Building safe and supportive neighborhoods through a community-based approach

February 2008

ILAACP News

Dear ILAACP E-News Bulletin Subscriber -

The Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention (ILAACP) is a statewide, membership-based 501(c)(3) that strengthens early intervention and prevention systems, policies, and programs through culturally relevant research, training, and advocacy. I'm happy to report that we've been doing just that over the last couple of months.

In November, the ILAACP partnered with the University of Illinois at Chicago to host a community-based participatory research workshop. Over 75 community activists, executive directors, and organizers dialogued with university officials about the information they need to knowledgeably participate in research when approached by university researchers. And, university officials shared strategies community based organization's can employ to increase their capacity to conduct their own research or to lead or co-lead research efforts.

In January, the ILAACP worked closely with the McCormick Theological Seminary and BASUAH to convene over 50 clergy leaders from across the Chicago metro area for the 4th Annual Clergy Leadership Summit for HIV AIDS Community Outreach. Dr. Damon Arnold, Director of Illinois Department of Public Health, delivered the keynote address at this year's event and identified strategies for increasing the faith community's role in preventing HIV and AIDS in African-Americans.

A key strategy for accomplishing our mission work is increasing public awareness and consciousness about social and/or health disparities negatively impacting African-American communities. In April, the ILAACP will launch a statewide, grant-making initiative providing 10 to 20 local grassroots organizations with a mini-grant between $3,000 and $5,000 to design and implement an innovative, youth-led advocacy project. In June, we will partner with Aetna, Illinois General Assembly, county public health officials, and Unnatural Causes Public Impact Campaign to present 3 public hearings and town hall meetings to examine the sources of health disparities and identify policies that promote health equity.

Finally, as we celebrate Black History Month, the ILAACP sincerely hopes that you will consider visiting The Field Museum of Chicago's George Washington Carver exhibit, which opened on February 1st. While Carver is best known for his trail-blazing work with sustainable agriculture and laying the ground work for today's research on plant-based fuels and medicines, he was also a consummate "preventionist", educating and introducing poor Southern sharecroppers to the nutritional wellness power of consuming fresh produce.

Malik S. Nevels, J.D.
Executive Director

Grant Opportunities

$5.8 Million in New Grants Available For School-Based Drug Prevention
The United States Department of Education, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have announced the competition of an estimated $5,800,000 in new grants for school-based student drug-testing programs. An estimated 38 grants will be awarded in the summer of 2008 for qualified recipients.

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program
The program supports the implementation and enhancement of integrated, comprehensive community-wide plans that create safe and drug-free schools and promote healthy childhood development. The application is due March 14, 2008.

Drug Free Communities Support Program
The DFCSP supports community coalitions in their efforts to address and reduce substance abuse among youth. DFCSP grants are available to eligible coalitions in amounts of up to $100,000 for a 12-month period. The application is due March 21, 2008.

Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services
The purpose of this program is to enhance and expand substance abuse treatment and/or outreach/pretreatment services in conjunction with HIV/AIDS services in African-American, Latino/Hispanic, and/or other racial or ethnic communities highly affected by the twin epidemics of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. Nearly $20 million is available to fund up to 50 projects. The application is due March 27, 2008.

Aetna Healthy Community Outreach Program
Awards will be granted to nonprofit organizations to support grassroots efforts which increase awareness on critical health initiatives through health walks, health fairs and health education outreach. Grants up to $25,000 will be considered. Please provide all levels of event sponsorships on your application. Funding decisions will be made throughout the year.

Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
Grants between $15,000-$30,000 will be provided to community- based organizations to support early childhood care and educational programs. There is no deadline.

Heineman Foundation
Accepting applications for its seed money for start-up projects. Award amounts are about $20,000-$50,000 per year for 3-5 years. Application deadline is rolling.

Scholarships Chicago
Scholarships Chicago is offering a $3500 scholarship for high school juniors through a partnership with Shore Bank. Students may also qualify for a $5000 scholarship, college prep programming, and career mentoring services through their College Bound program. Applications are due February 22, 2008 and March 3, 2008 respectively. For more details, please visit the website or call Chris James - 312.917.8103.

