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WE ARE NEWLY FORMED JR DRILL TEAM AGES 7-12, SRS ARE 13-18.  WE HAVE WON SIX TROPHIES SINCE WE STARTED LAST YEAR.  OUR TEAM IS EXPANDING AT A RAPID RATE AND OUR TEAM DIRECTOR HAS TO TRANSPORT THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AND OUR DRUMS TO PRACTICE 3 DAYS PER WEEK.  HER VAN ONLY HOLDS 7 PEOPLE, BUT SHE FILLS IT UP.  SO WE NEED A DONATION OF A GENTLY USED 15 PASSENGER VAN.  WE ARE A NON-PROFIT SO IT WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.  CALL 203 346-8455  IF YOU CAN HELP US

In our Be The Change project, we will build on what we have accomplished over the last four years in Monitor Square. The first component of our project aims to improve accessibility to Monitor Square. Currently there is only a single entrance to the park, and it is a narrow gap in the railing at Chapel and Winthrop.

We feel that a single, small entrance discourages people from using the park. We would like to double the width of this entrance and to create a second entrance at Derby and Winthrop. We will also create a transition from the sidewalk to the grass by installing a bed of pavers at each entrance. These three changes—doubling the width of the existing entrance, adding a second entrance, and installing the transitions—will make the park more enticing and encourage people to use it. Whereas the current entrance, narrow and unadorned, works to keep people out of the park, the new, welcoming entrances will invite people to cross the street and enter into and enjoy the park. The resulting increased use of this public space will make the neighborhood safer and more vibrant.

The other component of our project focuses on the centerpiece of Monitor Square, a monument topped by a statue of an eagle. This eagle is dramatic to behold, with wings spread, talons raised, and head staring down. (We think it is the most amazing sculpture in any park in New Haven, but we may be slightly biased.)

At nighttime, this great New Haven asset loses its value because it is all but invisible in the unlit park, and we would like to correct this by lighting the sculpture up from below. The site of the eagle lit up against the nighttime sky will be eye-catching for both pedestrians in the neighborhood and drivers heading west on Chapel or Derby.

Background

Monitor Square is a nicely scaled public space, about one-third of an acre, situated on thoroughfares that connect downtown with the western side of the city. It sits at the intersection of three neighborhoods—West River, Edgewood, and Dwight—and is bordered by Chapel Street, Derby Avenue, and Winthrop Avenue.

The story of our work in Monitor Square is part of the larger story of our work to improve the West River neighborhood. In 2008 the Community Foundation chose West River as a site for its Neighborhood of Choice program, and under the guidance of Kevin Ewing, ordinary residents began to come together, get to know one another, and explore ways to improve the neighborhood. At the very start of this effort, Monitor Square was the site of a tragic murder. On the evening of Sunday, June 29, shortly after midnight, 53-year-old Antoinette Joyner was struck and killed by a stray bullet as she sat on a porch overlooking Monitor Square petting a cat. This was one of the key reasons we decided that improving Monitor Square should be part of our efforts to improve West River.

In 2009 we successfully applied to have Monitor Square designated a Community Greenspace site by Urban Resources Initiative. We have just completed our fourth season as a Community Greenspace site, and over the course of those four summers we have transformed Monitor Square. We have built two flowerbeds, one at the corner of Chapel and Derby and the other around the monument in the center of the park. We have planted seven trees within Monitor Square and another seven on the curb strip around it. In the past two years, our efforts have spilled out to the surrounding blocks. There are ten new trees on curb strips across the street from Monitor Square, and last year we built a flowerbed in front of an adjoining apartment building. We’ve even extended our efforts to a site three blocks away, at the corner of Derby Avenue and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard. There we removed a huge stand of weeds, planted five trees, and built a flowerbed around a sign that welcomes people to New Haven.

The first opportunity is a chance to create an installation inside of an empty New Haven Register delivery truck. Two of these delivery trucks will be parked directly outside the entrance to the Register building during the Alternative Space weekend of City-Wide Open Studios. Two artists will be awarded this opportunity, one for each truck.

To learn more about this opportuntiy, and see images of the truck, please visit www.artspacenh.org/exhibitions/nhregtruck

The second opportunity is a chance to create a sturdy wire, scrim or fabric screen to wrap a 182 linear foot railing on the upper catwalk of the printing room of the New Haven Register. This is a chance to show your work to thousands of people while you help Artspace promote the safety of Open Studios visitors.

To learn more about this opportunity, and see images of the railing, please visit www.artspacenh.org/exhibitions/railingwrapper

To learn more about City-Wide Open Studios, please check out www.CWOS.org

Below is the list of ideas shared at "Be the change YOU want to see in New Haven: Crowdsourcing, Philanthropy & Getting it Done." You can also see the ideas posted in the front window at The Grove, 71 Orange St. New Haven.

