$128 Million. HUD Disaster Recovery Funding For Chicago Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2014 Quinn, Durbin, Emanuel Announce More than $128 Million in HUD Disaster Recovery Funding For Chicago Area WASHINGTON, D.C. – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD) has awarded a total of $128,300,000 in funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program to communities in the Chicago area for recovery efforts following severe storms and flooding that began on April 18, 2013. This funding was made available through the fiscal year 2013 Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, passed by Congress last year. “Families throughout Illinois who were inundated by last year’s record floods are still rebuilding and recovering,” said Quinn. “This critical funding will help hundreds of families throughout the Chicago area get back on their feet. I thank President Obama, Senator Durbin and all of the Illinois federal representatives who worked to line up this vital assistance to families who need it.” “Last April’s severe storms caused some of the worst flooding that I have ever seen in the Chicago area and surrounding counties, and forced hundreds of families to leave their homes,” said Durbin. “In the year since those storms hit, communities throughout the Chicago area have worked hard to recover. This funding will help in those efforts, and is especially critical for those families that lost their homes and are working hard to rebuild their lives.” “The significant flooding that hit our area last Spring caused extensive disruption and damage to homes and residential areas,” said Emanuel. “This much needed funding will help Chicagoans repair what has been damaged so they can rebuild and move on with their lives.” Under this announcement, the following communities will receive funding: Cook County, Illinois: $54.9 million dollars; City of Chicago, Illinois: $47.7 million dollars; DuPage County, Illinois: $18.9 million dollars; and State of Illinois: $6.8 million dollars. HUD's CDBG-Disaster Recovery grant program benefits communities that have experienced a natural disaster. The program is intended to address housing, business and infrastructure needs that have not been met by other forms of public and private assistance, including disaster recovery funding provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). For more information on the program, please visit: CDBG Disaster Recovery Assistance.

Rice Award. Deadline: March 31, 2014

Deadline approaching: Rice Award

 

The Andrew E. Rice Award for Leadership and Innovation by a Young Professional in International Development recognizes the achievements of an exceptional young professional working in the field of international development.   The recipient of this award will demonstrate leadership and innovation, as well as tremendous promise for advancement in the field of international development. The selected winner will also recognize the importance of international development as a means of service to those who are most in need and will work toward sustainable, people-centered development. The Rice Award will be presented to the awardee at the Society for International Development Washington, D.C., chapter’s annual conference on May 20, 2014, in Washington, D.C. The award consists of an inscribed plaque recognizing the awardee, a prize in the amount of $1,000, a one-year, honorary membership to SID-Washington and the opportunity to present their work at an upcoming SID-Washington event. Application and all supporting materials must be received by Monday, March 31. For more information on the application process, please click here. If you have further questions, please contact Elizabeth Healy at 202-331-1317 orriceaward@sidw.org.

Situational Awareness: Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea. March 2014

Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea

(Situation as of 25 March 2014)

 

25 March 2014 - The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea has notified WHO of a rapidly evolving outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in forested areas south eastern Guinea. The cases have been reported in Guekedou, Macenta, and Kissidougou districts. As of 25 March 2014, a total of 86 suspected cases including 60 deaths (case fatality ratio: 69.7%) had been reported. Four health care workers are among the victims. Reports of suspected cases in border areas of Liberia and Sierra Leone are being investigated.

Thirteen of the cases have tested positive for Ebola virus by PCR (six at the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI) in Lyon, France, and seven at the Institut Pasteur Dakar, Senegal), confirming the first Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Guinea. Results from sequencing done by CIRI Lyon showed strongest homology of 98% with Zaire Ebolavirus last reported in 2009 in Kasai-Occidental Province of DR Congo. This Ebolavirus species has been associated with high mortality rates during previous outbreaks.

The MOH together with WHO and other partners are implementing measures to control the outbreak and prevent further spread. The MoH has activated the national, provincial and district emergency management committees to coordinate response. The MoH has also advised the public to take measures to avert the spread of the disease and to report any suspected cases.

Multidisciplinary teams have been deployed to the field to strengthen surveillance, sensitize and educate the public, manage case and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures in health facilities and communities affected. The MOH and MSF have established isolation facilities in Guéckédou district, and plans are underway to establish an additional isolation ward in Macenta district.

The Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN) is working with the Guinean VHF Laboratory in Donka, the Institut Pasteur in Lyon, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, and the Kenema Lassa fever laboratory in Sierra Leone to make available appropriate Filovirus diagnostic capacity in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Additional laboratory capacity is being established with the deployment of mobile laboratories supported by international partners.

WHO and other partners are deploying additional experts to provide support to the Ministry. The necessary supplies and logistics required for supportive management of patients and all aspects of outbreak control are also being mobilized. The MOH is also preparing a request to the African Public Health Emergency Fund (APHEF) as well as to other potential donors to support outbreak response. APHEF supports timely deployment of rapid response teams during outbreaks and emergencies, and procurement and prepositioning of epidemic and emergency response supplies.

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea in respect to this event.




Dashboard: Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea ( Situation as of 25 March 2014) (546.67 kB)

Free...2014 NIMHD Translational Health Disparities Course. August 11-22, 2014. NIH, Bethesda, MD.

2014 NIMHD Translational Health Disparities Course

Integrating Principles of Science, Practice and Policy in Health Disparities Research

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will again host a course on the science of health disparities this summer. The course will take place on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, from August 11, 2014 to August 22, 2014.

This two-week intensive course will provide specialized instruction on the concepts, principles, methods, and applications of health disparities science, practice, and policy. It will also integrate principles and practice of community engagement. Nationally and internationally recognized experts in health disparities science will lead individual sessions.

Cost: The course is free, but admission is competitive and daily attendance is mandatory. Participants are responsible for transportation, room and board.

How to Apply: Submit an application via the NIMHD website at www.nimhd.nih.gov from April 14, 2014 to May 22, 2014. Applications will only be accepted online.

 

All application materials, including recommendation letters, must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. EST on May 22, 2014 for consideration. 

Application Information: The following comprises the application packet:

Completed online application must include:

·        Relevant professional experience (250 word limit);
·        Educational history including honors and awards (250 word limit);
·        Essay describing interest in the course and how it will contribute to work/future career goals in the area of health disparities (350 word limit); and
·        Letter of recommendation addressing in concrete and specific terms strengths, personal qualities, and relevance of course for career trajectory (350 word limit). 

**Once the applicant submits the application, it will generate an automatic e-mail to the applicant’s reference, requesting a recommendation. An application is not complete until the reference submits the letter of recommendation.
 

Course Information

• Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected by June 25, 2014.

• The course overview and syllabus will be on the NIMHD website by mid-April.

Course Contact

• For additional information, contact the course planning committee at NIMHDHealthDC@mail.nih.gov

$10,000.00. BMe begins accepting nominations for its 2014 "BMe Leadership Awards"

Wanted:   10 Black Men in Detroit, 10 in Baltimore and 10 in Philadelphia to Earn $10,000 Each for Doing What Good Black Men Do ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BMe COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN IN DETROIT, BALTIMORE AND PHILADELPHIA  March, 20, 2014  Today BMe begins accepting nominations for its 2014 "BMe Leadership Awards" which are presented to inspired black men in Philadelphia, Detroit and Baltimore who are committed to helping others and improving their community. The BMe Leadership Award was created to recognize the many ways that black men are assets to communities. It rewards and celebrates everyday black men whose meaningful contributions are often overlooked. In each city, 10 BMe Leadership Award earners, called 'BMe Leaders' will receive public recognition, a $10,000 grant to apply toward their community work and the opportunity to be networked with other black men like them. BMe promotes BMe Leaders as examples of inspired black men locally and nationally. "We all personally know men like these - our fathers, co-workers, mentors and friends," says Trabian Shorters, BMe's founding CEO. "Here's a chance to honor them because their contributions are so often overlooked. Everyone nominated will have a chance to be recognized." Nominees, as well as their nominators of any race or sex, benefit from gaining access to the BMe Community, its news, web tools and local community-building events. Nominees must be at least 18 years old and their contributions to the community must benefit those in their respective cities of Detroit, Baltimore or Philadelphia. Since 2012, BMe has presented 70 Leadership Awards to black men who continue to make a significant and lasting impact on their neighbors and city.  On April 7th nominees will be asked to submit a short application detailing what they would do with the $10,000 grant if selected. Click Here to Nominate a Good Black Man in Detroit, Baltimore andPhiladelphia to Become A BMeFellow

Black Emergency Managers Association  

1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.

