Opportunity for Community and Faith-based Organizations in Los Angeles County

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

INTRODUCTION – World Vision is proud to be one of the 14 organizations in the U.S. selected in 2006 to offer sub-award grants and technical assistance opportunities to community and faith-based organizations (CB/FBO) in Pomona and parts of South Los Angeles through the Compassion Capital Demonstration Fund Program. However, technical assistance and training is available to organizations throughout Los Angeles County.

PURPOSE – The Tools for Transforming Communities program was designed to build capacity in Pomona and South Los Angeles neighborhoods (see listing of eligible zip codes below) and community and faith-based organizations with:

• Technical assistance workshops to community and faith-based organizations; and
• Competitive grant opportunities to community and faith-based organizations.

AWARD AMOUNTS – The Tools for Transforming Communities sub-award fund for FY 2006-2007 is approximately $300,000. Awards will range from approximately $10,000 to $15,000 each, the amount not to exceed 20% of your organization’s annual budget.

APPLICATION PROCESS – Organizations interested in participating in this program, need to contact Martin Garcia before January 9 to receive additional information about the process to participate in the program. More information will be provided by the first week of January 2006.

CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, please contact:
[Contact me using the comments section for the contact information]

Eligibility: Sub-awards available for CB/FBOs serving communities located in zip codes 91766 and 91768 (Pomona) and 90008, 90043, 90047, and 90062 (South Los Angeles). For more information regarding organizations outside of these zip codes, please contact me.

DISCLAIMER: This project is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration of Children & Families. Total cost of this project is $937,540.00. Federal funds awarded for this project total $750,000 (80% of the total project). Non-government funding for this project is $187,540.00 (20%).

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Capacity Partnership Project comes to an end

The two-years that I worked for MEDA’s capacity building work, funded by the Compassion Capital Fund, and what we later called the Capacity Partnership Project, were filled with joy. I hope that we keep in touch.

My colleagues at MEDA were wonderful to work with and those client agencies in the field made all that traveling worth the effort of getting on another commercial aircraft for yet another long flight.

We were hoping that our project would have been funded for another 17-months and our feedback from DHHS on our application was very positive. We are told that because of geographic consideration, other intermediaries were funded instead. My contract with MEDA ended on Friday, October 14, 2005. But, this doesn’t have to be the end of our work together.

I would be delighted to hear from you if you’d like to consider contracting directly with me, or with MEDA, to continue your capacity building work. I know that many of the projects we had started with the 40 plus organizations are well worth continuing. If you are one of our CPP partners you know the value of planning and moving forward in any of the organizational development and capacity building areas. We can negotiate reasonable rates for your organization.

These are the areas in which I am particularly interested in serving your organizations:

• Policy Governance® training, policy writing, implementation, technical assistance
• Organizational Assessment and capacity development planning
• Planning: strategic, business, resource development
• Training, adult learning strategies
• Program development, microenterprise, community economic development, workforce development
• Program outcomes and impact evaluation

You may think of other areas we may work together. And, if you are aware of other organizations in need of these services, please contact me by leaving a comment by clicking the “comment” link below.

You may also see my consulting web site: capacitypartnership.com.

Software for financial management

I have often been asked questions about financial managment software that is appropriate for various sizes and complexity nonprofit organizations. I have also had conversations with folks with a lot more experience in that field includind bookkeepers and auditors. Auditors are most likely to point out the limitations of the various software packages--both simple and complex. It usually goes back to QuickBooks from Intuit. I have used QuickBooks Pro 2005 for Mac in various version over many years with much success both for nonprofit organization bookkeeping and for my own business bookkeeping. There is also a QuickBooks Premier Non-Profit Edition 2005 that I was slow to learn the value of, but some of our clients and consultants are quite convinced. I know buinsesses that range size from $10,000 to $10 million who are satisfied with QuickBooks.

There seem to be plenty of other resources around Quickbooks including CPA firms and bookkeepers and third party publications--search QuickBooks in Amazon or Google.



Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

KCCD to host major community event in Los Angeles

Welcome back! This is a big deal from one of our client organizations in Los Angeles.

Korean Churches for Community Development



Invites you to
KCCD 4th NATIONAL LIGHTING THE COMMUNITY CONFERENCE
Building Blocks for Success: Investing in our Youth, Strengthening our Communities, & Securing Funding for our Future
Dates: October 20th- 22nd, 2005
Location: LA Korean United Methodist Church
7400 Osage Avenue Los Angeles, 90045
Among the expected dignitaries:

