During the last State of the Union Address, the President reminded Americans that ‘we do big things.’ At the time, he was referring to the creativity and ingenuity that many feel to be synonymous with the American spirit. Now is the time for us to do big things and save the Corporation for National and Community Service.
As you know, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1 on Saturday, February 19, 2011. If this bill is signed into law, the legislation would make severe cuts in government spending for the rest of the fiscal year. Included in this bill is the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs, including Americorps. We cannot allow this to happen.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering. The organization was founded in 1993 when President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act. The program oversees Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, Learn and Serve America, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and the Social Innovation Fund. The citizens involved in these various organizations are making a difference in the lives of Americans. They are serving and helping those of us have who have been made to feel invisible because of the ravages of poverty and inequity. If these programs end, a number of valuable and life-saving services will be lost.
If you can, imagine an America without the Corporation National and Community Service. A world without these services would mean that over 3 million at-risk children would not get instructional support from citizens serving through programs such as Teach for America, City Year, and Citizen Schools. It would also mean that more than 10,000 pre-school students served by Jumpstart tutors will not start school ready to read. Likewise, it would mean that more than 620,000 frail seniors and the disabled served by Senior Companions and RSVP will lose in-home support. In short, the elimination of these services would be a devastating loss to Americans who are already struggling to survive in a world that seems to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
We do big things.
If you want to make a difference in the lives of underserved children, the elderly, and the disabled, please log on to saveservice.org to make your voice heard. Let’s remind our elected officials by making the following appeal: “National service POSITIVELY impacts the lives of more than 250,000 people in this community each year. We meet needs. We foster self-sufficiency. We provide skills and training. We develop leaders. We make a difference. We change lives. We vote. What will you do?”
I don’t want to imagine a world without American service. I hope that you don’t either. Please take the time to stand up in support of service. Please visit saveservice.org.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rosa Parks or Rogue Parent: The Curious Case of Kelley Williams-Bolar
Kelly Williams-Bolar’s story has been the subject of intense debate over the past few weeks. Williams-Bolar is the Akron area mother who was jailed because she lied to district officials so that her children could go to a better, safer school in a suburban school district. Some are calling this the “Rosa Parks moment for education” and other believe her actions to be criminal and worthy of the harsh punishment.
But before we rush to judgment, let’s consider the facts of her story. Williams-Bolar is a single, African-American mother of two who was concerned with violence in her subsidized housing neighborhood. After her house was burglarized in 2006, she decided to send her children to live with her father, who she believed lived in a wealthier and safer school district. The events that followed eventually resulted in felony charges. Williams-Bolar maintains that she was acting in the best interest of her children. However, the school district accused her of lying about her address, falsifying records, and having her father file false court papers to get around the system. As a result of these claims, Williams-Bolar served 9 days of a 10-day jail sentence and faces community service and probation. This conviction is particularly troubling because she is a teacher’s assistant only twelve credits shy of her teaching degree. A felony charge on her record will jeopardize her career. Governor Kasich has since ordered the Parole Board to investigate the felony sentencing.
Some have called her a criminal and others are calling this an act of civil disobedience akin to Rosa Parks’ historic act of defiance. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, most can agree that this incident reinforces the need for some frank discussions about education and equity.
We don’t need another documentary to tell us what we already know … the American system of public education is struggling. In many cases, poor students and students of color suffer the most. As we think about the significance of this case, let’s take the time to think about what educational equity really means. We should also take the time to think about the relationship between violent environments and academic achievement. People will continue to judge the actions of Williams-Bolar. But in the midst of the judging, take some time to think about her intentions. What would you do if faced with similar circumstances? Nearly six decades after Brown v. Board of Education, our nation is still trying to figure out the best way to educate all of our children. Maybe it’s time for a new movement to demand a safe, equitable and liberating education for our children. Think about it.
