Half in Ten Releases New Poverty Reduction Toolkit

Did you miss Half in Ten's webinar last week? Here's the scoop:

On the webinar, a distinguished panel of speakers, including Co-Chair of the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-9) discussed Half in Ten’s new report and accompanying advocacy tools to cut poverty in half over the next 10 years.

The report, “Restoring Shared Prosperity: Strategies to Cut Poverty and Expand Economic Growth,” is Half in Ten’s first inaugural report that will track progress toward our goal on a variety of indicators to help advance policies that create good jobs, strengthen families, and promote economic security.

This report will serve as a guide for our efforts to cut poverty and will help us hold elected officials accountable. But building the movement of advocates fighting poverty nationwide and creating the political will to end poverty is what will help us reach this achievable goal.

To that end, Half in Ten has developed resources and action steps advocates can take to educate their networks about the challenges facing families struggling with poverty and economic hardship and to engage their elected officials in the fight against poverty. Consult the resources below and take action today!

Resources:

• If you missed the webinar, you can download the complete recording and slides here. Contact info@halfinten.org with any questions.
• Check out Half in Ten’s new action toolkit to learn how to use the data in the report in action alerts, letters to the editor, social media posts, op-eds, and in other advocacy mediums.
• Curious about the “Restoring Shared Prosperity” report? Read the top 10 findings from the report or read the full report here.
• Want to see how your state fares on indicators like poverty, hunger, unemployment, and more? Explore our new interactive website and download a fact sheet with your state’s data here.

Action steps:

Despite the important role unemployment benefits play in the lives of millions of jobless Americans and in the nation’s economic health, unemployment benefits are set to expire at the end of this year. Stand up for families in need and our fragile economic recovery this holiday season and ask your members of Congress to continue jobless benefits for another year.
• We need your help! Join the movement to cut poverty in half in 10 years. Sign a pledge affirming the Half in Ten goal as an individual, organization, or elected official today.

Michigan League for Human Services publishes Food Assistance Facts

Did You Know?

• Food assistance recipients generally have to be working or participating in employment or training activities to receive assistance for more than three months.
• Almost 80% of food assistance dollars are re-deemed within two weeks and 97% within a month.
• Food assistance helps the economy grow. For every $1 spent in food assistance, $1.79 is generated in economic growth.
• Food assistance generates spending in the retail, agricultural and food production industries in Michigan.

Download MLHS' full fact sheet.

Capacity Building Grants for Microenterprise Development Organizations - Due Nov. 29th

From the Microenterprise Network of Michigan

Friedman Associates is offering capacity building grants, thanks to the SBA PRIME Program. Capacity building is often defined as "actions that improve nonprofit effectiveness," and nonprofits that help low- income individuals start and expand small businesses can apply for assistance to increase capacity and impact.

Note: these grants do not include a monetary award but instead offer pro bono consulting worth $15,000. Selected organizations must provide an in-kind match of staff time devoted to the project plus up to $1,000 to defray the cost of travel expenses for the consultant's site visit.

There are three specific RFP areas:

1. Consortium for Leaders in Women's Microenterprise Development

Women's Initiative is one of the largest organizations in the country helping low-income women build successful businesses. Four organizations that serve primarily low-income women entrepreneurs are eligible to receive capacity building assistance. This includes:
strategic planning; fund development training; board development training; volunteer program management; messaging and external communications strategies; and program assessment and design, among other services.

2. Academy for Green Microenterprise Development

ACE is an award-winning CDFI and microlender that has developed a statewide platform for green small business lending. Seeking to develop a green microenterprise development training or lending program? On a competitive basis, two Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) that serve low-income individuals will be selected to learn how to teach the "the
triple bottom line" to their clients. ACE will work with you to develop a strategic plan for your green program. We will also connect you to resources and program materials to help you create your initiative.

