DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 24, 2016

The Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Housing Grants Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations for the development and repair of veterans housing. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $80 million and has helped impact more than 17,000 units of housing for veterans.

Veteran Housing Grants are best suited to fund single family home repairs when they are a part of a permanent program managed by the nonprofit partner.

Eligible projects include new construction or the rehab or repair of single or multifamily permanent supportive or transitional housing. Grants are awarded solely for the physical construction or repair of housing for veterans (hard costs). Preference will be given to projects that serve the housing needs of women veterans with children, post-9/11 wounded veterans, veterans with caregivers, homeless veterans, and senior veterans aging in place; are located in a major metropolitan area; address the needs of veterans with supportive services or opportunities for community service activities; are supported by a mix of local private/public financial support as well as a mix of local, city, state, federal, and private funding; involve multifamily developments with a successful track record, or new construction or repair for single-family homes; and provide volunteer opportunities for local Home Depot store associates.

Awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000.

To be eligible, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service for at least five years; have an operating budget of at least $300,000; and have developed and either currently manage or own veteran-specific housing. For rental projects, nonprofit must have an ownership stake in the development for more than fifteen years.

Applicants must first complete an eligibility questionnaire on the Home Depot Foundation website. If approved, applicants will be directed to submit a full grant proposal. Proposals will continue to be accepted year-round, and eligible applications that are not funded will be queued for the next funding cycle. Complete program guidelines, including grant terms and reporting requirements, are available at the Home Depot Foundation website.

http://homedepotfoundation.org/page/veteran-housing-grants

Access to high quality, comprehensive and continuous primary care is a critical strategy for assisting people to rise out of poverty. Under the supervision of the Health Annex Director, a VISTA member will co-design and lead implementation of a targeted outreach initiative to assist several underserved populations gain access to primary health care. Specific target populations in Southwest Philadelphia include residents of public housing, refugee and immigrant populations, and individuals in need of family planning services. The Health Annex, part of RHD’s Family Practice and Counseling Network, provides nurse-led primary health care, behavioral health and dental services to over 6,600 patients on an annual basis.

The VISTA member will develop a plan for systematically creating relationships with formal and informal groups in the community to reach underserved populations to assist them in gaining access to primary health care. The VISTA will work collaboratively with National Health Corps volunteers and other staff to conduct community outreach which will increase the number of individuals that will receive benefit assessments, health promotions and educational services.

The VISTA member will:
• Increase community awareness of the Health Annex through personal interactions, written communications, social media, participation in community meetings and more
• Expand/strengthen partnerships/networks in Southwest Philadelphia by participating in existing coalitions and convening new ones as needed
• Design and help implement an outreach plan to connect with community members of underserved populations. Outreach strategies include representing the Health Annex at community events and reaching out to area schools, businesses and civic associations
• Help lay the groundwork for expanding the pool of volunteers that support Health Annex initiatives such as the Patient Ambassador program.

The successful applicant for this AmeriCorps VISTA position will:
• Be interested in increasing access to primary care in underserved communities
• Be respectful in all relationships with residents and colleagues
• Be able to work independently and collaboratively as appropriate
• Be comfortable networking and building relationships with diverse constituencies
• Possess strong communication skills – written, oral and public speaking
• Be able to navigate public transit
• Be comfortable working in a fast paced environment/comfortable with change
• Be a college graduate
Accepting applications: 4/28/2014 – 07/30/2014
VISTA term begins 08/26/2014 and ends 08/29/2015
Compensation: AmeriCorps VISTAs commit to a full-time year of service for a minimal living stipend of $12,132 per year.

Other Program Benefits: Extensive Training, Relocation Allowance, Health Coverage, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend.

To apply for this position, review the posting at on AmeriCorps site: Resources for Human Development Listing (https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=55152)

Questions, contact:
Patrick Oleskey, Director, Health Annex
6120 Woodland Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19142
267-350-5183
POleskey@fpcn.com

Family Practice and Counseling Network and its Health Annex are part of Resources for Human Development, a comprehensive, nonprofit, human services organization with headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1970, RHD currently supports and oversees more than 160 programs in 13 states. Lake Effects Leaders based at Allegheny College serves as the intermediary agency between Resources for Human Development and the AmeriCorps-VISTA program of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The full text of the request for proposals can be downloaded from the Netter Center website,
https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/about/newsroom/rfp-regional-center-uacs-due-june-16

The goals of the regional training center will be to:

• Develop further the funded university’s engagement in its own university-assisted community school initiative, particularly the coordination of the university’s resources;
• Provide training and technical assistance on the university-assisted community school model to interested universities and colleges and their school and community partners in a multi-state area.
• Work with other higher eds in the funded university’s immediate region to enlist their participation in the local initiative.

