CPGC Blog

Regional Happenings:

Empty Bowl Benefit Dinner at Chestnut Hill College
Thursday, November 19

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, join the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN), a WOMEN’S WAY Community Women’s Fund grantee, for the annual Empty Bowl Benefit Dinner at Chestnut Hill College. NPIHN works with over a thousand volunteers from area congregations to serve homeless families in the community. For this event, local potters donate handmade bowls and restaurants donate soups, breads, and desserts. For a modest contribution ($15 for adults and $5 for children and students), guests select a bowl, fill it with delicious soup, and enjoy. At the end of the dinner, each attendee leaves with an empty bowl as a reminder that many in our country have empty bowls, not by choice, but because of unfortunate circumstances. For tickets and more information contact: 215-247-HOME (4663).

Ethical Electronics Recycling Drive
November 21-22 from 11:00am-3:00pm

The Tookany-Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership is hosting a electronics recycling drive this month to serve Philadelphia and Montgomery County residents. This will be at Cedarbrook Middle School, 300 Longfellow Road, Cheltenham (Wyncote), PA. The $1 per pound of used electronics (proceeds benefit environmental education programs in local schools)

Feel free to bring Old or Used Televisions, Computers, Monitors, Phones, Keyboards, Drives, Cables, Cords, Peripherals, Copiers, Printers, Cartridges, Fax Machines, Scanners, Laptops, Stereo Equipment, Speakers, CD & DVD Players, Telephones, Remote Controls, VCR’s, Projectors, Digital Cameras, PDAs, Speakers, Radios, Answering machines, Camcorders, Electric Typewriters, Video Game Systems, Pagers, Microwaves, Toasters, Ink Cartridges, USB Media, and Magnetic Media like Zip Disks, Audio Tapes, and Floppy Diskettes. Note: No hazardous wastes will be accepted. Nothing we collect will be tipped into landfills, incinerated as solid waste, or dumped in developing countries!

contact: Katie Donnelly at  katie at ttfwatershed.org

7th Annual Women & Influence Conference: Confident Girls, Courageous Women
Saturday, December 5

Join WOMEN’S WAY on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at Moore College of Art & Design (20th Street and the Parkway) for the 7th Annual Women & Influence Conference: Confident Girls, Courageous Women. This free half-day conference will focus on promoting a healthy sense of self for young women. Programs will be geared toward young women and adults who care about, work with, or influence young women. This is WOMEN’S WAY’s first intergenerational conference as we reach out to high school-aged females. Learn from city officials, local agencies, and community members about the importance of mentoring and building strong self-confidence at a young age. Workshops include topics such as healthy relationships, sexuality, body image, social media, and leadership.

National Happenings:

The National Area Health Education Center Organization

NAO is the national organization that supports and advances the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) network in improving the health of individuals and communities by transforming health care through education.

It is especially concerned with improving health care in underserved communities and recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in the health care professions but is open to all students interested in serving these communities.

Many local AHECs offer summer internships. Links to AHECs from throughout the country are listed in NAO’s National Directory.

Regional Happenings:

Peace Vigil
Every Saturday, 11:00am – 1:00pm

Chester County Peace Movement Peace Vigil in West Chester in front of Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Streets.  This vigil has been the target of counter-demonstrators and harassment from the “Chester County Victory Movement” but has grown and persisted admirably.  For more information:  ccpeacemovement at aol.com

Service Leaders Summit
November 14 10:00am-4:00pm at Drexel University, Bossone Research Enterprise Center

PHENND, Campus Philly and Drexel’s Center for Civic Engagement present the 3rd Annual Service Leaders Summit hosted by Drexel University. Across the country, a movement is growing. “Service” is becoming a national buzzword. From building houses to building economies to building meaningful relationships, people are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. The 3rd Annual Service Leaders Summit will bring together college students, nonprofit professionals and community organizers to share passionate ideas and practical skills. Whether you’re a volunteer-a-holic or a service novice, the Service Leaders Summit can help you improve your toolbox for building a better Philadelphia. During the conference, participants will choose from issue-area workshops and skill-building workshops.  There will also be a nonprofit career panel. Anne Mahlum, Founder and Director of Back on My Feet, will be the keynote speaker.

