New Haven Gets HUD Grant To Help Public Housing Residents Obtain Jobs, Economic Independence

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded nearly $15 million, including almost $60,000 to New Haven's Housing Authority to help public housing residents find jobs that lead them toward economic independence.


HUD's Public and Indian Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program funds public housing authorities' efforts to hire program coordinators to connect residents with local education and training opportunities, job placement organizations and local employers.

"Family self-sufficiency programs have a proven track record of helping families succeed," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "When families are given the tools they need to join a skilled workforce they move beyond HUD's rental assistance programs to self-sufficiency. This is how Americans will win the future - individually and collectively."

Meet new rector of Trinity Church, New Haven

The Trinity congregation enthusiastically welcomes all greater New Haven area residents and visitors as the next Rector of Trinity Church, Rev. Dr. Luk De Volder,  celebrates his first services at 7:45 am and 10am on Sunday, June 19.


Trinity's 13th rector in an unbroken line extending back to 1753, Luk De Volder is a native of Belgium who is fluent in English, Dutch and French. Details: www.trinitynewhaven.org

Washington Forum on Paid Family and Sick Leave

Local, state and federal level efforts to enact legislation mandating paid sick or family leave and flexible work arrangements are often resisted on the grounds that they would impose costly burdens on employers and threaten the availability of jobs. Yet, new and ongoing research points to labor policy innovation that promotes work-family balance having the expected beneficial impacts without jeopardizing overall employment.

On June 9, 2011, the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Economic Policy Institute will host a forum in Washington, D.C., examining the issues of paid family and sick leave in the United States while exploring the Australian example of mandating paid parental leave along with the right to request flexible work arrangements. Register here.
 

Seth Godfrey, Business, Jobs and Nonprofit Services, New Haven Free Public Library 203-946-7431

Apply by June 17 to Participate in Community Leadership Program

A diverse group of 20 nonprofit community leaders will be selected to participate in this annual William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund program that is designed to create a community to support learning; explore the experiences and values that motivate participants; identify individual agendas for learning and growth.  There is no charge and the group meets monthly. Details at www.wcgmf.org/clp or call 203-230-3330 x 19.

Click here for latest RFPs posted by Foundation Center

Artists are invited to submit work depicting interpretation of "line"

Submissions are invited for Shoreline Arts Alliance's upcoming exhibit "It's A Fine Line."
All media accepted. Deadline: June 9, 12pm; notification by June 10.
Email submissions to donita@shorelinearts.org with It’s A Fine Line in the subject line. Include name, address, contact phone numbers and email address in body of email. Selected work must be framed, ready to hang, and delivered to the Women & Family Life Center, Carriage House Gallery, 96 Fair St., Guilford, on Thursday, June 16 between 5:30–7pm. 

Long Island Sound Day is Friday May 27

Save the Sound & Schooner are looking for volunteers for a Beach Clean-up at 2pm at the Long Wharf Nature Preserve in New Haven, off Exit 46 on I-95.  Cleanup supplies and refreshments will be provided. To volunteer, contact kbroatch@savethesound.org.

New online tool for charting and reporting progress of your organization

On May 17 the strategic alliance of BBB Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar USA and Independent Sector launched  “Charting Impact,” a standard framework for creating reports that enable stakeholders to easily and clearly understand the objectives, benchmarks for progress, and impact of nonprofits and foundations. This sector-wide initiative was developed by nearly 200 leaders to help organizations of all types, sizes, and missions convey their efforts to advance the common good, establishing an industry standard for reporting in-depth mission objectives and results. Check it out here.

Apply by June 1 for Connecticut's 4th Film Industry Training Program that begins June 6

Registration ends June 1 (CT residents only) and classes begin June 6 at Quinnipiac University.  Motion picture professionals teach the basics of feature and episodic television film production, with hands-on experience for entry-level freelance work in this industry.

The 4-week curriculum includes assistant directing, location management, production office coordination, script supervision, lighting and grip, camera, sound, props and set dressing and wardrobe. Trainees who complete the program will receive a certificate from the state Office of Film, Television, and Digital Media.

Applications are available here and must be submitted by 5 pm on June 1. Accepted applicants will be notified via email by June 3.

New flyover bridge in New Haven officially opens June 6

Volunteer at AUDUBON ARTS ON THE EDGE 2011 June 4?