Washington, D.C.  20020

Office:   202-618-9097 

bEMA 

Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.   Tom Peters

…….The search is on.

Free Training. Get up to speed! Fundamentals of Climate Change

"Take online courses as a group to discuss the issues".  Tests are completed alone, but discussions can be in groups.  Something for our senior 'wiser' citizens to do together.


http://einstitute.worldbank.org/ei/course/fundamentals-climate-change



Fundamentals of Climate Change

Free Course

Enrollment key: CCDPs

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Through its five modules, the e-course Fundamentals of Climate Change covers the scientific basis of climate change, the observed and projected changes and impacts, together with, the approaches and responses development professionals and practitioners may use to address climate change within their work.

Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Observed changes and impacts.
This set of topics cover the major observed changes in the climate system over the last 150 years and how human activities have contributed to these changes.

Module 3: Projected changes and impacts.
The three topics covered in this module provide an overview of the changes projected by the end of 2100 in the climate system.

Module 4: Responses to Climate Change.
This set of topics look at what is happening in the international negotiations under the main convention dealing with climate change, what are the ways to adapt to the changes that have occurred and likely to occur, what are some options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, what are some of the resources (such as finance, approaches, methods and tools) that are available.

Module 5: Conclusions

Learning objectives This course addresses the basic of climate change, including:

• The greenhouse effect, and how it impacts the earth's climate
• Current and projected impacts of client change on ecological, biological and socioeconomic systems
• International negotiations and agreements addressing the climate change problem
• Mitigation and adaptation approaches
• Financing climate change related development actions
• Tools and resources

Note, this e-course was produced in 2009 by the Sustainable Development Department of the World Bank as a course targeting World Bank staff hence the language in the course was targeted to development practitioners, but since the climate change scientific information, with adaptation and mitigation approaches, are of relevance to a broader community, this course is being made available via the WBI e-Institute also to an external audience. Updates to this course are currently not being planned. 

Target Audience:
Policymakers, government representatives, project developers, private sector, academia, civil society

New User? Register!

1. Click here to register on Moodle.
2. Check your e-mail for the confirmation.
3. Click on the confirmation link in the e-mail.

Course Theme:	Climate Change
Sub-Theme:	Essentials of Climate Change
Course Format:	Self-paced
Language:	English
Contact Name:	Peter Schierl
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World Bank eLearning Free Training: Safe and Resilient Cities. April 23 - May 21, 2014

http://einstitute.worldbank.org/ei/course/safe-and-resilient-cities-0

Safe and Resilient Cities

Dates: April 23, 2014 - May 21, 2014

Apply now

Application Ends On : April 16, 2014

Dates: November 04, 2014 - December 02, 2014

Apply now

Application Ends On : November 25, 2014

Dates: April 14, 2015 - May 12, 2015

Apply now

Application Ends On : May 05, 201
5

This e-learning course focuses on disaster risk management (DRM) at the city level. Participants will learn, in particular, about planning and decision making under uncertainty and how to make their cities more resilient to climate change impacts and natural disasters. The course provides cutting edge tools on vulnerability assessment, institutional assessment and gap analysis, and on how to access finance for risk management.

This course is divided into 4 modules:

• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Technical Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment
• Module 3: Accessing Finance for Urban DRM and Resilience
• Module 4: Building and Implementing the Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP)

The course includes case studies from cities from around the world, presentations, videos and a selection of useful readings for further in-depth knowledge. In addition, Discussion forums will be organized and facilitated around each module, fostering participation and knowledge sharing among peers. Assignments will have to be completed according to the proposed schedule in order to successfully conclude and receive a certificate.

Upon completion of the course, each city participant should be able to form a team in charge of urban resilience planning, develop a LRAP, including operational measures (regarding city governance, infrastructure of environmental services, health, access to financial services, education, etc.), and define an implementation strategy.

Please consider the following in terms of time commitment:

• Module 1: 12 hours
• Module 2: 12 hours
• Module 3: 8 hours
• Module 4: 8 hours

Target Audience:
City officials in developing countries

Course Theme:	Innovative Solutions for Cities
Sub-Theme:	Public Safety and Resiliency
Course Format:	Facilitated
Language:	English
Amount:	US $ 0 (Course is free of charge)
Contact Name:	Rasha Rayes
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