Thursday, July 16, 2020

Veteran Resources. July 2020. Free Internet for Families, COVID-19 Toolkit and other important information

Comcast Offers 60 days of Free Internet for Low Income Families 

To help Veterans and others access important resources such as benefits, education, training and employment opportunities, Comcast is offering new eligible customers two months of free internet service and a discounted rate. Apply by December 31, 2020 for the Comcast Internet Essentials package.

vet xl families togetherVetXL: Q&A on Veteran Family Resources

Join VA and community experts on July 21 at 3:00pm (ET) for a live Q&A session to learn about resources for Veterans and their families. Start posting your questions now on RallyPoint. 

JOIN

Virtual Mental Health Care through Cohen Veterans Network

cohen
Mental wounds are just as difficult to heal as physical wounds – and treating them is just as important. Through a national network of clinics, Veterans and their families are eligible for personalized, evidence-based mental health care. There is no cost for care if you don't have insurance. 

EXPLORE

Work at VA to Make a Positive Impact on Veterans

staff masks
Employees agree that a top reason they joined the VA is to make a positive impact on the Veterans they serve. VA encourages a culture of innovation to improve Veterans' and employees' experiences.

LEARN MORE

Free Quarantine Craft Kits from Help Heal Veterans

quarantine
Being in quarantine can get lonely and boring. VA has teamed up with Help Heal Veterans to deliver quarantine kits to help keep Veterans occupied and entertained.
The kits contain reading and educational materials, craft supplies, and materials that can be used to help Veterans create their own face masks.

Find Apprenticeship Opportunities Near You

DoL
A new VETS Apprenticeship program assists transitioning Veterans and spouses define a post-service career path. Apprenticeships connect talented workers with employers and networks in their desired industries and post-service locations. Learn how to gain paid, relevant workplace experience, classroom instruction and a nationally recognized credential.

Virtual Digital Media Internships for Students

DME interns
Did you know VA offers a virtual digital media internship? College students interested in work experience at VA on projects in social media, writing, graphic design, web design and more should apply now. #ApplyInJuly.

Army Veteran Erik Schlimmer: Hiker, Author, Therapist

BtB
Army Veteran Erik Schlimmer has walked his way to health and happiness. He has hiked over 15,000 miles, climbed 2,000 summits, and camped over 1,000 nights. On Borne the Battle, Erik shares how his adventures have impacted him and how he uses his experiences to help others.

WATCH

LISTEN

VAntage Point

VA News Releases

Grant Opportunity. Assist Persistent Poverty Farmers, Ranchers, Agriculture Producers and Communities through Agriculture Resources Synopsis 1


USDA
Department of Agriculture
DM-Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Solicitation for Applications to Assist Persistent Poverty Farmers, Ranchers, Agriculture Producers and Communities through Agriculture Resources Synopsis 1


Wednesday, July 15, 2020

1995 to 2020 and Beyond. Shall we be back in the same 'business as usual' pattern in our communities? Cooked: Survival by Zip Code


To our members, friends, and associates:

Disasters\crisis, and impacts of climate change and part of our normal routine and pattern for survival in vulnerable communities, communities of color globally.

The Black Emergency Managers Association International (BEMA) was created not only as a network of professionals in emergency management and homeland security, but created within its’ mission & vision to include communities of color, vulnerable communities to address the pressing issues of survival in your zip code.  To provide awareness, education & training, mentorship, advice and recommendations, funding, and other issues for our communities.

Watch clips, trailers, or the entire documentary of ‘Cooked Survival by Zip Code’ and think of comparisons from 1995 to the current COVID-19 global crisis. 




Which communities are getting the short end of the stick across the board?

CDS


1231-B Good Hope Road.  S.E.                        
Washington, D.C.  20020                                              
Office:   202-618-909
bEMA International
              We Support the GC

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.  Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Where Are We Going From Here:  Chaos or Community’.

Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)            

A 501 (c) 3 organization






What about in your city? Live with Urban: Providing Direct Cash Assistance to DC Residents


Elevate The Debate


Thursday, July 23, 2020, 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT




Join Sarah Rosen Wartell, president of the Urban Institute, for the next installment in Urban's conversation series, Evidence to Action. During this virtual event, George A. Jones, CEO of Bread for the City, Tonia Wellons, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and Mary Bogle, principal research associate at the Urban Institute, will join Wartell to discuss how the THRIVE East of the River program's direct cash and food assistance are helping DC residents weather the pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis exacerbated existing economic insecurity around the country, and DC's Ward 8 has felt these effects particularly acutely. In response to this spike in employment and income losses, four DC nonprofits—the 11th Street Bridge Park (a project of Building Bridges across the River), Bread for the City, the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, and Martha's Table—came together with local funders this spring to provide direct cash payments and grocery assistance directly to Ward 8 residents. This conversation will explore what people living on low incomes in Ward 8 are experiencing amid the pandemic and provide context for those experiences, especially the history of structural racism and segregation in Washington, DC. Jones, Wellons, and Bogle will share what the evidence says about how direct cash and food assistance can make a difference, and they will explore the implications for policy and practice in DC and around the country.

Urban is bringing evidence-based insights to this crisis, focusing on solutions that advance equity and upward mobility. Each week, Urban experts will speak with changemakers from the government, philanthropic, and private sectors about the knowledge they need to help us respond to the crisis, recover, and thrive.






Speakers:
  • Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute
  • George A. Jones, CEO, Bread for the City
  • Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation
  • Sarah Rosen Wartell, President, Urban Institute (moderator)


The Evidence to Action conversation series elevates the voices of leaders and changemakers responding to, recovering from, and building resilience during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Urban Institute was built for this moment. We answer tough questions with unbiased, rigorous research and evidence-based solutions. For 50 years, we have studied what it takes to strengthen social safety net programs, dismantle structural racism, protect workers and families, and build community resilience. Using advanced analytics, data science, technology, and decades of expertise, we equip changemakers with the facts and insights they need to accelerate solutions.

Send any inquiries regarding this event to events@urban.org.


 





The Role of the Community is more important ....... July 2020



The role of community is more important now than ever before.
Seismic shifts across our society—racial justice movements around the world and a pandemic—have further brought to light the socioeconomic and racial inequities embedded in our ecosystems for centuries. As our communities adapt to new realities, the vision of how we support, influence, and design for purpose evolves as well.
In this Open Letter, we’re highlighting stories of resilience across the OpenIDEO community. We’re also spotlighting a program—supporting entrepreneurs in East Africa—that illustrates the value of building community-centered public health services that meet people where they are. 
We’re incredibly inspired by this community—by each of you. Thanks for all that you do, and every single way you’ve shown up and displayed resilience during this uncertain and challenging time. 
With Gratitude,
Alex Nana-Sinkam
OpenIDEO Global Equity Portfolio Lead