But before we rush to judgment, let’s consider the facts of her story. Williams-Bolar is a single, African-American mother of two who was concerned with violence in her subsidized housing neighborhood. After her house was burglarized in 2006, she decided to send her children to live with her father, who she believed lived in a wealthier and safer school district. The events that followed eventually resulted in felony charges. Williams-Bolar maintains that she was acting in the best interest of her children. However, the school district accused her of lying about her address, falsifying records, and having her father file false court papers to get around the system. As a result of these claims, Williams-Bolar served 9 days of a 10-day jail sentence and faces community service and probation. This conviction is particularly troubling because she is a teacher’s assistant only twelve credits shy of her teaching degree. A felony charge on her record will jeopardize her career. Governor Kasich has since ordered the Parole Board to investigate the felony sentencing.
Some have called her a criminal and others are calling this an act of civil disobedience akin to Rosa Parks’ historic act of defiance. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, most can agree that this incident reinforces the need for some frank discussions about education and equity.
We don’t need another documentary to tell us what we already know … the American system of public education is struggling. In many cases, poor students and students of color suffer the most. As we think about the significance of this case, let’s take the time to think about what educational equity really means. We should also take the time to think about the relationship between violent environments and academic achievement. People will continue to judge the actions of Williams-Bolar. But in the midst of the judging, take some time to think about her intentions. What would you do if faced with similar circumstances? Nearly six decades after Brown v. Board of Education, our nation is still trying to figure out the best way to educate all of our children. Maybe it’s time for a new movement to demand a safe, equitable and liberating education for our children. Think about it.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Show your support for AmeriCorps
The House voted to shut down AmeriCorps in the current year's budget. Please take two minutes and call 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative's office. Tell them you are a constituent and not to kill national service and explain why you care.
We need to shore up supporters and let opponents know we won't just lie down. The most important thing is that you share that you live in their district and explain why you care. If you wish for additional talking points, see below.
----------------------
I am calling to urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1. Please do not shutdown the Corporation for National and Community Service or eliminate AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America or the Volunteer Generation Fund.
The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
Communities are counting on national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
Provide an example of your local impact and what will be lost if your program is eliminated. Example: My organization has 140 AmeriCorps members serving in 10 Boston Public Schools. They are providing targeted and school-wide interventions in literacy, match, attendance and classroom behavior. If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, nearly 2,000 high-risk 3rd-9th graders will no longer receive this additional support in the classroom.
The CR will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers -- particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources.
If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.
Add your name to a petition to save AmeriCorps (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps)
Learn more here and here.
We need to shore up supporters and let opponents know we won't just lie down. The most important thing is that you share that you live in their district and explain why you care. If you wish for additional talking points, see below.
----------------------
I am calling to urge you to vote NO on H.R. 1. Please do not shutdown the Corporation for National and Community Service or eliminate AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America or the Volunteer Generation Fund.
The CR will decimate vital services in our communities when millions of Americans need food, shelter, healthcare, job training and educational support.
Communities are counting on national service participants and community volunteers to meet the increased demand for services.
Provide an example of your local impact and what will be lost if your program is eliminated. Example: My organization has 140 AmeriCorps members serving in 10 Boston Public Schools. They are providing targeted and school-wide interventions in literacy, match, attendance and classroom behavior. If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, nearly 2,000 high-risk 3rd-9th graders will no longer receive this additional support in the classroom.
The CR will only push unemployment rates up. Unemployment numbers -- particularly for young people, veterans and military spouses, older Americans and people of color-remain alarmingly high.
For Americans who are struggling to find work, national service programs offer participants the opportunity to earn a subsistence-level stipend, develop skills, and create pathways to future employment. Eliminating programs like AmeriCorps will result in jobs lost for the corps members and the staff who supervise them. Example: If Congress eliminates AmeriCorps, our 140 AmeriCorps members and the staff that supervise them will be out of work.
The federal investment made in faith based and community organizations through the Corporation for National and Community Service leverages $799 million in matching funds from companies, foundations and other sources.
If you defund the national service programs, whole organizations will shut down and most will not be able to reopen again even if funding is restored.
Add your name to a petition to save AmeriCorps (http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps)
Learn more here and here.
Monday, February 14, 2011
News You Can Use
You’ll never guess what this Cleveland high school coach said to his basketball team.
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that a battle is brewing over a proposal to honor a former KKK leader in a series of specialty license plates.
The ugliness of Islamophobia is alive and well at a Gainesville, FL church.
