Youth Engagement Zones

The goal for the Youth Engagement Zone initiative is to improve student engagement, including student attendance and behavior, and student achievement, graduate rates and college-going rates by: 1. Engaging youth as positive contributors through service-learning to demonstrate the relevance of academic coursework and the value of civic engagement to their educational and personal development; and 2. Connecting with citizens from diverse communities, backgrounds and perspectives to provide expanded opportunities to serve; and 3. Building enduring capacity within communities to become more effective at using service as a solution to address pressing challenges.

Eligible partnerships must include: 1. one or more community-based entities with demonstrated records of success in service-learning programs with economically disadvantaged students, 2. a local educational agency serving a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (a free and reduced-price lunch eligibility rate of 70% or more) and where the graduation rate is less than 70%; 3. a community college with existing connections to the LEA and/or youth serving organizations; and 4. a geographic area where less than 30% of the secondary students are already engaged in service-learning. Approximately $5.7 million for an estimated 5 to 7 grant awards that will range from approximately $700,000 to $1,500,000 per year for three years.

Link to Full Announcement

Competition page including full Notice of Funding Opportunity

Strategy for American Innovation

[reposted from Be Spacific]

"America’s future economic growth and international competitiveness depend on our capacity to innovate. We can create the jobs and industries of the future by doing what America does best – investing in the creativity and imagination of our people. To win the future, we must out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. We also must take responsibility for our deficit, by investing in what makes America stronger, cutting what doesn’t, and reforming how our government operates so it focuses on promoting our economic growth and preparing for the challenges of a new century. President Obama’s Strategy for American Innovation seeks to harness the inherent ingenuity of the American people to ensure that our economic growth is rapid, broad-based, and sustained. Innovation-based economic growth will bring greater income, higher quality jobs, and improved health and quality of life to all U.S. citizens. The Strategy for American Innovation provides a multifaceted, commonsense, and sustained approach to ensuring America’s future prosperity."

Executive Summary | Introduction | Invest in Building Blocks | Market-Based Innovation | Catalyze Breakthroughs | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C

Online Data: The State of Working America

[reposted from Be Spacific] "The State of Working America has been the Economic Policy Institute’s flagship publication since 1988. The comprehensive economic data that has in the past been in book form is now available on this Web site for the first time in a searchable and highly user-friendly format. The data will be more accessible than ever before to academics, policy makers, the media, and the public. Unlike in the past, this year's The State of Working America will not be published in book form (the next biennial print edition will appear in January 2013). The State of Working America Web site presents data in eight broad issue areas: income, economic mobility, wages, jobs, wealth, poverty, health, and international comparisons. Providing a comprehensive examination of critical trends and economic measurements, the data on this site is presented to give readers a deep understanding of the effect of the economy on low- and middle-income American workers and their families."

The Erie Community Foundation seeks Grants Accounting Assistant

The Erie Community Foundation is seeking a full time Grants Accounting Assistant, who will assist the Finance Department with grant processing and individual fund accounting. The Grants Accounting Assistant will also provide administrative support to the Finance Department.

The ideal, detail-oriented candidate should have an associate degree in accounting and a minimum of two years accounting experience. Appropriate work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. Nonprofit work experience is a plus. Proficiency with Microsoft Office is required.

Submit a letter of interest and resume to:

The Erie Community Foundation
459 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16507

Competitive salary compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience. The Erie Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Visit www.ErieCommunityFoundation.org for more information. Please apply by February 18, 2011.