Glimpses of Haiti
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:30PM- 9:00PM
Higher Grounds Cafe’
631 North 3rd Street
Phila, Pa. 19123 (215)922-3745

A fund raiser for the House of Grace: Haiti Health Care Project. Bishop Tom Gumbleton, Johanna Berrigan and Katie Huynh  will be speaking. Join them for an evening of discussion about Haiti and their health care project in Port Au Prince. Fair trade organic beverages available for purchase at the cafe’. Light snacks provided by House of Grace.
Photo exhibit by Johanna Berrigan is on display at the Café for the month of November.
For more info: 215-426-0364A

Stories from the Green Line: By Ellen Knechel
Sunday, November 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25.00 at the door; $22.00 in advance

Ethical Society of Philadelphia
1906 S. Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia , PA 19103

In March 2008, a group of local mediators traveled to Israel and the West Bank to hear from the people involved in one of the most intractable conflicts in the world. They listened to religious Jews, secular Jews, Muslims and Christians speak about the Arab-Israeli conflict: how it impacts their lives, their hopes, dreams and prayers for peace. Forty hours of footage has been edited to 50 of the most powerful minutes of the journey. The trip was co-sponsored by the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Good Shepherd Mediation Program, and Just Listening in Philadelphia .

To order advance tickets, send a check to Good Shepherd Mediation Program, 5356 Chew Avenue , Philadelphia , PA 19138 . For more information, call 215-843-5413.

The Ethical Society of Philadelphia is located on the extreme Southwestern corner of Rittenhouse Square .   Rittenhouse Square is located between 18th and 20th Streets and Walnut and Pine Streets.  Discounted parking at Parkway, 1845 Walnut St. (we will validate your ticket at the event).

National Happenings:

2010 Turning Point Prize

Women’s Way and Women for Social Innovation are Excited to Announce a Call for Applications and Information Session for the 2010 Turning Point Prize
The Turning Point Prize is seed money given annually to an emerging “social innovator” – a person between the ages of 18 and 35 who develops a creative and entrepreneurial solution to a difficult problem affecting a segment of women, girls, and families.  Each applicant’s idea will be judged on the definition of the problem, the project goals and impact, innovativeness of the idea, feasibility of the project plan, the vision of success, and entrepreneurial spirit. The 2010 Turning Point Prize is $15,000.

International Happenings

Peace and Conflict Management Studies

The University of Haifa is proud to announce the launch of a new two-year
Master’s Degree Program in Peace and Conflict Management Studies which will
launch in the fall of 2010.

The MA Program in Peace and Conflict Management Studies will combine an
in-depth understanding of theory with applications from a regional
perspective. Students will investigate ethnic, national, cultural, and
religious conflicts in deeply-divided societies. They will study and
evaluate different approaches to conflict management, while immersing
themselves in our region.

The program is interdisciplinary and based primarily on theoretical and
practical frameworks in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology,
political science, communications, history, law, philosophy, and education.
These perspectives will enrich the students’ understanding of conflicts
within and among societies and nations. The curriculum also examines
specific case studies of conflict and uses Israel as a living classroom for
empirical learning.

Hey Everyone,

Here are some events to check out in relation the 9th year anniversary of invading Afghanistan.

Peace,

Samee

Regional Happenings:

Vigil at Lockheed Martin

Saturday, October 10, noon

Join the Vigil at Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Boulevards, Valley Forge, PA (behind the King of Prussia Mall) protesting the militarization of space and the ongoing Predator drone bombing campaign in Afghanistan and Pakistan directed through space by military satellites produced by Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer. (Rain or shine, bring an umbrella)

Vigil is part of the International Days of Protest of the Militarization of Space, co-ordinated internationally by the Global Alliance Against Nuclear Weapons & Power in Space
Statement from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space:”Modern warfare, such as the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and attacks on Pakistan, uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and GPS-guided bombs. Directed by space satellites, and remotely controlled far from the battlefield, these weapons are responsible for massive civilian casualties. In the 2003 “shock and awe” attack on Iraq, 70% of the weapons used by the Pentagon were directed to their targets by space technology. Our children are being trained through video games today to be the remote killers of tomorrow. Death at a distance is still blood on our hands. We in the Global Network say it’s time to open our eyes and STOP the military’s use of space for war on Earth. It is time to preserve space for peace and to end war.”

Screening of ‘Rethink Afghanistan’

Sunday, October 11, 4:30p.m.