LA-area school creates a “Stand Tall Day’ to combat bullying.
Early childhood learning changes lives and saves money!
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that a battle is brewing over a proposal to honor a former KKK leader in a series of specialty license plates.
The ugliness of Islamophobia is alive and well at a Gainesville, FL church.
LA-area school creates a “Stand Tall Day’ to combat bullying.
Early childhood learning changes lives and saves money!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
BRIDGES CEO to retire
Thank you for visiting our blog. Your interest in the cause of
BRIDGES, your passion for social and community issues and your support
to BRIDGES as an organization is what keeps us motivated and committed
to serve you and the Greater Cincinnati region. You, the reader, the
well-wisher, the believer, are the force that gives us the momentum to
go forward.
I write to inform you of a new phase in the life of BRIDGES. Last
Friday, we announced in the media, the retirement of Chip Harrod, our
beloved leader for the past 27 years. I know you, like many others,
appreciate the innumerable contributions Chip has made to our
organization and the Greater Cincinnati community, such as providing
leadership to NCCJ nationally in its evolution and to the visionary
group that created the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He
also led some key work post the civil unrest in 2001 to improve
police/community relations. And over many years under his leadership,
BRIDGES has played a key role in working to bring marginalized groups
into mainstream society, enabling them to serve and help strengthen our
region. We will surely miss his leadership and ability to bring people
together to work and dialogue in harmony over some of the most difficult
and troubling human relations' issues of our time.
While he will be a hard act to follow, we respect his decision to retire
and wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavors. Irrespective
of what he does in his 'encore' career, he will remain an integral part
of BRIDGES history. The search committee is chaired by Raghu
Krishnamoorthy (GE Aviation), and consists of Michael W. Hawkins
(Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP), Evans Nwankwo (Megen Construction), Jessica
Baron (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce), Jeff Hopkins (US
Federal Bankruptcy Judge), and the myself.
We are very interested in hearing from you if you know of any potential
candidates to replace Chip. As you know, there are not many
organizations that have the branding and the reputation of BRIDGES and
finding a stellar candidate is a responsibility that we all take
seriously.
If you need to find out more details on the job, please go to www.bridgescincinnati.org for the position specs that you can use for this purpose.
We look forward to your suggestions.
Shakila
BRIDGES for a Just Community
Board Chair
BRIDGES, your passion for social and community issues and your support
to BRIDGES as an organization is what keeps us motivated and committed
to serve you and the Greater Cincinnati region. You, the reader, the
well-wisher, the believer, are the force that gives us the momentum to
go forward.
I write to inform you of a new phase in the life of BRIDGES. Last
Friday, we announced in the media, the retirement of Chip Harrod, our
beloved leader for the past 27 years. I know you, like many others,
appreciate the innumerable contributions Chip has made to our
organization and the Greater Cincinnati community, such as providing
leadership to NCCJ nationally in its evolution and to the visionary
group that created the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He
also led some key work post the civil unrest in 2001 to improve
police/community relations. And over many years under his leadership,
BRIDGES has played a key role in working to bring marginalized groups
into mainstream society, enabling them to serve and help strengthen our
region. We will surely miss his leadership and ability to bring people
together to work and dialogue in harmony over some of the most difficult
and troubling human relations' issues of our time.
While he will be a hard act to follow, we respect his decision to retire
and wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavors. Irrespective
of what he does in his 'encore' career, he will remain an integral part
of BRIDGES history. The search committee is chaired by Raghu
Krishnamoorthy (GE Aviation), and consists of Michael W. Hawkins
(Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP), Evans Nwankwo (Megen Construction), Jessica
Baron (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce), Jeff Hopkins (US
Federal Bankruptcy Judge), and the myself.
We are very interested in hearing from you if you know of any potential
candidates to replace Chip. As you know, there are not many
organizations that have the branding and the reputation of BRIDGES and
finding a stellar candidate is a responsibility that we all take
seriously.
If you need to find out more details on the job, please go to www.bridgescincinnati.org for the position specs that you can use for this purpose.
We look forward to your suggestions.
Shakila
BRIDGES for a Just Community
Board Chair
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