Proposals are due electronically on June 16, 2014 by 6 pm eastern daylight savings time to:

Joann Weeks
Associate Director
Netter Center for Community Partnerships
weeks@upenn.edu

Download the full RFP here.

https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/sites/netter_internal/files/Request_for_Proposals_2014.pdf

Please direct any questions to Joann Weeks, weeks@upenn.edu, 215-898-0872.

SPECIAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Volume 7, Number 1, Fall 2014

Currents in Teaching and Learning is a peer-reviewed electronic journal published semi-annually by Worcester State University. Non-specialist and jargon-free, we seek to foster exchanges among reflective teacher-scholars across the disciplines in higher education.

Currents invites submissions on the topic of Service Learning in Higher Education for its Fall 2014 special issue, including:

* Short reports from different disciplines on classroom practices (2850-5700)

* Longer research, theoretical, or conceptual articles, and explorations of issues and challenges facing teachers today (5700-7125 words).

* Book and website reviews.

We welcome both individual and group submissions. All submissions must be original, previously unpublished work. Submissions received after these dates will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Submissions Deadline, Volume 7, Number 1 (Fall 2014): May 15th, 2014.

For more information about Currents, please visit http://www.worcester.edu/currents

Salary and Benefits: This is a part-time position paying $12/hour

The Lenfest Center is a privately owned and operated community center in the Hunting Park community of North Philadelphia. The center’s mission is to improve the mental, physical and social health of local youth by offering structured, high quality, academic and recreational programs. For more information visit: http://www.lenfestcenter.org

Recreation Coordinator: This is a unique opportunity for a highly qualified individual to assist in the implementation of innovative out-of-school programs for youths ages 6-18. The Recreation Coordinator will support the Program Director and Education Director in coordinating a year-round educational and recreational curriculum, with a focus on leading games, activities, and sports leagues. Candidates must have experience working with youth, must be comfortable interacting with youth of all ages and backgrounds, and must be passionate about creating an environment in which young people can reach their potential.

Specific Responsibilities Include:
• Provide support to Program and Education Directors in all aspects of their jobs.
• Provide specific support to Program Director in planning and supervising of recreational activities for students in grades K-8 in our after-school program, and help create and run additional recreational activities for youth not enrolled in the after-school program.
• Lead and teach games in a gym setting.
• Assist in recruiting and supervising volunteers.
• Role model positive behavior at all times to the youth and their families in the center.

Additional Requirements:
1. Must be willing to work 15-20 hours a week.
2. Must be self-motivated and able to work in a fluid environment with different projects and challenges arising daily.
3. Must be comfortable working in both collaborative and individual settings.
4. Must pass a criminal background screening and hold a valid driver’s license.
5. Must be willing to work flexible hours, including evenings and some weekends and holidays.
6. Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and two professional references to:
Kenzo Nakawatase Program Director, the Lenfest Center 3890 N. 10th St. Philadelphia, PA 19140 kenzo@lenfestcenter.org (267) 908-9002

Goodwin College
Critical Conversations in Urban Education

You are cordially invited to the acclaimed Critical Conversations in Urban Education lecture series, presented by Drexel University’s School of Education:

Idealism Meets Reality in Urban Education:
A Screening & Discussion of The New Public
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
5-7:30 p.m. (Reception prior to event)

Grand Meeting Room
Gerri C. LeBow Hall, Drexel University
3220 Market Street, Philadelphia

To register, visit http://drexel.edu/soe/ccue, email ccues@drexel.edu, or call 215-895-6770.

The New Public, a provocative documentary by Jyllian Gunther, chronicles the educational journey of a principal, students, parents, and teachers who were committed to creating “the ideal school.” The film demonstrates how critically important it is for education reformists to possess the agency necessary to influence complex social and systemic barriers that affect their school, the students’ families, and the community. Given the broader social landscape, school leaders, teachers, and families are in a fierce battle to achieve positive educational outcomes. The film invites us to consider the following question: How can schools ensure collaborative success versus battle fatigue?

Panelists Include:

Yaba Blay, Ph.D.
Co-Director of Africana Studies and Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies at Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences

James Earl Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of Educational Leadership and Interim Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning at Temple University College of Education

Kristine S. Lewis Grant, Ph.D.
Associate Clinical Professor of Multicultural and Urban Education at Drexel University School of Education

Ana E. Nunez, M.D.
Associate Dean for Urban Health Equity, Education and Research
and Professor of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine

Register now to reserve your spot.

http://www.drexel.edu/soe/event-series/ccue/

Please join us for a discussion about how the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act will change access and quality in behavioral healthcare. The event will feature a keynote address by Patrick J. Kennedy, Former Congressman (D-RI), and Founder of One Mind for Research. Mr. Kennedy was one of the major architects of this legislation in the House, and has dedicated himself to ensuring full and successful implementation of the law.

