pass this information on to your colleagues and interested individuals who may be interested in learning more about this program.

Highlights of our fellowship program:

• The year-long fellowships cover all tuition costs.
• Students take courses in the summer and evenings throughout the semesters as they engage in a site-based residency, gaining unparalleled hands-on field experience.
• Students have a site mentor and a college supervisor throughout the fellowship.
• Fellowships are open to all academic majors and backgrounds; bachelor’s degree is required.
• Students earn a Master’s degree in one year.

Learn more about the Community Engagement program at Merrimack College:

Community Engagement Fellowship (one year program)

http://www.merrimack.edu/academics/graduate/fellowship-programs/community-engagement.php

Community Engagement (full or part time program at your own pace)

http://www.merrimack.edu/academics/graduate/education/med_community_engagement/

Thank you for your assistance in helping to spread the word.

Best wishes,

Dan W. Butin
Dean, School of Education and Social Policy
Merrimack College

The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, a nationally-renowned public interest law firm devoted to equality and systemic change, is currently seeking a part-time community organizer for the Garden Justice Legal Initiative.

Garden Justice Legal Initiative Community Organizer
The organizer will work on campaigns aimed at ensuring that community farmers and gardeners in Philadelphia have the resources and tools they need to preserve their individual farms and gardens, and supporting movement building, self advocacy, and informed leadership to effect equitable and meaningful reforms needed for community land and food security at the neighborhood, city, and state levels.

Specific Responsibilities will include:

• Engage in strategic, on-the-ground outreach to Philadelphia’s growing numbers of gardens and farms, prioritizing more legally vulnerable projects and economically vulnerable communities to provide information on legal rights, resources, and opportunities for advocacy
• Work with neighborhood-based and youth partner organizations, volunteers, and interns to interview gardeners and farmers on challenges and resource needs
• Conduct neighborhood-based and citywide workshops on legal and policy issues related to urban agriculture, community planning, and vacant land
• Coordinate meetings of Healthy Foods Green Spaces and continue to build the coalition as a vocal constituency and support network for community driven land-based projects, starting with gardens and farms
• Work with Grounded in Philly, an interactive, web-based mapping and organizing tool,  to help individuals and groups in Philadelphia identify, organize around, and obtain legal access to publicly- and privately-owned vacant land in Philadelphia, as well as provide information about pathways to protect land for Philadelphia groups that are already land stewards
• Send out action alerts and monthly newsletters to keep gardeners, farmers, coalition members, and allies informed and prepared for advocacy, educational, and networking opportunities. Serve as a liaison to other organizations within Philadelphia that share similar goals

This position will report to the staff attorney for the Garden Justice Legal Initiative.

http://www.pilcop.org/staff-positions/

The 2014 Green Schools National Conference Solution Summits will examine “Curriculum that Advances a Sustainable Future, ” a session that promises to be a thought-provoking look at how we can support and expand sustainability education in our nation’s classrooms.

Jamie Cloud, founder and president of the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, will lead this gathering of thought leaders from the ‘Education for Sustainability’ sector of the green schools movement.

Efforts have begun to create a national action plan for increasing and strengthening the availability, accessibility and quality of sustainability education in K-20 classrooms. One critical component to achieving this goal is a shared understanding of the core knowledge, skills and attitudes of education for a sustainable future. Drawing on a representative sample of relevant education-for-sustainability and related educational frameworks, summit participants will engage in a dialogue to explore similarities and differences; fields of study that contribute to and inform sustainability education; the core of sustainability education; the unique features of sustainability education; and the contribution that sustainability education makes to education for the future we want.

The goal is to use this dialogue to set a course that allows us all to work toward the same goal: high quality sustainability education in all schools.

March 27-29, 2014

http://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/category/conference-news/

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 at 6:00pm Eastern

Milo Cress (10-year-old founder of Be Straw Free), Avalon Theison (12-year-old founder of Conserve It Forward), Halu Ku Mana Charter School (where students built an impressive aquaponics system), and Hilton Head Preparatory School (where students led water conservation efforts) team up for an awesome webinar featuring best practices for a 21st century environmental problem-solver. Youth are welcomed to attend to learn more about how they can create meaningful change in these environmental issue areas and adults are welcome to attend to learn more about how the co-presenters leveraged effective adult-youth partnerships.

http://greeningforward.org/webinars/

With the holidays quickly approaching and people seeking ways to give back, there’s no better time to begin recruiting volunteers to help make your MLK Day project a success. Join this upcoming webinar to learn more about:
– Recruiting volunteers
– Generating new volunteers (where to look)
– Engaging diverse populations
– Managing volunteers
– Training team leaders
– Maintaining volunteers beyond the day of service

Register at: http://mlkday.gov/plan/webinars/

Then, join seasoned MLK Day planners for a phone clinic to address MLK Day of Service planning tips and strategies on Wednesday, January 8th at 3:00pm Eastern.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-w9dEOg6VDCdYdZF9pMYp8kqBq9YNUpSCzpTDvBwCZk/viewform

Understanding and learning about your community needs while working with others to solve the issue is one step towards social justice. Learn more from our webinar partnership with youth at Bridge Builders in Memphis, TN on how they are utilizing service-learning to create social justice in their community.

http://www.nylc.org/events/moving-service-social-justice