So, You Think You'd Like to Start a Nonprofit?

Staff and volunteers considering filing for tax exempt status and individuals interested in starting a nonprofit should consider attending a seminar at the Bridgeport Area Foundation that will cover the pros, cons, and processes involved in becoming a charitable organization with tax-exempt status, as well as alternatives that still allow your organization to receive donations. After attending this workshop you will be able to determine whether filing for 501(c)3 status is the right choice for your organization. Facilitator: Maurice Segall, Pro Bono Partnership.
When: June 7, noon-2pm
Location: Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, 211 State St., 3rd floor, Bridgeport
Fee: $50 per person/$35 per additional person from same organization
Register online or call the NRC at (203) 334-7511

DEP Open Space Grant Program Workshop

On Thursday, May 31, 6-8:30 pm, the CT Land Conservation Council hosts a workshop to cover filling out the application, where to find supporting information, and how to order the correct appraisal for one of the state's most important sources of funding for land conservation! Presenters include Anne Colby (Southbury Land Trust), Beth Brothers (CTDEP) and Elisabeth Moore (CT Farmland Trust). $10. Details: (860) 344-0716 x320 or spellegrino@tnc.org. Location: CT Forest and Park Association, 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall, CT

Opening at Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services

Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services has an immediate opening for a Program Coordinator of the Refugee Education and Family Services (REFS) program.

This is a flexible and integrated family education program for refugees and immigrants that includes in-school tutoring, after-school programs, and summer school activities for children. It is complemented by English language training and acculturation activities for parents. In addition, the REFS Coordinator will develop and implement international diversity training activities for the general school population.

Requirements include: at least 3 years of relevant professional management experience, a BA degree in an education-related field, experience working with a variety of nationalities and cultures, experience working with English language learners, understanding of the New Haven school system, and excellent communication skills. Bi-lingual preferred.

For more than 25 years, IRIS has welcomed and settled more than 4,000 refugees in the New Haven area: www.irisct.org. Please send cover and resume to cgeorge@interfaithrefugee.org
by June 15.

Family passes at New Haven Public Library

If you're planning to take the family to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, or to a state park, we can save you some money--stop into the Children's Department and check out one of our discount passes ($2 off each person, for up to 6 people) to the Aquarium, or the No Child Left Inside day pass for CT state parks, including the Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gilette Castle State Parks. More information about CT state parks may be found at www.ct.gov/dep.

New Haven Family Alliance seeks Case Manager-Juvenile Review Board

Responsibilities: Coordinate all cases to be addressed by JRB including but not limited to: Processing all referrals, family background interviews, obtain relevant school documentation, completion of JRB forms, set hearing dates, provide all compiled data to JRB members.

Monitor progress of individual participants in meeting goals established by JRB including but not limited: Individual, family and /or group work that addresses specific behavior issues, essays, education/awareness programs and other consequences as assigned.

Coordinate community service placements and supervision of participants as required. Coordinate positive youth development activities for participants. Complete follow-up contact as required with participants for one year. Complete mandated reports for the town and state.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice, human services or related field; at least one year working with adolescents and families in community setting; or equivalent. Effective leadership, time management and organizational skills; verbal and written communication skills; valid driver’s license.

Details: Contact Shirley West at New Haven Family Alliance (NHFA), 370 James St, 2nd Floor, New Haven CT 06513.
(203) 786-5970

Artspace Presents: 101 Dresses

May 9 to June 23– 101 Dresses, an exhibition co-curated by Linda Lindroth and Denise Markonish, celebrates fashion in contemporary art, 101+ examples of fashion in all media by a mix of local and national visual artists, fashion designers and collectors. Community activities will also focus on this subject and its history in New Haven, which was once a major center for garment manufacturing. Opening reception is May 12, 5-8 pm.

Eleanor Estes, local children’s author and West Haven librarian (1906-1988), was author of the award-winning Ginger Pye and The Moffats, as wll as The Hundred Dresses (1944), the classic children’s book that serves as inspiration for the exhibition. Widely considered a timeless tale of courage, The Hundred Dresses tells the story of Polish immigrant Wanda Petronski and her experiences at her new American school. The wide-ranging art featured in 101 Dresses explores and examines countless, oft-overlooked, ways in which fashion tells stories of its own.

