The city has an offer for freshmen in its public high schools: Keep up good grades and stay in school, and you’ll get a full ride to a state college or university.

That’s part of a new “Promise” the city unveiled Tuesday as part of its ambitious school reform drive.

It will pay up to 25 percent of the tuition for qualifying seniors who go on to public colleges or universities in Connecticut next year; up to 50 percent for the class after that, up to 75 percent for the following class; and up to 100 percent for the Class of 2014. Then funders will decide whether to continue the program.

Yale University has pledged up to $4 million per year to fund the new college tuition program, called New Haven Promise, according to Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. The program will be available to New Haven residents who attend public schools, with some conditions. Yale has committed to fund the program for an initial eight years as it is phased in for the four classes of current high school students; the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven will pay for the employees to administer the fund.

The United Illuminating Company, in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Fund, is looking for UI customers to participate in the Home Energy Reports program.

How it works: As part of the Home Energy Reports program, you will receive a monthly energy report for 1 year with the following features:

* A comparison of your electricity use from one year ago,

* A comparison of your electricity use with other households with similar housing and occupancy attributes,

* Suggestions for do-it-yourself energy-saving home improvements,

* Programs available from the Energy Efficiency Fund, and

* An interactive website where you can learn more about home energy efficiency and conservation.

Who is eligible? UI customers who reside within the UI service territory are eligible. All types of homes (single family, multi-family, apartment, etc) are eligible.

How much does it cost? This free program is available to the first 6,000 UI customers who sign up. The Home Energy Report program is funded by the Energy Efficiency Fund and administered by UI.

How do I sign up? Please email the name on your UI account and your home address to EnergyReports@uinet.com — we’ll take care of the rest.

For more information, see the attached PDF or contact Kirsten Brooks at x2660.

energyreports.pdf

Thirty nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity (first come first serve) to display information on a 2 foot x 2 foot square about what your organization is doing in the community.

Laptops will be set up in the storefront for online giving through Give Greater, The United Way, and participating nonprofit websites. "I Love Greater New Haven Nonprofit" cards will also be available for those who donate to a participating nonprofit. In exchange for this opportunity we are asking all participants to commit to staffing the space for 2 three hour shifts. During your shifts you will have access to high speed wireless internet through The Grove as well as coffee and tea. Staffing the project is also a great way to connect with people who come into the store.

Project is scheduled to launch on November 18, to be open 11am-8pm Wednesday through Saturday through December 31. Please commit by November 5 and have your 2x2 square to us by November 12.

Location: 71 Orange St., with approximately 350 sq ft. The sidewalk traffic for the space is about 15-20 persons per hour, heaviest during lunch and dinner hours.

The holiday storefront is a collaboration between The Grove, Project Storefronts, The I love Greater New Haven Nonprofits Campaign, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, and regional nonprofits.

sign up using the form Linked here. Remember space is limited.

For more information contact Slate Ballard, slate@groundworksonline.com

Based on the work of Bridge to Success, Waterbury’s collaborative effort to coor­dinate and improve chil­dren and youth development efforts, Waterbury has been named one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance and ING, a global financial services company. Waterbury was named one of the 100 Best because of the comprehensive plan, Bridge to Success — Preparing Waterbury Youth for Life: A Birth to 21 Initiative, developed by stake­holders from all sec­tors in Waterbury Bridge to Success is a merger of two com­munity efforts: a plan­ning group that developed a childhood blueprint for children ages birth-8 and the Water­bury Prevention Policy Board that worked on issues facing youth ages 5-18. Waterbury is the only city in Con­necticut that has one plan addressing the needs of children and youth from birth to 21.

Initial funding for the childhood blueprint was provided by the Con­necticut Community Foundation, Unit­ed Way of Greater Waterbury, William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund and the state Department of Education.

