Thursday, January 24, 2008

Ohio Conference Opportunity! Youth and Conflict.

Youth and Conflict: Global Challenges – Local Strategies

International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education
March 27th – 29th, 2008 (Pre-Conference Trainings March 27th)
Highland Hills, Ohio, USA
www.tri-c.edu/community/girc/conflict/default.htm
Who should attend: College faculty, staff, and students, K-12 educators and administrators, public health officials, prevention specialists, state, local, national, and international policymakers. Ohio College student scholarships available. See attached information. Due – Feb. 11th, 2008.

The root causes of conflict and the methods to prevent and intervene in conflict situations are interdisciplinary. So too is the need to address them collaboratively in both global and local communities. From child soldiers in Africa and the Americas to gangs in North America, collaboration is necessary to resolve these challenges with cultural and contextual sensitivity. Global Issues Resource Center and Library, Office of Community Continuing Education, at Cuyahoga Community College and the European Centre on Conflict Prevention (secretariat for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict) are partnering with colleges and universities around the world; with local, national, and international non-governmental organizations; and with local, state, and national governmental agencies to host a five day International Summit on Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) in Cleveland, Ohio, USA with presenters from across the U.S. and 16+ countries. Proceedings from the 2007 Inter-American Summit on CRE can be found at: www.CREducation.org

The second Summit is an opportunity for schools, colleges and universities, non-governmental organizations, and governmental organizations to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and research on issues of violence and conflict confronting our youth. Presentations will focus on conflict management and peace education strategies for youth and methods that reduce the societal violence that surrounds youth. Participants will exchange program best practices, evaluation methodology, creation of policy implementation structures, and consideration of obstacles to success. Conference participants will be drawn from the local, state, national, and international community. Workshop topics include best practices in bullying prevention, classroom management, youth violence prevention, truancy, conflict management, social and emotional learning, preventing dating violence, trauma defusion, gang prevention, youth empowerment and leadership, etc.

Costs: Range from only $50 - $150 for registration before February 29th, 2008. See the conference program and registration for details on the Web site at: www.tri-c.edu/community/girc/conflict/default.htm

Credits Offered: CEU, CHES, and Graduate Credit will be offered. Social Work, Counselor Credits, and RCH have been requested. One hour of graduate credit will be offered at an additional cost of $200 from Ashland University with the completion of an assignment following the conference.


Pre-Conference Workshops March 27th, 2008
Restorative Measures for School Connectedness and Alternatives for Suspension
Positive Discipline: An Overview
Strategies for Integrating Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom and School

Keynotes and Mini-Plenary Speakers include:

(Note: the 50+ workshop options are listed in the conference program. Free curriculum for use in K-12 and H.E. are available on many of the conference topics and for many of the keynote and plenary speakers books and related films. Check the web site in mid-January for direct links!)



Friday, March 28th, 2008

Keynote: The Wars Children Fight

Sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace

Jimmie Briggs, Goodwill Ambassador and UN Special Envoy for Children & Armed Conflict, Author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War.
David J. Smith, Senior Education Program Officer, United States Institute of Peace


Mini-Plenary: Child Soldiers Speak About their Experience

Sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace

George Elunai Latio (Sudan), Student, Bluffton University, Ohio
Madeleine (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Bukeni Tete Waruzi, Director and Founder, Ajedi-Ka/Projet Enfants Soldats


Afternoon Mini-Plenary: Youth Civic Engagement for Democracy and Peace in Serbia

Sponsored by the European Centre for Conflict Prevention

Film: Bringing Down a Dictator
Ivan Marovic, Founding Member, Otpor, CANVAS, Belgrade, Serbia, participated in the making of the film
Tatjana Popovic, Project Coordinator, Nansen Dialogue Centre Serbia


Afternoon Keynote: Linking Bullying to Teen Dating Violence, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence

Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health

Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Associate Chair, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign


Saturday, March 29th, 2008

Morning Keynote: Youth Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Rehabilitation Sponsored by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office

Peter J. Elliott, U.S. Marshall for the Northern District of Ohio, Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program
Zachary M. Swisher, Assistant Chief, Criminal Division, Ohio Attorney General's Office
Vinko Kucinic, STG Investigations Coordinator, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction


Afternoon Keynote: Faith Based Responses to Youth and Conflict

Imam Muhammed Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, Featured in the book, Peacemakers in Action, Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution, People Building Peace II, Successful Stories of Civil Society, and the film, The Imam and the Pastor. A remarkable tale of religious peacemaking and reconciliation in Nigeria the Imam and their Pastor tell their story of their transformation from leaders of militant Christian and Muslim youth into grassroots peace builders.


