How Is That Legal?: Breaking Down Systemic Racism One Law at a Time
Child Welfare or Family Policing?

More than one in ten Black children in America will be forcibly separated from their parents and placed in foster care by the time they reach age eighteen.

Professor Dorothy Roberts joins us to discuss the racialized history of parenting, family autonomy, and the child welfare system. From the role of slavery in framing the Black mother to disastrous 90s legislation rooted in racial stereotypes, Professor Roberts makes the case that child welfare was designed to punish the most disenfranchised communities instead of to protect children. After over thirty years of research, Dr. Roberts concludes that abolition is the only way to end the trauma caused by what she calls family policing.

https://podcastaddict.com/episode/141502440

The mission of the Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation is to improve the economic well-being and social conditions of disadvantaged persons and groups in the United States through grants to organizations that undertake systemic litigation with the funds they receive and by coordinating direct, pro bono litigation through the High Impact Litigation Project.

The foundation invites social justice litigation grant applications. Grants will be awarded for cases litigating social justice issues that address a social justice issue consistent with the foundation’s area of focus which include access to benefits, children’s rights, disability rights, discrimination, domestic violence, environmental justice, healthcare, homelessness, housing, Native American rights, prisoners’ rights, refugee and immigration rights, voting rights, and veteran’s rights; cases which will significantly improve the well-being, social conditions, and/or civil liberties of a large number of disadvantaged persons and groups throughout the United States; and cases that have a strong legal argument(s) for its successful litigation.

Grants are made to pay litigation costs, including attorney time charges and litigation-related expenses. The foundation does not support cases where the relief sought is for an individual except if it would involve an important legal precedent addressing a systemic issue. The foundation does not support criminal cases in which an individual is charged with a crime or filing an amicus brief.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and information about previously awarded grants, see the Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation website.

Deadline: August 1, 2022

Launched by Workforce Matters in 2021, the Fund for Workforce Equity is a pooled fund created to spark innovative strategies for meeting the needs of workers and students of color, document lessons and elevate promising practices for funders, practitioners, advocates, and researchers.

The fund will provide awardees with funding, technical assistance, and the ability to participate in a learning community to workforce development organizations seeking to pilot, adopt, and learn from new strategies as well as advance or extend existing strategies that: respect, value, honor, and compensate workers, students, and job candidates at all career and education levels for the skills and perspectives that they bring to designing and implementing workforce programs and policies; and create spaces for people of color to develop workforce programs, policies, and evidence building.

In addition, the Fund for Workforce Equity will help organizations implement and develop: a learning community for grantees; technical assistance that provides grantees access to expertise and resources on human-centered design and other best practices for including the voices of workers and students; and evaluation and learning efforts that share lessons from the initiative with grantees and the broader workforce field while supporting funders in determining best practices among their grantees.

The Fund for Workforce Equity anticipates that up to $1 million will be awarded to support organizations in implementing initiatives that center workers and learners of color in workforce policy and program design and implementation. Applicants may request grants of up to $70,000, and it is anticipated that typical awards will range from $50,000 to $70,000.

Applicants must provide workforce development programming or advocacy, including but not limited to: education and training programs that help individuals acquire and retain good jobs; efforts that help workers to increase their income and/or advance their careers; internships, apprenticeships, and/or learn-and-earn experiences; career coaching/counseling; providing or coordinating work supports such as transportation or childcare services; and organizing or advocacy efforts related to any of the above.

Applicants must already be invested in organizational racial equity training and must be U.S.-based; organizations that provide direct services to individuals: must serve a majority of workers and/or learners of color. Additionally, applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or be fiscally sponsored by an organization that is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization or is a federally recognized or state-recognized tribal government.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Workforce Matters website.

Deadline: July 31, 2022

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued a call for qualifications for the co-creation, leadership, management, and implementation of the New Jersey Health Initiatives Program.

The New Jersey team at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently conducted a strategic planning process that resulted in an approach that amplifies its role as a place-based funder to contribute to policy change, systems change, and equitable benefits and resources for everyone in our New Jersey communities. The team’s approach involves a place-based strategy with three focus areas, including closing gaps in Black maternal and infant health outcomes by changing policies, systems, and practices; ensuring that everyone in New Jersey is able to live in affordable, safe, and stable housing in thriving communities of their choosing; and supporting the modernization of an equitable, and adequately resourced public health system that is responsive to community health needs.

Throughout these focus areas and all work, RWJF will center on health equity, racial equity, and community power-building as essential to building a Culture of Health in New Jersey. The foundation seeks an organization to re-envision and realign the strategy, structure, and operations of New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI),one of the foundation’s statewide flagship programs since 1987.