The Affordable Care and Parity Acts are pivotal pieces of legislation that provide recognition of the “promise of a new way” provided by more than three decades of basic, clinical, prevention and health services research in alcohol, cigarette and other substance use problems. The opportunity exists like never before to significantly change the way the disease of addiction is perceived and managed by society. In order to realize this opportunity, we must leverage innovations in research, treatment, policy and public education.

WHEN
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014
9:00am – 11:30am

WHERE
University of Pennsylvania
Perelman Quadrangle, Houston Hall
Room 307

REGISTER

For tickets to this FREE event click here –
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-the-parity-law-will-transform-substance-abuse-and-mental-healthcare-tickets-11486593711.

Following Mr. Kennedy’s presentation will be a question and answer session that will include a panel discussion about advancing research, treatment and policy agendas for improving the way in which addiction is perceived and managed. Social Work CEU credits will be provided by the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. Please email dchristoffel@tresearch.org if you are interested in obtaining other continuing education credits.

“Adding Identity to the Interfaith Triangle:
Walking the Walk and Religious Identities”
by Ria Van Ryn, Ph.D.

Sunday, May 18th 1:00-3:00pm
Rodeph Shalom Synagogue
615 N Broad Street, Philadelphia

Please RSVP to Marjorie Scharf at mns@interfaithcenterpa.org

From Dr. Ria Van Ryn: “As a primary initiative of the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, Walking the Walk, challenges its participants to “dare to understand” one another in religiously diverse contexts. Sessions encourage young people to ask curious questions, communicate their unease when they encounter harmful stereotypes, serve as ambassadors of their congregations and schools, and put their values into practice at service-learning sites. But what are the outcomes of a year spent engaging in these tasks? Specifically, how do participants in Walking the Walk speak about their religious identities after immersion in intentional religious pluralism? I will discuss the results of research exploring these questions, drawing from observations, a pre- and post-participation assessment of youth, and a survey of adult leaders involved with Walking the Walk. I argue that Walking the Walk works to add proficiency in honing religious identity narratives to the highly touted “interfaith triangle” of attitudes, relationships, and knowledge that currently dominates our understanding of the positive outcomes of interfaith encounters.”

E4E is looking to hire a passionate and experienced individual to teach the basics of designing and developing an effective website. Demonstrating the advantages of using templates and exploring other easy to use resources to create a professional website is also required.

Description of duties is as follows:
Web Design Instructor: Provide instruction of up to approximately 15 children requiring assistance in reading and math. Instructor is also responsible for the coordination of paperwork, including pre-and post-student assessments. Must be able to create and implement classroom instruction according to student’s level of ability. Instructor must also be able to effectively deal with challenging behaviors through the utilization of available supports including program directors and coordinators to address issues that may arise that will prevent students from obtaining maximum benefit from the program.

The employer for this program is Educators 4 Education for which you will be a contracted employee once hired. As an E4E contracted employee, you will be required to attend a mandatory orientation. If you are interested in this position, please submit a letter of interest and resume to hr@educators4education.org

All E4E EMPLOYERS AND CONTRACTORS MUST BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A PA CHILD ABUSE CLEARANCE, PA CRIMINAL CLEARANCE AND AN FBI FINGERPRINT CLEARANCE.

The Executive Director is a member of the faculty with an appointment in a disciplinary area related to civic engagement with responsibility for the overall management of the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement (Lindy Center), a unit in the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation. The Lindy Center is responsible for implementing the university’s vision for civic engagement on the ground, through student, faculty and staff service projects; academic programs and community based learning opportunities; and non-profit capacity building. The Executive Director will guide the future of the Lindy Center academically and administratively while serving as faculty in an area related to the Lindy Center mission. The Executive Director will also provide support for student leadership activities and oversee the programming necessary to fulfill the university’s civic engagement requirement. The Executive Director will manage the Lindy Center’s staff, which currently includes an Associate Director, three Assistant Directors, a Program Director, and a Program Manager. The Executive Director will serve as the primary contact for civic engagement programs within the university and will work closely with the Vice Provost for University and Community Partnerships to develop new opportunities for service locally, nationally, and globally. The Executive Director is a key member of the leadership team of Lindy Institute and reports directly to the Office of the Provost.

https://www.drexeljobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1399950005704

How much does your state or locality spend on children and youth? Are the investments aligned with a larger set of goals? Fiscal mapping is a first step toward identifying and coordinating resources for greater impact. Join this informational webinar to learn how communities use fiscal mapping to shift from tracking resources agency-by-agency to aligning resources with overarching policy and program goals. Learn about tools and supports to get started.