• Rev. Andy Bales, President & CEO, Union Rescue Mission
• Michael Balaoing, Vice President, Entertainment Industry Foundation
• Elise Buik, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles
• Jim Carr, Senior Vice President, Fannie Mae Foundation
• Sam Chan, Ph.D., Los Angeles Department of Mental Health
• Dr. Judy Chen, UCLA Medical Center
• David DeLuz, Chief CommunityLiaison, California Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
• and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• John Hill, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke
• Mary Chung Hiyashi, Commissioner, California Commission on Mental Health
• Hyepin Im, President and CEO, KCCD
• Sam Joo, Prevention Director, Asian American Drug Abuse Program
• Sukhee Kang, Councilman, City of Irvine
• Jin Kim, Executive Director, KCCD
• Deborah Kidd-Chapman, Marketing and Outreach Manager, Maximus Access to Recovery
• Henry Lozano, President's Advisory Commission on Durg Free Communities
• Wil Marshall, Area Director, Economic Development Administration
• Maggie Mireles, LA County Worksource Investment Board
• Rev. Frank Stokes, Executive Director, Force of Hope Economic Development Corporation
• Wayne Sugita, Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Healthy Services
• Maurice Suh, Deputy Mayor, Home Land Security and Public Safety
• Julie Sun, Manager, Strategic Initiatives of Freddie Mac
• Mark Ridley Thomas, Assemblymember, California
• Rev. DarEll Weist, President and CEO, 1010 Corporation
• Rev. Mark Whitlock, Executive Director, COR AME Church
• Steven Wing, Director of Government Relations, CVS/pharmacy

For more information and to attend yourself, click this link.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

1010 Development Event in Los Angeles

Welcome back! Here is an interesting event by one our our organizational clients using their geogrphical neighbors to maximize the impact of a fundraising event.


The pleasure of your company is requested at

A Very Special Exhibition

“Dressing A Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars”

An exclusive exhibition featuring over 100 costumes from all six films in the Star Wars saga, celebrating the art of Costume Designer, Trisha Biggar.

Sunday, October 23, 2005, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Benefiting: Children’s Learning Center, South Park Neighborhood Center,
Los Angeles Urban Foundation, 1010 Development Corporation,
Villa Flores, and Hope Village

At The FIDM Museum & Galleries
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/ FIDM
919 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90015

See RSVP or Call: Greta Silva 213-749-0212 ext.24, email: gretasilva -at- sbcglobal.net
Refreshments & Parking: FUMCLA Church parking lot
(SE Corner of Olympic & Flower)

Photographs but No Flashes or Tripods


Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

A quote for today

Welcome back!

"People cannot discover new lands
until they have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

--Andre Gide

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

East LA Community Corporation's new website

Welcome back!

East Los Angeles Community Corporation has launched a new website that reflects their community's culture and helps brand their organization. This is part of what a CCF subaward grant has paid for to help ELACC increase capacity. It is not yet fully functional, but check it out and see what you think.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Welcome back!

What a wonderful sight this morning in Chicago when I pulled up to the new address for Ruth's Austin Childcare Providers Network



A new location for for the network and its trainings and Ruth's own childcare business: Channing's.



New training room for childcare providers learning business skills so that their child care businesses will earn a living for the family.



Computers suitable for the kids in childcare were donated.



An artist donated a lovely mural for a classroom.



Isn't it clear why Ruth, who founded Austin Childcare Providers Network 4 years ago, looks so happy?

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Big Picture: What a Web Site Does

Welcome back! This is from Seth Goodin's Blog:

Big Picture #1:
A Web site must do at least one of two things, but probably both:
• Turn a stranger into a friend, and a friend into a customer.
• Talk in a tone of voice that persuades people to believe the story you’re telling.
Big Picture #2:
A Web site can cause only four things to happen in the moments after someone sees it:
• She clicks and goes somewhere else you want her to go.
• She clicks and gives you permission to follow up by email or phone.
• She clicks and buys something.
• She tells a friend, either by clicking or by blogging or phoning or talking.
That’s it.

This guy is worth reading from time to time if you want to think about strategies to market your organization or business.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa Day of Service October 8

Welcome back! This from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's south Los Angeles Field Office:

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa will host the first Day of Service to our Youth on October 8, 2005 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The day is meant to celebrate the mayor's 100th day in office by bring together people from all over the city at area LAUSD schools to help beautify the campuses and surrounding areas.

Today, September 1, 2005 at from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Fremont H.S., 7676 S. San Pedro Street, we will host our second South LA Area Plng Cmte Meeting. I would appreciate your attendance and participation in the planning committee. Your expertise is greatly appreciated.

Look for further information here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Hurricane Disaster Response

Welcome back!

Hurricane Katrina is the most devastating storm to hit the United States ever. Several organizations are on the ground or will be soon to assist in the disaster relief after the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina.

The earliest responders are usually the largest organizations with the most capacity to be on the ground. After than, those with special niche capacity will take up the re-development efforts in partnership with business. Local government and the Red Cross will be the first to respond and are there now.

Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS), the Southern Baptist Convention and Christian Reformed World Relief will have volunteers on site later this week. Each of these organizations are asking for donations to help support their work. They normally offer opportunities for volunteers to respond. You can check their web-sites for information about volunteer training, recruitment and opportunities for folks with various skill sets.

There will be many other organizations responding, these were those with obvious announcements on their websites late this afternoon.

Your ideas matter here--feel free to comment.

Retrospective Evaluation

Welcome back!

MEDA has just received notice from Branch Associates letting us know that we have been selected as one of 9 of the first group of CCF intermediaries to participate in a retrospective evaluation of this funding program. The evaluation will primarily involve Branch Associates gathering information from 20 of the organizations we have worked with during the three years. We are fortunate to be included in this evaluation and I am excited to have our grantee organizations participate.

If your were one of the client organizations for this project over the last 3 years you have about 50% chance of being contacted for this information since we have served about 40 organizations.

