Acting classes for all ages at Long Wharf

Work with Long Wharf Theatre's Education staff to explore your hidden talents, land that part you've always wanted or ace that upcoming college audition. Evening and weekend classes for adults and kids forming now for WINTER 2010. Private and group sessions available! Call Jim Clark at (203) 787-4284 x294.

Bus trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Orange Arts and Culture Council will sponsor a bus trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on January 7. It will be a docent-led tour of the exhibition American Stories, Paintings of Everyday Life 1765-1915. Artists include Charles Wilson Peale, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, and Winslow Homer. The bus will leave at 7:45am from the parking lot of the Orange Congregational Church, Orange Center Road. Cost is $65. For reservations and information call Stephanie at 203-389-2044, or Joan at 203-795-31227.

Deadline is Jan. 29 for Arte scholarships

To date Arte has awarded $30,000 in scholarships to Latino individuals to pursue their interest in the arts.  Scholarships are available in any arts discipline, including but not limited to visual, performance, literary, architecture, culinary, music etc…!  Awards can be for tuition assistance, lessons, workshops or the purchase of supplies.  Applicants must be of Latino descent, have lived in Connecticut for a minimum of one year and have shown participation in or an aptitude for the arts.  Details: http://www.arte-inc.com/

Connecticut Association of Nonprofits Announces Winter Trainings

Check out the new Center for Professional Development Winter 2010 Training Catalog by visiting http://ctnonprofits.org/ctnonprofits/sites/default/files/fckeditor/file/education/CPD_WinterCatalog_web.pdf

For more information, contact Mark Berardi at mberardi@ctnonprofits.org or 860-525-5080.

New Haven Neighborhood Small Grants Program now open

Community Foundation for GNH is accepting applications from civic groups in New Haven to promote civic participation and strengthen the civic infrastructure within New Haven neighborhoods. $100 to $3000 grants are available to neighborhood groups and associations, parent and youth groups, faith-based organizations and more. Past grants have been awarded to self sufficiency projects, neighborhood identity and pride activities, beautification efforts, youth enrichment and athletic activities and senior and parent activities. Deadline is 5 pm on Friday, February 12. Details at 203-777-7077 or http://www.cfgnh.org/.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites announced

Starting February 1, Strive's free tax preparation through the New Haven Economic Security Coalition will be open for business. VITA sites are open to the public, and serve individuals on a first-come, first-served basis. Details: 203 777-1720  or www.strivenewhaven.com/599.html.

Local doctors aren't waiting for national health insurance

Read Randall Beach's article about Project Access in The New Haven Register and attend the Chamber's Health Care Council meeting on Jan. 8 to learn more (http://www.gnhcc.com/).

More than 200 local doctors who are as frustrated as the general public about delays in implementing national health care reform, have formed a coalition to donate specialty health services for low-income, uninsured individuals.

While it could take a couple of years for health care legislation to bear fruit here, members of Project Access-New Haven hope to begin providing service by April.

“Our motto is: ‘Health care reform starts at home,’” said Dr. Peter Ellis, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale who is also a New Haven-based physician. He is medical director for Project Access-New Haven.

Full article at http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/12/28/news/new_haven/a1_mon_nedoctors_art.prt

Volunteer needed to help with Classic Film Program at New Haven Public Library

I'm looking for someone to assist with our Wednesday Classics program that will screen classic films on the first and last Wednesdays of the month starting Jan. 6 (see schedule below). No experience or expertise necessary (except for an appreciation of classic films), and you don't have to commit to the full schedule!

--Carol Brown, nhfplevents@gmail.com or (203) 946-8835.

WEDNESDAY CLASSICS, 5:30 -7:30 pm, 1st and last Wednesdays, at New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm Street

January 6 -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)

January 27 -- It Happened One Night (1934)

February 3 -- Now, Voyager (1942)

February 24-- Casablanca (1943)

March 3 -- Gaslight (1944)

March 31 -- Born Yesterday (1950)

Animals are often part of domestic violence, too

CT SafePet is a nonprofit that provides help for people who face crisis situations like domestic violence or long-term hospital stays and need temporary care for their pets. For more information: http://ourcompanions.org/index.htm or (860) 242-9999.