It's the 16th Year for Audubon Arts on the Edge, a collaboration between arts organizations in the Audubon Arts district as well as local art galleries and retail. Activities are family friendly and free. Volunteers are needed for set up, during the day, and to break down at 5pm.  If interested please call 772-2788 x 19 or email bgriffith@newhavenarts.org.

P/T Library Aides wanted in Canton

The Canton Public Library seeks energetic,  customer service-oriented individuals to work at Circulation, Children’s, and Reference desks. Required: high school education or equivalency; Bachelor’s degree preferred; strong computer skills, familiarity with social networking utilities; ability to create documents and simple spreadsheets; excellent  communication skills; previous customer service and library experience is preferred. Applicants must be available days, evenings, and weekends.  $13.37 per hour, no benefits.
Applications are available at Canton Town Hall, at the Canton Public Library, and online at www.townofcantonct.org.

Library support staff positions available in Newington

P/T Library Technician 19 hours per week including evenings and weekends.  B.A. or B.S. and familiarity with computers required. Experience with SIRSI or other automated systems a plus, $19-$21 per hour, no benefits. Also Circulation desk substitutes for daytime, evening, or weekend hours on an irregular basis, same qualifications, $19.54 per hr, no benefits.  Send resume and application form by May 27 to Town Manager’s Office, Town of Newington, 131 Cedar Street, Newington, CT 06111.  

ESL classes Tuesdays and Thursdays at Main Library

If you or someone you know is interested in joining an ESL conversation class, Literacy Volunteers of GNH and New Haven Public Library offer classes at the downtown branch on Tues & Thurs, 6-7:45 pm. Students at all levels are welcome, as is anyone interested in a good conversation. Details: William Armstrong, 203-946 8130 x381.

UConn Health Center offers comprehensive health resource guides

This is a great site for authoritative information on the following health issues:
Caregiving

Growing Older

Medical Research: what you need to know

Mental Health Resources

Navigating the Health Care System

Patient Advocacy

Your Child

Your Dental Health

Summer in New Haven's 9th Square

On Sunday, June 19,Town Green District kicks off Marketplace at 9th Square, a weekly open-air market showcasing local businesses, artists, crafts people, and food, on Orange Street between Center and Crown Streets.  Enjoy the public space for browsing and shopping, grabbing a coffee, etc., every Sunday 10am-3pm, through Oct. 30.  203-401-4245

Volunteer for Audubon Arts on the Edge June 4?

This is a collaboration of arts organizations in the Audubon Arts district as well as local art galleries and retail establishments in the area. The day is full of activities and entertainment that is family friendly. Volunteers are needed for set up starting at 10am, as well as to help throughout the day and to break down at 5pm. If interested contact Bobbi Griffith at 772-2788 x 19 or bgriffith@newhavenarts.org.

Hispanic Heritage 2011 Call for Artists

During Hispanic Heritage 2011 (mid September to mid October) Arte Inc. will have an exhibit at 19 Grand Ave. in New Haven centered around this year's theme: FOOD.  Artists will be selected to display their works that incorporate the food theme in a variety of media.  All items must be for sale. Details: dsgreco@sbcglobal.net or 203-469-4536.

Cancer Survivors Day May 25 at Yale's West Campus in Orange

Yale Cancer Center & Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven invite the public to this free event from 5-7:30 pm featuring information from several affiliate organizations, welcome from Thomas Lynch, Jr., MD, Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, with Ethan Zohn, winner of 2002 reality TV show Survivor: Africa, and a cookout picnic hosted by WTNH News Channel 8's Dr. Mel Goldstein. RSVP: 888-700-6543.

GNH Chamber of Commerce hosts Fall trip to China

All-inclusive trip is quite a deal at $2099, pp, double occupancy. Itinerary includes Beijing, Shanhai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, with optional trip to Xi'An. Full details here.

Nonprofit seeks office space on Shoreline

NextGen Leaders is looking for some office space on the Shoreline, preferably in Guilford, Branford, or Madison.


We are looking for about 350 sq. ft. of space, either in one office or two. Our ideal setup would be to share office space with another organization, with access to a shared conference room and a small storage area.

