Regional Growth Partnership's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy open for comment

The Regional Growth Partnership is welcoming feedback on the draft of the region's updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy which will guide the work of policymakers and regional agencies on issues of economic development for the next five years.

Visit www.rgp-ct.org for the draft and contact information. The comment period runs through April 23.

Local Grants available for law- or justice-related programs

The New Haven County Bar Foundation, Inc. offers small grants twice a year for programs that support the Greater New Haven area, especially those relating to the law, judicial system, legal education and/or access to justice. Grant guidelines and application can be found at www.newhavenbar.org/foundation.php. Upcoming submission deadline is April 15, 2008.

New Haven Public Schools makes top 20 finalist list for Make It Your Own Awards™

Make It Your Own is an untraditional grants program that embraces a more grassroots, “citizen-centered” approach to funding. After selecting the top 20 ideas from an initial 100 announced this past October, the Case Foundation is now inviting America to get online and vote for the Final Four, each of whom will be awarded an additional $25,000 in grant dollars to help realize their dreams.

Please visit casefoundation.org/myvote and vote for My School is Your School, a project developed by New Haven Public Schools' Community Engagement Team. The team is committed to collaborating with parents, students, community members, teachers and principals to create a welcoming atmosphere in every school. Details: www.nhps.net.

50% off CAMELOT tickets!

50% Off Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances of CAMELOT April 8–13!

Details: visit http://www.capa.com/newhaven/events/event.php?e=102.

Community Programs & Wealth-Building Initiatives announced by Hill Development Corp.

• Downpayment and/or closing costs forgivable loans from City of New Haven and local nonprofits
• Home improvement and emergency repair programs from GNH Community Loan Fund & Livable City Initiative
• Foreclosure prevention programs--mortgage refinancing with FHA and CHFA programs
• Individual Development Accounts--matching savings plans

Details: Kerri Kelshall-Ward at 776-3759 x203 or kward347@aol.com.

New Audio Guide Tours at Peabody Museum

Beginning April 12, visitors to the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History will have an enriched experience as they tour the Museum. Thanks to the efforts and support of two of the Museum's most dedicated friends, the Peabody is introducing audio guides that enable visitors to conduct self-guided audio walking tours of the Museum's permanent exhibits. The free audio guides will enable visitors to key in 36 different stops, or locations, to hear stories and information about many of the Museum's prized exhibits and specimens. The Peabody guide offers 70 minutes of insightful audio commentary developed by Museum curators and educators.

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is open M-S, 10-5, Sun noon-5. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children 3-18.; free for Museum members, Yale I.D. holders, and children under 3; free to all on Thursdays 2-5 pm. www.peabody.yale.edu. Details: Melanie Brigockas, 432-5099

HB 5937 An Act Concerning Neighborhood Assistance Act

The intent of this bill is to amend the Neighborhood Assistance tax credit program to once again permit the participation of “S” corporations, LLCs, and LLPs . Because these corporations have been excluded from the program over the past few years, participation has been far below the maximum $5 million limit. Details: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=5937&which_year=2008

Bottom line: Bill 5937 will allow nonprofit organizations to obtain more gifts from businesses. To support this bill, please contact either State Rep. Cameron Staples of New Haven or State Senator Eileen Daily of Westbrook. For a list of the committee members, with links to their e-mail addresses and web pages, please contact Al May (amay@ccahelping.org).

PERFORMATHON at Neighborhood Music School

Neighborhood Music School's annual Performathon runs March 30-April 6, a marathon week of music and dance recitals to raise money and awareness for the school’s financial aid program. Over 600 students will participate, with a goal of raising $25,000 in support of those who could not otherwise afford the quality music and dance education that NMS offers.

The entire Performathon festival of concerts is open to the public. Anyone can sponsor one or more students as a way of showing support for the NMS mission to provide high quality music and dance education and opportunities to people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and economic means. For complete information visit www.nmsmusicschool.org/performathon.html or call 624-5189.

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The New Haven Early Childhood Council (formerly New Haven School Readiness Council) announces a unique grant opportunity for organizations to hire a "Parent Liaison" to connect with parents and providers across the city. This position is designed to promote community awareness, education, and advocacy around early childhood issues. The Request for Proposals may be found at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhrs4hrm_142dv6jjhfq&btr=EmailImport

Up to $20,000 is available for the Parent Liaison position from April 2008-December 2009. Deadline for application is Friday, April 18.

