Haven Neighborhood Association: NDC July 2005 EBlast

July 2005 E-Blast Update of the

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC)

The mission of the Neighborhood Development Center is to build strong neighborhoods by connecting individuals to information, technology, and opportunities for civic engagement.

In this Issue:

v v Community Leadership Academy (CLA)

v v Call for Presenters!

v v Grants

v v Volunteer San José

v v City Hall News

v v Resources

v v Contact Us

v v Click HERE to have your email removed from the NDC database.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (CLA)

If you did not already know, the Community Leadership Academy is a combination of the Neighborhood Academy and the Leadership Development Trainings. In an effort to meet the organizational and skill-building needs of our residents and associations, we brought our two training programs together. Our participants choose the classes that best fit their needs. After the completion of four (4) classes, participants will receive the NDC Organizing Certificate, and upon completion of eight (8) classes, participants receive the NDC Community Leadership Certificate.

In addition to our CLA, we have added Community Café’s and an Alumni Network. Through the Community Café’s, you have an opportunity to sit down with other community leaders from throughout San José and have a dialog around a current issue affecting neighborhoods. The Alumni Network will be launching in the fall of 2005. This network will be made up of those who have completed courses in past years or who have completed at least four (4) classes of the new Community Leadership Academy. The goal of the NDC Alumni Network is to put knowledge and skills into action. More information is coming in the August E-Blast – stay tuned! [TOP]

CALL FOR PRESENTERS!

Do you have a special skill or talent that may be beneficial to other neighborhood leaders? Is there a neighborhood success story that you would like to share with others? We are in the process of planning our training schedule for the new fiscal year, and WE WANT YOU! Please consider sharing your experiences or teaching others a new tool to add to their neighborhood organizing and leadership belt. Contact Shirley Mata at 408.392.6771 or via email at Shirley.mata@sanjoseca.gov for more details. [TOP]

GRANTS

Following are grant opportunities your organization may be interested in applying for:

San José Beautiful Grants

San José Beautiful grants are due on September 30, 2005. If you have been toying around with the idea of a beautification project, start putting your thoughts down on paper to prepare for the grant application! We will host a CLA training to help guide you through the grant writing process. Be on the lookout for the August 2005 E-Blast for more details!

Community Foundation of Silicon Valley (CFSV)

Community Foundation of Silicon Valley announced its new grant guidelines and website on July 5th. Under the new Community Investment Program, CFSV’s cash grants program includes three grant programs designed to provide financial support and technical assistance to exemplary community organizations. These grants include the Community Investment Grants, Organizational Effectiveness Grant, and the Neighborhood Grants Program. The next quarterly Community Investment Grant deadline is September 1. Click HERE for more information.

Pay It Forward Foundation -- Mini-Grant Project

The Pay It Forward Foundation administers a mini-grant program for "pay it forward" activities involving youth of all ages. A Pay It Forward project is defined as one or more service activities that benefit youths' school, neighborhood, or greater community, and include learning goals for the youth participants. Applicants are encouraged to plan the project with input from the clients or organization that will benefit in order to ensure that the project is needed and timely. Mini-grants between $50 and $500 are available to school, church, and community-based groups of youths for service activities of all types. For more information, click here: http://payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/grant.html

The Allstate Foundation

The Allstate Foundation supports national and local nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations programs that fit within three focus areas:

safe and vital communities
tolerance, inclusion, and diversity
economic empowerment

For more information, click here: http://www.allstate.com/Community/PageRender.asp?Page=foundationfunding.htm

[TOP]

VOLUNTEER SAN JOSE

Have some free time this summer? Consider volunteering! Check out the many opportunities available throughout the City on the Volunteer San José website: http://www.volunteersanjose.org/. With so many opportunities, there’s bound to be something that piques your interest! Love animals? A wizard with computers? Love Monopoly? Want to beautify your neighborhood? Take a look at the Volunteer San José website or call 408.535.3500 for more information. [TOP]

The Newest Community Center is Here – Volunteer tour guides needed!

In mid-June, City employees began moving into the new City Hall located at 200 E. Santa Clara Street and making it home. Tours and events will take place in the next few months and your help is needed! Please contact 408.535.3500 for more information and to volunteer! [TOP]

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The NDC has the following resources available for use by neighborhood associations:

High-Speed Gestetner copy machine
Computer Labs with internet-ready computers, printers, scanner (NDC on Gish Road and at the Mexican Heritage Plaza)
Library with resource books on grants, organizing, volunteers, leadership, etc…
Meeting Rooms (NDC on Gish Road and at the Mexican Heritage Plaza)