[Information provided by Rachel Hess, Director, Community Economic Development]

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Harambee in NW Pasadena hosts training event

Welcome! You belong here.



Noel Castellanos, CCDA Institute Director, (pictured right) gave a one day session for volunteers and staff of Harmbee and other groups.



Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

Welcome back!

I was recently asked about the issue of conflicts of interest for board members of a nonprofit organization.

A conflict of interest may occur when . . .

A board member performs professional services for an organization, or proposes that a relative or friend be considered for a staff position. Such transactions are perfectly acceptable if they benefit the organization and if the board made the decisions in an objective and informed manner.

Such conflict of interest can be well managed by the organization if the are prepared and are aware of the situation in advance. [click the quotation to read the whole article on the National Resource Center website.]

I would be happy to provide you with a sample of a conflict of interest policy from a board policy manual. Let me know if that will be of service to your organization.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Technology Information for Nonprofits

Welcome back!

An important resource for information about technology can be found at www.techsoup.org. Thanks to Richard Wood at Miami Beach CDC for reminding me of this resource.

A company that produces and sells donor management software that I have used before is Campagne Associates. The donor management software is called GiftMaker. They provided excellent customer service with a contract and operated on both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

The Women's Fund of Miami-Dade: 2006 Application Now Available

Women's Fund of Miami-Dade awards grants once a year to non-profit organizations that serve women and girls in Miami-Dade County. Grants are awarded each January for work being done during the calendar year. The application for 2006 funding is now available online, by mail, or by fax. Grant applications are due on September 7, 2005.

http://www.womensfundmiami.org/apply.html

What's Important? What's Urgent?

Welcome back! Hurry!

Seth Godin has an article today about the important distinction between important decisions and tasks and urgent ones. He gives some easy advice on how to tell the difference between the two and how to act upon the right ones in the right order.

The easiest way to deal with change and with all the anxieties that go with it is not to deal with it at all. The easiest thing to do is to allow the urgency of the situation to force us to make the decisions (or take the actions) that we'd rather not take. Why? Because then we don't have to take responsibility for what happens. The situation is at fault, not us. The beauty of the asymptotic curve is that at every step along the way, running ever faster for the plane is totally justified. The closer we get, the more we've invested ourselves. The more we invest in making our flight, the easier it is to justify running like a lunatic to make it.

You can read his whole piece here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Eight Componentents of Christian Community Development

Welcome back! Here is some valuable information from friend, colleague and CCF client Rudy Carrasco:

Noel Castellanos from CCDA will at Harambee on Friday, August 26, teaching an all-day class in the basics of Christian Community Development. I invited him because I have a number of new staff who are not aware of the philosophy of CCDA.

I invite you to send any staff or volunteers who you believe would benefit from this class. The time is 9am to 4pm. The cost is $50 per person. Location is Harambee. More information is here.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Two kinds of writing

Welcome back!

Seth Goodin, a communication and marketing consultant, points out that there are two kinds of written communication and who your adience is helps you decide which style is appropriate. This may help you communicate about your organization or project.

When writing for strangers, make it short. Teach people gradually.

When writing for colleagues, make it robust--be specific, be clear, rigorous, leave no wiggle room.

Seth has a BLOG and you can read his post on Two kinds of writing.

Your ideas matter here--feel free to comment.

KCCD in Washington DC presented DOL grant

Welcome back!

On Thursday, August 4, 2005 I had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to see Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) receive the first installment of a 3-year, $5-million grant from the Department of Labor to provide career services to at-risk youth and young adults.



Pictured: Stephen Wing, CVS/pharmacy; Joe Motter, ORC Macro; Jin Kim, KCCD--Los Angeles; Hyepin Im, KCCD--USA; Secretary Elaine L. Chao, US Department of Labor. CVS/pharmacy is a partner in the project providing training and job opportunities to program participants.



KCCD is a Capacity Partnership Project organizational client in Los Angeles that has received sub-award and technical assistance from MEDA funded by the Compassion Capital Fund.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Digest of Federal Grants wtih Faith-Based and Community Organizations available

Welcome back!

This information is from the National Resource Center E-newsletter. By linking through the title of this post or clicking here you can read about federal funding opportunities that may be worth taking a closer look at. Let me know if you find something there that interests you and your organization. The information is dated 2 August 2005.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Indiana, Massachusetts and northern New England

Welcome back!

The Clowes Fund, a family foundation, seeks to enhance the common good by encouraging organizations and projects that help to build a just and equitable society, create opportunities for initiative, foster creativity and the growth of knowledge, and promote appreciation of the natural environment.

In Indiana we give priority to social services and education in greater Indianapolis, defined as Marion County and the seven contiguous counties. Our education focus is on primary and secondary schools with an emphasis on classroom instruction. With the establishment of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, The Clowes Fund will no longer make grants to arts organizations in Indiana.

In the area of social services (applicable in Indiana, Massachusetts and northern New England) we may give priority to Preliminary Proposals from organizations for projects or programs that address the needs of immigrant and refugee populations, or workforce development.

We are interested in supporting efforts to address the economic, legal, cultural and psychological hurdles that immigrants and refugees face during integration into American society. Our interest in workforce development is to assure that all individuals have available the support and services necessary to enable them to participate fully in the economic life of their communities.