If you offered up an idea at the gathering and do not see your idea on this list, we did not get it. If you did not attend the meeting and one of these ideas interests you, please write to me at lcruz@cfgnh.org and I'll connect you with the person who proposed the project.

During the next week, we'll post the five projects we’ve prioritized on See Click Fix and on this blog. The factors considered in the selection of these priority projects include the following:

1. Motivation of the project initiator
2. Our sense of the project as something to which we can add value
3. Feasibility of completion of the project or some major milestone within 1 year

Projects not selected are no less worthy. We just don't think we can help as much, right now. Our focus is on getting five things done. For these five projects, Ben, Slate and I commit to helping raising money, providing space for meetings, and facilitating contacts with people who can help. However, as we mentioned in the meeting, these are your respective projects; they must be driven to completion by you.

Remember that if your project involves a public space or anything that local city officials or the general public should know about, post it on See Click Fix. The fact that you are willing to step up to address an issue does not mean that there should not be public documentation. Posting the issue might get you an alert that there is already a plan to address the issue, help with coordination of efforts, and get you collaborators and/or donations.

Thank you to The Grove – a new kind of social space for providing the initial meeting location.

If you are inspired to donate time or money to ANY of these ideas, please write to me at lcruz@cfgnh.org so that I can connect you with the project initiator. The proposed projects, in no particular order:

Toy LibraryA resource bank for all parents to borrow toys for all types of kids. In many other cities. National association may help.A safe bike lane system on the curbside of parking spacesA space for small scale production and innovation by building thingsNHV.org for/by local peopleLa Feria To express arts, music, poetry, food, crafts, “noches de troua” etc. for Latino community cultureMany youth-serving non-profits collaborating to transform our neighborhoods into a safe, vibrant city…and leveraging some serious $$$Anti-blight / renters educationNext step for people after halfway housesStreetcar advocacy groupExpressYourPurpose.comFor all of New Haven and its inhabitants to be plugged in to its highest potential and purpose2nd NHV InsideOut in Fair Haven, Middletown & Front Street

- A space for small scale production and innovation by building things
NHV.org for/by local people

- La Feria 

To express arts, music, poetry, food, crafts, “noches de troua” etc. for Latino community culture

- Anti-blight / renters education

- Streetcar advocacy group

ExpressYourPurpose.com

For all of New Haven and its inhabitants to be plugged in to its highest potential and purpose

- 2nd NHV InsideOut in Fair Haven, Middletown & Front Street

You a great cook\baker but not making money because you don't have Commercial Kitchen. Solution New Haven Kitchen. 

Meetings for New Haven's Kitchen

The Rotary Club of New Haven participated in the Open World Program this past November hosting a delegation of high-level Ukrainian judges. The club is again considering participation in another effort this coming October.

The Open World Program is a Congressional sponsored program that brings emerging leaders from Russia, Ukraine, and other Eurasian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and Moldova) to the United States in order to give them firsthand exposure to the American system of participatory democracy and free enterprise.

 This year the club is weighing a opportunity of hosting five court administrators (plus one facilitator) from Moldova (formerly Romania) from October 13-20, 2012. A critical component in the club’s final decision is if it can find six host families who will open up their home for the 7 day period.

 Anyone who is interested in more information about being a host family should contact past-president, New Haven Rotarian/Attorney Ron Osach. His email address is rosach@so-law.com.

Ok, so you want to pursue a brilliant business idea that may or may not involve saving polar bears from extinction. You don't have the cash to fund it and as it turns out, you're working ten jobs, you've maxed out your credit cards, banks hate you and pirating is just a big no-no. So what do you do?

Take it to the streets...of the internet! That's right. There are scores of strangers online who are just as passionate about your idea - whatever it may be - ready to give you cash, for nothing in return! It's called crowdfunding.

You simply set up a free account in any of the crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo or Kickstarter and market your idea to these idea-hungry strangers. The catch is that these sites will take 4-9% of some or all the cash you raise. Still, when  your idea comes alive,  you'll see it's worth to follow the crowd.

As part of the Clergy Ambassador Program, we will be hosting a week of miscellaneous events to bridge the gap between the church and the community. Events include Emergency Medical Services Orientation, Financial workshop, Interviewing and Resume Writing, Community Mediation Session, and  Medical Screeening...all free of charge...../Click for List of Events

CARE is in the process of hiring 4-6 temporary data collectors to go into New Haven Public Schools. Responsibilities include administering health surveys and collecting physical measures on a group of 6th grade students this fall. Work begins in mid-August. See attached PDF for more information.