Jordana Willers
New Haven Early Childhood Council Coordinator
(203) 248-0520
jordana.willers@gmail.com

New Haven named one of America's Best Walking Cities

New Haven has been named to the American Podiatric Medical Association's 2008 list of "America's Best Walking Cities," ranking 19 out of 500 major American cities, and #1 in Connecticut. A recent U.S. Census report also ranks New Haven highest of all Connecticut cities for its percentage of bicycle commuters. Read more in Prevention Magazine: http://walking.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsitenoad.htm?zi=1/XK/WQ&sdn=walking&cdn=health&tm=33&gps=157_67_1020_545&f=10&su=p284.9.336.ip_p674.5.336.ip_&tt=3&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.prevention.com/bestcities/main.html%3Fcity%3D3
source: Mayor's Office, City of New Haven

Saturday June 14 is CT Open House Day--Are You IN?

The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism is sponsoring its first CT Open House on June 14 to showcase attractions for CT residents. If you are interested in learning more about participating in this initiative, visit
http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2128&q=411748.

Participate in Focus Group with CT Assoc. of Nonprofits?

CT Nonprofits is interested in conducting a 2-hour focus group in our area to discuss Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. The session would be held either at the beginning or end of the work day in southern Connecticut–either New Haven or Fairfield County. Please contact rcretaro@ctnonprofits.org if you are interested in participating.

An Evening With Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate

PeaceJam Northeast Youth Conference kicks off with a free public talk by Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams on April 4, 7pm, at Springfield Symphony Hall, Springfield, MA. The Conference will bring together over 250 high school age youth from around the Northeast for a weekend of exploring issues of peace, social justice, and activism with Ms. Williams.

A native of Vermont, Williams was awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her role as founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. This worldwide effort resulted in 156 countries signing a treaty to ban the use of anti-personnel landmines, and launched an international movement to clear these minefields around the world and assist the hundreds of thousands of victims.

For more information: bfelson@nextgenleaders.org

The New Haven Scrabble Challenge will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 5:30-8pm, atop the Knights of Columbus building. Major sponsors include The New Haven Register, People's United Bank, Gateway Community College, and Knights of Columbus.

Ads for the New Haven Scrabble Challenge have started to appear in every Friday's Weekend section of the New Haven Register. Sponsor forms, Registration forms, rules and directions are all available at http://www.lvagnh.org/html/scrabbleChalNewHaven.html.

This popular annual fundraising event always sells out, so reserve your table now and support the services of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven!

Rosetta Stone is Yours for Free with Your Library Card

Why pay for it when it's available for free with a New Haven Public Library card? You can use this critically acclaimed software to learn Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), American English, French, and Latin American Spanish.

1. Visit the library's website: www.cityofnewhaven.com/library
2. Click on databases (sidebar)
3. Click on Rosetta Stone
4. Login using your library card
5. Get started with the level you choose and language you want to learn.

No more excuses!

MI HomePower community information sessions

Empower New Haven's MI Homepower initiative can provide $10,000 toward the purchase of a home. The public is invited attend one of three information sessions:

• March 27 11-to 12:30 pm at Empower New Haven, 59 Elm St.
• April 3, 5:30-6:30 at Empower New Haven
• April 5, 11-12:30 pm at New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St.
  

Details: http://empowernewhaven.org/32

Feature Film Union Membership Orientation in New Haven on March 22

To work on most feature films shooting in Connecticut, resident professionals must obtain membership in the union appropriate to his or her skills. The CT Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) and the CT Office for Workforce Competitiveness (OWC) will host a free feature film union membership orientation workshop on Saturday, March 22, 10-4 p.m. at the Omni New Haven.

This workshop is designed to assist CT film professionals in their applications for membership. Representatives from 10 New York film unions will be here, along with George Norfleet, director of the film division and Charles Miller, film industry liaison for the Office of Workforce Competitiveness. Information will be available about tax credits, the recently announced summer film industry training program and planned RFPs for the development of the film and digital media industry.

Details: George Norfleet (860) 256-2800 or cmiller@ctfilm.com.

Upcoming New Haven Budget Meetings

Budget public meetings:
March 27 at 6pm, St. Aedan's Church Hall
April 9 at 6pm, Pilgrim Congregational Church Hall
April 24 at 6pm, St. Bernadette Church Hall

10,000 Villages + Domestic Violence Services

Help the women and families served by Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven by shopping at Ten Thousand Villages in New Haven on March 9 from noon-6pm. The store will donate 10% of its sales to DVS as part of its celebration of International Women's Day. http://www.dvsgnh.org.