"As legislators continue action on issues affecting the well-being of Floridians, it's useful to measure the needs facing the state. On many comparisons with other states on education, health and human services, and tax fairness, Florida ranks near the bottom of the nation. The rankings paint a picture of a state with millions of residents needing jobs, services, and other supports from state government as they struggle to make ends meet." Read  The State of the State of Florida. 

The House Appropriations Committee has recommended the elimination of AmeriCorps. Here in Miami, the elimination of AmeriCorps would dramatically reduce the impact of popular and successful job placement programs such as Public Allies, City Year, VISTA and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, among others.   

You can do two things now to save AmeriCorps: 

1.       Sign this letter to support AmeriCorps refunding.

http://www.voicesforservice.org/SignOnForm_020711/action.php

2.      …

Interesting conversation with Rich Harwood, president of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. "First and foremost, we need to turn outward. Our orientation, our posture, our stance needs to change." 

From Catalyst Miami, part 1 of a discussion with Adam Fletcher on meaningful ways to engage youth in communities. You can view part 2 of this discussion HERE

Watch the video of the Miami Today profile of Isaac Prilleltensky, who heads the University of Miami's School of Education

Follow THIS LINK for a roundup of conferences and events scheduled in the nonprofit and social change sector in 2011, with a few related events tossed in as well. 

In this strip, Scott Adams offers a classic take on empowerment in organizations. Sound familiar?

Happy Thanksgiving Spec-ies!

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At the most recent SPEC t-team meeting, the group agreed that communication remains as a major challenge, among staff.  Now that we are well along our way to informing staff about the very basics of SPEC, the party doesn't stop there!  The decision was made to devote the entire month of July to improving communication through several initiatives to include: e-mail blasts, the CHI Newsletter, a traveling poster presentation AND MARGARITA MONDAYS; an event where we hope to demonstrate to staff…