Afternoon Mini-Plenary: What Young People Want and Need in a Time of Change

Janet Patti, Ed.D., Professor of Education and Administration and Supervision Program at Hunter College, Co-Director of the Leadership Center, and founding member of the Leadership Team of the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).


ADDITIONAL SUMMIT RELATED EVENTS
The Summit is only one part of a larger project to enhance and build collaborations to address the challenges of youth and violence in our communities. The components of the project include:

Service Learning on Youth and Conflict: Opportunities to engage in service learning projects around the themes of the conference in partnership with other community, government, and college and university partners will be shared at the Summit. Free trainings on action research and service learning were offered to partners during the fall and early winter 2007. See the web site for details on how to get involved in helping your community at: www.tri-c.edu/community/girc/events.htm

Conflict Resolution Education (CRE)/Peace Education Evaluation Project: The results of a survey of research in 15 global regions on CRE and PE that is being conducted by colleges and universities in partnership with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict’s PE and CRE Global Reference group and other international partners will be presented at the Summit.

Spring 2008 Higher Education Curriculum Integration: Partner colleges and universities are integrating the themes of the conference into their course work across disciplines. This helps students (future leaders) greater understand the context of some of the issues that face youth in the world today.

March 27th Pre-Conference Trainings: Trainings offered include restorative justice, social and emotional learning, and positive discipline in order to highlight positive approaches to addressing conflict in learning environments.

March 30th and 31st Business Meeting: The International Network on Conflict Resolution Education and Peace Education (INCREPE) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) reference group will meet to review the results of the global evaluation project and to enhance the structures for strengthening the networks to support policies and implementation in the field. These meetings are by invitation only for current GPPAC and INCREPE members.

Questions? Visit the Web site at: www.tri-c.edu/community/girc/conflict/default.htm for more details, call 216-987-2224 or e-mail Marcelle.Eades@tri-c.edu to request a hard copy of the conference program. Other questions? E-mail: Jennifer.Batton@tri-c.edu

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Service Opportunities and Grants from YSA

Here are some opps you may be interested in!
Jen

1) ServiceVote Launches
ServiceVote, a program of Youth Service America, is proud to announce the launch of a new, interactive website that will serve as a hub for young people to engage in every aspect of the ’08 election. The ServiceVote website provides young people with up-to-date news & information on the various races, the presidential candidates, and the defining issues; opportunities for peer interaction & dialogue through a discussion forum where youth can post videos, images, and audio files; and resources to take action through service, in the election, and in the policy process.
At ServiceVote, look for YSA’s Nine for 09: The Nine Ways for the Next President to Strengthen Youth Service When Taking Office in 2009. (http://www.servicevote.org/images/nine%20for%20%2709%20memo.pdf) The site will be continually updated throughout 2008 with new information, tools & resources, so visit www.servicevote.org now and check back often!

2) The American Young Ambassadors Program
August 4-17, 2008 in Beijing, China
The American Young Ambassadors Program, Ltd. is an unprecedented global leadership program for 25-30 exceptional high school students, ages 15-18, recognized for the work they have accomplished in their communities. The youth selected for this program are of significant accomplishment academically, athletically or through public service efforts in their community. They will represent the United States as Young Ambassadors-at-large at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the American Young Ambassadors put forth to the world this country’s greatest asset – our youth.
All applicants must be US citizens. The deadline to apply is March 3, 2008. To learn more about this program and to apply online, visit www.ysa.org/awards.

For program-specific questions, email AYAL at Slerner@AmericanYoungAmbassadors.com or Lfederer@americanyoungambassadors.com . For technical questions specific to the nomination form or the nomination process ONLY, email AYAL@ysa.org.
This is a program of the American Young Ambassadors Program, Ltd. (AYAL) with support from ArcaMax Publishing, the New York Film Academy, USA Freedom Corps and Youth Service America

4) YouthPower Grant 2007 Grantees Announced
The list of grantees and project descriptions is now available at http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/ListsofGrantees/YouthPowergrantees2008/tabid/266/Default.aspx. These grants support youth-led projects that engage youth in foster care in service to their communities.

5) Youth at the Center Grantees
Funded by the Department of Justice OJJDP, the Youth at the Center grants help organizations that have had a successful youth engagement experience to replicate effective practices to organizations in a broader network or coalition without a youth strategy. Successful applicants plan to involve youth in addressing the world’s most pressing social issues and will use Global Youth Service Day 2008 and 2009 as a primary vehicle to engage youth in the issue addressed.

1.) The American Red Cross, Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter located in West Palm Beach, Florida plans to focus on the topics of leadership, group dynamics, diversity, communication skills, self-awareness, and peer pressure by using their 20-member Youth Council and a network of Red Cross school clubs to act as counselors, instructors, and staff to other chapters of the Red Cross as they develop their organizations. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter has plans to develop a Regional Youth Council to include youth from seven counties and it has a project structured around malaria awareness for GYSD 2008.

