Faith-Based Organizations, AmeriCorps

Webinar: Fundraising for Community Technology

Angelaw — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:21 -0600

Don’t miss this myth-busting and informative session on where money really comes from for Community Technology programs and activities.

*Offered by Susan Howlett, an expert in nonprofit fundraising.
*Learn eye-opening facts about the best sources of funding, and how to approach donors and funders to set up a win-win situation.

Professional Media Relations

Angelaw — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:45:21 -0600

Participants in this intensive five Friday half-day training designed specifically for nonprofit communicators plan media campaigns around one of their own stories, while learning basic public relations skills. Participants in the course also get the opportunity to develop a story and pitch it to journalists. The course includes one copy per organizations of Spin Works, the nonprofit pR handbook, and one copy of Getting on the Air, Online & into Print 2009, our indispensible directory of area media contacts plus many valuable handouts.

Trainers: Thom Clark and Gordon Mayer

Toolkit for AmeriCorps Applicants: Implementing the Faith-based and Community Initiative for the AmeriCorps Service Programs

pingv — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:10:18 -0500

Assists AmeriCorps applicants in implementing the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Contains an overview of the requirements and background information as well as a step-by-step process for making the initiative a priority and examples of how this priority could work with any program design. Includes a detailed reference and resource directory.

Forging strong partnerships between the philanthropic and faith-based communities

pingv — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:36:43 -0600

Creating partnerships between the philanthropic and faith-based communities calls for an understanding of underlying ideology, as well as operational strategies. This effective practice, submitted in September 2006 from the National Crime Prevention Council is excerpted from the document, Philanthropy and Faith: An Introduction, and presents ways for philanthropic organizations to successfully approach and work with faith-based groups.

Designing and implementing a mentoring program for children of prisoners

pingv — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:37:38 -0500

Children with incarcerated parents are especially vulnerable to at-risk behaviors and are in a position to receive enormous positive benefits from volunteering and being mentored. National and community service programs will find these recommendations on designing and implementing a program that mentors children of prisoners helpful. These suggestions have been adapted from the publication, Building from the Ground Up: Creating Effective Programs to Mentor Children of Prisoners, by W. Wilson Goode Sr., the director of Amachi, a national mentoring program for children of prisoners that began in September 2000.

Building successful partnerships with faith-based organizations

pingv — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:04:59 -0500

National and community service programs collaborating with faith-based groups will find the recommendations on communication, planning and documentation in this effective practice helpful. These have been adapted from the comments of experienced Senior Corps project directors, the Corporation's training materials, and other publications such as the Church Mentoring Network: A Program Manual for Linking and Supporting Mentoring Ministries. Beverly Al-Amin of the National Crime Prevention Council shared these strategies at the 2005 AmeriCorps*Direct Best Practices Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2005.

Working with faith-based organizations: challenges and benefits

pingv — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:31:54 -0500

Serving with community organizations — in particular, small faith-based ones — presents a unique set of challenges for those in national and community service. Beverly Al-Amin of the National Crime Prevention Council shared strategies for overcoming potential obstacles at the 2005 AmeriCorps*Direct Best Practices Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2005.

Preparing people with disabilities for evacuation, shelter, and recovery during national emergencies

pingv — Wed, 24 May 2006 12:06:07 -0500

Knowing how to evacuate during a disaster is critical for the survival of individuals with disabilities. This effective practice from the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) will assist organizations and individuals with disabilities to develop and implement an accessible emergency preparedness plan. Mike Collins, Executive Director of the California State Independent Living Council, an organization that has several years of experience in disaster planning, compiled these findings from forums the council held with the disability community after the 2003 wildfires in San Diego. The information was adapted by Danielle Dreilinger, Communications Specialist with NSIP and was submitted in February 2006.

Providing advocacy and support to disaster victims

pingv — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Providing listening and advocacy to survivors of disasters is an important function performed by volunteers and service members during disaster deployment. This effective practice, excerpted from materials published on the website of the United States Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Mental Health Information Center, offers suggestions for those in service on dealing with the emotions that accompany trauma or disaster.