Bridge to Success has now created five focus areas, each with a commit­tee of parent, school and youth non­profit representatives. Family Engagement is supporting families, especially in these difficult economic times, through the creation of Neigh­borhood Family Hubs.

With the assistance of Connecticut Community Foundation, Catholic Family Charities has opened a Family Center in Waterbury that helped over 1,700 individuals learn about federal, state and local community resources for which they were eligible including child care, food stamps and health care.

Child Health & Development is as­sisting in the implementation of a new ChildFirst project in Waterbury that provides home-based intervention and support for at risk children and fami­lies.

Early Care & Education focuses on access to high quality early education for all children.

Under Positive Youth Development, Bridge to Success has surveyed the as­sets of sixth-, ninth­and 12th-graders in Waterbury in such areas as family sup­port, community service, constructive use of time and com­mitment to learning. Staff at youth or­ganizations are being trained to develop these assets among our youth.

Workforce Development is concen­trating on linking potential employers with summer and after school youth employment programs.

With the framework now in place, Bridge to Success expects to make great strides in developing its projects and bringing new resources to the city. Already Bridge to Success has brought in $5.2 million primarily for after­school programs since 2007. Over 200 Waterbury residents who were sur­veyed listed programs for out-of­school time as the biggest issue that needed to be addressed for youth in Waterbury.

For more information on Bridge to Success, call 203-574-0040 or email di­rector@waterburybridgetosuccess.org Ingrid Manning is the chief execu­tive officer of Connecticut Community Foundation. She can be reached at (203)753-1315 or at info@conncf.org

Copyright (c) 2010 Republican-American 11/03/2010

Urban Strategies Council’s Community Capacity Building Institute:

http://www.urbanstrategies.org/programs/commblding/index.php

Mission: to eliminate persistent poverty by working with partners to transform low-income neighborhoods into vibrant, healthy communities

information provided by --

Mark Abraham

Executive Director

DataHaven

(203) 500-7059

mark@ctdatahaven.org

http://www.ctdatahaven.org/ is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the Greater New Haven and Valley Region by compiling and sharing high-quality public information for effective decision making.

11/18/2010 - 6:00pm - 10:00pm

• To sponsor a tent contact Lynn Lyons: 203-946-7907
• To make a donation to tent city, click here
• For more information about the event, click here

Every woman, child or family that has lost a home or needed shelter has a story to tell and this year we want to make sure their stories are heard. On Thursday, November 18, 2010 from 6pm-10pm, the City of New Haven’s Community Services Administration in partnership with New Haven agencies will be hosting its annual homeless awareness campaign and fundraiser, Tent City on the Green, to benefit the increasing number of women, youth and families requiring shelter.

Area organizations, groups and city departments are being asked to support the cause by raising money to pitch a tent on the green. Each group is being asked to raise money to sponsor a tent. The goal is to have at least 25 tents pitched with a fundraising goal of $1,000 or more for each tent, with recognition of your donation. However, donations of any amount are welcome. A $250 donation will provide a sign with your name or group's name placed on the Green with recognition of your donation. In addition, the CT Foodbank will also be on site to receive non-perishable food item donations as part of the event.

You can donate online (see above) or write a check to "United Way" with “Tent City 2010” written in the memo line of the check. Checks should be mailed to Dr. Chisara N. Asomugha, Community Services Administrator, City Hall, 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510. No cash will be exchanged on the Green; however, a city employee will accept donations in the atrium of City Hall that evening.

Food and entertainment will be provided throughout the evening.

“The power to end homelessness is within our city halls, places of worship, and community organizations. To end homelessness we must mobilize the power.”

--CT Coalition to End Homelessness

This information provided by the United Way of Greater New Haven.

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is offering free tickets to the unemployed and their families. Can you help us spread the word? If your agency provides services to the unemployed, please let us know and we would be happy to include you in our FREE ticket program.

