Ready By 21 Webinar

The SEARCH Institute is hosting a FREE webinar on Thursday January 27th! The Ready by 21 National Partnership (“Rb21”) provides tools, resources, guidance, and national influence to tackle major obstacles that limit the success of community initiatives, and equips community leaders to lay the groundwork for changing the conditions that change lives. It offers many advantages:

• Tools and guidance for big-picture planning
• Cutting-edge resources for developing indicators and gathering data
• Tools, surveys, coaching, and other development opportunities
• National advocacy to engage local affiliates and other stakeholders

Click here and look at the right hand side of your screen for details on how to register!

American Indian Family Scholarship Night

If you're working with American Indian youth who are interested in going to college, check out this upcoming event!

American Indian Family Scholarship Information Night

Hosted by Minnesota College Access Network, an initiative of MMEP

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011

South High School

5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Dinner is provided. No RSVP is necessary, but is greatly appreciated.

This event is geared toward helping American Indian students and their families understand the financial aid and college processes. The event includes a college fair, general session and breakout sessions related to preparing for and financing college. Useful information from college admission and financial aid people, current college students and parents. Families with children of all ages welcome and the event is free of charge.

Representatives from the following colleges and universities will be present at the College Fair:

Augsburg College

College of St. Benedict’s and St. John’s University

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Hennepin Technical College

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

St. Cloud State University

University of Minnesota, Morris

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Winona State University

Groups of 10 or more, please contact Amanda Ziebell-Finley, 651-645-7400 x 204

Research and Data from Children's Defense Fund

Three studies released at the end of 2010, that address what the future holds for America's youth.

FAFSA Training

Want to be better equipped to help students fill out FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms? Attend this free training to learn more about assisting students through the process and also learn about the changes to the 2011-2012 FAFSA.

These trainings are held by Minnesota College Access Network Initiative (MCAN) and are happening at multiple locations, including the Twin Cities, Crookston and Mankato.

For more information, see http://www.mncollegegoalsunday.org/PitchIn.cfm

A Call for Volunteers!

Hey everyone! As we put the pieces together for the 2011 Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol, we look to all of you AmeriCorps Promise Fellows for some help! We are in need of some energetic and excited volunteers to help make the day go as smoothly as possible! There are many different tasks you could possibly be assigned to, but all are equally rewarding and count toward your CIVIC ENGAGEMENT hours! We anticipate that shifts will run anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on your availability. Please contact RACHEL at promisefellow@mnyipa.org for more information!

Mark your calendars! Thursday March 3, 2011 from 9am-3:30pm at the Minnesota State Capitol!

And make sure to RSVP to the facebook event if you haven't already!

2011 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour

Come down to Urban League Academy/City Inc. High School on TUESDAY, JANUARY

11th at 6:00 PM to learn more about Project Ready's Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour 2011. Project Ready Staff will be hosting a parent and student information night at 2201 Blaisdell Ave. S. in Minneapolis. To learn more, call 612 874-9667.

Mini-Grants Available for Connecting Children with Nature in Northern Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Crookston, in partnership with Minnesota Extension, Regional Sustainable Development Partnership Northwest Regional Development Commission, International Water Institute River Watch, Polk and Mahnomen Public Health Programs, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is offering mini-grants of $500.

"The mini-grant opportunities are available to any school, club, group, community, or non-profit organization directly involved with educating or caring for children located in Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin counties. To be considered for the next round of funding applications must be received by February 1, 2011. For more information or to access the application form, visit www.umcrookston.edu/childrenandnature."

For more on currently funded projects: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/umcweb/news/2011/01/seven-mini-grants-awarded-in-d.html.