News from the David J. Ruiz corner…
1. Pew Hispanic Center Advisory
2. NCLR News Release: DREAM ACT
3. Serving Those Who Serve (Troop Support Group)
4. Who Mentored You Website
5. Mexican-American Students and Barriers to College
6. Operation Troop Appreciation (Troop Support Group)
7. Senator Martinez reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.
8. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Predator Website
9. Keep A Child Alive (For Univ. of Florida students)
10. Recurso (Univ. of Florida student organization)
11. Goodwill Job Junction
12. Operation Gratitude (Troop Support Group)
13. Project SHARE
14. Florida Volunteer Foundation
15. Gov Crist Announces Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
16. Pew Hispanic Research Center Advisory
17. How to donate or recycle your old electronics
18. Youth Venture
19. NCLR News Release: Teen Pregnancy
20. NCLR News Release: STRIVE ACT
21. Young Entrepreneurs
The report, written by Susannah Fox and Gretchen Livingston, is based on telephone surveys of 6,016 Latino adults, aged 18 and older, conducted in Spanish and English from June 2006 to October, 2006.
"For many people living in the U.S., the internet is the go-to source for information and for staying in touch with friends and family," said Fox, an associate director at the Pew Internet Project "but we find that significant portions of the population are cut off from online resources. Only about one-third of Hispanics who have not completed high school and one-third of Latinos who do not speak and read English go online."
"The balance among Latinos could swing within a few generations," said Livingston, a research associate at the Pew Hispanic Center. "The sons and daughters of immigrants are flocking online – eight out of ten second-generation Latinos have access to the internet."
Some Latinos who do not use the internet are connecting to the communications revolution in a different way – via cell phone. Fully 59% of Latino adults have a cell phone and 49% of Latino cell phone users send and receive text messages on their phone. Looking at the numbers in a different way, 56% of Latino adults go online, 18% of Latino adults have a cell phone but do not go online, and 26% of Latino adults have neither a cell phone nor an internet connection.
About the projects: The Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet & American Life Project are non-profit initiatives of the Pew Research Center and are funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Pew Hispanic Center's mission is to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the entire nation. The Pew Internet Project examines the social impact of the internet.
"Nearly half of Latinas become pregnant before age 20. High teen pregnancy rates are robbing our young women of too many opportunities - the opportunity to go to college, the opportunity to start a rewarding career, and the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of a better future," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
"Unplanned and unprotected sex also poses serious health risks for Latinas. That's why we welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Representative Solis and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on this issue," continued Murguía.
"The National Campaign has been a key leader in the successful effort to reduce overall teen pregnancy rates in our country. The new Latino initiative will build on this track record of success and zero in on the specific themes, messages, and approaches we need to reach Hispanic young people, especially those overlooked by traditional mainstream efforts," Murguía said.
"We commend Representative Solis for her passion and leadership on this issue. I can think of no better champion than Hilda Solis to spearhead our efforts on Capitol Hill," noted Murguía.
"The National Campaign has involved Hispanic community-based organizations and substantive experts at every phase, and on every level, of this campaign. They're going about this exactly the right way, which gives me great confidence that we can successfully reverse the teen pregnancy crisis in our community," concluded Murguía.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
NCLR News Release
NCLR WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF STRIVE ACT
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for taking a bold step forward and introducing the bipartisan "Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007" (STRIVE Act). The bill was introduced today at a news conference on Capitol Hill.
"This is an important step forward on the road to comprehensive immigration reform," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "The time is now for Congress to act, and we are heartened by the number of legislators on both sides of the aisle deeply committed to producing a realistic solution to our immigration problems."
The "STRIVE Act" includes key elements necessary to fix the broken immigration system: a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a new worker visa program so that future immigrants can arrive legally, a reduction in family immigration backlogs which allows American families to unite in a reasonable time period, and smart enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the new system remains viable.
"Enforcement-only tactics such as anti-immigrant local ordinances and worksite raids have done nothing to curb undocumented immigration, but they have hurt local economies and caused suffering for American families," continued Murguía. "Only a comprehensive approach like the 'STRIVE Act' provides the right framework for a truly workable and effective solution."
"We know this is not a perfect bill and that the devil is in the details, but NCLR and its coalition partners will work hard to ensure that any bill that becomes law is workable, fully protects all workers, and guarantees the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans," noted Murguía.
"All in all, we believe that the introduction of the 'STRIVE Act' marks the beginning of a process which will result in signed legislation this year. This bill can result in good public policy for all Americans who are hungry for a real solution to a system in crisis," concluded Murguía.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
Young Entrepreneurs
Do you have younger brothers and sisters in high school? Tell them about this program! The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) and Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET) are coordinating an Entrepreneurship and Leadership summer program at UF for outstanding high school students. The basic highlights of the program include: -allowing students to take 6 dual enrollment credits (GEB4930 - Exploring Entrepreneurship, SYG2010 - Social Problems)-application of entrepreneurial skills through 75 hours of communityservice (fulfilling the Bright Future's requirement) -on-campus living experience -speaker series and mentor program. You can find out more about the program at http://www.changetheworlduf.org/youngentrepreneurs/. For more information contact Vanessa Frisby at vanessalf@dso.ufl.edu.