One planning grant of up to $450,000 will be made to support an organization to cover two phases (18 months) of work. During that time, the selected organization will, in Phase 1, co-create a strategy and administrative structure for NJHI (in collaboration with RWJF’s New Jersey team and other statewide partners) that will culminate in the launch of the new NJHI program. In Phase 2, the chosen organization will initiate implementation activities by preparing to launch, lead, manage, and implement the new NJHI program; and develop and launch the release of the first CFP for the field in fall 2023 and select the first round of grant awards.

Applicant organizations must be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories and have a physical location and established relationships in New Jersey. If the applicant organization is applying as part of a collaborative effort with other organizations, each collaborating organization must be described in detail in the proposal. However, only one organization may represent the collaboration and be the lead contact in the application process.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website.

Deadline: July 13, 2022 3:00 p.m. ET

Sudharsan Gopalakrishnan doesn’t sit still when it comes to volunteerism and service. The incoming high school senior’s eyes opened to the difficult realities of food insecurity in his community and across the nation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Sudharsan decided to combine his strengths — STEM, mentorship and education — in a variety of service programs and volunteer opportunities throughout San Ramon, California. One of the biggest organizations he’s involved in, 4-H, has helped Sudharsan use GIS mapping technology to bring awareness to how vast and pervasive food insecurity is and has spent over 500 hours mentoring and teaching others.  

Read more.

We can help create safer spaces for the transgender people in our workplaces, social circles, families, and communities by becoming reliable trans allies.

Here are a few ways you can do that.

On any given day, 62,000 Pennsylvanians are incarcerated in state and county prisons. Incarceration in Pennsylvania increased 400 percent since 1980 while the crime rate has gone down. Lack of access to health care, degradation, and isolation are some of the issues people in prison face. For 240 years, the Pennsylvania Prison Society has led the nation in calling for a more just and humane criminal justice system.

Every month, more than 300 incarcerated people and their families ask the Society for help with issues they face inside prison. Written into Pennsylvania law, Society staff and volunteers respond to these complaints by going into correctional facilities, meeting with incarcerated people, assisting with the issues they are facing, and providing real-time information on prison conditions.

This is where you come in. You will support and develop our regional network of more than 125 volunteers responding to the concerns of incarcerated people. You will strengthen our existing relationships and build new ones with community groups and public officials. You will serve as the main point of contact for the prisons in your region. You will be supported by an amazing team of colleagues who are committed to your success.

Learn more and apply.

Apply by July 18, 2022.

Any questions, please contact Noah Barth, nbarth@prisonsociety.org or 215-910-4577

The 2022-2023 YSA Lead Agency program supports local nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, youth development programs, faith-based organizations, and government agencies that lead partner coalitions or project organizers engaging youth during the following National Days of Service:

• 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance (September 11, 2022)
• MLK Day of Service (January 16, 2023)
• Global Youth Service Day (April 28-30, 2023)

Grants of $3,000 or $6,000 will be awarded based on the number of youth volunteers engaged. The primary role of a Lead Agency is to convene and train a coalition of partners or project organizers who will collectively engage youth ages 5-25 on National Days of Service.

Applicants may work locally, regionally, statewide, or in multiple states and must be based in the United States. We are especially interested in applications from organizations in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

These grants are made possible through funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, AmeriCorps. The application deadline is Friday, July 15, 2022.

Learn more and apply.

Date and Time: August 3, 2022, 12:00 PM

Register.

Date and Time: July 14, 2022, 12:00 PM

Register.

Duties:

We are seeking a highly motivated, independent professional with excellent interpersonal skills to join an enthusiastic group that is passionate about supporting the education, health, and wellness of Latinx immigrant communities in Philadelphia. Specific responsibilities include:

• Direct service work with children, adults, and families
  o Provide case management and behavioral health evaluations, interventions, and  services to clients referred by clinic, wellness, and education program staff
  o Establish trust and build relationships with clients in order to promote wellness, agency, and independence
  o Provide appropriate referrals and conduct follow–up
  o Build relationships and work with external partner organizations to support clients
  
• Program design and development
  o Participate in review of case management procedures to align with social work principles and best practices
  o Advise on the further development of case management services at Puentes de Salud
  o Contribute to expansion of Puentes de Salud’s behavioral health services, in conjunction with an in–progress initiative o Maintain and update Puentes de Salud’s referral sheet for clients
  o Conduct data entry and maintain and analyze qualitative and quantitative service data.
  

Schedule: Part time, 25 hours per week. Work is approximately 50% remote and 50% in person onsite at Puentes de Salud’s Community Wellness Center.

Compensation: $31,250 salary for a one-year term at 25 hours per week. Position contingent upon funding. Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. This position does not include benefits; however, the position may have the opportunity to convert to full time employment with benefits within six months of hire.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree and 2–3 years of experience in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience required. MSW degree preferred.
  
• This position requires excellent oral and written communication skills to interact with clients, students, volunteers, clinicians, and staff.
  
• Prior experience with immigrant populations and case management required.
  
• Oral and written fluency in Spanish required.
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.
  