2.) The Omaha Zoological Society in Omaha, Nebraska will work with the Nebraska Park System to develop a statewide youth volunteer group called the Junior Master Naturalist. Funding will help develop and initiate a model to implement in the state of Nebraska and reach out to zoos and aquariums, nature centers, and botanical gardens in the United States through publishing GYSD experiences in national volunteer association journals and the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) journal.

3.) The Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health in Boise, Idaho plans to continue its efforts towards refining its Idaho Youth Council to educate other groups in Idaho about the emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues of today’s youth. They plan to provide a youth workshop on how to “unite and fight” stigma as well as prepare a presentation for the 2008 Idaho Youth National Conference. Idaho youth representing the seven mental health councils in the state will develop a workshop for GYSD 2008 and will focus on encouraging sustainable communication on mental health issues across Idaho.

4.) The Youth Leadership Academy, Project Safe Neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina will focus on the harmful affects of gang involvement. It plans to organize a 2008 Youth Gang Forum to reach a large audience across North Carolina. This forum will train youth to prepare them to organize and lead youth gang forums in their communities.

5.) Careers in Aviation in Palm Coast, Florida provides educational tools for youth to explore the wide variety of opportunities in aviation. Funding will go towards developing their student volunteer mentor program and creating four Careers in Aviation seminars and workshops for younger youth.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Funding deadlines

Here are some impending funding deadlines courtesy of YPS.

January 15, 2008
Champions for Healthy Kids
The General Mills Foundation, in partnership with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Council on Physical Fitness, developed the Champions for Healthy Kids grant program in 2002. Each year, the General Mills Foundation awards 50 grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. Please visit General Mills for more information.


January 21, 2008
The Disney Minnie Grant
Disney and Youth Service America (YSA) announce grants of up to $500 to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), youth-leaders, and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, provided that they that engage younger youth (5-14) in planning and implementing the service event. Projects can address themes such as the environment, disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education, hunger, literacy, or any issue that youth identify as a community need. For more information please visit YSA.


January 25, 2008
The “Created Equal” Bookshelf
Through the fifth We the People Bookshelf program, 3,000 libraries will receive a set of classic books related to the “Created Equal” theme. Any U.S public library or K-12 school library can apply. Libraries will receive a collection of seventeen hardcover books for young readers, all related to the “Created Equal” theme. The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to offer this program in cooperation with the American Library Association. Please visit We the People for more information.


January 28, 2008
Toyota TAPESTRY Grant Program
A partnership between Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. and the National Science Teachers Association, the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program offers grants to K–12 science teachers for innovative projects that enhance science education in the school and/or school district. Fifty large grants and a minimum of twenty mini-grants, totaling $550,000 will be awarded this year. To apply for funding, qualified teachers must write a Toyota TAPESTRY proposal according to the proposal requirements. For more information on how to apply please visit Toyota TAPESTRY.


February 14, 2008
HP Technology for Teaching Grant
The HP Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative is designed to support the innovative use of mobile technology in K-16 education, and to help identify K-12 public schools and two- and four-year colleges and universities that HP might support with future grants. Based on the outcomes of the projects funded through this initiative in 2008, HP may offer some grant recipients additional, higher-value grants in 2008. In 2008, HP will award nearly $7 million in cash and equipment to K-12 schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and to colleges and universities throughout North America (Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.). For more information and to apply, please visit HP Technology.


February 15, 2008
Neighborhood Connections
Neighborhood Connections is The Cleveland Foundation’s small grants program intended to benefit grass roots groups in the City of Cleveland. The program offers grants of $500 to $5,000 twice a year. Grants are available to any group of residents in the City of Cleveland. Groups do not need to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) to receive a grant. Please visit Neighborhood Connections for more information.


Open Deadline
Teaching Tolerance Grants
Teaching Tolerance offers grants of $500 to $2,500 to preK-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these areas. Proposals from other community organizations and houses of worship will be considered on the basis of direct student impact. For more information please visit Teaching Tolerance.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

YPS recognition alerts

Here are some recognition deadlines to be aware of courtesy of YPS.

January 31, 2008
Global Action Awards
The Global Action Awards honor U.S. high school students who have led a project that had a direct, positive impact on people in developing countries or that raised awareness about global poverty. The Awards celebrate young people who have shown great leadership in areas such as preventing disease, alleviating hunger, protecting the environment, promoting human rights, and improving access to education. Honorees receive $5,000 for higher education or a charitable cause of their choice, and are honored at a ceremony in New York City. For more information please visit NetAid.


