The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) is a consortium of institutions of higher education in the Philadelphia region. The Promise Corps Program Coordinator will support program manager with key aspects of the Promise Corps AmeriCorps Program, including planning and executing multiple events annually for member development and direct service; providing guidance, coaching and indirect supervision to 20 full-time AmeriCorps members placed in four high schools; developing program communications and digital media marketing; and developing and executing programs with partners to provide academic, career development, and college exposure experiences for Promise Corps youth during the school year as well as in the summer months.

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree and 2-3 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

* Exceptional communication skills and relationship building skills.
* Flexible, creative, and innovative thinker.
* Able to maintain focus under pressure and adjust to accommodate program and client needs.
* Facility with Microsoft Word, Excel, Google platforms, and ability to quickly learn other web-based programs.
* Solutions-oriented problem solver. Strong decision-making skills and ability to work independently.
* Passionate about national service generally and PHENND’s mission specifically.

To learn more about PHENND, visit https://phennd.org.

To apply for this job, click here.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority application deadline is August 15, 2024.

Please RSVP Here by September 1, 2024

We will celebrate the successes and discuss the future of higher education in national service with panels and keynotes.

You can find the agenda and more information here.

A 30th Anniversary reunion for CNCS programs and participants will be held immediately following the conference from 5 pm to 8 pm in the same building. You can find more info and RSVP to that event here.

Feel free to share the invitation with those who might be interested!

We look forward to seeing you there!

On behalf of the Higher Ed working group: Bill Basl, Amy Cohen, Kevin Days, Matt Farley, Bobby Hackett, Elaine Ikeda, Bobbie Laur, Catherine Milton, Agnieszka Nance, Elson Nash, Lindsey Ravizza, Gail Robinson, Susan Stroud, Joann Weeks

Questions? Email gwserves@gwu.edu

Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: University of Pennsylvania’s Van Pelt Library, 6th floor

Theme: Campus250: Higher Ed Celebrates America’s 250^th

The Fall PHENND Meeting is a chance for the entire PHENND Network to get together to share ideas, events, challenges, etc. It is also a time to hear from PHENND staff about their activities and opportunities for partnership in the coming academic year.

Additionally, the event will focus on preparations for the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence which will take place in 2026. Already, organizations (especially in our hometown of Philadelphia!) are mobilizing to celebrate the diversity of the city and the region through inclusive programming that reflects the experiences of all Philadelphians, past and present. PHENND, in partnership with Campus Philly, hopes to engage each of our member campuses in a collective effort around the 250th. We will present our vision and also hear from Philadelphia250 about other complementary efforts across the region.

Speakers will include:

• Jennifer Kebea, Campus Philly
• Jane Grabias, Philadelphia250
• Lynne Farrington, Director of Programs/Senior Curator, Special Collections, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania
• Christine Hagedorn, Professor of Sociology, Rosemont College
• Derek Gillman, LLM, Cara Keegan Fry University Curator and Executive Director, University Collections and Exhibitions, Drexel University
• Andre Castillo, America250PA

Register here.

This meeting is supported by funding from the Philadelphia 250 Funders Collaborative.

Founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, the William Penn Foundation (WPF) aims to play an important role in improving the quality of life in Greater Philadelphia.

The foundation has issued an RFP to reduce barriers to accessing and completing workforce training in Philadelphia. To that end, WPF aims to expand the effectiveness of high-quality workforce training by reducing the barriers to accessing and completing workforce programs, transitioning to employment, and successfully completing the first year of employment. Through this funding opportunity, WPF will support initiatives and programs that result in career entry and advancement for populations facing significant barriers (e.g., young people, ages 16-24, who are not in school and not working; returning citizens or individuals with justice system involvement; and immigrants) to achieving economic mobility for themselves and their families.

This funding opportunity is not intended to support the creation of new workforce training programs, but rather to provide the additional resources needed to address persistent barriers to securing and retaining employment. Competitive proposals will be able to quantify the projected increase in the number of individuals facing high barriers that will complete training, transition to, and retain employment resulting from WPF’s investment.

WPF has $5 million available to advance this objective. There is no minimum or maximum that organizations may request, and WPF is requesting proposals for two-year projects.

Applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Public charities include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply.

Applicants are asked to submit a proposal on the foundation online submission system by August 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET. A WPF team will review all proposals and notify applicants by August 16, 2024, if they have been selected to move forward in the review process. Site visits will be conducted between August 19 and September 6, 2024, with project implementation to begin by November 2024.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the William Penn Foundation website.

