Drug conference re: re-entry population, September 15-16

The National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. and the Ward 1 Drug Free Community Coalition are holding a conference in DC September 15-16.   More information about "Creating Avenues and Pathways to Success:   Identifying Strategic Solutions to Address Disparities and Obstacles Related to Re-Entry, Recovery and Recidivism" is here:   invitation letter and draft program.

Crimes against seniors and other vunerable adults seminar - July 20

Flyer+ July

Great news -- 10% discount extended for Solution-Focused training!

Just out from Columbia Heights/Shaw Support Collaborative:   The 10% discount on the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy training institute has been extended to June 14!   Now you can train with the best for less.   Go online today and reserve your space to train with Peter De Jong, Yvonne Dolan, and others on ways to use Solution-Focused in community-based settings.

Free bilingual education conference June 25

Rising to Academic Excellence for All:   Effective Literacy Practices for Second Language Learners is a free conference hosted by DC Bilingual Public Charter School on June 25.   The free event will take place at CentroNía’s facilities, 3029 14th Street (across the street from the Columbia Heights metro station).   Registration closes June 23 so be sure to register soon! Details below and here.DC Bilingual Conference Schedule FINAL

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Creative Applications in Community-Based Settings is coming to Washington

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Creative Applications in Community-Based Settings is coming to Washington, DC June 29 – July 2, 2010

Leading thinkers and practitioners in the field guide attendees through workshops designed to build skills and knowledge and increase participant confidence in using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), an approach demonstrated to be effective when working with families.

Attendees can choose from a range of workshops on such topics as using SFBT in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, with gangs and crews, and with young people aging out of foster care. Training institute attendees will be actively engaged in the event, asking questions, role playing, and challenging themselves and others.

So go to www.chsfsc.org to review the program and to register for this event featuring world renowned trainers.

Free HIV prevention training for African-American women

SISTA Adaptation Training is being held on April 23 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.   The training will take place at 64 New York Avenue NE on the 5th Floor; lunch will be provided.

"Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics about AIDS" (SISTA) is a group level HIV prevention intervention for African-American females.   It has been proven effective in communities of color and is recognized on the CDC's list of Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBIs).   The intervention focuses on cultural and gender-relevant ways to increase condom use among African-American women.   This adaptation training will focus on how to use "SISTA" to reach young African-American females ages 13-24.   The free training will be highly interactive and most appropriate for providers who work directly with African-American female populations.   This training is not limited to HIV service providers; all organizations are encouraged to attend.

To RSVP for this training, email iwebster (at) metroteenaids (dot) org.   More information is available by calling Isaiah Webster at 543-0094.

Carlos Rosario training class information

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School has just announced two training days!

Culinary Arts Day is being held on Wednesday, April 14 from 10:00-11:30 am and 7:00-8:30 pm.   Nurse Aide Training Day on Wednesday, April 21 from 10:00-11:30 am and 7:00-8:30 pm.

Classes are open to Washington, DC residents, but a picture ID is needed to ensure access into the building.   More information is available by calling 797-4700 ext. 125 or emailing workforce (at) carlosrosario (dot) org.

Students with an interest in food service who have successfully completed English as a Second Language (ESL) Level 5 or demonstrate the equivalent English Language proficiency are welcome to attend.   Information session attendance is mandatory for all interested applicants.   This session will provide applicants the opportunity to learn more about the Carlos Rosario culinary arts program and the hospitality industry.   More information is available in the Culinary Arts Day flier.

Students with an interest in health and who have successfully completed English as a Second Language (ESL) Level 7 or demonstrate the equivalent English Language proficiency are welcome to attend.   Information session attendance is mandatory for all interested applicants.   The Nurse Aide Training Day flier is here.

Credit Card Seminars for Seniors

The Department of Insurance, Securities and Bank (DISB) is working with the Community Services for Aging to offer five seminars on the new credit card law and its impact on seniors.   The seminars will be from 11:00 am - Noon from April 12 to April 30.   More information will soon be on the DISB website.   Be sure to check out What's Your Financial Literacy 411? for more info.

Learn to coordinate Family Group Conferences in April

Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative is offering a three-day Family Group Conferencing coordination training in mid-April.   Participants will:

• Learn the steps in coordinating an FGC
• Understand how to prepare family members and professionals to participate in a meeting
• The importance of planning for safety concerns prior to a meeting
• Practice skills through coached role plays and a mock FGC

Details, including cost and how to register, are in the flier, below.
FGCCoordinationTraining0410

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Training in March

Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative is offering an essential training for front-line staff:   Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.   The training will be held in March.   Details in the flier below.
SolutionFocusedMarchTrg

Help the city address the digital divide

Plan on spending 8:30 am - 12:30 pm on February 26 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for DC's first-ever Community Broadband Summit (DC-CBS).   At the Reagan Building, you will join area residents, businesses, community-based organizations, and thought leaders to address the city's digital divide.

According to third annual Speed Matters survey of Internet speeds by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the District ranks 10 out of 53 (the states plus DC, Puerto Rico, and USVI) in the organization's download speed list.   Not so surprising is the breakdown by zip code of download speeds in the CWA DC report.

Certainly, the digital divide is not all about speed.   So what is it about, then?   The most simple definition is this:   The term digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to electronic and information technology and those who do not.   It is sometimes couched as an urban versus rural dispartity or socio-economic level difference.

You don't have to be a tech expert to contribute to this event.   In fact, some of the sponsors of the event (DC Public Library, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Department of Employment Services) are not experts in technology.   Your participation is needed precisely because the city is interested in increasing all parts of digital literacy -- from ensuring all residents have equal access to the Internet to making sure that computer training and affordable hardware is widely available and affordable.

So be sure to take the short survey and register for this free event.

Domestic violence workshop

Domestic violence is an issue affecting thousands of DC residents in each year.   The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV) reports that in 2005, 4,948 people were served at the two Domestic Violence Intake Centers in the city – Superior Court and a SE Washington satellite center.

Of the 2,556 intake center clients who indicated residency, only 6% indicated they resided in Wards 1, 3 and 6 (and outside DC).   Still, 6% is too many.

MPD’s Fourth District is sponsoring a domestic violence workshop, "Hope, Learn, and Heal", on February 6 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.   More information about the workshop is in the flier, below.

Domestic Violence Flier

Free workshops for adult literacy professionals

Free winter/spring adult education workshops have just been announced by the Adult Education Professional Development Center (AEPDC) at D.C. LEARNs.   The workshops will offer training in topics and skills for teachers, tutors, volunteers, and program staff working in ABE, GED, and adult ESOL.   Check out the schedule on the D.C. Learns calendar.

DOES Transition Employment Program

  Check out the Department of Employment Service (DOES) Transitional Employment Program- A Great Community Resource Linking to Employment
In addition to the challenges of a lack of affordable housing and food insecurity faced by Ward 1 residents, joblessness is a growing concern and reality. On one hand, rising rates of unemployment for members of our community is a result of the economic downturn and continuing layoffs. On the other hand, there are resources that could be available to bolster the skills of residents to earn an honest wage and support their families, but oftentimes we do not have the information to access them.

One such resource is the DOES Transitional Employment Program. To participate, residents must stop by one of the One Stops and register for Project Empowerment, through which they will be referred for training, work, and support in our area. Flyers in English and Spanish with highlights and details are attached. You may also check online, at http://does.dc.gov/does/frames.asp?doc=/does/lib/does/services/TEP_Fact_Sheet-revised_FY_07_%282%29.pdf
DOES Transitional Employment Program (in English)

TEP Flyer en Espanol