1. Pew Hispanic Center Advisory
2. NCLR News Release: DREAM ACT
3. Serving Those Who Serve (Troop Support Group)
4. Who Mentored You Website
5. Mexican-American Students and Barriers to College
6. Operation Troop Appreciation (Troop Support Group)
7. Senator Martinez reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.
8. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Predator Website
9. Keep A Child Alive (For Univ. of Florida students)
10. Recurso (Univ. of Florida student organization)
11. Goodwill Job Junction
12. Operation Gratitude (Troop Support Group)
13. Project SHARE
14. Florida Volunteer Foundation
15. Gov Crist Announces Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
16. Pew Hispanic Research Center Advisory
17. How to donate or recycle your old electronics
18. Youth Venture
19. NCLR News Release: Teen Pregnancy
20. NCLR News Release: STRIVE ACT
21. Young Entrepreneurs
Pew Hispanic Center Advisory
The Pew Hispanic Center today released a factsheet that examines recent trends in the employment of Latino workers in the U.S. labor market and focuses specifically on the construction industry.
Hispanic workers landed two out of every three new construction jobs in 2006, according to the analysis. They benefited from strong employment growth in the industry even as the housing market endured a year-long slump. Indeed, the construction industry continues to be a key source of jobs for Hispanics and especially for those who are foreign born and recently arrived.
Hispanic employment increased by almost 1 million from 2005 to 2006. Even though Latinos account for only 13.6% of total employment, they accounted for 36.7% of the increase in employment. The comparatively high share of employment reflects demographic changes in the U.S. About 40% of the total increase in the working-age population (16 and older) in 2006 was Hispanic and of these three-fourths are foreign born Latino workers.
Foreign-born Latinos who arrived since 2000 were responsible for about 24% of the total increase in employment in the U.S. labor market last year. Estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, suggest that in recent years about two-thirds of the increase in the employment of recently-arrived Hispanic workers has been due to unauthorized migration.
The estimates in the fact sheet are derived from data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. Most of the data is from the Current Population Survey, a monthly Census Bureau survey of approximately 60,000 households. Monthly data are combined to create larger sample sizes and to conduct the analysis on either an annual or quarterly basis. The analysis is for 2004-2006.
The fact sheet, titled Construction Jobs Expand for Latinos Despite Slump in Housing Market, can be obtained on the Center's website.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization, is a project of the Pew Research Center and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts .
NCLR News Release
NCLR URGES CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE "DREAM ACT" AND OPEN THE DOOR TO COLLEGE FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICA'S STUDENTS
March 6, 2007, Washington, DC –- The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., joined the United We DREAM Coalition in urging Congress to approve the Senate's "DREAM Act" which was introduced today by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Lugar (R-IN) joining the House companion bill, the "American Dream Act," introduced last week by Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (D-FL). This bipartisan legislation will allow immigrant students who were raised in the U.S. and graduate from U.S. high schools to go to college and start on the path to citizenship.
"Since the 'DREAM Act' was first introduced in 2001, more than 390,000 of our nation's best and brightest students have graduated from high school with no prospect of going to college. We cannot continue to waste this talent. Now is the time for Congress to pass the 'DREAM Act' and put the tremendous potential that these students have to work for our communities and our country," said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
Every year, American high schools grant diplomas to 65,000 young people whose parents brought them to the U.S. as babies or toddlers. While these students have the academic credentials to pursue a higher education, their immigration status bars them from opportunities that make a college education affordable - in-state tuition rates, loans and grants, most private scholarships, and the ability to work legally to earn their way through college. The "DREAM Act" and the "American Dream Act" will significantly increase access to college for young people who otherwise would not be able to seek higher education.
"These students are American in every way except one. They simply lack the opportunity that many Americans have - the chance to become educated and get ahead in life. The 'DREAM Act' will allow these young people to become the productive, taxpaying citizens this country needs," said Murguía.
The United We DREAM Coalition is a broad alliance of national and local organizations throughout the U.S. which includes civil rights, education, immigrant rights, and faith-based groups. For more information on NCLR or the United We DREAM Coalition, please contact Melissa Lazarín at (202) 785-1670 or mlazarin@nclr.org.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
Serving Those Who Serve
The Pew Hispanic Center today released a factsheet that examines recent trends in the employment of Latino workers in the U.S. labor market and focuses specifically on the construction industry.
Hispanic workers landed two out of every three new construction jobs in 2006, according to the analysis. They benefited from strong employment growth in the industry even as the housing market endured a year-long slump. Indeed, the construction industry continues to be a key source of jobs for Hispanics and especially for those who are foreign born and recently arrived.