Come to the first Philadelphia showing of RETHINK AFGHANISTAN the newly released film by acclaimed director/producer, Robert Greenwald. Brandywine Peace Community Monthly Potluck Supper & Program, University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia (corner of 37th & Chestnut Sts., next to International House) Potluck at 4:30 (Bring main dish, salad, or dessert to share.) Film at 5:30.

Whites Confronting Racism a Training For Change Workshop Philadelphia Area Location
November 13-15, 2009

About This Workshop
This workshop is for white people who want to challenge the racism around them — and in their own heads and hearts — and who are searching for a way to strengthen their work for racial justice. It’s for white folks who already do anti-racism work but want to develop their skills and deepen their approach. And it’s for white folks who want a better understanding
of how white privilege and racism operate in society and inside of them.

Registration
The workshop costs $135-$300, sliding scale based ability to pay— no one turned away for lack of funds, plus $15 fee for the manual (see  trainingforchange.org for more info on the sliding scale). Scholarships are available – contact the facilitators for more info. The fee includes readings, over 20 hours of training, meals and snacks during workshop hours, and we will try to help find housing for people who need it.

Co-facilitated by Lorraine Marino and Sarah Halley. For more info, or to register: email Sarah at  sarahhalley at gmail.com, or call at 215-776-2060.

The Teaching Diverse Students Initiative

Teaching Tolerance has just launched a new online initiative to help you improve the quality of instruction experienced by racially and ethnically diverse students. Take a look at the tools they have to offer.

In Teaching Tolerance Magazine
See their new approach to Mix It Up at Lunch Day – and get on the map before Nov. 10, 2009

Re-imagining America: Dialogues on Change
November 5-6, 2009

Join them for an intellectually stimulating dialogue that brings together community activists, scholars, students and faculty for a meaningful exploration of issues impacting all of us!

It has been projected that by year 2020, the majority of Americans will identify as non-white citizens. In this rapidly changing American landscape, where diverse cultures and ethnicities are increasingly visible and central to discussions of American identity and politics, what impact can we expect this trend to have on the direction and outcomes of our national dialogue and international relations?

For the past 25 years, the Greenfield Intercultural Center at Penn has worked diligently to build a strong intercultural community and provide resources to promote intercultural learning and dialogue. The GIC presents this symposium in celebration of that mission. Lead by international scholars, alumni, students and community members, we hope to provide a forum to explore the implication of our emerging reality as a multicultural nation.

For more information, contact Charles Howard at  choward at pobox.upenn.edu or Sean Vereen at  seanv at admissions.upenn.edu

The New Metropolis
October 8, 2009

This award winning documentary by Andrea Torrice, will make its national network premier on WHYY at 9:00PM on October 8th. The Southeastern Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project invites you to join in person with other local community leaders to participate in a special screening.  In Jenkintown, The New Metropolis will to be followed by a discussion about stabilizing and revitalizing our communities.

America’s “first” suburbs, those suburban communities built next to America’s urban centers, were once the birthplace of the American Dream. Seeking to escape the smokestacks of the central cities, and a housing shortage following World War II, thousands of middle class families flocked to the newly constructed suburban homes. The New Metropolis illustrates how many original suburbs are now facing a crisis: a dwindling tax base, population and business loss, decaying infrastructure, increased racial tensions and white flight. Lacking policies to help reverse these trends, many towns are looking for strategies for revitalization.

Come view this powerful film, hear from local experts, and discuss how we can work together to build power and influence policies that will restore equity and prosperity in our communities.  Film director, Andrea Torrice, is expected to be in attendance.

Photojournalism Show of Displaced Persons
October 3, 2009

“Displacement & the Human Cost of War,” a show of 50 photographs by Philadelphia-based  photojournalist Linda Panetta, is the context in which Bishop Panetta, founder of the Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi, USA, will visit Central Baptist Church on Saturday, October 3, for a special outreach program from 5-9 PM.

Bishop Gumbleton is widely recognized for his work in human rights.  Linda Panetta is founder of Optical Realities.  Her photographs, which will be displayed in the new Hall at Central Baptist Church from September 21 to October 19, focus on the root causes and struggles of internally displaced people and those who have been forced to, or chose to, emigrate to another country.  Accompanying each photo are firsthand accounts and stories about the individuals or their communities.