Tickets are available on request to these upcoming events:

Big Band Salute Swing and Sing as the NHSO Pops salutes the jazz era with favorites
by Gershwin, Mercer and a Judy Garland Tribute

Sat, Oct 9 @ 2:30 pm Hamden Middle School

Sat, Oct 9 @ 8:00 pm Saxe Middle School, New Canaan

Italian Flair Experience the Italian brilliance of Schumann, Martucci and Brahms

Thur, Oct 21 @ 7:30 Woolsey Hall, New Haven

Sun, Oct 24 @ 3:00 Shelton Intermediate School

Kavafian Plays Mozart Hear Daylight Divine, a Scottish Symphony and a Mozart violin concerto with a wild Turkish finale

Thur, Dec 2 @ 7:30 Woolsey Hall, New Haven

Sun, Dec 5 @ 3:00 Shelton Intermediate School

Thanks for your consideration! Elaine Carroll, Director of Development

Job Description

Assist teachers with curriculum planning and implementation, classroom management, in a preschool nonprofit setting.

Skills

Warm nurturing personality, Child Development Associate credential plus 3 credits in early childhood education.

Company Description

TEAM is a regional nonprofit agency committed to improving the self-sufficiency of economically and socially vulnerable families and residents of the lower Naugatuck-Housatonic Valley region.

092310 Letter to Members of Congress.pdf

Complements of the Office of Rosa De Lauro attached please find a letter from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighting the important protections and benefits in the Affordable Care Act that take effect today, September 23, 2010, on the law’s six-month anniversary. Secretary Sebelius has also provided a snapshot of what has been accomplished since passage of the Affordable Care Act.

For ease of reference, below are the links to the materials referenced in the letter:

· Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: Download brochures and posters on this program at http://www.HealthCare.gov/center/brochures/index.html. Help your constituents find out where to go to take advantage of this important new program.

· Early Retiree Reinsurance Program: Already, more than 2,700 businesses, unions, non-profits, and State and local governments have been accepted into this program, representing every state in the nation. Find out how the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program is helping businesses and early retirees in your state at http://www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/early_retiree_reinsurance_program.html

· CuidadoDeSalud.gov: All the information on the Affordable Care Act and through the health insurance finder is now available in Spanish at www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov.

· Health Insurance Finder Widget: Available in both English and Spanish to post to your website, this widget lets consumers answer two questions to start finding health insurance options available to them. Download the widget at http://www.HealthCare.gov/stay_connected.html.

Connecticut Commission for Child Support Guidelines is in the process of reviewing the state's guidelines to determine how much financial support a non-custodial parent should pay the custodial parent. The commission is seeking public comments, which provides us with the opportunity to offer our perspective on the child support guidelines. The survey for public comments is at: http://www.ctdss.net/cssurvey/

The Connecticut Housing Coalition, the state's leading membership organization for affordable housing, is seeking an Executive Director. The Coalition, which has six staff members and an annual budget of $750,000, is comprised of more than 250 member organizations - including nonprofit housing developers, resident groups, housing services agencies, and diverse other housing advocates and practitioners. The Executive Director is hired by and responsible to the Board of Directors. The Coalition is looking for a highly talented and qualified person with substantial housing knowledge and management skills, who will be a committed advocate for affordable housing in Connecticut.

Responsibilities:

· Develop long-range strategies and annual work plans to achieve the organization's mission, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the Board;

· Have broad responsibility for the management of the organization's operations;

· Hire and supervise staff;

· Promote the active participation of the membership and other housing constituencies in public policy development, grassroots advocacy and organizational programs;

· Support the empowerment of residents and those in need of affordable housing;

· Provide leadership in the implementation of programs and services - including information dissemination, member working groups, technical assistance, trainings and conferences;

· Provide leadership in advocating affordable housing policy - with audiences including legislators, agency officials, other organizations, the media and the general public;

· Oversee the organization's financial management;

· Plan and implement fundraising strategies to provide for organizational stability and growth.