Hispanic employment increased by almost 1 million from 2005 to 2006. Even though Latinos account for only 13.6% of total employment, they accounted for 36.7% of the increase in employment. The comparatively high share of employment reflects demographic changes in the U.S. About 40% of the total increase in the working-age population (16 and older) in 2006 was Hispanic and of these three-fourths are foreign born Latino workers.
Foreign-born Latinos who arrived since 2000 were responsible for about 24% of the total increase in employment in the U.S. labor market last year. Estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, suggest that in recent years about two-thirds of the increase in the employment of recently-arrived Hispanic workers has been due to unauthorized migration.
The estimates in the fact sheet are derived from data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. Most of the data is from the Current Population Survey, a monthly Census Bureau survey of approximately 60,000 households. Monthly data are combined to create larger sample sizes and to conduct the analysis on either an annual or quarterly basis. The analysis is for 2004-2006.
The fact sheet, titled Construction Jobs Expand for Latinos Despite Slump in Housing Market, can be obtained on the Center's website.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization, is a project of the Pew Research Center and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts .
NCLR News Release
NCLR URGES CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE "DREAM ACT" AND OPEN THE DOOR TO COLLEGE FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICA'S STUDENTS
March 6, 2007, Washington, DC –- The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., joined the United We DREAM Coalition in urging Congress to approve the Senate's "DREAM Act" which was introduced today by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Lugar (R-IN) joining the House companion bill, the "American Dream Act," introduced last week by Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (D-FL). This bipartisan legislation will allow immigrant students who were raised in the U.S. and graduate from U.S. high schools to go to college and start on the path to citizenship.
"Since the 'DREAM Act' was first introduced in 2001, more than 390,000 of our nation's best and brightest students have graduated from high school with no prospect of going to college. We cannot continue to waste this talent. Now is the time for Congress to pass the 'DREAM Act' and put the tremendous potential that these students have to work for our communities and our country," said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
Every year, American high schools grant diplomas to 65,000 young people whose parents brought them to the U.S. as babies or toddlers. While these students have the academic credentials to pursue a higher education, their immigration status bars them from opportunities that make a college education affordable - in-state tuition rates, loans and grants, most private scholarships, and the ability to work legally to earn their way through college. The "DREAM Act" and the "American Dream Act" will significantly increase access to college for young people who otherwise would not be able to seek higher education.
"These students are American in every way except one. They simply lack the opportunity that many Americans have - the chance to become educated and get ahead in life. The 'DREAM Act' will allow these young people to become the productive, taxpaying citizens this country needs," said Murguía.
The United We DREAM Coalition is a broad alliance of national and local organizations throughout the U.S. which includes civil rights, education, immigrant rights, and faith-based groups. For more information on NCLR or the United We DREAM Coalition, please contact Melissa Lazarín at (202) 785-1670 or mlazarin@nclr.org.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
Serving Those Who Serve
Developed to meet the needs of injured troops and assist injured veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The ASY homefront organization provides free home modifications and repairs to help ease the transition for service members back into their home. Serving Those who Serve focuses on remodeling and renovating homes to help make them safer, more comfortable and to easier to maneuver in independently. The program’s service is provided to veterans who suffer from one or any combination of four injuries including loss of sight, hearing loss, mobility impairments and traumatic brain injury. Serving Those Who Serve is a program of Rebuilding Together, the nation’s largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization. Countrywide Financial Corporation, Serving Those Who Serve’s founding sponsor, recently contributed $1.2 million in grants to the program to help finance home modifications for veterans nationwide. Most recently, Serving Those Who Serve has just begun work on the home of Christopher Edwards and his family in San Antonio, Texas. Edwards suffered third degree burns over 79 percent of his body in early 2005 when a 500-pound bomb exploded beneath his vehicle in Iraq. To learn more, visit http://www.servingthosewhoserve.org/.
Who Mentored You?
Who Mentored You?
Many of us can attribute our personal growth and varying successes to other individuals who helped us along the way. These individuals come from a variety of different backgrounds—some are teachers, parents, coaches, college advisors, and even celebrities—but they all have one thing in common: they know how to build meaningful relationships. http://richardharrisonbaileytheagency.cmail1.com/.aspx/l/145880/88219571/www.whomentoredyou.org is a website dedicated to the art of mentoring. The Center for Health Communication, housed in the Harvard School of Public Health, maintains the site hoping to promote mentoring and to recruit mentors for at–risk students. The site features some wonderful resources; a book and movie list about mentoring, a list of "famous" mentor pairs, and ideas on fun ways to thank your mentor – including submitting a tribute directly to their website, which is posted for others to read.We hope you find this resource useful and inspiring as you continue to make a difference in the lives of others.
Mexican-American High-School Students Perceive Many More Barriers to College Than Do Their White Peers
By LAUREN SMITH
While Mexican-American high-school students and their white peers desire equally to go to college, the former see many more obstacles in their path, according to a new study by researchers in Oregon that looked at "perceived barriers" to higher education.