Deadline: August 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET

The WITH Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have issued an RFP for advancing disability justice in public health. Through the RFP, grants will be awarded to support collaborative proposals that advance disability justice in public health and center the goals, perspectives, and needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in communities of color. The efforts supported through this RFP will contribute to a public health system that is fair  and just, treats all people  with dignity and respect, and rectifies past harms, and  prevents future ones. Proposals should prioritize one of the following approaches:

Implementation: Support implementation of models, i.e., testing and advancing solutions to enhance governmental public health in being trustworthy, accountable, truly collaborative, and anti-racist. Models should support the leadership of and power sharing with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color, or those with a demonstrated track record of working with adults with I/DD in communities of color;

Educational resources: Develop public health curricula and/or training resources with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color, and/or create/leverage networks supporting resource dissemination and utilization within public health and disability justice ecosystems, help public health systems become more accountable to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color—communities that have been historically marginalized;

Advocacy, Power and Bridging: Support regional or national advocacy, community power building to build and shift power, and serve as a bridge between governmental public health with entities such as grassroots organizing groups, social movement groups, movement-building organizations, community-based organizations, community organizing groups, and base-building groups related to the care that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color receive within public health;

Research: Identify and close gaps in knowledge and inform efforts to improve health related to the care adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color receive, e.g., community-based or community-led research that assists disability-led organizations in illuminating and addressing structural barriers within the governmental health system that are experienced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in communities of color.

A secondary goal of this RFP is to foster new partnerships or significantly enhance existing partnerships between disability organizations, advocates, community organizations, and healthcare providers. Applications are encouraged from all interested parties, especially from projects that are led by people most harmed by structural racism and other systems of oppression, and projects that intentionally address the experiences of Black women with I/DD, women of color with I/DD, and other historically marginalized perspectives within inclusive gender-based and gender-affirming care.

Applicants are asked to self-select their geographical area of focus (which must be within the United States). In the event that a collaborative proposal is submitted, a lead organization must be selected (by the applicant) for the proposed project. Grants of $100,000 (each) for one-year period will be awarded.

Eligible applicants include section 501(c)(3) public charities; healthcare, community, and disability organizations that are based and operate in the United States.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the WITH Foundation website.

Deadline: August 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. PT

The National Park Foundation (NPF), in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), has issued a request for proposals for a pilot grant program focused on expanding accessibility information, services, and tools at national park sites.

The program aims to improve visitor trip planning and elevate inclusive park experiences for visitors with disabilities, and grants of up to $75,000 will fund accessibility projects that provide information for visitors, build community connections, expand trainings, and improve access to equipment.

Examples of proposal concepts for the RFP may include but are not limited to conducting accessibility reviews of parks with the intent of improving information available to the public about access; programs that engage local disability stakeholders in ongoing collaboration with parks resulting in deeper park relationships and improved access; provision of accessibility training to park staff, park partners, volunteers, or others who will engage with visitors with disabilities; video or other content development that helps NPS showcase and promote accessible experiences in parks; and efforts to begin new or expand existing programs that ensure mobility devices are available to visitors with disabilities for use in parks, with a particular emphasis on programs where devices are provided by friends’ groups or other nonprofit entities.

Eligible applicants include official units of the National Park Service and affiliated systems (such as national trails, waterways, and heritage areas), and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) public charity designation by the IRS. Applications are encouraged from nonprofit organizations with an NPS philanthropic, cooperative, and/or cooperating association agreement; community organizations, such as adaptive sports and recreation organizations; and other nonprofit organizations that serve people with disabilities.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the National Park Foundation website.

Deadline: August 22, 2024

Join us on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 2:00-3:00 PM for a free webinar designed to equip higher education leaders with actionable strategies to maintain community, prevent fractures, and mitigate risk. We will focus on practical, high-impact approaches that can be immediately integrated into your fall plans. After this webinar, you’ll be better prepared to shepherd your campus through turbulent moments in a way that honors your institutional values and preserves cohesion.

Learn more and register.

The presidential election is a touchstone ritual of democracy that offers an opportunity to encourage students to be thoughtful, engaged citizens. The effort invested in preparing for the 2024 election can help cultivate campus environments that encourage community members to grapple with discomfort, champion freedom of thought, and foster the capacity to listen to others.

We conducted research with 21 college presidents, administrators, faculty, and staff about their 2024 election goals for their campus communities. This was in addition to an extensive secondary review of lessons learned from past elections. By collating the experiences of subject matter experts and university educators in a range of roles– faculty; staff; offices of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); civic engagement centers; and university presidents–we hope to share knowledge about what works to contain campus conflict and transform discourse.

Election Strategies for Every Level of Your Campus

• Download Strategies for Leaders
• Download Strategies for Faculty & Staff
• Download Strategies for Civic Engagement and DEI Centers

Download the full election guide.

Here’s the online version and Printable PDF, with Spanish to follow shortly.

We had 9 team members work on it and two lawyers vet it. And we’re proud of the result. In an age of misinformation and cynicism where voters often don’t know candidates’ real stands (particularly with VP Harris), it draws the necessary contrasts to get people to vote and convince their friends to vote. It also reaches people who mistrust politics. And it does all this in a nonpartisan way.

We hope you’ll distribute it as widely as possible by distributing printed guides, reprinting on your website, distributing it in newsletters, and linking to it in social and texting campaigns.