Participating artists include: Anni Abbi, Allen Art, Nina Bentley, Marianne Bernstein, Kathy Bitetti, Susan Breen, Zoe Brookes, Donnamaria Bruton, Kelsey Byers, Harriet Caldwell, Lisa Costanzo, R. Crumb, Jennifer Davies, Steve DiGiovani, Nancy Eisenfeld, Valerie Ferus, Joan Fitzsimmons, Roberta Friedman, Joan Gardner, Mario Giacomelli, Stephen Grossman, Marisa Jahn, Maira Kalman, Barbara Kalpatrick, kHyal, Lonnie Long, Lady McCrady, Charlotte McCurdy, Jane Miller, Barbara Morgan, Andy Mowbray, Alan Neider, Alexis Neider, Yoko Ono, Zac Posen, J. Morgan Puett, Shannon Rankin, Karen Ruenitz, Steve Shada, Karen Shaw, Zoe Sheehan, Jean Shin, Laurie Simmons, Alice Smith, Mimi Smith, Esther Solondz, Christina Spiesel, Studio 5050, Ari Tabei, Rashmi Talpade, Bob Taplin, Joyce Tenneson, Rita Valley, Rachael Vaters-Carr, Maryjean Viano Crowe, Jonathan Waters, Jemma Williams, Aicha Woods, and others. Students from Wexler Grant School also created artistic responses to the show.

Exhibition events:
Saturday, May 12, Artspace, 6-8 pm: Opening reception. At 6 pm there will be performances by Ari Tabei and Rebecca Parker
Thursday, May 17, Artspace, 7 pm : “Clothes They Stood Up In” book discussion with author Hedda Kopf
Saturday, June 9, 3-6pm at Artspace: Clothing Recycling and Swap day, $5 admissions, $2 for students
Saturday, June 16, 1 pm: Fashion show of the best in recycled art from the Swap, on the New Haven Green, as part of Arts & Ideas Village of Villages, followed by a talk at Artspace with Helena Estes, daughter of The Hundred Dresses author, Eleanor Estes.

CONTACT: Denise Markonish, Artspace at 772-2709 or denise@artspacenh.org

Men wanted for Shubert performance during Festival

International Festival of Arts & Ideas is seeking 12 male extras for Giselle, presented by Nina Ananiashvili and the State Ballet of Georgia at New Haven’s Shubert Theater.

You don’t need to be a dancer! Giselle extras will have walk-on roles during the ballet’s first act. The ballet company will give clear, detailed instructions and provide you with shoes and costumes. If you feel comfortable being onstage, we want you!

We’re seeking:
4 men: 5’ 5” to 5’ 7” tall with men’s shoe size 8½-9 (US)
and
8 men: 5’ 7½” to 5’ 9½” tall with men’s shoe size 9-10 (US)

Please note that this is an unpaid commitment.

Time Commitment:
· Two-Hour Rehearsal: to be held either Thursday, June 14 or Friday, June 15
· Performance #1: Fri., June 15
· Performance #2: Sat., June 16

All rehearsals and performances will take place at the Shubert Theater, 247 College Street, New Haven.

Giselle is the Festival’s first full-length ballet performance. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Festival history!

We will be conducting interviews May 14-25. Please call to schedule an interview.

submitted by
Lydia Garcia
(203) 498-3748
casting@artidea.org

2007/2008 Mayor's Community Arts Grant Program

This year's program will focus on supporting outreach and exposure of New Haven's many artists and neighborhood-based organizations in three program areas: Arts, Cultural Heritage and Youth/Artist Development. A series of free workshops will be presented at various city library branches covering budget preparation, marketing, event planning and overview of the application (workshop schedules at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhrs4hrm_87ffpn9g)

Application deadline is June 11, 2007. A total of $15,000 will be awarded in amounts ranging from $500-$1500. Download the grant application package at www.cityofnewhaven.com/EconomicDevelopment/CulturalAffairs.asp.