The study focused on perceptions rather than actual hurdles. "Perceived barriers determine the likelihood someone will carry out their goals," said Ellen Hawley McWhirter, who is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Oregon's College of Education and one of the study's four authors.
The study's findings are described in an article, "Perceived Barriers and Postsecondary Plans in Mexican-American and White Adolescents," in this month's issue of the Journal of Career Assessment. The study focused on 28 potential barriers, both internal and external, and surveyed 140 Mexican-American and 296 white students at high schools in the Midwest and Southwest.
Over all, Mexican-American students anticipated encountering more barriers associated with ability, preparation, motivation, support, and separation from their families, friends, and teachers than did their white counterparts, and expected those barriers to be more difficult to overcome.
The study's most surprising finding, Ms. McWhirter said in an interview on Monday, was that sex was not generally a predictor of whether students would perceive pregnancy and gender discrimination as barriers. But girls, both Mexican-American and white, perceived financial issues as a barrier to higher education more often than boys did.
Among other results, the researchers found no correlation between the educational level of parents and students' perception of barriers. While the children of parents with higher educational levels were more likely to plan to attend four-year colleges, they did not anticipate fewer hurdles than did the children of less-educated parents.
The study cites figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Department of Education, that show Latinos far behind whites and African Americans in their rates of degree completion. Latinos also have higher high-school dropout rates and lower high-school completion rates, compared with white and African-American students, according to federal data.
"These Mexican-American kids aren't doing something wrong," Ms. McWhirter said of the relatively low degree-completion rates. "The crux of the findings are that we as a society have to work to dismantle these barriers, and school systems have to work harder to, so that the wisdom and the value of Mexican-American families can be maximized for the benefit of their kids."
Ms. McWhirter's co-authors on the study were Danielle M. Torres, an assistant professor of school counseling at Lewis and Clark College , and Susana O. Salgado and Marina Valdez, both doctoral students in counseling psychology at the University of Oregon.
For a copy of the report go to http://www.uoregon.edu/newsstory.php?a=2.08.07-Aspirations-McWhirter.html
Operation Troop Appreciation
Mexican-American High-School Students Perceive Many More Barriers to College Than Do Their White Peers
By LAUREN SMITH
While Mexican-American high-school students and their white peers desire equally to go to college, the former see many more obstacles in their path, according to a new study by researchers in Oregon that looked at "perceived barriers" to higher education.
The study focused on perceptions rather than actual hurdles. "Perceived barriers determine the likelihood someone will carry out their goals," said Ellen Hawley McWhirter, who is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Oregon's College of Education and one of the study's four authors.
The study's findings are described in an article, "Perceived Barriers and Postsecondary Plans in Mexican-American and White Adolescents," in this month's issue of the Journal of Career Assessment. The study focused on 28 potential barriers, both internal and external, and surveyed 140 Mexican-American and 296 white students at high schools in the Midwest and Southwest.
Over all, Mexican-American students anticipated encountering more barriers associated with ability, preparation, motivation, support, and separation from their families, friends, and teachers than did their white counterparts, and expected those barriers to be more difficult to overcome.
The study's most surprising finding, Ms. McWhirter said in an interview on Monday, was that sex was not generally a predictor of whether students would perceive pregnancy and gender discrimination as barriers. But girls, both Mexican-American and white, perceived financial issues as a barrier to higher education more often than boys did.
Among other results, the researchers found no correlation between the educational level of parents and students' perception of barriers. While the children of parents with higher educational levels were more likely to plan to attend four-year colleges, they did not anticipate fewer hurdles than did the children of less-educated parents.
The study cites figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the U.S. Department of Education, that show Latinos far behind whites and African Americans in their rates of degree completion. Latinos also have higher high-school dropout rates and lower high-school completion rates, compared with white and African-American students, according to federal data.
"These Mexican-American kids aren't doing something wrong," Ms. McWhirter said of the relatively low degree-completion rates. "The crux of the findings are that we as a society have to work to dismantle these barriers, and school systems have to work harder to, so that the wisdom and the value of Mexican-American families can be maximized for the benefit of their kids."
Ms. McWhirter's co-authors on the study were Danielle M. Torres, an assistant professor of school counseling at Lewis and Clark College , and Susana O. Salgado and Marina Valdez, both doctoral students in counseling psychology at the University of Oregon.
For a copy of the report go to http://www.uoregon.edu/newsstory.php?a=2.08.07-Aspirations-McWhirter.html
Operation Troop Appreciation
Began as one woman’s mission to provide Under Armour ® t-shirts to 38 members of a local Pennsylvania National Guard platoon. Spurred on by the positive response from the troops who received her gift and those who helped her, founder Kristen Holloway quickly turned her project into a permanent organization, and on July 1, 2004, Operation Troop Appreciation was born. Since then, the America Supports You homefront organization has provided thousands of troops with personal “wish-list” items to help ease the hardships of deployment. Operation Troop Appreciation specializes in sending large boxes full of requested items to deployed battalions, which are then distributed among the members. Each of the group’s packages also includes letters to each service member in the unit thanking them for their service and sacrifice. A committee of volunteer pen-pals continues this correspondence with any troop that chooses to respond. To learn more, visit http://www.operationtroopappreciation.com/.
