FW: Action Now+Network - social justice information portal launched

Action Now+Network is a new social justice information portal, the goals of which are twofold:

 

1) to inspire and motivate people to become involved in social justice, to learn about the issues and to find a social justice passion, and

2) to offer a central place from which to connect with all the wonderful organizations that have a social justice mission, and from which to make contact with them for involvement in some way.

 

There are two ways in which Action Now+Network will be relevant to schools in search of service learning opportunities or schools which are already involved with service learning programs.

 

First, upon entering the site (www.actionnownetwork.com), the user will see a Take Action Now index. This index contains profiles on organizations, organized within twelve social justice categories. New organizations are added all the time, with the expectation that each social justice cell eventually will be filled with profiles. A keyword search for service learning (must be registered and logged in to use the search function), immediately identifies those organizations with a service learning component.

 

There is also a virtual library on the site, which contains articles on social justice issues within the same twelve social justice categories; all articles link back to original sources, which themselves, often offer a wealth of information about related subject matter. Serious authors of original articles (students and others) are invited to submit material to the library as well, which, if accepted for the library, can be viewed by anyone entering the site to research the issues.

 

Ideally, Action Now+Network will be a great resource for anyone involved in service learning, with a research interest in social justice issues of any kind.

 

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the site, or any information contained within it.

 

Warm regards,

 

Sheila Wasserman

sheilajgw@gmail.com

Action Now+Network

 

Service-Learning Workshop with Cathy Berger Kaye

Online Registration!!

http://formbuilder.sjcoe.org/form.aspx?f=156

Back by Popular Demand!

13^th Annual Service Learning Summer Institute

Presented by Delta Sierra Region Six Service Learning Programs

A Cooperative Effort of the San Joaquin & Stanislaus County Offices of Education

 

Cathy Berger Kaye

Includes Continental Breakfast, Lunch &

The New Edition of The Complete Guide to Service Learning with CD

Monday, June 14^th 2010

Deadline -  Wed. June 9th

Registration Fee $50.00

Coffee & Registration 8:30am -  Workshop 9:00am - 3:00pm

San Joaquin County Office of Education

Stockton, California

 

Veray Wickham

Community Involvement Coordinator/Regional Service Learning Lead

San Joaquin County Office of Education

(209) 468-9021

 

Childhood Obesity and Service-Learning Working Group

Posted by request:

====================================

generationOn—formerly Children for Children, now the youth arm of the Points of Light Institute, is pleased to announce the formation of the Working Group on Service-Learning and Childhood Obesity; sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

 

generationOn is the largest youth-focused organization in the country dedicated to service.  As the youth and education arm of the Points of Light Institute, the resources and programs of generationOn bring together the cumulative best practices, created from more than 40 years of work in the youth and family service space.

 

generationOn is excited to unite a cross-sector network of leaders to focus on the area of childhood obesity prevention through service-learning.  We are inviting leaders, specifically those in the service-learning and health and wellness industry, to connect, serve, and coordinate efforts that will provide industry and community input and direction on performance and measurement-related topics that most affect urban and rural low-income communities and communities of color.

 

Our goals will be to (1) promote service-learning and community/parent engagement as strategies for improving the built environment and preventing childhood obesity, (2) collecting and sharing best practices in service-learning from experts in the field, and (3) building cross-sector relationships among conference attendees that can scale up best practices as they relate to service-learning strategies in childhood obesity prevention.  Topics can include but are not limited to:

 

• Increasing the accessibility of affordable nutritious and unprocessed foods
• Decreasing the saturation of fast-food restaurants
• Increasing safe play places
• Mandating physical activities—such as school recess  

 

The working group will meet and begin planning at the annual the National Conference on Volunteering and Service at the Hilton New York, June 28^th-30^th 2010; at a private session on Wednesday, June 30^th at 10:30am, funding will support sustaining the working group activities through the year in preparation for a share out of our findings at the 2011’s conference.

 

I sincerely hope that you will join us in this important work to explore how service-learning impacts childhood obesity prevention and helps to create a healthier America.  I also welcome you to forward this invitation through your networks and to those you believe should be involved.

 

To confirm your participation, or if you have any questions or concerns, please respond as soon as you are able; I am looking forward to our working together.

 

Best,

 

_____________________________________________

Shammara Wright

Senior Manager, After-School Programs 

 

Children for Children

6 East 43rd Street, 25th Floor

New York, NY   10017

Tel: 212-850-4140 | Fax: 212-850-4180

E-mail: shammara@childrenforchildren.org

Website: www.childrenforchildren.org

http://www.childrenforchildren.org/ 

Youth Lead Grants to Support Grad Rate

America's Promise Alliance and AT&T are looking for the energy, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to help make this country a Grad Nation through the My Idea Grants program. My Idea will empower young people to examine the high school dropout crisis and take action to help more of their peers to graduate on time – improving outcomes for themselves and their community.