Newest Foundation Center RFPs

For details about the following funding opportunities visit http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_bulletin/newsletter.html

Aging

American Federation for Aging Research Accepting Applications for Medical Student Training in Aging Research Program. Allopathic and osteopathic medical students will have the opportunity to participate in an eight- to twelve-week structured research, clinical, and didactic program in geriatrics appropriate to their level of training and interests....Deadline: February 5, 2010

Arts and Culture
National Film Preservation Foundation Announces Registration Deadlines for Basic Preservation Grants. Grants of up to $18,000 will be awarded to public and nonprofit institutions working to preserve culturally and historically significant film materials while providing public access to film collections....Deadline: February 12, 2010 (Registration)

Cintas Foundation Opens 2010 Competition for Music Composition and Visual Arts Fellowships. Artists of Cuban lineage who reside outside of Cuba will be acknowledged for their creative accomplishments with grants of $10,000 to be used for artistic activities other than academic study, research, or performing arts....Deadline: January 30, 2010

VSA arts Announces 2010 Playwright Discovery Call for Scripts. Young playwrights whose work has explored how disability affects their lives and the lives of others will be awarded $2,000 and the opportunity to see their plays performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts....Deadline: April 15, 2010

President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Invites Nominations for Coming Up Taller Awards. Awards of $10,000 will be given to nonprofits working to provide children and youth with learning opportunities and chances to contribute to their communities....Deadline: January 29, 2010

Athletics/Sports
Tony Hawk Foundation Offers Grants for Skatepark Construction. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofits, state and local government agencies, and public school systems working to create or develop high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas across the country....Deadline: March 1, 2010

Children and Youth
Nominations of Young Female Social Entrepreneurs Invited for Gladys Marinelli Coccia Awards. Grants of $2,000 will be awarded to two young female social entrepreneurs who have started their own social enterprise or organization, are supported by contributions of at least $1,000 (cash and/or in-kind), and have a business plan....Deadline: January 15, 2010

Health
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health Invites Nominations for 2010 Annual Award. Awards will be given to established partnerships involving one or more community partners and one or more higher education partners working to improve higher education, civic engagement, and the overall health of their communities....Deadline: February 1, 2010

Global Health Council Invites Nominations for Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. An award will be given to health and human rights practitioners for their work in the field, particularly their ability to link health with human rights, activities in developing countries, and long-term commitment to enhancing public awareness....Deadline: January 15, 2010

International Affairs/Development
Conservation, Food & Health Foundation Offers Support for Programs in Developing World. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to NGOs working to promote the conservation of natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and improve health in the developing world....Deadline: January 1, 2010 (Concept Application Form)

Medical Research
Lasker Foundation Invites Nominations for Medical Research Awards. Awards will be given to scientists, physicians, and public servants who have made major advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and/or prevention of human disease....Deadline: February 1, 2010

Kenneth Rainin Foundation Announces Innovator Awards Program for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research. One-year grants of $100,000 will be awarded to researchers working to develop a creative, conceptual paradigm for IBD, with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration between different fields....
Deadline: March 15, 2010

Science/Technology
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Announces Digital Media and Learning Competition.The competition will offer designers, inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and others the opportunity to build experiences and create ideas with the potential to transform learning with the help of digital media....Deadline: TBA

Donate refrigerator to Literacy Resource Center?

Literacy Volunteers is looking for a refrigerator for the Literacy Resource Center at 4 Science Park, New Haven. If you have one to donate please emailmailto:info@lvagnh.org.

Literacy Resource Center Toy/Coat Drive

Literacy Volunteers is working with members of the East Rock community and Lt. Rebecca Sweeney of the New Haven Police Department to gather and distribute new toys and coats to 500 children from the Newhallville neighborhood in New Haven. You can help by dropping off new, unwrapped toys and gently used coats to the Literacy Resource Center, 4 Science Park (rear) by Friday, Dec.18. Please help us make a difference in the lives of these children this holiday season… there is so much need in this neighborhood!
Doss Venema, Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven

Politically Correct Santa

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck... How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
but "Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.
And labor conditions at the north pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!
The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows:
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose
He went on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
to demand millions in overdue compensation.
Half of the reindeer were gone, plus the wife
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,
She joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.
And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. and nothing for her.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.
No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.
So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere...even you.
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

shared from Lindy Gold

The Community Fund for Women and Girls is currently accepting applications for funding

Two types of funding are available, up to $10,000. Each type has a separate application form; the deadline for both is 5 pm on Friday, January 15. Applications and guidelines are available at www.fundforwomenandgirls.org or at The Foundation’s offices at 70 Audubon St, New Haven, CT 06510.
The Community Fund for Women and Girls was created in 1995 to provide ongoing support for services important to women and girls in the Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck Valley area. Since its inception the Fund has distributed $370,000 into the community.

Vote for New Haven for NBC Connecticut's Best Holiday Shopping!

Downtown New Haven has been nominated for a Golden Local award by NBCConnecticut for Best Holiday Shopping! New Haven is competing against West Hartford Center for this honor, the trophy and bragging rights. To cast your vote, visit http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/around-town/debates/?=123 by December 16.