If your nonprofit is looking for steady help during the academic year, especially with tasks that are difficult to find consistent volunteers for, Quinnipiac University is a great resource.  It runs an Off-Campus Work Study program which places students at area non-profits. The nonprofit pays a very small share of the salary- it's something like $2.62/hour. We at IRIS have participated for the last few years, and have overall been extremely pleased with the caliber of the students who work here. They are able to work about 8-9 hours/week during the academic year. You get to read students' applications and interview as many as you want, and then you decide which one(s) you want to hire.

This year they have plenty of positions that work with kids directly so they aren't taking any more of those, but you can post a position for administrative help or pretty much anything else. Last year IRIS had 4 students working as receptionist/admin support; development assistant; housing & donations (setting up apartments for refugees); and employment services (helping refugees find jobs).

If you are interested, you can contact:

Vincent Contrucci, Director

Office of Community Service

Quinnipiac University

275 Mt. Carmel Avenue,

CS-CSV Hamden,CT 06518

Tel: (203) 582-5351 Fax: (203) 582-8796

vincent.contrucci@quinnipiac.edu

The MOMS Partnership develops public health approaches to ensure that pregnant and parenting women living in the City of New Haven achieve the highest possible standards of mental health and well being throughout their lives. The program concentrates its activities on historically underrepresented racial and ethnic minority, pregnant and parenting women who live within the city limits of New Haven.

Candidates for this position should have proven experience in strategic planning and grant management, as well as past successes in building and sustaining effective collaborative relationships. More information here 

LAS VEGAS—On Tuesday, July 10, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) will honor six individuals and organizations that have achieved extraordinary accomplishments in their professions and in service to the Hispanic community and the country. The awards will be presented to the honorees by NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía during the highly anticipated annual Awards Gala, which caps off the 2012 NCLR Annual Conference held July 7–10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This year’s winners include NCLR Affiliate Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), a nonprofit community organization based in Texas; Rev. James Manship and Angel Fernandez-Chavero of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in New Haven, Conn.; the Honorable Reynaldo L. Martinez, former Chief of Staff to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada; Rossana Rosado, Publisher and CEO of El Diario-La Prensa newspaper; Jesse James Leija, former world champion boxer and supporter of the Miracle League of San Antonio; and Christine M. Owens, Senior Vice President of Communications and Brand Management at UPS.

“NCLR is thrilled to recognize the individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Hispanic community and to our great nation. Through their actions they have shown that there are no limits to what can be achieved with hard work, vision and perseverance,” Murguía said. “We congratulate AAMA, Rev. James Manship and Angel Fernandez-Chavero, the Honorable Reynaldo L. Martinez, Rossana Rosado, Jesse James Leija, and Christine M. Owens and thank them for being an inspiration to us all.”

AAMA, the recipient of NCLR’s Affiliate of the Year Award, is one of the most influential nonprofits in Texas, offering a comprehensive array of innovative programs and services to more than 22,000 individuals each year. With a particular focus on education and youth, AAMA has a stellar track record of outreach to the Latino community through programs such as the George I. Sanchez (GIS) Charter High School, which helps address Latino dropout rates in Houston; the Adelante program, which provides adults with the skills and education necessary to enter and advance in the workplace; and by offering a number of intervention services, such as Barrios Unidos, to Latino youth at risk for gang involvement, drug use, family difficulties, and dropping out of school. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon an Affiliate for exemplary nonprofit management, service to its community, and active engagement in and promotion of NCLR’s programmatic and advocacy initiatives.
Reverend James Manship and Angel Fernandez-Chavero of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in New Haven, Conn., will be honored with the Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award. Rev. Manship and Fernandez-Chavero, a leader on the pastoral council, were instrumental in bringing to light the abuse that members of the community were receiving from police in the neighboring town of East Haven—arbitrary police stops, beatings, stun-gun shots, racial slurs, and illegal searches— which ultimately led to the arrest of four East Haven police officers. They also founded the St. Rose of Lima Education Task Force which provides crucial support for DREAMers on the journey to college, and were heavily involved in the passage of the Connecticut “DREAM Act.” NCLR annually presents this award to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to promoting the interests of Hispanic Americans.

On June 26th the Rotary Club of New Haven celebrated the installation of club officers and members of the board of directors for the 2012-2013 Rotary year at Anthony's Ocean View Restaurant.

New officers include Jeff Dow, President; John Karavas, President-elect; Douglas Lisk, Secretary; and Kevin Guptill, Treasurer. Ron Osach will serve as Immediate Past President.

Board of Directors members include Thomas Ayars, Mary Beth DeMartino, Calk Ek, Paul Emerson, Adela Martinez and Fred Meisenkothen.