National grants of $10,000-$20,000 will be awarded to 20 – 25 youth for the best of the submitted ideas to help increase a community's graduation rate anywhere in the United States. Additional opportunities are available for young people living in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New York, New Orleans, Oakland and Washington, D.C. with grants of $500-$1500 to support targeted local projects. Applications must be submitted by June 11, 2010.

If you're a teen concerned about the dropout crisis, consider, plan and propose an idea to help increase the graduation rate in your community. With the help of a supporting non-profit organization or school, you or you and a group of your peers, will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community! If you're a youth service provider, this is a great opportunity to share with the high school-aged youth that you work with each day. 

Young people, AT&T representatives and Alliance partners will review and select the local and national ideas that win the "My Idea" grants. The money will be administered by supporting non-profit or school, so you'll get plenty of help and support as you help bring an end to the dropout crisis.

A webinar was held this week to discuss this program. View the recording of the webinar to learn more.

What to Expect:

• You will be asked to complete an America's Promise Alliance web site registration if you don't already have one. 
• Then you will Login and complete the Getting Started checklist to start the application. 
• Once you start your application, you will receive an email with contact information for further assistance. 
• Please complete all sections of the application. You can save your application as a draft and return to it. 
• When you have completed your application, click Submit Application. You will receive an email to let you know that we have received your application. Once you submit the Application, you will no longer be able to edit it. 
• Your application will be reviewed by a grant panel. 
• You will be contacted by the grant panel when they have decided whether or not your project will be funded.

 

For the online version go to:

http://www.americaspromise.org/News-and-Events/News-and-Features/APB-2010/Vol-19/Apply-for-the-My-Idea-Grants.aspx

Grants and Awards

Ocean Guardian Grant

Deadline: June 1, 2010

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is offering Ocean Guardian grants of $2,000-

$6,000 to a number of California schools whose students create a school or community-based

conservation project that protects their local watershed and the ocean. K-12 schools in the

following counties are eligible: Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa

Clara, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. This website also

offer lesson plans and videos on ocean education. For more information, visit

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/.

 

Nominate a Garden Crusader

Deadline: June 1, 2010

This year, Gardener’s Supply will award more than $15,000 in cash and gardening gear to

individuals across the country who are using gardening to make a difference in their

communities. For more information, visit http://www.gardeners.com.

 

NEA Foundation Green Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2010

With $150,000 in new grant funding designated for projects that integrate green-related topics

and experiences into the classroom, the NEA Foundation is growing its Learning & Leadership

and Student Achievement grants program for individuals and teams of educators. Public school

educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and

implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching “green” concepts. Visit

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/nea-foundation-green-grants

for more information.

 

NAAEE Pierce Foundation Photo Contest

Deadline: June 10, 2010

NAAEE seeks photos that will inspire people to achieve environmental excellence. Entries

should reflect the theme “Paint Me a Picture.” The photography contest is one element of a

larger effort by NAAEE to re-invigorate the use of the arts in the EE field, and is sponsored by

the Albert I. Pierce Foundation for the fourth year in a row. Information about the photo

contest can be found at the bottom of the following link: http://www.naaee.org/conference.

 

Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest

Deadline: June 16, 2010

Enter the Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest. Show how the beauty of

nature inspires you through poetry, essays, photos or dance. Entries must be from a team of two

or more persons, a young person and an older person. For more information, visit

http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm.

 

Got Environment

Deadline: December 1, 2010

Participate in the It's My Environment video project coordinated by the U.S.

EPA. Make a personal commitment to make environmental protection a part of your daily life.

Send a video clip of you saying "It's My Environment" and holding up a sign. Anyone can

enter! For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/earthday/.

 

Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA)

Deadline: June 1, 2010

The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is California’s

highest environmental honor. The program recognizes individuals, organizations, and

businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary

contributions in conserving California’s precious resources, protecting and enhancing our

environment, building public-private partnerships and strengthening the State’s economy.

Award categories, eligibility, and criteria are available at the Cal EPA website at

http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.

 

Webinar: Developing Inclusive Service Descriptions

The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is pleased to announce our next web conference to be held on Wednesday, May 26th at 3:00pm EST. This webinar will discuss strategies and tips for creating an inclusive service description. Developing inclusive service position descriptions provide greater detail to potential service members or volunteers by communicating the key responsibilities of the service position clearly. After attending this webinar, you will learn how to describe and incorporate all of the key content areas into a service position so that you may communicate a clear, concise, and inclusive service description to potential service members and volunteers.

Specifically, we will discuss:
- The purpose for developing an inclusive service description
- The process for gathering information for the components of your inclusive service description
- Strategies for writing essential and marginal functions in a service description
- The components of an inclusive service description

To register for this event, please email nsip@umb.edu by 12:00 PM EST on Tuesday, May 25th with the following info:

-Name
-Organization
-Affiliated program: AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, Senior Corps, VISTA, Cross-program, Other
-Email
-Phone
-If you require CART* to participate, please also indicate that in your email.