Elizabeth Gaines, Vice President, Policy Solutions
Jenny Bonilla Moreno, Policy Associate

Learn More and Register
http://www.readyby21.org/events/webinars/mapping-public-resources-youth-families

Frustrated by the policy barriers to your collective impact initiative? Join this webinar to learn about a recent policy alignment initiative to align policies across the federal, state and local levels. Performance Partnership Pilots will give selected jurisdictions unprecedented flexibility in certain federal funding streams to better serve disconnected youth. Hear more about the initiative and how to submit proposals from policy experts at the Forum for Youth Investment.

Thaddeus Ferber, Vice President, Policy Advocacy
Elizabeth Gaines, Vice President, Policy Solutions

Learn More and Register
http://www.readyby21.org/events/webinars/performance-partnership-pilots-aligning-policy-improve-outcomes

Through the Museum’s many years of sharing this message, we have learned something important. Many people under-stand this lesson at a very young age and do remarkable things to make their schools and communities a better place. These are the students we honor each year with our prestigious Young Heroes Award. Below are just a few examples of our hundreds of past Young Heroes.

YOUNG HEROES AWARD
Sponsored by TD Bank America’s Most Convenient Bank

Do you know a Young Hero?
We know there are many more students like those pictured on the previous page, but we need your help. If you know a student age 18 or younger who you believe is deserving of this recognition, please complete the attached form and send it to us today.

Winners will be honored at the Museum’s annual Young Heroes Award ceremony on August 6; their stories will be featured in a Museum exhibit for an entire year; they will have the opportunity to represent this program at future Museum events as YHA alumni; and they will receive a certificate of achievement, medallion, and other gifts! One student will be named the President’s Honor Winner, which includes a $1,000 monetary prize

Additionally, we will present our annual Troy Ray Johnson Memorial Award to a student who has worked against violence in Philadelphia. Please mark the box under #3 on your nomination form to have your nominee considered for this honor. Troy Ray Johnson was an employee and friend of the National Liberty Museum. He was shot and killed in North Philadelphia on July 9, 2011.

THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS JUNE 30, 2014.

https://libertymuseum.org/liberty-institute/awards/heroes/

Questions? Call Nick Ospa, 215-925-2800, x107.

State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities. Deadline: October 31, 2014.

https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/community/education-programs/grants-scholarships/company-grants/

Districts thinking of embracing a community-schools approach should look to a nationally recognized model: the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), writes Susan Frey for EdSource. Cincinnati has turned all 55 of its schools into community learning centers by relying on partners to offer services free of cost to students and the district, in exchange for space at schools and exclusive access to students. The transformation required leadership, community buy-in, time, and patience, but CPS went from one of the worst urban public systems in Ohio 10 years ago to the best today, according to the state’s ranking system based on test scores and high school graduation rates. Cincinnati’s model could also prove helpful to districts struggling for input from their communities. Cincinnati relied on top-down reforms to generate a grassroots movement, using a neighborhood-by-neighborhood planning process that worked with the entire community. This took many meetings before everyone agreed to the same vision. Today, every school has a mental health team, a health clinic, and full-blown after-school programs, working with the YMCA, the Urban League, the Cincinnati Art Museum, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

http://edsource.org/2014/nonprofit-and-for-profit-partners-help-cincinnati-transform-its-failing-schools#.U3GF6_ldXJY

The Director of Development bears the leadership responsibility for all development programs of IHP as adopted by the Board of Trustees and directed by the President/CEO.

The primary focus of the Director of Development will be to both develop an exciting culture of philanthropy at IHP, and to ensure the success of two new Annual Membership Programs – one directed to Individuals/Households and the other targeted to Corporations and Institutions. These two annual membership campaigns will provide the necessary platform for an ongoing major gifts program.