Qualifications

· Hard working and dedicated to the mission and goals of the organization;

· Passionate commitment to the cause of affordable housing, community development and resident empowerment;

· Proven leadership in developing and executing programmatic, organizational and financial plans with a board of directors;

· Dynamic and effective inter-personal skills;

· Ability to foster inclusion and cohesion among a diverse membership and staff;

· Extensive knowledge of the affordable housing field and public policy-making;

· Significant experience in nonprofit management and fundraising;

· Excellent written and oral communications skills.

Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent benefits.

SEND RESUMES ONLY (mail/fax or e-mail:harriet.rago@jaconnecticut.com)

835 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 06604

Fax: (203) 696-2754

Family in Greater New Haven is in urgent need of two twin size beds for two children if you can help please contact Jack Walsh: (203) 926-9478

The Diaper Bank (TDB), is a a non-profit organization focused on providing basic needs to children and families in CT. TDB is located in North Haven, CT, the job requires travel throughout the state.

The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer, reporting directly to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of mission and financial objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include, but are not limited to:

1. Fundraising: Play a leading role in raising funds necessary to further TDB’s goals and programs by soliciting and increasing donor contributions and obtaining new funding sources.
o Build a sustainable revenue base for TDB, including significant development and maintenance of foundation and individual donor relationships.
o Expand community support in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford and any additional program locations.
o Nurture strong community relations.
o Develop annual business and fund development plans to achieve board and organizational objectives.

2. Administration: Direct all aspects of operations at TDB. Ensure highly efficient and cost effective operations and prudent and ethical management of TDB.
o Manage all personnel matters, including hiring, firing, training and regular evaluation of staff, as well as volunteer supervision. Ensure that the staffing is aligned with the Strategic Plan and in accordance with TDB personnel policies. Establish systems for internal communication that ensure successful coordination in order to maximize the impact of TDB’s efforts. Establish a work environment of high morale and dedication.
o Manage financial resources including developing and balancing the budget and allocating money consistent with organizational priorities. Ensure that TDB meets all obligations with respect to taxes and employer responsibilities.
o Ensure that the TDB has the technological and administrative systems in place to succeed in its mission.

3. Communications: Coordinate and lead TDB’s communications efforts to effectively educate the public about the work of TDB.
o Develop a communications strategic plan for TDB.
o Cultivate relationships with the media and effectively articulate positions to the press and the public, both in organized forums and under the pressure of developing events.
o Maintain a high, visible, positive profile.
o Educate the public about Diaper Need and the work of TDB.
o Ensure the coordination of community education activities of other staff and volunteers.
o Make sure the Board of Directors is kept abreast of all information it needs to manage the affairs of TDB and be a well informed ambassador to the public

4. Assist the Board of Directors in its work, including the formation of policy, setting goals, fundraising, and board development.
o Develop a strong partnership with the Board of Directors and carry out its mandate.
o Enable Board members in their efforts to be enthusiastic advocates for TDB.
o Assist the Board in its efforts to ensure excellence in governance and in developing strategies and long-range plans for growth and stability.

Professional Qualifications: The successful candidate will have:
o Five plus years experience in managing an organization with responsibility for planning, fiscal controls, revenue generation and community relations or related relevant experience.
o Proven success in raising funds, developing strategic fundraising programs and expanding development efforts.
o Proven marketing and public relations skills.
o Excellent computer skills.
o Evidence of excellent writing skills and proven experience in communicating one to one, in small groups, and in large gatherings.

Please submit cover letter and resume to Elnora@thediaperbank.org

Resumes accepted until September 30, 2010. Candidates will be contacted after October 1, 2010.

• Story-telling
• Problem clarification
• Identification of strategies
• Action steps

• Youth-police relations
• Community groups that need assistance with moving from grand ideas to concrete action steps
• Neighborhood groups that wanted to identify ways to better their community
• Church groups looking for consensus on issues
• Schools looking to address teen alcohol and drug use

• Tell us something about the group you are working with.
• How big is it?
• What are its goals?
• How would you implement the action steps that might come out of this dialogue?
• Who will do the follow-up?