January 31, 2008
Coming Up Taller Awards
Each year the Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and reward excellence in after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. Award recipients receive $10,000 each, an individualized plaque, and an invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference. Programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to consider participation. For more information please visit Coming Up Taller.


February 1, 2008
The National Peace Essay Contest
In the belief that questions about peace, justice, freedom, and security are vital to civic education, the United States Institute of Peace established the National Peace Essay Contest to expand educational opportunities for America's youth. To learn more about the essay contest please visit United States Institute of Peace.


February 10, 2008
Spirit of Service Award
Learn and Serve America and The Corporation for National and Community Service are committed to recognizing and celebrating outstanding leaders and practices in service-learning. The Spirit of Service Awards pays tribute to the most outstanding participants in each of the Corporation's programs, which also include Senior Corps and AmeriCorps. For more information please visit Learn and Serve America.


February 14, 2008
Intel School of Distinction
Every year, Intel honors U.S. schools that have demonstrated excellence in math and science education as Intel Schools of Distinction. One elementary, one middle and one high school in each of two categories - math and science - receive $10,000 cash grants and more than $100,000 in products and services from sponsors. For more information on how to apply please visit Intel.


February 15, 2008
The National Councils of Excellence Award
The National Association of Student Councils (NASC) National Councils of Excellence Award provides national recognition for student councils that consistently provide quality leadership activities and service to their schools and communities. This award provides broader recognition for the most worthy efforts of NASC member schools. All schools found to meet the criteria will be recognized. For more information or to apply please visit The National Association of Student Councils.


February 28, 2008
Young Eco-Hero Award
Action For Nature (AFN) has created the International Young Eco-Hero Awards to recognize and reward the successful individual environmental initiatives of young people aged 8-16. The awards honor individual young people for their self-initiated projects. The applications will be judged according to several criteria, including but not limited to: originality, difficulty, organization, length of time devoted to the project, influencing/educating others, use of outside resources (e.g. library, experts, media, community leaders), degree of success in reaching goals and the impact on the environment. Winners will receive public recognition and cash prizes for their outstanding efforts to help protect and preserve the environment. Just as importantly, winners will serve as role models for other young people by demonstrating that each individual can make a difference. For more information please visit Action for Nature.


April 1, 2008
The Yoshiyama Award
The Yoshiyama Award recognizes exemplary service and community involvement. Recipients of the Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community must leave a lasting impression in their community. The Award is accompanied by a gift of $5,000, dispensed over two years. Recipients may use the Award at their discretion. For more information please visit The Hitachi Foundation.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Youth leadership Symposium at Miami U.

Leadership Education and the Revitalization of Democracy:

A National Symposium on the Role of Colleges and Universities in Developing Youth Leadership through Civic Engagement

May 15, 2007

Abstract
The Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute at Miami University in Ohio, in collaboration with the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Maryland, Illinois Campus Compact, and Public Allies, is proposing a national symposium on the role of colleges and universities in developing youth leadership through civic engagement. The National Symposium will focus on “what it takes” to educate for civically engaged leadership among the next generation through presentations and conversations on the most cutting edge practices from a diverse range of institutions of higher education and non-profit partners. The National Symposium will result on a report on “leadership education and the revitalization of democracy,” along with follow-up regional symposiums held on campuses that attend the conference.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Unite for Sight Volunteer Abroad Opps.

Unite For Sight Volunteer Abroad Opportunities: As Featured Weekly On CNN
Currently accepting applications for January 2008 through January 2009. Rolling application deadline - the first qualified applicants are accepted. Apply today!

Volunteer Abroad in Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring: http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

Save Eyes and Lives. Every Eye, A Life.
Those who are blind in Africa have a four times higher mortality rate
60-80% of children who become blind die within 1-2 years
80% of blindness is curable or preventable

How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/

What is Unite For Sight's Mission? Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.

Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008

Who Is Eligible to Participate?: The Unite For Sight internship is open to individuals 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. Volunteers range from undergraduate students to medical students, public health students and professionals, nurses, physician's assistants, teachers and educators, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, doctors, opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists.

What Do Volunteers Do?: Volunteers receive hands-on clinical experience while assisting doctors in remote, rural villages. Volunteers learn about international health and eye care, learn clinical skills while working with patients and doctors, and, in one program location, have an opportunity to perform cataract surgery on a goat's eye.

The goal of Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics and communities is to create eye disease-free communities. Unite For Sight’s volunteers (local and visiting) work with partner eye clinics to provide eye care in communities without previous access. The eye clinic’s eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly provide community-based screening programs in rural villages. The clinic’s eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field, and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery. Patients receive free surgery funded by Unite For Sight so that no patient remains blind due to lack of funds. Volunteers immediately see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime.

While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.