2011 AmeriCorps Week: Leadership & Communication Webinar

FREE Webinar for AmeriCorps members on Wednesday MAY 18th!! Click here for more info!

Upcoming Event: Child Soldiers and Bullying: Taking a Stand Against Genocide and Hate

World Without Genocide, a human rights organization headquartered at William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, announces its inaugural high school institute to be held this summer, August 16-18. The institute, "Child Soldiers and Bullying: Taking a Stand Against Genocide and Hate," focuses on the connection between bullying and homophobia in our local schools and the prevalence of hate and violence around the world. The institute will include a genocide survivors’ panel; action plans from advocates, human rights experts, and upstanders; leadership training; and award-winning films. The institute will conclude with student presentations for local government leaders.

Rev. Carl Wilkens will be one of the featured speakers. The only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, Wilkens personally saved the lives of hundreds of children.

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to apply. The program will be held at William Mitchell College of Law from August 16-18. The cost of $100 per student covers meals, materials, and the program. Need-based scholarships are available; no student will be turned away.

To register and for more information visit http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/institute call 952-693-5206, or write to info@worldwithoutgenocide.org

World Without Genocide promotes education and action to protect innocent people, prevent genocide, prosecute perpetrators, and remember those whose lives and cultures have been destroyed by genocide.

Article about Reading Corps

I opened my door Tuesday morning to a headline in my newspaper that was a pleasant surprise: Four Minnesota corporations had joined forces to give the Minneapolis school system $13 million to help with early childhood literacy and improve science and math proficiency among young students.

Click here to read the whole article!

Sign Up Now for AmeriCorps Week Day of Service!

AmeriCorps Week is coming up quickly. The day of service is Monday, May 16th. Sign up now for service sites. There are sites all over Minnesota and opportunities range from just a few hours to all day. To find out more and register for a site, go to the Intercorps Council website.

Honor AmeriCorps Week(May 14th -21st)

Dear Minnesota AmeriCorps Member,

In honor of AmeriCorps Week (May 14th -21st) Handson Twin Cities would like to highlight the great work and impact that AmeriCorps members are making around the metro area; and we need your help!

We are asking for personal reflection stories, descriptions of projects/ programs you are working with, and overall impact you believe is being made possible through AmeriCorps.

Once the stories are gathered, we would like to highlight several stories a day throughout the week via our HOTC blog.

If you are interested in writing a meaningful reflection story or informational blog post please read the guidelines below. You are welcome to submit your entry any time before the deadline. If you are interested yet have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

As AmeriCorps members, my colleague Liz and I are excited to spotlight the hard work and positive strides being made by like minded AmeriCorps Members throughout our community.

For more information, click here!

Cultural Competence: Deepening Understandings

What is “being culturally competent” and what does that look like on the job?

How do I respond to the changing demographics of my community and workplace?

During this 3 hour workshop on May 20, participants will explore the important role of culture in our society and have the opportunity to engage in productive conversations on culture and race. Through exercises we will also explore how stereotyping and labeling play out in our everyday lives. Please join me for a fun, informative, interactive workshop that will add some tools to your toolbox about race, racism, and supporting a more diverse and multicultural Twin Cities.

Check out the Facebook Event for more information!

An Essential Component of Community Violence Prevention: School Bullying

Do you live in Northwestern, Minnesota? Are you free on Wednesday, May 11th? Then join YIPA for a timely professional development opportunity about bullying!

This all-day professional development and informational session will consist of three strands: First, the context of bullying will be provided, with an emphasis on the relationship between bullying and more serious types of violence. John Hoover develops characteristics of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders; he also explores behaviors associated with bullying and prevalence estimates. A second portion of the presentation deals with research-based bullying prevention programs, including recommendations for tackling cyberbullying at school and at home. The third portion of the presentation deals with the establishment of community partnerships in bullying prevention.

For more information, or to register, click HERE!