Greater New Haven Chamber currently has space available to offer at very attractive rates. They are also prepared to talk about back office services. If you would like to have a conversation about this opportunity call Tony at 203-782-4340.

Career Resources a nationally recognized workforce development organization is seeking a VP of Planning and Development. This highly visible position, reports directly to the President/CEO and works closely with the management team and Board of Directors. This position will provide leadership in the areas of fund raising, grant development and marketing. Successful candidate will have a Bachelor's degree with a concentration in English, Journalism, Communications or related study; a minimum four years of professional non-profit experience; three years of progressively increasing responsibility as a development professional; experience in principal and major gift solicitation and event planning. Salary commensurate with experience.

Responses to:

Joe Rietano

Career Resources, Inc.

350 Fairfield Ave

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Rietano@careerresources.org

Did you know you can volunteer this winter and help give $5,000,000 to low-income families in New Haven? And you don’t have to donate or raise a cent from your friends and relatives.

Five million dollars. That’s our goal this year for refunds and tax credits that our volunteers
will generate by helping low-income families with their tax returns. If you
want to really make a difference in the
fight against poverty, join us by being a volunteer tax preparer or screener.
No experience necessary. You will be completely trained. The tax season is only
14 weeks long, and you only need to volunteer one night a week. Can you donate
your time to help those who struggle to put food on the table get the tax
credits they qualify for?

Please help low-income working families achieve financial stability. Please call us for more information or to apply. New Life
Corporation, 203-777-0313, or e-mail jim@newlifecorp.org.

Last Call...

Become an early adopter of giveGreater...

a free, online knowledge resource to increase local giving to your organization, and other nonprofits in our region.

Working with Guidestar, a trusted organization that compiles data from nonprofits across the country in one searchable database, The Community Foundation has created giveGreater to get as many nonprofits in our region in front of as many donors as possible.

All that's required of you is creating an organizational profile.

We know it can be difficult to find the time, so we're hosting five, 2-hour profile sessions at computer labs to help you create your profile. Just pick the date that works best for you.

Your profile will:

· increase your visibility and transparency to potential and existing donors;

· be searchable by name, geography or interest area;

· provide you with the capacity to receive online donations;

· increase the visibility of the issues with which your organization is most concerned.

Tues, Aug. 31st <only August date left, email us for September dates: giveGreater@cfgnh.org.

2:00-4:00 Valley Regional Adult Ed. Shelton

Take the first step toward attracting more support for your organization
this year, and forever

Highwood Square…the cornerstone for Hamden’s revitalization program, is a newly developed project, offering a campus like setting within an artistically designed 3 building complex is slated for occupancy October 2010. This unique property will have 27 apartments and ample ground floor commercial space. This non residential space is available for rent now, and is being marketed to a wide array of artists, learning centers, art instructors, design professionals, photographers, creative gourmet and specialty food retailers, baker/coffee shop entrepreneurs, fitness and health conscious practitioners, businesses relocating to a more creative and relaxed environment, and more…

The space will be exciting and complimentary to serve the residents of Highwood Square and also serve the surrounding businesses workforce and the Hamden residential community. With the Farmington Canal Greenway located along the easterly side of the property, folks may enjoy a day of biking and walking along this scenic trail with a leisurely stop at Highwood Square for a light refreshment, chance to view current local artists work, moments to sit and relax under a shade tree or sun umbrella, and share interesting conversation with artists from Connecticut who enjoy the quality of life. Highwood Square will certainly be a pleasant surprise and enclave for those who like unique products and affordable prices, and also those who require an affordable home with available supportive services.

For more information contact Glori Lopez from NeighborWorks New Horizons at 203-562-4514 ext. 19