NTEN's webinar, Digital Facelift: Tips for Transforming your Nonprofit Website, Dec. 14, 2-3:30 pm

Webinar cost: $30 NTEN members/$60 non-members

As technologists we often get wrapped up in -- well -- the technical details! But when creating websites with social change in mind, this can be a distraction. By taking a step back and looking at the big-picture goals, then mapping out a broad strategy for getting there, we can help our organizations stay focused and get the most out of our website investments.  http://nten.org/events/webinar/2009/11/14/digital-facelift-tips-transforming-your-nonprofit-website?source=comm_non

Eat at On the Border Mexican Grill in Orange on Dec. 14 and benefit the GNH Cat Project

From 4 until closing, a portion of food and beverage check will be donated to benefit the Greater New Haven Cat Project (http://www.gnhcp.org/), a nonprofit that promotes responsible pet ownership.

Funding Opprotunities Listed by Foundation Center

Details at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/

Arts and Culture

Aaron Copland Fund for Music Announces Updated Grant Guidelines for Recording Program. The Aaron Copland Fund for Music seeks to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music.In general, grants will not exceed $20,000 each. Recordings must be released within two years of an award being paid. 

Sundance Documentary Fund Announces Deadlines for Spring 2010 Grants Round.  Supports international documentary films and videos focused on current and significant issues and movements in contemporary human rights, freedom of expression, social justice, and civil liberties.... Deadline: February 9.

Haitian Memorial Foundation Invites Pierre Toussaint Art and Essay Entries. Project budgets of up to $500,000 will be awarded to artists, sculptors, or high school students for their artwork, sculpture, or essays depicting a solid understanding and appreciation of Pierre Toussaint and his achievements.... Deadline: Various.

National Geographic All Roads Film Project Offers Seed Grants for Indigenous Storytellers. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to filmmakers for the development and production of a film or video that showcases indigenous or underrepresented minority-culture storytellers...Deadline: Quarterly.

Disabilities
Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies Invites Nominations for Disability Services Award. An award of $1,000 will be given in recognition of an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities....Deadline: January 11.

Education
Sprint Character Education Grant Program Seeks to Support Positive Development of Young People. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to school districts and individual schools working to facilitate and encourage character education among K-12 students....

Health
Nominations Sought for 2010 Centers for Disease Control Foundation Hero Award. The award will be given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to advancing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mission of promoting public health and quality of life.... Deadline: March 15.

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Invites Applications for Clinical Research Fellowship for Medical Students. Selected medical students will receive a $27,000 stipend, health insurance, and supplementary research and training funds to conduct research and training at one of twelve host research-intensive medical schools....Deadline: January 6, 2010

Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation Accepting Applications for Hearst Fellowships. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students of color who spend twelve to fifteen weeks at the Washington, D.C., office of the Aspen Institute supporting PSI's leadership initiatives, public programs, and convenings....
Deadline: December 15, 2009 ; March 15, 2010; and July 15, 2010

Starbucks Foundation Offers Support for Young Social Entrepreneurs. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofits working to provide young people between the ages of 6 and 24 with a continuum of service opportunities in social entrepreneurship....Deadline: Open

Miley Cyrus and Youth Service America Launch Global Grants Program for Young Volunteers. The partnership will work to encourage children and youth between the ages of 5 and 25 to do good works in their communities and will award grants of $500 to support projects that address critical issues....

Shubert celebrates its 95th Anniversary

On Friday, Dec. 11, 1914, the Shubert Theater raised the curtain on its first production. The theater's opening will be celebrated with the following free all-ages commemorative events:  

Friday, Dec. 11: Guided Tours of the Theater and Backstage: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and Rededication Program at 7 pm followed by screening of "Shubert Moments" and feature film The Sound of Music.

Sunday, Dec. 13: 11am-3pm, Holiday Open House with refreshments, arts and crafts, holiday carols performed by New Haven youth choirs, backstage tours 11:30/12:30/1:30, and gifts for children/ visit from Santa Claus!
Schedule: http://www.capa.com/newhaven/events/event.php?e=177

Director of Development, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries

Responsibilities: lead solicitation of major gifts; develop, direct and coordinate donor cultivation and solicitation strategies; assist in development of a case statement and marketing materials; manage a substantial portfolio of major gift prospects, including corporate and foundation prospects; maintain ongoing knowledge of business community, social and civic organizations, as well as other professional associations, including speaking engagements; direct implementation of well-established annual fundraising events. Bachelor’s Degree; minimum 5 years experience including supervision; proven track record of major gift solicitation; and strong communication skills. Salary commensurate with experience. Full-time, starting 1/1/2010.