The Preliminary Proposal, required for new grant seekers, is accepted between September 1st and November 1st.


Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

The 2006 Nonprofit Congress

Welcome back!

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations and D.C. Central Kitchen are convening a Nonprofit Congress in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15th – 18th, 2006. The Congress will bring together more than 5,000 nonprofit leaders to galvanize them around a national nonprofit agenda, discuss leadership transition, and create unique partnerships amongst organizations. More information on the 2006 Nonprofit Congress can be found here: www.nonprofitcongress.org.

--information from Eureka Communities

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Annie E. Casey/NCCED Family Strengthening Program

Welcome back!

NCCED is pleased to announce the third round of awards under the
Annie E. Casey/NCCED Family Strengthening Program

NCCED is accepting applications for three $15,000 grants, from members in good standing, for programs that are designed to strengthen families. Winning programs will be innovative in nature and will include a well thought out strategy for addressing the needs of families within the CDCs' service area.

For more details on the program, including an application form, please go to NCCED's web site at: www.ncced.org. Applications are due August 17th. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Kelly at 202-289-9020, ext. 113 or email kkelly@ncced.org.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Starbucks Foundation Offers Funding for Youth Programs

Starbucks Foundation Offers Funding for Youth Literacy Programs

Deadline: September 1 and March 1, annually (Letters of Inquiry) Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation ( http://www.starbucks.com/foundation/ ), a philanthropic vehicle of the Starbucks Coffee Company, will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live.

The Starbucks Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry from qualifying organizations that work with underserved youth in one of two areas: 1) Arts & Literacy -- programs that innovatively address literacy and learning for the 21st century, provide high standards of excellence in mastering basic skills, and promote youth voices through a variety of venues; and 2) Environmental Literacy -- programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their own communities.

The foundation supports registered, nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the United States, as well as Registered Charities in Canada, that deliver services to youth and address at least one of the program's action areas. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. Visit the Starbucks Foundation Web site for program information, application procedures, and eligibility questions.

RFP Link: www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp

JOLI Grant--Federal Grant Opportunity

Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) Grant

The purpose of the JOLI program is to provide technical and financial assistance to private employers in the community to assist them in creating employment and business opportunities for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and for other low-income individuals. Projects focus on one of three program strategies: self-employment/ micro-enterprise, new business ventures, and business expansion. Priority will be given to applicants proposing to serve those areas containing the highest percentage of individuals receiving TANF under a State program, which is funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act and individuals whose income level does not exceed 100 percent of the official poverty line.

The JOLI grant RFP can be found at the link below:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EO-0054.html

ASSETS Chicago program graduation celebration

Welcome back!

Leroy Pacheco sends this information on their third and largest graduating class of the ASSETS Chicago microbusiness training program:

You are invited to an ASSETS Chicago
Reception and Graduation Celebration!

Tuesday August 2, 2005
Mi Tierra Restaurant
2528 S. Kedzie (3200 west), Chicago

5:30 p.m. Reception and dinner
6:30 p.m. Graduation

Please support ASSETS Chicago and join this recognition of the members of our third and largest graduating class.
They’ll be sharing their business plans.

Sponsored by National City Bank

Please RSVP (773)-542-9256 by Monday, August 1st.

Donations and Pledges Accepted!

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles

Welcome back!

Carla Weaver at the home office passes on this information to our colleagues in Los Angeles. A website called "Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles" has some interesting, useful information. You have to create an account to get to the information, but it is easy and free.

This website includes a map of LA County with specific information such as properties behind on taxes, housing projects and a map of all the non-profits in LA including the sector they serve (ex. housing, education, environment etc.) I think this information could be helpful as organizations learn about new communities, update their own demographic data, and search for resources and grant applications. Let me know if you find this helpful or if you have any questions.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Developing a good relationship with your board

Welcome back!

In the Coalitions Online Newsletter, Larry Hermen, long-time expert on senior management development, points out that the old way of thinking that a CEO's relationship with the board chairperson may not be a good substitute for relating well to the whole board. This is, in my opinion and the opinion of the writer (click on the title of this post to read the whole article), consistent with the Policy Governance principle of the whole board being responsible for its activities, outputs and job products. His article is short and worth a couple of minutes to read.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

KCCD open house celebrates AmeriCorps*VISTA serivce

Welcome back!

Today, KCCD will celebrate entering into it's fourth year of service and thanks AmeriCorps*VISTA members for their year of service.

A reception will take place at their office in Los Angeles.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Mattel Children's Foundation Seeks Applications

Mattel Children's Foundation Seeks Applications for Second Round of Domestic Grants to Benefit Children's Health and Well-Being Deadline: September 30, 2005

The Mattel Children's Foundation, a philanthropic program of Mattel, Inc., has announced the recipients of its first round of domestic grants, representing the first time the foundation has awarded funds through its online, unsolicited grant application program. Thirty-eight nonprofit organizations directly serving children in need in twenty-one states will receive grants ranging from $3,000 to $25,000.The grants represent one of the programs announced earlier this year as part of the foundation's relaunch, and are expected to help improve the lives of children in need throughout the U.S.