In fundraising capacity, the Director of Development:

• Oversees all fund raising activities including annual giving, planned/major giving, capital and endowment campaigns, special projects, and other solicitations.
• Evaluates, recruits, trains, directs, and supervises development staff.
• Generates annual goals and objectives; prepares and monitors development budget.
• Responsible for annual fund and special campaign benchmarks and reporting, and donor and volunteer recognition.
• Responsible for oversight of the internal and external marketing, communications, and public relations activities related to development and fund raising in tandem with the Marketing team.
• Supervises donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship activities.
• Sets policy for donor and gift record-keeping.
• Coordinates the identification, cultivation, solicitation of Nucleus Fund (top fifty) prospects.
• Supervises implementation of major gift campaign strategies.
• Solicits gifts where appropriate and support the President/CEO and leadership volunteers in direct solicitation efforts.
• Develops and implements ongoing stewardship programs.
• Helps develop and implement planned giving strategy.
• Initiates relationships, maintains contact with and develops proposals for discretionary government, foundation and corporate sources, supported by staff.
• Helps to identify, research, and cultivate leadership donor prospects.
• Helps recruit, coordinate, and supervise leadership volunteers for special campaigns.
• Attends Board meetings and appropriate committee meetings. Assists the President/CEO in long-range and strategic planning for IHP.

http://ihousephilly.org/about/employment-volunteer-opportunities

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) have issued the call for applications for the GSK IMPACT Awards. This annual awards program will honor up to 10 local nonprofit organizations with $40,000 each in recognition of their exceptional achievements in contributing to a healthier Greater Philadelphia Region.

The GSK IMPACT Awards recognize innovative and collaborative nonprofit organizations with evidence-informed programs that are helping people – especially underserved populations – live healthier lives. This is the 18th year of the GSK program, and this year UWGPSNJ is proud to support the administration of the awards in our region.

Eligibility: Eligible organizations include small, mid-size, or large nonprofits with existing programs that have demonstrated results; that are operating in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and/or Philadelphia Counties; and that address at least one of the following factors that affect health: 1) Diet & Exercise, 2) Education, 3) Built Environment, 4) Employment, and 5) Family & Social Support. To view additional criteria and to apply, visit http://www.gskimpact-us.com. The application deadline is Friday, June 6, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Interested applicants are invited to participate in a conference call on Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. ET and can register for the call here.

Selection Process: GSK and UWGPSNJ staff review applications and select no more than 20 finalists (spring/summer). A panel comprised of local and national community health experts and GSK representatives perform site visits, evaluate the finalist applications, and select up to 10 winners (summer/fall). The winners will be notified in the fall and presented with their GSK IMPACT Award and $40,000 each at a ceremony at GSK’s new facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in late 2014.

Learn more about the 2013 Winners, view photos, and watch the 3-minute highlight reel of last year’s awards ceremony.

For questions, contact UWGPSNJ at GSKImpactAwards@uwgpsnj.org.

Join us on May 15th for one of three training sessions on Assistive Technology and Settlements.

This training series on special education law teaches parents, attorneys and advocates how to secure education rights and services for students with special needs. These seminars aim to bring together a diverse community of advocates including parents, special education advocates, educators, attorneys, and community members. Each session focuses on a different legal topic, service or disability. Many sessions are co-led with guest speakers.

Next Trainings: Thursday May 15, 2014: Assistive Technology and Other Related Services; Settlements; Settlements (Abbreviated Session)

http://www.pilcop.org/know-your-childs-rights1314/

Thursday, May 15, 2014: Assistive Technology and Other Related Services 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Attendees will learn about assistive technology options and how to secure these services for children with special needs.

Thursday, May 15, 2014: Settlements 1-5 p.m.

This session will review the legal means of reaching settlements between school districts and parents. Participants will come away with knowledge about how settlements can be crafted and what not to do. Ways of settling including IEP meetings, mediation and resolution sessions will be discussed. Recent case decisions from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will be shared and analyzed.

Thursday, May 15, 2014: Settlements (Abbreviated evening session) 6-8 p.m.

This abbreviated evening session will review the legal means of reaching settlements between school districts and parents. Participants will come away with knowledge about how settlements can be crafted and what not to do. Ways of settling including IEP meetings, mediation and resolution sessions will be discussed. Attendees will also have the opportunity to seek advice on individual cases.

We are pleased to share the new PHENND Annual Report which profiles our accomplishments during the 2012-2013 academic year.

The report also includes brief summaries from many of our member institutions about their community partnership activities.

To download the report, visit: https://phennd.org/wp2014/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/annual_report_14.pdf

Hard copies are also available. You may request one by calling the PHENND Office at 215-573-2379.

November 17-19, 2014
San Antonio, Texas

At the 2014 Summer Changes Everything™ national conference the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and our colleagues will focus on the theme of Accelerating Achievement.

Presenters and participants will examine how summer is an accelerator for education priorities such as 3rd grade reading proficiency, college and career readiness, school transitions, STEM education, and more.

Register: http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=conference