Senator Martinez reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington DC.
Senator Martinez reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington DC.
http://martinez.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&ContentRecord_id=4569&Region_id=0&Issue_id=0&CFID=41359829&CFTOKEN=40060293
MARTINEZ: NATIONAL AMERICAN LATINO MUSEUM STUDY ADVANCES
February 6, 2007 - Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage in Washington, DC. Cosponsoring the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007 with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), Martinez calls the measure a step toward showcasing the historical achievements of American Latinos in a national museum.
MARTINEZ: NATIONAL AMERICAN LATINO MUSEUM STUDY ADVANCES
February 6, 2007 - Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today reintroduced a bill to study the potential creation of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage in Washington, DC. Cosponsoring the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007 with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), Martinez calls the measure a step toward showcasing the historical achievements of American Latinos in a national museum.
“The Nation’s capital has always been a place where we honor the diversity and achievements of America. American Latino history is part of the heritage of America that’s not often well known,” said Martinez. “Whether it’s the Hispanic settlements in America’s Southwest or those at St. Augustine in Florida – there’s very little known about Latino American history and such a museum will help showcase the fabric of our Nation.”
“I believe we must celebrate the diversity of our Nation and Latinos have been a significant part of American history. They have contributed to the arts, business, and served in our Nation's military with distinction,” said Senator Salazar. “This bill would take the first step in commemorating the rich contributions of the Latino community to American life. The end result will be a more enhanced experience for the 20 million visitors that come to our Nation’s capital to learn the full history of America.”
Under the legislation, the commission will consist of 23 members; chosen by the President and leaders of the House and Senate. Members of this commission must have a demonstrated commitment to Hispanic American life, art, history, politics, economics and culture.
Senators Martinez and Salazar introduced the measure last year; a companion bill passed the House of Representatives by voice vote earlier today.
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Predator Website
Check the website for sexual predators living in your neighborhood.
http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do
Keep A Child Alive
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Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Predator Website
Check the website for sexual predators living in your neighborhood.
http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do
Keep A Child Alive
There will be a Keep A Child Alive Chapter (student organization) at the University of Florida. If you want more information about the program, visit http://www.keepachildalive.org/. You can also contact Jennifer if you want to help in the student organization at pink26@ufl.edu.
Recurso
Recurso is a non-profit student organization at the University of Florida made up of a diverse group of students that strive to raise awareness and aid for issues such as global development, healthcare, and poverty alleviation in developing countries in Latin America and Africa. As a result of heightened awareness and successful service projects locally and abroad, they hope that the lives of children in these regions suffering from cancer, AIDS, and/or malnutrition will be enhanced. Through these events they hope to educate the community about international poverty issues, the value of community service, and the importance of being a universal citizen. FMI visit http://grove.ufl.edu/~recurso
Need A Job?
Goodwill Job Junction offers current job leads, internet access for job search, employability skills training, help with resume preparation, one-on-one career consultations, phone/fax/copy center, ‘Hello’ Line- participants without telephones may receive calls from perspective employers, earn high school diploma through on-line coursework provided free by Goodwill, access via distance-learning to soft skills and skills training. NO FEE FOR SERVICES. Contact information: 3520 SW 34th Street Gainesville, FL. 32608 (352) 335-1311 (P). For other areas through Florida, contact Gainesville office.
*Personal Note: This program alone is an excellent reason to support Goodwill and shop there*
Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude seeks to lift troops' morale, and bring a smile to their faces by sending care packages to service members overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.
Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of requested items or funds for shipping expenses, OPERATION GRATITUDE provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. military in an active, hands-on manner.
OPERATION GRATITUDE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer corporation, funded entirely by private donations. For safety and security, the assembling of all packages occurs at the Operation Gratitude Headquarters in California. http://www.opgratitude.com/
Project SHARE
Through voluntary donations from citizens, Project SHARE provides assistance to those who may have difficulty paying their utility bills because of financial hardship. Donations are tax deductible and cover utility-related costs such as lighting, heating, cooling and water. If you would like to make a one-time donation, please call Customer Service at (352) 334-3434. Last year, over $7,000 was distributed directly to those in need thanks to public donations and community partners: The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Gainesville Community Ministries.
If you are someone you know might qualify for Project SHARE assistance, please call the Salvation Army at (352) 376-1743, Catholic Charities at (352) 372-0294 or Gainesville Community Ministries at (352) 372-8162 for application information. Preference for Project SHARE assistance is given to applicants 60 years of age or older or those who are disabled to the extent that they are not economically self-sufficient.
Florida Volunteer Foundation
http://www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org/
Join the email mailing list by emailing Fonda.Anderson@vfffund.org. In the subject line include “Join the VFF email list”.