3. MicroBuilders Capacity Building Program

Little Dixie CAA is an award winning organization providing a broad range of economic and community development programs. Four organizations that serve primarily low-income entrepreneurs are eligible to receive capacity building assistance. This includes:
strategic planning; fund development training; board development training; volunteer program management; messaging and external communications strategies; and program assessment and design, among other services.

For questions, or to receive RFP's and application information contact Jason Friedman, Friedman Associates, at 319-341-3556 or jasonj@friedmanassociates.net. More information available at: http://friedmanassociates.net/SBAPRIME.aspx

Reminder! November 2 Poverty & Education Lecture by Researcher Richard Rothstein

Join us Next Wednesday! November 2, 2011  6:30 pm for a free evening lecture on Poverty & Education with Richard Rothstein Research Associate, Economic Policy Institute Dear Voices4Action, How can we break down barriers to success for Kalamazoo County's 15,000 children in poverty? The Poverty Reduction Initiative is pleased to invite you to a free lecture by  renowned author and educational researcher Richard Rothstein. 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Dale Lake Auditorium KVCC Texas Township Campus 6767 W O Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan  map free admission, free parking Seating is limited Rothstein will give us a glimpse into the complex issues that children and families living in poverty must overcome to achieve greater success in school and other learning environments. We hope you will join us for Rothstein’s lecture and participate in forums, discussions, and follow-up work to make his visit a meaningful change agent for our community. Share the warmth! Bring a new item of winter wear to donate for PROJECT CONNECT. Hats, gloves, mittens, scarves for all ages. This visit is supported and sponsored by Kalamazoo Public Schools, Western Michigan University’s Lewis Walker Institute, Kalamazoo Regional Educational Services Agency, The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo & ISAAC. Richard Rothstein is a research associate of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., and a senior fellow of the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at the University of California (Berkeley) Law School. From 1999 to 2002 he was the national education columnist of The New York Times. He is the author of Grading Education: Getting Accountability Right (Teachers College Press and EPI, 2008) and Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap (Teachers College Press 2004). He is also the author of The Way We Were? Myths and Realities of America’s Student Achievement (1998). Other recent books include The Charter School Dust-Up: Examining the Evidence on Enrollment and Achievement (co-authored in 2005); and All Else Equal: Are Public and Private Schools Different? (co-authored in 2003). Contact Richard Rothstein at riroth@epi.org. Click here to unsubscribe from PRI mailings.

Early Learning is Good Business - Oct 18 Summit on Early Childhood Education

From Calhoun Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition

 

Nicole Hamilton posted in Calhoun Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition. Nicole Hamilton 12:58pm Sep 29   Early Learning is Good Business - Summit on Early Childhood Education Tuesday, October 18 at 6:00pm View Post on Facebook ·

 

You're Invited! November 2 Poverty & Education Lecture by Researcher Richard Rothstein

Save the date! November 2, 2011  6:30 pm for a free evening lecture on Poverty & Education with Richard Rothstein Research Associate, Economic Policy Institute Dear Voices4Action, How can we break down barriers to success for Kalamazoo County's 15,000 children in poverty? The Poverty Reduction Initiative is pleased to invite you to a free lecture by  renowned author and educational researcher Richard Rothstein. 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Dale Lake Auditorium KVCC Texas Township Campus 6767 W O Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan  map free admission, free parking Rothstein will give us a glimpse into the complex issues that children and families living in poverty must overcome to achieve greater success in school and other learning environments. We hope you will join us for Rothstein’s lecture and participate in forums, discussions, and follow-up work to make his visit a meaningful change agent for our community. Share the warmth! Bring a new item of winter wear to donate for PROJECT CONNECT on November 16. Hats, gloves, mittens, scarves for all ages. This visit is supported and sponsored by Kalamazoo Public Schools, Western Michigan University’s Lewis Walker Institute, and other local partners. Richard Rothstein is a research associate of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., and a senior fellow of the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at the University of California (Berkeley) Law School. From 1999 to 2002 he was the national education columnist of The New York Times. He is the author of Grading Education: Getting Accountability Right (Teachers College Press and EPI, 2008) and Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap (Teachers College Press 2004). He is also the author of The Way We Were? Myths and Realities of America’s Student Achievement (1998). Other recent books include The Charter School Dust-Up: Examining the Evidence on Enrollment and Achievement (co-authored in 2005); and All Else Equal: Are Public and Private Schools Different? (co-authored in 2003). Contact Richard Rothstein at riroth@epi.org. Click here to unsubscribe from PRI mailings.