Please note: We will send out confirmation emails by Tuesday afternoon, May 25th with instructions how to sign into the web conference.

*CART service provides instantaneous translation of the speech text using real-time software. Teleconference participants receive caption services over the web. This is an accommodation we provide to participants who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is training and technical assistance provider on disability inclusion, under a cooperative agreement (#08TAHMA001) from Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). NSIP partners with the Association on University Centers on Disability, National Council on Independent Living, Association on Higher Education and Disability and National Down Syndrome Congress to build connections among disability organizations and all CNCS grantees, to increase the participation of people with disabilities in national service.

Cross-Age Tutoring Radio Webcast

Mark your calendar for the next free
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
Radio Webcast on  Solutions to the Dropout Crisis              

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Lessons From the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program

presented by Linda Cantu

• Learn about an assets-based approach to dropout prevention.
• Discover key lessons learned in this award-winning cross-age tutoring program.                                                                                                                                

All children are valuable; none is expendable. But the fact is U.S. high schools lose more than one third of their students before graduation, and the cumulative impact of this attrition affects every person. But, schools can increase their “holding power” by transforming how they recognize students’ inherent value, their contributions, and their potential significance to their communities and society, as a whole. Dr.Linda Cantu will give an overview of this research-based, internationally-recognized dropout prevention program that is keeping more than 98% of participating students in school, young people who were previously at risk of dropping out. She will also present seven key lessons from 26 years of the program that can inform efforts to improve the quality of education for all students.

No registration is necessary. On the day of the webcast, log on 10 to 30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast.  You should just hear music until the program begins at 3:30 p.m. If you have problems connecting, call 864-656-4550.

All necessary information as well as supplementary materials are now available online at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast for this professional development opportunity. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the Web site www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the National Dropout Prevention Center at ndpc@clemson.edu or 864-656-2580.
 
 
Participation in this radio webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the Web site.

This webcast is produced in partnership with Clemson Radio Productions and with support from Penn Foster.

Instructors & Administrators Needed for Summer Service-Learning Program

Outstanding Summer Job Opportunity

Facilitating Service-Learning Programs for Young People

 

Spend a few weeks this summer helping young people discover how to make a difference in the world!  The Civic Education Project (CEP), a leadership and citizenship program at Northwestern University, is currently seeking a few more strong Instructor and Administrator candidates for our summer Civic Leadership Institute programs.

 

About the Civic Leadership Institute

The Civic Leadership Institute is a three-week summer service-learning program for outstanding high school students, offered on top college campuses in Baltimore (June 27 - July 16), Chicago (July 11 - July 30), and San Francisco (July 18 - August 6).  Each Civic Leadership Institute integrates challenging academic work, meaningful service, hands-on field experiences, guest speakers, and facilitated reflection, designed to help young people develop the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills they need to make a positive impact on society.  

 

About the Instructor Position

Each Instructor works with a Teaching Assistant to facilitate a service-learning curriculum on "Civic Engagement & Contemporary Social Issues" for a group of outstanding high school students. Instructors teach five hours of class daily, five days per week, for three weeks, to a single group of 14-16 students, and help facilitate an additional two-hour academic session in the evenings. CEP provides suggested curricula and sets up field experiences; Instructors prepare and facilitate all lesson plans and class activities, and evaluate student work. Instructors should have a minimum of 3 - 5 years of experience teaching high achieving students in junior high, high school, or university settings, as well as expertise in service-learning and/or experiential education. Instructors earn $2,000 - $3,000 per three-week session, plus room and board.

 

About the Academic Dean Position

The Academic Dean is a member of the site administrative team and assumes primary responsibility for supervising the academic staff and coordinating the academic program. Academic Deans support and guide instructional staff with a variety of educational backgrounds and teaching skills. Through classroom observations and conferences with staff, academic deans provide feedback and mentoring on teaching strategies and classroom management. Academic Deans also address student performance issues and oversee the editing of student evaluations. In addition, they furnish logistical support for field experiences, speakers, class projects and other academic activities. Academic Deans should have extensive experience teaching high-achieving students in junior high or high school settings, as well as a strong background in service learning and/or experiential education. Academic Deans should also have administrative and supervisory experience and strong communication, organizational and computer skills. The Academic Dean salary starts at $2,750 per three-week session, plus room and board.

 

Additional instructional, residential, and administrative positions are available at all of our summer sites.

 

Apply Now!

You can learn more about these programs and positions and apply online at: http://www.civiceducationproject.com/jobs/summer/

 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so if you're interested, be sure to apply now!

 

You can be part of creating "eye-opening," "mind-blowing," "life-changing" experiences for young student leaders!

 

Civic Education Project

617 Dartmouth Place
Evanston IL 60208
847/467-2572
cep@northwestern.edu
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/cep