Will appreciate any appropriate leads.
Barry Felson, Executive Director, NextGen Leaders Inc., 888-407-7765 x 1

Click here for latest RFPs posted by Foundation Center

Wooster Square Farmers Market Opens Saturday, May 7

This week's vendors include Barberry Hill, Beaver Brook, Beltane, Best Buddy Biscuits, Bodhichitta, Caseus Cheese Truck, Chaplin, Dolan Bros., Four Mile River Farm, George Hall Farm, Gilbert’s Goodies, Nate’s Naturals, Northfordy Farm, Rose’s Berry Farm, Skappo, Solavedi Organics and Formulary, SoNo Baking Company, Starlight Gardens, Stone Gardens, Sugar Maple, Trinity, Two Guys from Woodbridge, Waldingfield Farm, Yale Sustainable Food Project, New Haven bread bakery Whole G Bread, and Stone Post Gardens.

All-City Band debuts May 10

This new musical collaboration between Yale School of Music and New Haven Public Schools will make its debut performance on Tuesday, May 10, at 7 pm in Sprague Hall, 470 College St., New Haven.

The new band is an outgrowth of Yale's Music in Schools Initiative to improve the teaching of arts in public schools, which is also including a performance by the Yale/NHPS Honors Chorus, on Tuesday, May 17, and the Fourth Annual Yale/New Haven Young Artists Solo Competitions, May 24-26. Read about it here.

Chamber will donate file cabinets to nonprofit organization

Two beige four-drawer filing cabinets and one black four-drawer filing cabinet are available to a nonprofit member of the Chamber, along with a box full of pendaflex filing folders of every color. They must be picked up on Monday morning, May 9.
If interested, contact Patricia A. Scussell, 203-782-4314 or pscussel@gnhcc.com.

New Haven Marketplace at 9th Square launches this summer

On Sundays, June 19-October 30, The Marketplace at 9th Square in New Haven will showcase local businesses, artists, crafts people, and food in a festive outdoor setting on Orange Street.


Anyone interested in participating in the market is encouraged to contact Nancy Freeborn nancy@downtownnewhaven.com or call 203-401-4245 x202.

Music Haven Seeks Admin. and Program Coordinator

Plays a critical role in managing the daily operations of the organization,  working closely with the Executive Director, Resident Musicians, and the Development Director, and disseminating information to the public. Also manages information systems, assists with activity and event production, maintains contact with program and waitlist families and Board of Directors, coordinates scheduling and enrollment, and manages the office. Must have bachelor’s degree or equivalent education/experience.

Information: 203-745-9030. Send resume to info@musichavenct.org.

Spring Plant Sale at Greenbrier Greenhouses

Greenbrier Greenhouses, a horticultural employment program operated by Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, will offer annuals and hanging baskets for sale at Edgerton Park, 75 Cliff St., New Haven, through June 3. 203-787-7804.

Temporarily foster a nursing cat with kittens?

The Animal Haven, a no-kill animal shelter in North Haven, needs volunteers to temporarily (for 6-8 weeks) care for nursing cats with kittens in their own homes until they are ready for adoption. The nursing mom and kittens must be housed separately from other pets.  All cats will have tested negative for Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia before they are placed in foster care. The Animal Haven will supply the Foster Volunteers with food, litter, litter pan, a crate and a contact number to call for any questions or emergencies that might come up.
The Foster Care Program allows The Animal Haven to help more cats and kittens by vacating cages that otherwise would be occupied by a nursing cat and orphaned kittens.

If interested, please call 203-239-2641.

Part of Main Library will be closed on May 6 & 7

The lower level of the library will be closed on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7, in order to complete renovations that have been underway for several months. This will mean that most of our public computers will be unavailable for these two days.  Librarians will make an effort to retrieve requests for nonfiction and audio visual materials from this closed area during this period of time.

Thank you for your patience, which will be rewarded soon by a much enhanced new space!

Volunteers needed for New Haven clean-up projects May 7 and 14

Town Green District seeks volunteers

for two upcoming Saturday community clean-up efforts:

• May 7, 9am-1pm, on the New Haven Green--paint the fence that bounds the lower Green; decorate/paint trash receptacles; general clean-up
• May 14, 9am-1 pm on Union Avenue--plant a garden on the overpass embankment; re-apply directional signage to the sidewalk; general cleanup

Get a group together or come by yourself!

Enjoy fresh air and free coffee 

and volunteer with and for your community!

RSVP to Win Davis, 203-401-4245 x 203 or win@downtownnewhaven.com.