Incoming President Jeff Dow spoke of his focus for the upcoming year which will include a continuation of new membership growth, the in-place community service programs schedule, and a Peace through Service initiative within the New Haven Community.

Rotary Club of New Haven is celebrating its 95 year of continued community service. Membership applications are available to all individuals interested in local, regional and international service programs. For an application go to "Club Documents" on the club's website.

New Haven Farms is one of many organizations vying for the $15k offered by Nature's Path Foods. This would help secure our brand new CSA program to help those in need of access to healthy foods. Predominantly Hispanic and low-income families are invited to participate in New Haven Farms' year-round educational programs. 75% of New Haven Farms' members are referred by their community health center medical provider, in a prescription for produce program that enables us to reach the most underserved and at-risk portions of New Haven.

The New Haven Farms’ Fresh Produce Prescription Program seeks to provide a community based solution to the problem of obesity and poverty related chronic-disease factors. Members who fit the health-risk and economic criteria are enrolled in a 16-week nutrition and farm education program. Farm Members receive fresh and organic farm produce baskets on a weekly basis for the entirety of the program, and are required to attend at least one two-hour on-farm educational session per week for the duration of the program. During those sessions, members are provided with cooking classes and health information that focuses on the nutrient-dense foods that they are receiving that week. They are also taught how to plant, harvest, and tend to vegetables, as well as given vegetable seeds and seedlings to grow in their homes. The physical activity that farm members engage in during their weekly educational sessions provides an additional venue for fitness. 

The mission of New Haven Farms is to promote health and community development through urban agriculture. The goal is to establish and cultivate year-round urban farms that produce nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits, in collaboration with community members who are both within 200% of the federal poverty level and suffering from diabetes, prediabetes, or have at least two risk factors for diabetes. This Gardens for Good grant will allow New Haven Farms to partner with the Fair Haven Community Health Center (FHCHC) to rigorously build farms in the lowest income neighborhoods of New Haven, and investigate the impact of increased exposure and consumption of fresh, local nutrient-dense foods on this underserved community’s health. 

Research increasingly points towards a link between food security and the increased likelihood of Type 2 Diabetes. Specifically, a 2011 study indicated there is 3.3 times greater possibility that Latinas in an urban setting will get Type 2 Diabetes as a direct result of food insecurity . FHCHC reports that in 2012, 58 percent of the children (1,501 out of a total of 2,600) are overweight or obese (BMI>85 percent), an increase from 45 percent found in a study in 2003-20042. Given the high percentage of obese patients seen by clinicians at the FHCHC, our census data of the neighborhood, and the aforementioned research, New Haven Farms feels it is uniquely poised to directly impact the health risks of the low income population of New Haven through urban agriculture.

So please vote for us!!

https://apps.facebook.com/gardensforgoodgrants/contests/218426/voteable_entries/51552171

The Conn. Health I-Team is hosting two week-long journalism camps this summer - July 9 at Quinnipiac University and July 16 at the University of Connecticut. New Haven students can attend for FREE.  Our program gives students the opportunity to spend a week on a university campus, learning the tools of journalism by participating in workshops led by award-winning journalists; sharpening research skills; and reporting and writing stories. Come and join us! Contact Lynne at lynnedelucia@yahoo.com or go to www.c-hit.org

Boost! is currently seeking organizations that have an interest and ability to provide services or supports that meet the academic, social, or physical health needs of students in New Haven's Boost! schools.  

Please fill out an agency profile here: http://www.uwgnh.org/form/boost-agency-profile 

For more information, visit: http://www.uwgnh.org/form/boost-agency-profile  

United Way of Greater New Haven is inviting proposals for grant funding from any non-profit organization serving low-income school-age youth (Kindergarten-Grade 12) in Branford, East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven and West Haven. Annual grant amounts will range from $10,000-$50,000 and will provide three years of funding to programs that provide high-quality wraparound services and learning supports to help school-age youth in our region succeed in school and be prepared for college and work.  

Please visit http://www.uwgnh.org/funding-opportunities for more information.

Anthony DiLauro of Read to Grow will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of New Haven's luncheon meeting June 12th. For location info, click here

Public invited.  Full lunch $12. Beverage w/ desert $8   Meeting starts at 12:15 and scheduled to end at 1:30.

As communicated by club president, Ron Osach June, 2012 to the club members

...(Our club)qualified for the Presidential Citation, the District Governor’s Citation and the award for greatest membership growth and retention.  The first two of those awards were for the outstanding variety and quality of community, vocational and international projects that we developed or participated in over the last 11 months.  We should all be proud of what we have accomplished this year and give ourselves at least a modest pat on the back for the scope of our outreach into our city, our region and the world beyond.