Join the Call - Michigan Advocates Discuss the "Super Committee" on October 12

Some months ago a number of Michigan leaders connected with Ruth Flower from
the Friends Committee on National Legislation on a call to discuss your work
around the federal budget. Now, the Budget Control Act (more commonly known
as the "deficit deal") has created a "super committee" charged with
producing a bill that specifies ways to reduce the deficit by $1.2 - $1.5
trillion over ten years by November 23rd. Representatives Dave Camp and Fred
Upton were both selected to participate on this "super committee".

To help social service providers, non-profit organizations and religious
leaders engage in this round of advocacy with the Federal budget and the
"super committee", the SAVE for All Campaign is coordinating a conference
call with advocacy leaders in Michigan - especially in Representative Upton
and Camp's districts. The call is scheduled for October 12th at 1:00pm EST.
The SAVE for All Campaign includes almost 1600 organizations and more than
45 Michigan groups that are committed to protecting programs for that
support low-income families, and finding more reasonable ways to spend
government funds and to collect the taxes that support what the nation
actually needs.

The call will last for less than one hour and will focus on the following:

* Update on the current situation at the federal level (the importance and
role of both Camp and Upton in the current budget negotiations, the Budget
Control Act, the Super Committee, a balanced budget amendment, and other
relevant pieces)
* What's at stake for Michigan in these negotiations and decisions?
* What kind of advocacy do you think would influence Rep. Camp or Upton?
Who has their attention?
* What has advocacy activities are already underway in Michigan, and what
capacities do Michigan groups have.
* How can national groups help?
* Q & A

Why should your organization be involved?

As stated above, Representatives Camp and Upton's positions on the "super
committee" makes them of particular importance in the federal budget debate.
Votes for a "deal" on the "super committee" only need to be supported by a
majority. That means a vote by either Upton or Camp to protect low-income
people, invest in jobs, etc. could tip the scales in our direction. That's
why the SAVE for All Campaign has been working with key states to identify
networks of leaders in key states, to get their advice on dealing with their
members of Congress, to hear about their in-state advocacy efforts, and to
see if our national coalitions can strengthen that work in any way. The
goal is to strengthen the resolve of key members of Congress to advocate for
and protect programs for low-income people and families.

Representatives Camp and Upton, like most of Congress, are very concerned
about the federal debt and how to create savings in our budget. It is
important that they hear from folks in Michigan that cutting major child
care, education, health care programs and other programs that serve the most
vulnerable is not an answer to the nation's budget problems. Representative
Upton is in a particularly interesting position to cross the aisle and do
that.

We in the SAVE for All Campaign believe that deficit spending can be brought
under control, with a combination of judicious spending cuts that protect
low-income programs, investments in job creation, and a fair revenue plan
that closes tax loopholes that currently favor wealthy individuals and
corporations. To get to that result, we need commitments from key members
of the "super committee" to protect low income families and individuals.
Let's see what we can make happen!

Register

Please register here for the call on October 12th at 1:00pm EST.
<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHVNdHhVTUVTenpfakpYNm
RBb0FlTlE6MQ> We'll send a confirmation and call-in number to all
registrants. It is important that members of your organization in Michigan
be represented on this call. We hope you will be able to join us.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact Angie
Evans at Aevans@chn.org or 202-223-2532, ext 112. Thank you very much, and
we look forward to talking with you on October 12th at 1:00pm EST.