For details: contact Kim Futrell, 946-7172 or kfutrell@newhavenct.net.

Be A Better Man: father support group

Also-Cornerstone & New Haven Family Alliance MALE INVOLVEMENT NETWORK offer a Father support group for any father, biological or not, every Tuesday evening, 6-8pm, at 90 Norton St., A-3, New Haven. Refreshements; open enrollment. Details: 562-8260.

The Era, Art and Legacy Lecture Series at New Haven Museum and Historical Society

The Era, Art and Legacy Lectures will highlight aspects of the 1930s Federal Arts Project throughout New Haven and the na­tion, enhancing the Federal Arts Project in New Haven: Era, Art and Legacy exhibition currently on view at the Historical Society. Explore New Haven in the 1930s; cele­brate the murals and sculpture of New Haven; learn how the art is being preserved; and discover New Haven’s place in this na­tional program to employ artists and create public works of art. Details: 562-4183

Lectures:

• May 23: A Decade of Contrasts: New Haven in the 1930s,
  Amy Trout, NHM&HS Curator. How history and art played a pivotal role in forging New Haven’s identity in the 1930s during the nation’s most crippling economic depression.
  
  May 30: When Walls Could Talk: CT WPA & Section Mu­rals in Their Historical Context
  Dr. Bruce W. Chambers, Independent Art Historian. Evolution of the 20th-century mural from the beaux arts to Mexico and right home to Connecticut.
  
  June 6: The FAP Murals and Sculpture: Saving the Art and Celebrating Their Legacy
  Patricia Garland, Senior Conservator Yale University Art Gallery & Conservator in Private Practice and Francis Miller, Conservator, ConservArt LLC
  Many FAP murals and sculptural works around New Haven are lost or in jeopardy. See case studies of conservation work to save and celebrate these treasures.
  
  

Do you want to read To Kill a Mockingbird but struggle with a visual, learning or other disability?

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) offers recorded copies of To Kill a Mockingbird to the estimated 20,000 CT students who struggle with print disabilities. If you or someone you know qualifies, contact RFB&D to find out how you can obtain a free recording of the book: www.rfbd.org or call Karen Cavenaugh at (203) 624-4334.

Paws In the Park project in West Haven in June

The Milford Jaycees are seeking animal-related vendors and dog agility demonstrations for their Paws In the Park project on Saturday, June 16, 11-4 pm, at the Savin Rock Grove Area in West Haven for the benefit of the West Haven Animal Shelter. Raindate is June 23.

There will be a vendor mall where businesses can showcase their animal-related products. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details: 444-0263 or http://www.milfordjaycees.org or email to paws@milfordjaycees.org.

National Priorities Project discovered May Day on New Haven Green

The National Priorities Project (NPP) offers citizen and community groups tools and resources to shape federal budget and policy priorities which promote social and economic justice. NPP is a nonprofit organization that provides data on the impact of federal spending policies for states, cities and counties; educates and trains citizens, activists, media and elected officials on the federal budget, the budget’s local impact and community needs; collaborates with national groups on federal budget initiatives; and facilitates dialogue and action between national social justice and security policy groups. Details: http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=65

submitted by Seth Godfrey
sgodfrey@nhfpl.org

Successful BIG READ-ALOUD of To Kill A Mockingbird

All five New Haven Public Library branches report enthusiastic response from our communities for yesterday's Read-Aloud. If you came in to read or to listen, thanks for your participation in our first New Haven community reading experience!

And thanks to the following people and organizations for materially contributing to the success of this event:

Yale University Office of New Haven and State Affairs: refreshments

Atticus Book Store Cafe: gift certificates

Long Wharf Theatre: gift tickets to Uncle Vanya

Yale Repertory Theatre: gift tickets to The Unmentionables

Festival of Arts and Ideas: gift tickets to Festival events

Arts Council: gift tickets to ArtSpot!

GNH Chamber of Commerce: gift tickets to Business After Hours

Chabaso bakery: refreshments for Fair Haven Branch

Amy Estabrook: created art guest book for Main Branch

the staff of the New Haven Free Public Library: logistics & participation!