As with the previous Presidential version, we’ll be delighted to provide free printed guides if you have a clear distribution plan (we’re up to nearly 5 million committed). We’re also integrating answers from the new guide into our digital resources, which we’ll be sending to you through this newsletter and through our social feeds.

Published by the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), MUJ disseminates scholarship and research relevant to urban and metropolitan universities. Articles amplify the mission of CUMU by reinforcing the value of place-based institutions and illuminating our collective work of supporting the changing needs of our students, institutions, and cities. We accept manuscripts on an ongoing basis.

Read the journal here.

Whether you’re in higher education, K-12 teaching, or community leadership, join us on August 5, 2024, 1:30-3:00 PM, to enhance your ability to foster meaningful dialogue and address pressing challenges on campus.

Learn more and register.

The 2024-25 FAFSA application cycle brings substantial changes, including a new application form, eligibility criteria, terminology, and requirements for parents and other contributors. With a shorter timeline for submission, the need for additional support, advice, and encouragement for students and families is of paramount importance.

Our goal is to increase the number of students completing the 2024-25 FAFSA and enrolling in college, particularly first-time students. Stay informed and engaged by visiting fafsapush.org for more details and information. Follow the PCPR Event page for a schedule of FAFSA completion events and activities this summer.

Together, we can make college dreams a reality for more students!

By inspiring millions of Americans and others to volunteer, donate to charities, and perform other good deeds and acts of kindness, 9/11 Day is a positive way for Americans to annually keep the promise to “Never Forget” those killed and injured on 9/11, as well as the many who courageously rose in service in response to the attacks – first responders, recovery workers, and volunteers – along with members of our military.

Youth Service America (YSA) offers eleven reflections and related project ideas to reimagine the date as one of engagement, service, and connection.

Learn more.

Date and Time: August 14, 2025, 12–12:45 PM

CUMU members: Register here

Our democracy has never worked for everyone, and like democracies globally, the nation is moving farther from the ideal. People are giving up, and nearly half of Generation Z believe it doesn’t matter whether they live in a democracy or a dictatorship. These conditions are dangerous because when people give up, anti-democratic forces can take hold, jeopardizing basic tenets like free and fair elections, equitable political participation, civil rights, freedom of the press, separation of church and state, and the just application of the law.

Included in the Democracy Re/Designed toolkit, you will find:

• The Framework
• An Organizing and Discussion Guide
• An Institutional Self-Assessment Tool

Learn more and access the toolkit.

This webinar and the larger community of practice is free and open to anyone from any institution as they consider how to leverage the framework for institutional change.

Date and Time: September 10, 2024, 3:00-4:00 PM

Register.

Join us as a FAFSA Coach to help students and their families complete their 24-25 FAFSA applications. We’re looking to expand our team of advisers, counselors, and coaches to provide more support. If you are interested in serving as a Virtual/In-Person Events FAFSA Coach, complete this form.

• Date: 8/2/2024 – FAFSA Support & Completion
  Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  Location: Lab C
• Date: 8/27/2024 – FAFSA Support & Completion
  Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  Location: Lab A

Both events will be held at: School District of Philadelphia, 440 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA

Receive a $25 Gift Card upon proof of FAFSA completion
(while supplies last)

If you prefer the convenience of working on the FAFSA from your home, we have a solution!  Sign up for a Zoom FAFSA completion session at this link.

This guide offers pragmatic and action-oriented recommendations that can quickly implement better discourse on your campus.

• Prompts for reflection to help us deeply examine ourselves and our contexts, discern our paths, and find allies to advance better discourse
• Advice for asset mapping and leveraging existing campus and external resources
• References to tools, policies, and evidence-based practices tailored to a variety of campus goals
• Resources for addressing current issues, like the Israel-Palestine conflict, the 2024 U.S. election, and racial justice

Access the guide.

• Serve as primary point person internally or externally in the day to day management of the schedule for the President, and as necessary, the Chief of Staff. Creates opportunities and access that effectively use the time of the President.
• Drafts and/or edits presentation or communication for the President, including collecting, coordinating, researching, and compiling data from various departments as needed
• Arranges complex and detailed travel plans, itineraries, and agendas to prepare the President for internal and external meetings.
• Answer and respond to the organization’s phone, connecting inquiries to the right internal staff member and/or the President where appropriate.
• Maintain various records and confidential documents for Board, President, or Senior Leadership Team, including meeting minutes, organizational records or other confidential documents.
• Serves as part of a team that provides administrative support to the Heights Board of Directors.
• Collaborates with Chief of Staff on incoming issues and concerns addressed to the President, including those of a sensitive or confidential nature, and determines the appropriate course of action
• Works independently on projects, from conception to completion, and handles a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion
• Create, manage and update organizational calendar of events
• Provide administrative support to org-wide events or those involving the Office of the President
• Serve as backup support for reception areas – including answering general staff questions, greeting and receiving visitors, processing mail and packages.

Learn more and apply here.