Commemorating the 8th Anniversary of the Afghanistan Invasion
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Where: Room 300, St. Augustine Center
Villanova University (directions below)

Topic: Pacifism and Just War Theory

Discussed by:
Dr. Joseph Betz, Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Paul Sheldon, Professor of Psychology
Villanova University

In any group of anti-war protesters, motivations differ. For some, their presence is consistent with an all-encompassing non-violent lifestyle. Others are conscientiously or religiously opposed to war. Still others are proponents of the Just War doctrine which requires rigorous consideration of conditions of moral legitimacy. Learn the components of these philosophical positions and how they apply to today’s conflicts. The St Augustine Center is on the North side of the main VU campus near the train tracks. From the parking lot, go North on Ithan to the main entrance and head West on the campus. Stay to the right. Go by the new Nursing building (Driscoll). The Center is the building after the parking lot.

Cosponsored by:
The Villanova University Center for Peace and Justice Education and Villanovans for Peace

Global Forum for Health Research Forum 2009: “Innovating for the Health of All”
November 16-20, 2009
Havana, Cuba

The Global Forum for Health Research is pleased to announce that its 2009 annual Forum will take place in Havana, Cuba from 16-20 November 2009 at the invitation of the Ministry of Health. It will focus on policies, incentives and new approaches to strengthen both social and technological innovation for health and health equity.
Who should attend?

Forum 2009 will bring together some 800 decision-makers in funding, research and policy to engage in dialogue, highlight lessons learned from experience and identify pathways to solutions. You will have the opportunity to network with participants from health- and science-related ministries, research institutions and academia, development agencies and foundations, nongovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media.

Note: US citizens can attend this meeting – See guidance here.
What is the theme?

Innovation for health encompasses the entire process from the generation of new ideas, to their transformation into something useful, to their implementation. It can lead to new and more cost-effective services, products, methods, management practices and policies to improve health outcomes. You will be able to learn about and discuss topics such as building effective national health innovation systems, social entrepreneurship for health, product development for neglected diseases, eHealth, knowledge translation platforms, donor-country harmonization and coherence, innovative financing strategies, and “innovation indicators” for developing countries.
What are the objectives?

Forum 2009 aims to improve understanding both of social and technological innovation in the global health community and of policies that create a conducive environment for innovation to improve health and health equity. Forum 2009 will highlight specific examples of innovation policies, initiatives and outputs for, in and by low-income countries.

Native American Religious Rights, Spirituality, and the Case of Leonard Peltier
Sunday November 1, 2009 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
at the Arch Street Meetinghouse, 4th and Arch Street in Philadelphia

A Forum by Lenny Foster, Navaho Elder. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Recognizing the importance of traditional Native American religious practice as a source of strength and a necessary means of cultural surival, Lenny Foster has spent the last 28 years fighting to ensure that incarcerated Native Americans have the right to worship with access to their traditional ceremonies. Lenny Foster, Dine (Navajo), will share his knowledge on Native American religious rights, the International Indian Treaty Council, and Leonard Peltier.

Sponsored by the Indian Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers)

For further information:  katederiel at verizon.net or  jasperbeach at verizon.ne

Hey everyone,

Check out these conferences. Apply for CPGC funding for them!!

Peace,

Samee

National Happenings:

YSEC & NextGEN College Environmental Activist Conference

The Yale Student Environmental Coalition is hosting a conference that will bring together student activists at colleges and universities from the New England and mid-Atlantic region, and I’m inviting you to be there!

The one-day conference will include workshops, panels, leadership training, and other events to find solutions and inspire action on your campus now. I will be leading a workshop to share the history and value of the Graduation Pledge, as well as strategies for starting and operating a Graduation Pledge campaign at your school. Please join us at this informative and inspiring conference as we learn, share, and draw upon the experiences of other young and experienced environmentalists.

For more details about who will be attending this conference, and how to register, please visit http://www.yale.edu/ysec/CEAC.html.

Undocumented Hispanic Migration: On the Margins of a Dream.

ConnecticutCollege / October 16-18, 2009. A multidisciplinary conference featuring presentations by Peter Andreas, Linda Bosniak, Leo R. Chávez, Jorge Duany, Nancy Foner, Judith Adler Hellman, Alejandro Portes, Saskia Sassen, Carola Suárez-Orozco, Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, and Silvio Torres-Saillant. Also  includes panel presentations by more than a hundred scholars, health and  social-service providers, educators, attorneys, immigrants, and government personnel from across the United States and from Mexico. Please see the complete program here:
http://www.conncoll.edu/departments/hispanicstudies/migration. For further  information, please contact Prof. Frank Graziano, fgraz@conncoll.edu.