Gov. Crist Announces Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
Recurso
Recurso is a non-profit student organization at the University of Florida made up of a diverse group of students that strive to raise awareness and aid for issues such as global development, healthcare, and poverty alleviation in developing countries in Latin America and Africa. As a result of heightened awareness and successful service projects locally and abroad, they hope that the lives of children in these regions suffering from cancer, AIDS, and/or malnutrition will be enhanced. Through these events they hope to educate the community about international poverty issues, the value of community service, and the importance of being a universal citizen. FMI visit http://grove.ufl.edu/~recurso
Need A Job?
Goodwill Job Junction offers current job leads, internet access for job search, employability skills training, help with resume preparation, one-on-one career consultations, phone/fax/copy center, ‘Hello’ Line- participants without telephones may receive calls from perspective employers, earn high school diploma through on-line coursework provided free by Goodwill, access via distance-learning to soft skills and skills training. NO FEE FOR SERVICES. Contact information: 3520 SW 34th Street Gainesville, FL. 32608 (352) 335-1311 (P). For other areas through Florida, contact Gainesville office.
*Personal Note: This program alone is an excellent reason to support Goodwill and shop there*
Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude seeks to lift troops' morale, and bring a smile to their faces by sending care packages to service members overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.
Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of requested items or funds for shipping expenses, OPERATION GRATITUDE provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. military in an active, hands-on manner.
OPERATION GRATITUDE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer corporation, funded entirely by private donations. For safety and security, the assembling of all packages occurs at the Operation Gratitude Headquarters in California. http://www.opgratitude.com/
Project SHARE
Through voluntary donations from citizens, Project SHARE provides assistance to those who may have difficulty paying their utility bills because of financial hardship. Donations are tax deductible and cover utility-related costs such as lighting, heating, cooling and water. If you would like to make a one-time donation, please call Customer Service at (352) 334-3434. Last year, over $7,000 was distributed directly to those in need thanks to public donations and community partners: The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Gainesville Community Ministries.
If you are someone you know might qualify for Project SHARE assistance, please call the Salvation Army at (352) 376-1743, Catholic Charities at (352) 372-0294 or Gainesville Community Ministries at (352) 372-8162 for application information. Preference for Project SHARE assistance is given to applicants 60 years of age or older or those who are disabled to the extent that they are not economically self-sufficient.
Florida Volunteer Foundation
http://www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org/
Join the email mailing list by emailing Fonda.Anderson@vfffund.org. In the subject line include “Join the VFF email list”.
Gov. Crist Announces Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
~ Fund expanded to aid tornado victims: Donate by calling 1-800-825-3786 ~
LADY LAKE – Governor Charlie Crist today expanded the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, formerly known as the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, to assist in the long-term needs of Floridians impacted by the deadly tornadoes that struck Central Florida on February 2, 2007. Governor Crist also announced the appointment of Pastor Ken Scrubbs of Leesburg to serve on the fund’s Advisory Council.
“Regardless of whether tragedy strikes in the form a hurricane, tornado or other disaster, it is crucial for neighbors to help neighbors,” said Governor Crist. “Just as they have in the past, Floridians will help those in need.” The Florida Disaster Recovery Fund was originally founded in 2004 to provide assistance to hurricane victims for losses not covered by immediate recovery groups, insurance or government funding. The fund, managed by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, works with non-profit organizations in affected communities. Extending this fund to include tornado victims will help survivors in Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties by providing individual assistance through long-term recovery organizations.
“Local decision-making keeps recovery moving,” said Pastor Scrubbs. “Donors have a cost-effective way to help neighbors, non-profits and faith-based groups not eligible for other funding.” All donations to the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund are tax-deductible (Florida charitable registration #8536). Donations can be made securely online by visiting http://www.volunteerfloridafoundation.org/ or by calling 1-800-825-3786. Checks are also accepted and can be made payable to the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund and mailed to Volunteer Florida Foundation, 401 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.
Since August 2004, the fund has received more than $23 million in private donations. These donations have aided more than 300 non-profit organizations. Over 1.1 million volunteer hours have been donated and over 12,000 homes have been rebuilt.
“This fund allows each Floridian the opportunity to help rebuild lives and communities after disaster strikes,” said former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, chairman of the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund’s Advisory Council. “Governor Crist’s announcement today expands the use of this important resource to other disasters that can be equally devastating to our state.”
Governor Crist also announced the following pledges to the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund to help survivors of the tornadoes on February 2, 2007: AT&T, $50,000 Progress Energy Florida, $50,000 BP Foundation, $25,000 Bank of America, $10,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, $10,000 Darden Restaurants, $10,000 The Home Depot, $10,000“Thanks to the generosity of these companies, the people of Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties will be better able to begin putting their lives back together,” said Governor Crist. “Donations to this fund will now help tornado survivors just as they have helped hundreds across our state recover from hurricane devastation.”