• Strong teamwork, problem–solving, communication, and organizational skills required.
  

Physical Demands:
Visual: Computer use; must be able to use email
Hearing: Phone use
Working Conditions: Position operates in an environment that is generally free of noise, dust, temperature extremes or other hazards; may work in environments without elevators.

To Apply: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Leah Reisman, Health and
Wellness Director, at leah.reisman@puentesdesalud.org.

We welcome AmeriCorps Members with diverse experiences and identities. We welcome people impacted by mass incarceration and people formerly incarcerated. People with most types of convictions are eligible. People convicted for sex crimes or murder are ineligible, due to federal requirements. We’re looking for AmeriCorps Members who are:

• Activists and organizers in their own community.
• People interested in making a difference and becoming a leader in their neighborhood.
• Committed to work a 6 hour shift between 11 am -7 pm Monday through Friday to complete 1,200 hours for a minimum of 11 months or 675 hours for 6 months (October 2022- March 2023)

Learn more and apply.

Full job description.

CLICK HERE to register for the Beer Summit.

This event is part of Global Citizen’s ongoing series of conversations on race, class, and power. The Beer Summit is an annual Global Citizen event marking the anniversary of the 2009 arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates on his own front porch by Cambridge Police sergeant James Crowley, followed by the Beer Summit hosted at the White House by President Obama. At the same time in 2009 in Philadelphia, Global Citizen organized its first annual Beer Summit for concerned citizens to meet and discuss race relations in our city and throughout America.

Global Citizen is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 to promote, lead, and advance social and racial justice efforts through ongoing civic engagement and citizen action among diverse groups. Global Citizen programs include the annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the oldest and largest King Day event in the nation; and the year-round Reading Captains initiative, which protects every child’s right to read in Philadelphia by connecting community volunteers with a citywide movement for early literacy.

The focus of Global Citizen programs include poverty, racial equity, literacy education, service learning, community building, public health, economic opportunity, digital inclusion, the environment, leadership development and civic dialogues.

We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday, July 13 at 6 pm. Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information– info@globalcitizen365.org.

• Understand the evidence-based developmental approach to interacting with youth
• Explore concrete strategies to activate mentoring moments with youth
• Practice reflective listening skills
• Explore setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

 Learn more and register.

The Outreach Coordinator will support the organization’s targeted expansion of out-of-school time programming in priority schools and communities, specifically School District of Philadelphia traditional neighborhood schools and neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence. Working with ASAP’s Director of Strategic Engagement, the Outreach Coordinator will promote ASAP’s four citywide initiatives – ASAP Chess, ASAP Debate, ASAP Drama, and ASAP Scrabble — to school principals, teachers, and community educators and recruit new ASAP club leaders. The position will also support ASAP’s efforts to deepen engagement with ASAP’s key stakeholders, including families and caregivers, volunteers, and youth.

We’re looking for individuals who:

• Are passionate about empowering youth, strengthening communities, and providing equitable educational opportunities
• Value creativity, critical thinking, and attention to detail
• Display strong interpersonal skills and a history of connecting with diverse communities
• Demonstrate impact in collaborative settings to accomplish strategic goals
• Can multi-task and organize multiple long-term projects with overlapping deadlines
• Are familiar with the Philadelphia school system, preferably as an alumnus and/or parent/caregiver of a Philadelphia student
• Experience with youth development programs, education, or community outreach preferred but not required
• Have the flexibility to work some evenings and weekends
• Required education: minimum Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Be able to obtain clearances required to work with youth (available through ASAP)

Preferred Start Date: August 1, 2022

For more information and to apply.

The Debate Program Manager is primarily responsible for the ASAP Debate program, a citywide initiative that empowers youth and strengthens communities in Philadelphia through high quality scholastic debate programming. Since 2006, ASAP has organized the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League, one of the largest urban debate leagues in the country. Following the National Speech and Debate Association rules for Public Forum Debate, middle and high school students learn to appreciate different perspectives while creating persuasive arguments and on a wide range of timely and complex topics.

We’re looking for individuals who:

• Are passionate about empowering youth, strengthening communities, and providing equitable educational opportunities
• Have at least 3 years’ experience with youth development programs, education, or community outreach
• Are enthusiastic champions for student voice and excited to develop the public speaking and leadership skills of Philadelphia youth
• Value creativity, critical thinking, and attention to detail
• Display strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate impact in collaborative settings to accomplish strategic goals
• Can multi-task and organize multiple long-term projects with overlapping deadlines
• Are familiar with the Philadelphia school system, preferably as an alumnus
• Have the flexibility to work some evenings and weekends
• Have experience managing a team of volunteers and/or paid support staff
• Required education: minimum Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Be able to obtain clearances required to work with youth (available through ASAP)

Preferred Start Date: August 1, 2022

For more information and to apply.

This hybrid event will take place on Thursday, July 7, 2022, 4:00-5:00 PM.

Learn more and register.

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