Applications for the second round of grants are now being accepted. Charitable organizations in the U.S. that directly serve children in need are eligible for grants ranging between $5,000 and $25,000. Applicant organizations must have 501(c)(3) public charity status under the Internal Revenue Code. Funding priority will be given to organizations or programs that creatively address a locally defined need directly impacting children in need (particularly children between the ages of 0 and 13) and that align with Mattel's philanthropic priorities, which include health, education, and girls' empowerment.Two types of grants will be considered: 1) program- specific grants -- i.e., funding for the launch of new programs or expansion of existing programs; and 2) core operating support -- i.e., support of organizations to sustain their programs.

Applications must be submitted online through the Mattel Web site. See the site for complete program information, application guidelines, and a list of grant recipients from the program's first round of funding RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/3297/mattel

Success is a way of life at a New Way of Life

Welcome back!

Here is a story from Susan Burton, Executive Director of A New Way of Life Re-entry Project

"We are very proud of the accomplishments of one of our residents. Theresa came to live at A New Way of Life about eight months ago. She immediately regained custody of her son who is now three years old, and she and her son are both popular residents around the house. Theresa was determined to get her life back together after being released from prison, but had little skills or knowledge in how to make this happen.

"One major challenge for her was finding steady employment. She persisted for over six weeks to find a job, but repeatedly encountered discrimination from employers who were unwilling to hire someone who had checked “the box” marking the applicant as a convicted felon. Finally, Susan introduced her to a colleague who directs a community-based library with a progressive social agenda. He agreed to hire Theresa as an intern. After only two months, he was so impressed with Theresa’s dedication to the job and to the organization, he hired her as a part-time staff member (Theresa is also a part-time student at a local college).

"Theresa has now been working at the her new employer for several months and has been learning about the prisoners’ rights movement. This woman who once had no idea that people and organizations existed who cared about the rights of people like herself has now become a determined community advocate. Theresa is the type of client who epitomizes what A New Way of Life is all about.

If you have a story about your organization or the clients you serve and are part of the Capacity Partnership Project let me know and I will post it here. Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Good Conflict--Constructive Conflict

Welcome back!

If managing conflict means there is no conflict in your organization, you might be missing an importang opportunity to learn and to lead.

If people smile, nod, and say "yes" at your company, maybe it's time to start an argument. According to HBS professor Michael Roberto, the lack of good conflict—constructive conflict—within an organization makes it that much harder to accurately evaluate business ideas and make important decisions. . . . But conflict does not mean browbeating.

The interview with Michael Roberto by Martha Lagace, Senior Editor, Harvard Bunisnes School's Working Knowledge is an interesting read. Click throught the title of this post to read the whole article. CPP organizational client leader Chris Provence of Rebuilding the Wall in Indianapopis told us that he sees conflict as a good thing. It can't be avoided when working with people, better use it to your advantage.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

President Bush Visits Indianapolis

Welcome back!

Earlier this week I got a call from the White House Office of Faith Based initiatives asking about Capacity Partner Projects funded through MEDA's Compassion Capital Fund Grant. They wanted to know about some of the organizations and the progress that had been made to make reference to the success of those organizations and and the CCF programs.

This is what the President said when he was in Indianapolis this week:

". . . the nation's faith-based and community groups bring kindness and acts of charity to harsh places across America. I call these folks the social entrepreneurs of America. They're trying to figure out ways to listen to that universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself and help heal the broken heart.

The example of a faith based group in Indianapolis was the Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church.

"Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. Here in Indianapolis, the Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church is reaching out to neighbors and helping lift up their communities. A social entrepreneur, a leader of the effort is Bishop Farris, who is with us today. Let me tell you what the Bishop has in mind and how he's going to be helped by the federal government. Secretary Alphonso Jackson, by the way, is a believer when it comes to the faith-based and community-based initiative. And so the Department of Housing and Urban Development has entered into a collaborative effort with his church, and they plan to break ground in October on 49 housing units for low-income elderly. And their new development will provide residents with shuttle services to stores and counseling and doctor appointments."

To read all of the President's remarks, click on the first quote block. That will direct you to the White House Faith Based Initiatives website and a transcript of the remarks.

White House Office of Faith-based Initiatives

Welcome back!

I got a call today from the White House Office of Faith-based Initiatives. Were they asking about you?

They were asking about organizations who have received Compassion Capital Fund support to increase their capacity and would make a good story to tell about the success of the program.

Recently, one of the CCF sub-awardees, Trinity Church's Peacemakers Center got a call and a visit from the Faith Based Initiatives Office Director Jim Towey. Then the President used them as a good example of community based work in remarks he made at the Leadership Conference on 1 March 2005.

Your thoughts matter here--leave us a comment.

Policy Governance workshop at national conference

Welcome back!

I will be presenting a workshop called "Board Leadership through Governance Excellence" on the topic of Policy Governance at the Christian Community Development Association 17th annual conference in Indianapolis 16-20 November 2005. One of our organizational clients in Indianapolis had suggested that we present something.

Summary:
How can you attract and retain good board members? Give them the right job and the right tools. Governance is the highest level of organizational leadership. Policy Governance® is an approach to the job of governance that emphasizes values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders.


More information will be posted later on. This may be the only national Christian faith-based community development association or conference. Does anyone know?