Pastor Ken Scrubbs currently works as an outreach pastor of the First Baptist Church in Leesburg, Florida. He works with numerous youth-centered ministries, including a juvenile prison ministry, the Lake County school system’s campus ministry and mentoring children of incarcerated parents. Pastor Scrubbs graduated from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana.
Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
http://www.flahurricanefund.org/
Pew Hispanic Research Center Advisory
Washington, DC – Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet. Several socio-economic characteristics that are often intertwined, such as low levels of education and limited English ability, largely explain the gap in internet use between Hispanics and non-Hispanics.
These are some of the key findings in a new report issued today by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet Project titled "Latinos Online":
•78% of Latinos who are English-dominant and 76% of bilingual Latinos use the internet, compared with 32% of Spanish-dominant Hispanic adults.
•76% of U.S.-born Latinos go online, compared with 43% of those born outside the U.S. Some of this is related to language, but analysis shows that being born outside of the 50 states is an independent factor that is associated with a decreased likelihood of going online.
•89% of Latinos who have a college degree, 70% of Latinos who completed high school, and 31% of Latinos who did not complete high school go online.
•Mexicans are the largest national origin group in the U.S. Latino population and are among the least likely groups to go online: 52% of Latinos of Mexican descent uses the internet. Even when age, income, language, generation, or nativity is held constant, being Mexican is associated with a decreased likelihood of going online.
Florida Disaster Recovery Fund
http://www.flahurricanefund.org/
Pew Hispanic Research Center Advisory
Washington, DC – Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet. Several socio-economic characteristics that are often intertwined, such as low levels of education and limited English ability, largely explain the gap in internet use between Hispanics and non-Hispanics.
These are some of the key findings in a new report issued today by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet Project titled "Latinos Online":
•78% of Latinos who are English-dominant and 76% of bilingual Latinos use the internet, compared with 32% of Spanish-dominant Hispanic adults.
•76% of U.S.-born Latinos go online, compared with 43% of those born outside the U.S. Some of this is related to language, but analysis shows that being born outside of the 50 states is an independent factor that is associated with a decreased likelihood of going online.
•89% of Latinos who have a college degree, 70% of Latinos who completed high school, and 31% of Latinos who did not complete high school go online.
•Mexicans are the largest national origin group in the U.S. Latino population and are among the least likely groups to go online: 52% of Latinos of Mexican descent uses the internet. Even when age, income, language, generation, or nativity is held constant, being Mexican is associated with a decreased likelihood of going online.
The report, written by Susannah Fox and Gretchen Livingston, is based on telephone surveys of 6,016 Latino adults, aged 18 and older, conducted in Spanish and English from June 2006 to October, 2006.
"For many people living in the U.S., the internet is the go-to source for information and for staying in touch with friends and family," said Fox, an associate director at the Pew Internet Project "but we find that significant portions of the population are cut off from online resources. Only about one-third of Hispanics who have not completed high school and one-third of Latinos who do not speak and read English go online."
"The balance among Latinos could swing within a few generations," said Livingston, a research associate at the Pew Hispanic Center. "The sons and daughters of immigrants are flocking online – eight out of ten second-generation Latinos have access to the internet."
Some Latinos who do not use the internet are connecting to the communications revolution in a different way – via cell phone. Fully 59% of Latino adults have a cell phone and 49% of Latino cell phone users send and receive text messages on their phone. Looking at the numbers in a different way, 56% of Latino adults go online, 18% of Latino adults have a cell phone but do not go online, and 26% of Latino adults have neither a cell phone nor an internet connection.
About the projects: The Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet & American Life Project are non-profit initiatives of the Pew Research Center and are funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Pew Hispanic Center's mission is to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the entire nation. The Pew Internet Project examines the social impact of the internet.
Projects of the Pew Research Center do not advocate for or take positions on policy issues.
Where you can donate or recycle your old electronics (U.S. EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/basic.htm#reuse
Ten tips for donating a computer
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/hardware/page5496.cfm
Youth Venture
Youth Venture helps young people (ages 12-20) anywhere in the U.S. to start new community-serving ventures that are likely to last. Youth Venture provides a process (and guidance) for developing business plans for such ventures, seed money funding of up to $1,000 for start-up expenses, advice to help overcome implementation obstacles, connections with other venture teams and like-minded youth, and exposure to opportunities for publicity, training, grants, and scholarships.
We will be awarding seed grants of up to $1000 to launch roughly 50 Tu Voz My Venture teams throughout the nation. Moreover, of the 50 teams that are launched, five will be selected to each receive a $5,000 scholarship (to be shared evenly among team members). The deadline for eligibility to win the scholarship is June 29, 2007.
For more information, visit http://www.youthventure.org/.
Marco A. Davis
Director of Fellowship and Mid-Atlantic Region
Youth Venture
1700 North Moore Street Suite 2000
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone 703-527-4126 ext. 326
Fax 703-527-8383
mdavis@youthventure.org
http://www.youthventure.org/
NCLR News Release
NCLR JOINS WITH REP. HILDA SOLIS AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY TO LAUNCH NEW LATINO INITIATIVE
Washington, DC - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., will partner with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on a new education and outreach initiative aimed at Latino teens and young adults. The launch of the new initiative was announced today at a news conference on Capitol Hill featuring Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA).