A Guide to Working with the Media

pingv — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Includes brief descriptions of the various types of media outlets; pointers on conducting media outreach; tips on building and maintaining relationships with reporters; useful pointers for interviews; and dvice on communicating through public service announcements (PSAs).

Assessing risk factors for children and families of prisoners

pingv — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 01:00:00 -0500

Most members of the families of prisoners experience multiple risks, beyond the initial incarceration of a parent or loved one. The children often endure poverty, substandard educational environments, violent neighborhoods, inadequate parenting or care, and various forms of institutional and interpersonal racism. Studies show that the accumulation of these risks creates cycles of failure, which can lead to poor work and school performance and cause a loss of self-respect. This effective practice, from the online library of the Family and Corrections Network, identifies risk factors that increase stress and negative impact for children of prisoners.

Understanding faith-based community service

pingv — Wed, 11 Dec 2002 01:00:00 -0600

This effective practice shares a portrait of faith-based organizations and communities, excerpted with permission from the National Crime Prevention Council's 2002 report, "Changing Communities through Faith in Action, " from its Center in Faith and Service. The report comes from a symposium held in Boston, Massachusetts, in April 2002, when service providers, faith-based organizations, funders, city, state and federal officials, and the academic community met to discuss the impact of faith-based initiatives.

Learning about the environment and building birdhouses on Earth Day

pingv — Thu, 25 Jul 2002 01:00:00 -0500

Corresponding with Earth Day, 2002, four AmeriCorps members from Habitat for Humanity, New York City held their community service project in Fort Tryon Park in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. The members partnered with approximately 30 sixth grade students and four AmeriCorps members from the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to build birdhouses and learn about the environment through a nature walk in the park. Rebecca C. Hines, Program Manager of Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps, submitted this effective practice in April 2002.

Matching volunteer mentors with adults working towards self-sufficiency

pingv — Mon, 01 Oct 2001 01:00:00 -0500

The Helping Hands program at Cornerstone Outreach Center in Amarillo, Texas is a one-on-one mentoring program that helps people living in poverty become self-sufficient. Helping Hands is run by AmeriCorps*VISTA members and supported by an interfaith coalition of churches. Although this program is in the beginning phases (October 2001), a few clients have already secured and maintained employment, found housing, and learned the basic skills to become self-sufficient.

Using teams of volunteers to assist families out of poverty

pingv — Tue, 21 Aug 2001 01:00:00 -0500

Welfare reform set in motion a movement of families off public assistance along a specific timeline. To assist these families as they transition off welfare, the Texas Department of Human Services developed a community-based partnership to provide families with a team of volunteers for mentoring and support. Family Pathfinders builds teams from faith-based, nonprofit and business organizations to help families along the path to self-sufficiency. This effective practice was shared at the AmeriCorps*VISTA Faith-Based and Community Organization Conference at the University of Indianapolis, August 20-22, 2001.

Using a family-oriented approach to English as a Second Language instruction

pingv — Thu, 16 Aug 2001 01:00:00 -0500

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia recognized a child is more likely to succeed in school if his/her parents are proficient in English. The council began the Family Learning Program, which uses a family-oriented approach to English as a Second Language instruction for parents and children in the community. In a supportive atmosphere, families work together to promote mutual learning. This effective practice was shared at the AmeriCorps*VISTA Faith-Based and Community Organization Conference at the University of Indianapolis, August 20 through August 22, 2001.

Creating structured opportunities for reflection during service projects

pingv — Wed, 15 Aug 2001 01:00:00 -0500

Participating in a service-learning activity does not guarantee a beneficial learning experience. The Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) in New York emphasizes reflection in all of its service projects to help participants see their service experience in context and explore social issues. This effective practice was shared at the AmeriCorps*VISTA Faith-Based and Community Organization Conference at the University of Indianapolis, August 20 through August 22, 2001.

Developing an internship program to increase office capacity

pingv — Tue, 14 Aug 2001 01:00:00 -0500

Habitat for Humanity San Francisco needed more staff to complete projects and office duties but did not have the resources to hire more people. An internship program was started to increase productivity in the office and provide local university students with work experience in a nonprofit setting. This effective practice was shared at the AmeriCorps*VISTA Faith-Based and Community Organization Conference at the University of Indianapolis, August 20-22, 2001.