Limited English Proficiency and Hispanic Worker Initiative

Welcome back! [Repeated post from earlier.]

From MEDA's research team at the home office.

Workforce Investment Act—Limited English Proficiency and Hispanic Worker Initiative

Proposals due 15 August 2005 to the Department of Labor (DOL)

This link will begin the download of a .pdf (1.7 MB), the RFP announced today by the Employment and Training Administration. The grant focuses on providing literacy and jobs skills training to Hispanics. It seems like a fairly involved grant with several partners required, but the grant is big $500,000 -- $ 1 million. Maybe one of the CDCs would be able to apply. Here is the link if you need to copy and paste it into your browser.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-11881.pdf

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $5 million in demonstration grant funds to test unique and innovative training strategies for services to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) (those who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English 1 ) and Hispanic Americans, specifically, those who lack basic and occupational skills needed by high-growth occupations. This demonstration program is targeted to incumbent workers, new job entrants or youth who lack the language, basic skills, and occupational skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. This demonstration program emphasizes the use of innovative contextualized learning strategies which simultaneously provide language and occupational skills training that open career opportunities and pathways for LEP and Hispanic Americans.

The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Hispanic Worker Initiative is a strategic effort to improve access to employment and training services for LEP persons and to better serve Hispanic Americans through workforce investment programs that address the specific workforce challenges facing these individuals. Grant funds awarded under this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) should be used to develop unique and innovative strategies that specifically address the workforce challenges of LEP individuals and Hispanic Americans. Applications must reflect a strategic partnership between the public workforce investment system, the employer community, the education and training community, and, if applicable, community-based or faith-based organizations. It is anticipated that individual awards will fall within the range of $500,000 to $1 million. The Department reserves the right to award grants at either lower or higher amounts.

Some partner's websites

Welcome back!
Here is a sampling of websites of organizations that are clients of the Capacity Partnership Project. I'd like to link your website too. Leave me a comment and I'll add you to the list.

• Centro Campesino Farmworkers, Inc. in South Florida
• South Florida Urban Ministries
• A New Way of Life, Los Angeles
• Harambee Christian Family Center, NW Pasadena
• Indiana Latino Institute
• Rebuilding the Wall
• Starfish Studios
  
• Peacemaker Center at Trinity Church
• Korean Churches for Community Development
• Little Tokyo Service Center
• New Economics for Women
• Concerned Citizens of South Los Angeles
  
• Miami Dade Neighborhood Housing Services
• Little Haiti Housing Association
  

What is your thinking level?

Welcome back.

Albert Einstein said: "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created that problem."

Mediocre Emergency

Seth Godin has a blog where he talks about Mediocre Emergency. Companies on the rise know when there is an emergency and they do something about it. Companies in trouble respond with mediocrity, Godin's expample is GM.

Link to Godin's article.

Let's say you work at eBay.

Your site goes down. How many people will drop what they are doing and figure out how to get it back up and running?

Everyone from PR to server guys will be on the case.

Or let's say you work at Aetna. A fire rips through a warehouse and destroys a million policy records.

How many people, from the CEO to the actuaries will get on the stick and make something happen?

Now, imagine you work at GM. I know, it's hard, but imagine.

For years, you've been designing, making and marketing stuff in a mediocre way. No one dropped what they were doing to fix the problem. It's not an emergency.

Of course, it is an emergency. It's a bigger emergency than the things you can buy insurance against, because it's endemic, hard to measure and ultimately fatal.

Have a nice long weekend if it's a long weekend where you live. And when you get back to work, figure out where the mediocre emergency lies and stamp it out. Even better, start today. After all, it's an emergency.

Periodic Report due 1 July 2005

Periodic (quarterly) reports are due from sub-award grantees of the Capacity Partnership Project, Compassion Capital Fund by end of business on Friday, 1 July 2005. Please be sure to submit your on time, by email, to me or Carla. If you need a report form, call me. I am looking foward to reading your report.

Dr. Carver, is the job of the board an easy one?

". . .we all know that simple and easy are not the same thing. Many things are simple in their expression, yet difficult to achieve. Pilot, we want the plane on the runway with the rubber parts down. Surgeon, we want a working kidney. Explorer, we want a new route to China. Researcher, we want a cure for cancer. We want the homeless in housing. We want the hungry well-fed. We want world peace. We want a person on the moon who returns safely to earth. We want a chicken in every pot.

"Those aims are simply expressed, but by no means easy. Simplicity does not enable us to expect effortlessness. And difficulty in no way detracts from importance."

From a speech given at the 2nd Annual Conference, "Good Governance in Action", of the International Policy Governance Association, June 3, 2005.

Make a litte progress every day

Last week I was with a client who said something like this:

We have made more progress in the last few months working on this project than I could have imagined. We had a hard time conceptualizing what capacity building is. You helped us find a consultant that understood me, understands our culture, the nature of our organization, and the unique situation we are in. And, now we are moving forward. We have found resources that we didn't know existed before. I have been personally encouraged. The tools that the consultant has provided are priceless. Thanks for sticking with us.

