EPA Accepting Applications for Environmental Education Grant Funding

From the Environmental Protection Agency:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in funding for environmental education projects and programs. The purpose of the grants is to promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and citizens. EPA expects to award at least 20 grants nationwide ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $100,000 and will accept applications until May 2, 2011.

The grants provide financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. Projects should involve environmental education activities that go beyond disseminating information.

EPA will be hosting two conference calls for potential applicants interested in additional information about the application process. The conference calls will take place on March 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and April 6 at 2 p.m. (EDT). To participate in the conference calls, dial: 1-866-379-5082, and use conference ID number: 48699133 for the call on March 21. Use conference ID number: 48696117 for the call on April 6.

For more information:
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html

Art for Social Change Workshop for Students

Penumbra Theatre Company is currently offering free 50-60 minute in-classroom workshops for students. Using theatre games inspired by the Theatre of the Oppressed, they help students identify and explore social justice issues in their community. Three experienced staff members lead the session. They are currently scheduling workshops for March and April. For more information, contact Asha Shoffner at asha.shoffner@penumbratheatre.org or 651-288-7791. For more information about Penumbra theatre, see www.penumbratheatre.org.

CLOSING THE GAP & more

On February 21st, Augsburg College is hosting an event on decreasing the Achievement Gap!

A Star Tribune article about "the language gap."

A local play about teens and bullying. Might be interesting to see...

My Corps Values Project

The InterCorps Council of MN (ICC of MN) is providing a unique opportunity to engage former and current AmeriCorps members from around the state to creatively express the impact their national service experience has had on them.  In essence, it allows those who are serving and those who have served to share how their personal values have been influenced or have developed as a result of being an AmeriCorps member.  All projects will be displayed during AmeriCorps Week in May.  For more information and submission guidelines, click here

Achievement Gap Committee

Did you know that a Committee on the Achievement Gap existed?! I sure didn't, but am happy that it does! If you have time, check out this 2010 address from the retiring Superintendent on the Achievement Gap.

Striving to Close the Gap Event

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the African American Leadership Forum are jointly sponsoring an event Strive and "discussing the possibility and to consider launching a similar effort to connect the dots across our metropolitan area's diverse efforts to raise student achievement overall and to close gaps between student groups." The event will be Monday, Feb. 7, 10-11:30 a.m. at Coffman Memorial Union Theater at the University of Minnesota. To learn more about Strive and this event, go to

Upcoming Training: DISORDERED {thy name is teenager}

Mark your calendars for Friday March 11th, because MN YIPA and the Mentoring Partnership of MN will be presenting a phenomenal afternoon (1:00-3:30pm) training on issues relating to, and impacting teenagers in America today. Disordered is a play that is written and performed by teens working with the Blank Slate Theatre. It is a mixture of spoken word with acting out monologues of various different characters who are coping with some of the common struggles faced by American teens. The cast will talk about various disorders such as depression, OCD, Anxiety, eating disorders, ODD and ADHD, as they pertain to their daily lives. We will have the honor of watching the play LIVE, and will follow it up with a brief Q&A session and discussion. This production aims to bring a perspective on teenagers that the media often ignores: that teens, like adults, suffer with mental disorders.

The training will be held at Children's Home Society & Family Services (1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul, MN) and will cost Promise Fellows $10! Feel free to invite your friends and coworkers to register for this uniquely awesome event, but let them know the fee for them may be different!