Regional Happenings:

Pacifism and Just War Theory

The Bryn Mawr Peace Coalition is sponsoring a discussion of Pacifism and Just War Theory. The event will take place in Room 300 of the St. Augustine Center at Villanova University from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday October 7.  Discussants will be Professor Joseph Betz, Department of Philosophy and Professor Paul Sheldon, Department of Psychology.  The event is free and open to the public and there is ample free parking in the main lot at Ithan and Lancaster Avenues.

Prior to the event there will be a vigil at the northwest corner of Ithan and Lancaster Avenues to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and call for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Afghanistan.

Contact Karen Barton at (610) 525-3784 or email astrique@aol.com for more information.

Food Stamp Advocates needed

Food Stamp Advocates work to reduce hunger in Philadelphia through their work with the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign. We seek to improve access to the Food Stamp Program by reducing some of the barriers commonly faced by clients in the application process. Our volunteers visit a wide variety of community sites to conduct outreach, screenings, and application assistance for potentially eligible households.

Training provided:

• Volunteers must attend two, two-hour training session.
• The training will cover a background of the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign; Rules and Regulations of the Food Stamp Program; and How to Conduct Outreach and Screenings.
• Trainings will be held as follows: Tuesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 17, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, or Monday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 23, from 7 pm to 9 pm

Qualifications:

• Strong communication skills and interpersonal skills are necessary
• Spanish and other language abilities are a plus

For more information, please contact Emily, Volunteer Coordinator erhodes@hungercoalition.org or (215) 430-0555 ext 108

Philly Neighborhoods Website

Check out some resources for Philadelphia neighborhoods and communities.

Hey guys,

This will be my first of I’m sure many postings on this blog. I will be offering information about various events and opportunities in the Philadelphia region, in addition to national and international opportunities. I hope you all find this blog to be useful. Please post any comments and let me know how I’m doing.

Peace,

Samee

PHILADELPHIA REGION OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS:

GREEN JOBS PHILLY NEWS is broadcast monthly to 5,773 Philadelphia officials, businesses, environmentalists, organizers, jobseekers. WEB EDITION: http://www.greenjobsphilly.org/news/

WOMEN’S MEDICAL FUND provides direct financial assistance and other support to low-income women and girls in Southeastern Pennsylvania who wish to terminate a pregnancy but cannot afford a safe, legal abortion. They are now looking to recruit phone counselors for their help line.  More information at: http://womensmedicalfund.org/

AL-BUSTAN SEEDS OF CULTURE is Philadelphia’s premiere Arab arts and culture organization, dedicated to educating youth in Arab language, arts, and culture.

Al-Bustan seeks a Volunteer Programs and Administrative Intern interested in learning the internal workings of an arts and cultural organization.  We are seeking someone to work 6-9 hours a week in our West Philadelphia office, located only 20 minutes away from Haverford’s campus.

A qualified volunteer could demonstrate their interest in the Arab world and Middle East geopolitics, culture, and arts of the region. Please contact Chloe Tucker (ctucker@albustanseeds.org) with an e-mail stating your availability and interest in promoting intercultural understanding through the arts.

A DOULA STORY documents one woman’s fierce commitment to empower pregnant teenagers with the skills and knowledge they need to become confident nurturing mothers. A woman of remarkable magnetism and complexity, Loretha Weisinger returns to the same disadvantaged neighborhood, where she once struggled as a teen mom. She uses compassion and humor to teach the young mothers-to-be about everything from the importance of breast-feeding and reading to their babies to the practical details of communicating effectively with health care professionals.

Screening of A Doula Story on October 14th at the Free Library of Philadelphia. More information at: http://www.adoulastory.org

OLD FRIENDS AND GUERILLAS: WILL EL SALVADOR TURN IN A NEW DIRECTION?
A photo show with Tom Paine Cronin, long-time Philadelphia Labor Leader, President emeritus of AFSCME DC 47,  and John Grant, Veterans for Peace, photo-journalist and film- maker, who were in El Salvador last June for the historic presidential election of FMLN leader, Mauricio Funes…  Read the Nation article.

University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut Street (corner of 37th & Chestnut), Phila, PA . Sunday, September 13 Potluck at 4:30. Bring main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Program starts promptly at 5:30. More at www.brandywinepeace.com