That is not an exact quote, but you get the picture. When I first met this client, she was discouraged and thought it always had to be that way. Their proposal was all about computer hardware that would have solve some specific issues but not the core of the matter. With a lot of discussion and revision we found a way to get a consultant who could sit down with this executive director, understood her situation, and helped her make progress.

Do you need this kind of help? Keep watching this space for information about next year's Capacity Partnerhsip Progect program.

People tell me things that should be repeated!

The purpose of this new blog is to get some information about the work of the Capacity Partership Project out to the rest of our organizational clients. Some of the feedback I get, and the things that I learn from our clients is well worth repeating! You should be a part of it. Keep checking out the blog for more information.

Ever take an online survey?

People asking questions about people who blog and their bloggin habits.

Funding Opportunity: Workforce Investment Act

Welcome back! From MEDA's research team at the home office.

Workforce Investment Act—Limited English Proficiency and Hispanic Worker Initiative

Proposals due 15 August 2005 to the Department of Labor (DOL)

This link will begin the download of a .pdf (1.7 MB), the RFP announced today by the Employment and Training Administration. The grant focuses on providing literacy and jobs skills training to Hispanics. It seems like a fairly involved grant with several partners required, but the grant is big $500,000 -- $ 1 million. Maybe one of the CDCs would be able to apply. Here is the link if you need to copy and paste it into your browser.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-11881.pdf

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $5 million in demonstration grant funds to test unique and innovative training strategies for services to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) (those who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English 1 ) and Hispanic Americans, specifically, those who lack basic and occupational skills needed by high-growth occupations. This demonstration program is targeted to incumbent workers, new job entrants or youth who lack the language, basic skills, and occupational skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. This demonstration program emphasizes the use of innovative contextualized learning strategies which simultaneously provide language and occupational skills training that open career opportunities and pathways for LEP and Hispanic Americans.

The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Hispanic Worker Initiative is a strategic effort to improve access to employment and training services for LEP persons and to better serve Hispanic Americans through workforce investment programs that address the specific workforce challenges facing these individuals. Grant funds awarded under this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) should be used to develop unique and innovative strategies that specifically address the workforce challenges of LEP individuals and Hispanic Americans. Applications must reflect a strategic partnership between the public workforce investment system, the employer community, the education and training community, and, if applicable, community-based or faith-based organizations. It is anticipated that individual awards will fall within the range of $500,000 to $1 million. The Department reserves the right to award grants at either lower or higher amounts.

Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative

Last year, Los Angeles Capacity Partner Susan Burton of A New Way of Life was a 2004 Neighborhood (S)Hero and Centro Campesino in south Florida was Neighborhood Excellence Initiative recipient.

Good News! The program is back!

The 2005 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative is underway. Through this unique program, qualified organizations can apply to be awarded $200,000 in unrestricted general operating support to further the work of their organization.

PLEASE NOTE: RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT PRECLUDE YOUR ORGANIZATION FROM OBTAINING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE BANK OF AMERICA FOUNDATION.

The Neighborhood Excellence Initiative is designed to recognize and reward
individuals and groups who are making a difference in their communities,
and is divided into three categories of recipients:

• Neighborhood Builders - Provides $200,000 in grant funding and leadership training over two years to two neighborhood non-profit organizations working to promote vibrant neighborhoods.
• Local Heroes - Recognizes and honors five community heroes per year; recipients will be able to direct a $5,000 contribution to an eligible non-profit of their choice.
• Student Leaders - Recognizes five high school students who are recommended as exemplary young people with an interest in improving their neighborhoods. Each student will participate in an eight-week paid internship with a community-based organization, as well as a mentoring program arranged by Bank of America.

To learn more about the program and for details on the application process, click here


Nomination Deadline: June 30, 2005 8PM Eastern

Eight Principles of the Heroic Environment

These are the shared principles that govern organizations consulted by Mr. Lebew and articulated in his book, The Journey into the Heroic Environment. It is another in the series of books on leadership that help organizations create an environment to move forward to accomplish its outcomes or ends.

1. Treat others with uncompromising truth.
2. Lavash trust on your associates.
3. Be willing to mentor, and be open to mentoring from anyone.
4. Be receptive to new ideas, regardless of their source.
5. Take personal risks for the organization's sake.
6. Give credit where credit is due.
7. Be honest and ethical in all matters.
8. Put the interests of others before your own.
   

International Policy Governance Association

I will be in Scottsdale, Arizona at the International Policy Governance Association second annual conference, Good Governance in Action June 2-4, 2005. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones at this conference.

I will also have the opportunity to visit with Dennis Beatty of First Baptist Church of Prescott to chat about Policy Governance and its application in church settings.

UPDATE: Someone asked how many people are attending. The answer is about 200.

Governance questions and issues from AEO conferees

Welcome back!

In a seminar at the Association of Enterprise Opportunity, I asked those in our group to define what issues and questions they have about board governance. We used these as starting points for hitting the important issues of governance and specifically, Policy Governance (r).

• We are a new organization and we are wrestling with building a program and establishing policies and procedures that support smart, sustained growth.
• How do you get the board to do what it is supposed to do (manage the board, bring awareness to organization, fundraise, legal oversight, financial oversight . . . ) and not what it isn't supposed to do?
• How to have a board not managed by the executive director?
• Forming a new board, how do we establish distinct functions for board members and staff?
• We are re-organizing a dysfunctional board--there are inappropriate board members, original stakeholders whose relevance has been passed by.
  