Where you can donate or recycle your old electronics (U.S. EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/basic.htm#reuse
Ten tips for donating a computer
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/hardware/page5496.cfm
Youth Venture
Youth Venture helps young people (ages 12-20) anywhere in the U.S. to start new community-serving ventures that are likely to last. Youth Venture provides a process (and guidance) for developing business plans for such ventures, seed money funding of up to $1,000 for start-up expenses, advice to help overcome implementation obstacles, connections with other venture teams and like-minded youth, and exposure to opportunities for publicity, training, grants, and scholarships.
We will be awarding seed grants of up to $1000 to launch roughly 50 Tu Voz My Venture teams throughout the nation. Moreover, of the 50 teams that are launched, five will be selected to each receive a $5,000 scholarship (to be shared evenly among team members). The deadline for eligibility to win the scholarship is June 29, 2007.
For more information, visit http://www.youthventure.org/.
Marco A. Davis
Director of Fellowship and Mid-Atlantic Region
Youth Venture
1700 North Moore Street Suite 2000
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone 703-527-4126 ext. 326
Fax 703-527-8383
mdavis@youthventure.org
http://www.youthventure.org/
NCLR News Release
NCLR JOINS WITH REP. HILDA SOLIS AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY TO LAUNCH NEW LATINO INITIATIVE
Washington, DC - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., will partner with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on a new education and outreach initiative aimed at Latino teens and young adults. The launch of the new initiative was announced today at a news conference on Capitol Hill featuring Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA).
"Nearly half of Latinas become pregnant before age 20. High teen pregnancy rates are robbing our young women of too many opportunities - the opportunity to go to college, the opportunity to start a rewarding career, and the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of a better future," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
"Unplanned and unprotected sex also poses serious health risks for Latinas. That's why we welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Representative Solis and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on this issue," continued Murguía.
"The National Campaign has been a key leader in the successful effort to reduce overall teen pregnancy rates in our country. The new Latino initiative will build on this track record of success and zero in on the specific themes, messages, and approaches we need to reach Hispanic young people, especially those overlooked by traditional mainstream efforts," Murguía said.
"We commend Representative Solis for her passion and leadership on this issue. I can think of no better champion than Hilda Solis to spearhead our efforts on Capitol Hill," noted Murguía.
"The National Campaign has involved Hispanic community-based organizations and substantive experts at every phase, and on every level, of this campaign. They're going about this exactly the right way, which gives me great confidence that we can successfully reverse the teen pregnancy crisis in our community," concluded Murguía.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
NCLR News Release
NCLR WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF STRIVE ACT
Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today applauded Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for taking a bold step forward and introducing the bipartisan "Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007" (STRIVE Act). The bill was introduced today at a news conference on Capitol Hill.
"This is an important step forward on the road to comprehensive immigration reform," stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. "The time is now for Congress to act, and we are heartened by the number of legislators on both sides of the aisle deeply committed to producing a realistic solution to our immigration problems."
The "STRIVE Act" includes key elements necessary to fix the broken immigration system: a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a new worker visa program so that future immigrants can arrive legally, a reduction in family immigration backlogs which allows American families to unite in a reasonable time period, and smart enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the new system remains viable.
"Enforcement-only tactics such as anti-immigrant local ordinances and worksite raids have done nothing to curb undocumented immigration, but they have hurt local economies and caused suffering for American families," continued Murguía. "Only a comprehensive approach like the 'STRIVE Act' provides the right framework for a truly workable and effective solution."
"We know this is not a perfect bill and that the devil is in the details, but NCLR and its coalition partners will work hard to ensure that any bill that becomes law is workable, fully protects all workers, and guarantees the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans," noted Murguía.
"All in all, we believe that the introduction of the 'STRIVE Act' marks the beginning of a process which will result in signed legislation this year. This bill can result in good public policy for all Americans who are hungry for a real solution to a system in crisis," concluded Murguía.
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All Content © 2007 NCLR. All Rights Reserved
Young Entrepreneurs
Do you have younger brothers and sisters in high school? Tell them about this program! The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) and Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET) are coordinating an Entrepreneurship and Leadership summer program at UF for outstanding high school students. The basic highlights of the program include: -allowing students to take 6 dual enrollment credits (GEB4930 - Exploring Entrepreneurship, SYG2010 - Social Problems)-application of entrepreneurial skills through 75 hours of communityservice (fulfilling the Bright Future's requirement) -on-campus living experience -speaker series and mentor program. You can find out more about the program at http://www.changetheworlduf.org/youngentrepreneurs/. For more information contact Vanessa Frisby at vanessalf@dso.ufl.edu.
Regards,
David J. Ruiz
David J. Ruiz
posted by David J. Ruiz | 1:44:00 AM
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