• How is the board to deal with issues of --staff compensation, board stipends, broad range development vs narrow range development, board size.
  

I'll address these and other issues here. We provide day long training for boards and consulting to create and install consistent and comprehensive policies at the board level.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Questions and Issues from the AEO conference session on Board Leadership Governance Excellence

In a seminar at the Association of Enterprise Opportunity, I asked those in our group to define what issues and questions they have about board governance. We used these as starting points for hitting the important issues of governance and specifically, Policy Governance (r).

• We are a new organization and we are wrestling with building a program and establishing policies and procedures that support smart, sustained growth.
• How do you get the board to do what it is supposed to do (manage the board, bring awareness to organization, fundraise, legal oversight, financial oversight . . . ) and not what it isn't supposed to do?
• How to have a board not managed by the executive director?
• Forming a new board, how do we establish distinct functions for board members and staff?
• We are re-organizing a dysfunctional board--there are inappropriate board members, original stakeholders whose relevance has been passed by.
  
• How is the board to deal with issues of --staff compensation, board stipends, broad range development vs narrow range development, board size.
  

I'll address these and other issues here. We provide day long training for boards and consulting to create and install consistent and comprehensive policies at the board level.

Harambee in NW Pasadena

Welcome back!

Rachel and I visited many of the projects together. I really didn't wear the suit that often, we must have visited a bank or a funder on this same day.

Here Rudy Carrasco of Harambee is showing us around the center. MEDA provided support to help their board of directors make some good decisions for a great future for Harambee Christian Family Center and Harambee Prepatory School.

Harambee reorganized the board, defined its role in relationship to the executive director, and combined resources with a related organization that shares the same facility. Rudy told me that the work with the consultant helped him and the board get on the same page in a significant way.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

The Consultant

Welcome back!

Glen Peterson is regional manager for Mennonite Economic Development Associates’ capacity building project for CDCs and economic development organizations in south Florida, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Indianapolis.

Glen is a member of the International Policy Governance® Association and trained with John and Miriam Carver at the Policy Governance® Academy. Peterson provides technical assistance to adopt and install a complete board governance system that links an organization to its moral ownership, holds it accountable to accomplish what it should and avoid unacceptable situations.

For fifteen years he was the executive director of a community-based organization that provides microenterprise training, financial literacy and traditional employment programs in south Los Angeles.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Taxpayer Education Programs from State BOE Chairman John Chiang

State Board of Equalization Chairman John Chiang periodically hosts taxpayer
education programs for his constituents. These programs are held for small
business owners, non-profit and religious organizations, as well as specific
industry groups. Chairman Chiang's taxpayer education programs bring
representatives from a variety of federal, state, and local tax agencies
together to help individuals, businesses, and organizations better
understand their federal, state, and local tax compliance obligations. The
programs are especially helpful to individuals, organizations, and small to
medium sized businesses who feel overwhelmed by all of the complex tax laws
and tax reporting requirements.

Past topics have included: (1) Social Security Benefits & Small Business
Owners; (2) Raffle Reporting and Pre-Registration Requirements; (3) State
and Federal Payroll Tax Reporting and Depositing Requirements; (4) Home
Based Businesses; (5) Audits and Appeals; (6) Record Keeping Obligations;
(7) State Income Tax and Small Businesses; (8) The Difference Between an
Employee or Independent Contractor; (9) How to Start a Small Business; (10)
Financing Your Small Business; (11) General Sales and Use Tax Reporting
Requirements; (12) How to Prepare a Sales and Use Tax Return; (13) Sales Tax
for Construction Contractors; (14) Property Tax Exemptions.

Within the next few weeks, Chairman Chiang is hosting a Free California Tax
Amnesty Informational Panel Discussion to inform his constituents about the
California Tax Amnesty Campaign that began February 1, 2005 and continues
through March 31, 2005. More information about Chairman Chiang's California
Tax Amnesty Panel Discussion will follow shortly.

We have found that these taxpayer education programs are most successful
when Chairman Chiang partners with a local community based organization to
host a particular event. Programs are typically scheduled at least six to
eight weeks in advance and draw, on average, seventy-five to one hundred
fifty attendees. The number of attendees varies depending on the
organization, program location, etc.

Little Haiti Housing Association

Sam Diller, Executive Director of Little Haiti Housing Association greets MEDA board member during a tour of the south Florida Capacity Partership Project sites. MEDA subaward helped LHHA plan and start a home ownership conversion project.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Little Haiti Housing Association and Miami Dade Neighborhood Housing

. . . hosted the MEDA board of directors as they toured CCF projects in south Florida as part of their board meetings.

Pictured here is Howard Good, MEDA Vice President, North American Opporations; Leoni Hermantin, Board Chair, Little Haiti Housing Association and director of Sant La Little Haiti Neighborhood Center; and Arden Shank, Executive Director, Miami Dade Neighborhood Housing

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Kids programs at Peacemakers Center at Trinity Church

Welcome back!

Trinity Church has a lot of programs going on through its Peacemaker Center. These pre-schoolers are enjoying a hot lunch during their school day.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.