News & Resources

Gov. Blagojevich Launches Nation's First Lottery Ticket to Benefit HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education
Continuing his ongoing support for HIV/AIDS prevention and education, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the launch of the nation's first instant Lottery ticket in the nation where 100 percent of net proceeds will support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Click here to view the full press release.

Scientists Find New Receptor for H.I.V.
Government scientists have discovered a new way that H.I.V. attacks human cells, an advance that could provide fresh avenues for the development of additional therapies to stop AIDS. Please click here to view the full article.

Devastating Toll of Diabetes Reaches $174 Billion
Diabetes is costing Americans $174 billion annually, a figure that has increased by 32 percent since 2002, according to a study commissioned by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). To view the full report please click here.

UNICEF Essay Contest Offers Young People Place at Table with World Leaders
In an attempt to advance the understanding of global issues among young people, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced the launch of a national essay contest for young people interested in participating in the Junior 8 (J8) summit, a youth event convened this year in Japan and linked to the annual Group of 8 (G8) Summit. Please click here for the full story and more details on the program.

New Book Puts Spotlight on African American Achievement
Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements of African-Americans throughout the United States, but the contributions of African-Americans to our nation's greatest monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C. are often glossed over by historians. The new book "Black Men Built The Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C." spotlights the contributions of African-Americans in building the Capitol, the White House, and the National Mall, as well as many other sites in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Please click here for to read the full article.

Legislative Watch

Planned Budget Cuts for FY 2009
Dozens of popular health, housing and education programs would be eliminated or sharply reduced under President Bush's Budget Request for FY 2009. To view the article, please click here.

A Disaster for Domestic AIDS: Congress Must Fund Critical Healthcare Priorities
The President is proposing to flat fund CDC HIV/AIDS programs overall, but he is cutting HIV prevention programs by $40 million and putting those funds into HIV testing. Additionally, the President is continuing to propose increases for failed and scientifically invalid abstinence-only until marriage programs, which is slated to receive a $28 million increase. To learn more about this critical issue, please click here.

HJR 76 Parents Accountability Committee
HJR 76 creates the Parents and Community Accountability Study Committee to examine issues related to racial and socioeconomic disparities affecting the pro-social development of children and youth, to identify ways to engage more parents in being accountable for the actions of their children, and to identify ways to engage more communities in being accountable for investing in pro-social development of children and families.

HR 153 Drug Free Zones
HR 153 creates the Legislative Task Force on Drug Free Zones to study State laws that created drug free zones to determine the effectiveness of these laws, whether these laws have a disparate impact on African-American communities, and whether these laws should be amended to more effectively deter drug activity that occurs within sight of schools and other protected locations and lessen the impact of mandatory sentencing on urban communities, thereby reducing racial disparities.

HR 384 After School Fund Task Force
HR 384 establishes the After-school Funding Policy Task Force to develop recommendations for the administration and coordination of the after-school, mentoring, and student support line item in the State Board of Education's budget.

HB 1759 Prenatal HIV Testing
HB 1759 provides that every health care professional who provides health care services to a pregnant woman shall provide the woman with HIV counseling and perform (instead of recommend) HIV testing unless she refuses.

Events

George Washington Carver Field Museum Exhibition
Best known for his work with the peanut plant, George Washington Carver became a legend in his own time. Discover the life and work of an extraordinary man, born into slavery, who used his gifts to become a groundbreaking scientist, educator, and humanitarian with a lifelong mission: to bring practical knowledge to those in need. Visit the Field Museum's on exhibition on Dr. Carver which will be running through July 2008. Please visit the Field Museum website for more info. Admission is FREE for the month of February.

Mount Sinai Hospital Close to Heart Home Cooking
Hands-on classes taught in the kitchen by professionals who share their strength by teaching heart healthy nutrition and cooking. Every Monday through March 24th, 11am-1pm (no class on President's Day). WIC Food Center, 2310 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. For more info. please contact Gwendolyn Reinholtz - 773.542.2000 ext. 3261. To register, visit www.sinai.org.

Ask the Doctor!
Are there questions you have always wanted to ask your doctor but were too embarassed? Seize the opportunity to have your questions answered anonymously.

On Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the Bessie Coleman Library, 731 E 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60637 from 10-11am physicians from the University of Chicago will answer your questions. Please mail your questions to Renita Austin, 1508 E. 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60637 or Fax # 773.256.1584.

Questions must be received by February 13, 2008 for a response at the seminar.

Community Cafe Black History Month Celebration
The Community Cafe welcomes world renown artists, local favorites, beloved scholars, and community activists in recognizing the legacy of the African-American experience and influence through words, music, and movement. Featuring Ahmir Suliman, All Natural, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, and others. Friday, February 22, 2008, 6pm. DePaul Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago.

Pieces of a Shattered Dream
A powerful and educational civil rights musical journey. Friday, February 29, 2008, 7:30pm. Julian High School, 10330 S. Racine, Chicago. For more information about the play or to schedule a showing, call Ray of Hope Center of the Arts at 773.947.0447.

Brother to Brother: Beating Barriers to Health
Saturday, March 8, 2008, 10:00am, at the DuSable Museum of African-American History, 57th and South Cottage Grove, the University of Chicago Cancer Center, under the leadership of Dr. Rick Kittles, PhD and nationally known geneticist, will host the third in a series of community forums aimed at providing a lively, informative presentation and discussion on cancer prevention and other community health issues. Refreshments will be provided. To RSVP, call 888.824.0200, option #2.

Blueprints Conference 2008
The purpose of this event is to disseminate science-based information on youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention programs that are effective. Evidence-based programs will be brought together in one location to provide a first-class conference that offers continuing education and networking opportunities for model evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for youth and their families. March 17-19, 2008. Adam's Mark Hotel, Denver, Colorado. Please click here for registration information.

17th Annual Parent Institute Day
Over 30 Workshops and breakout sessions on topics including Literacy, Internet Safety, Violence in Dating, Autism, Developing Early Reading & Writing Skills, and ADHD. March 28, 2008, 8am-5pm. South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois. For more information, call 708.335.0020 ext. 14, or visit www.goodshepherdcenteronline.com.

2008 Town Hall Meetings on Underage Drinking
Communities across America will be hosting Town Hall Meetings on the prevention of underage drinking during the week of March 31 through April 4, 2008. For more details and Town Hall Meeting locations, please click here.

Job Opportunities

The Cara Program - VP of Operations
The Cara Program is seeking a Vice President of Operations to be part of its senior management team as the organization grows from a $4 million operation to an $8 million operation over the next few years. Please click here for more details.

American Cancer Society - Health Initiatives Representative
The position requires the coordination, management and ability to work with volunteers to plan and conduct appropriate cancer programs initiatives/interventions to reach target populations through employers, community networks and other systems. For more details please click here.

Academy of Urban School Leadership - Managing Director, Development
The Managing Director, Development will have primary responsibility for establishing and implementing the infrastructure needed to grow a $6.5 M budget through the solicitation of major gifts, federal and state grants, special events, corporate, and foundation support. For more info., please click here.

Preservation of Affordable Housing - Project Manager
Project Managers oversee one or more developments simultaneously, participating in project 'life' from acquisition to completion of construction and lease-up, including financial analysis, design and construction, and transfer of the completed project to the property management function. Please click here for more info.

New Leaders for New Schools
Currently we are seeking strong educators (average of 5-10 years exp & valid state teaching license) for Chicago as well as seven other national markets who will meet the need as school leaders and positively impact school reform. To review position/program requirements, interested educators must complete the online application (at www.nlns.org) by February 28, 2008.

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development - Vice President
Our organization seeks an exceptional leader for this newly created position. The individual will be responsible for providing critical leadership and direction for our growing organization. Please click here for more details.

Females United for Action - Youth Organizer
We are seeking a full time organizer to work with FUFA. FUFA is, in the words of the young women who formed it, "a coalition of young women leaders that is dedicated to educate not only ourselves, but others as well, on issues that affect women and girls." For more info., please click here.

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law - Director of Community Development Project
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a premier national civil rights legal organization seeking a dynamic individual to manage the Community Development Project Director. Please click here for more details about the position.

Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care - Health Care Justice Assistant Director
CBHC seeks an experienced organizer to serve as Health Care Justice Assistant Director. This person will work with the Health Care Justice Director and other staff in implementing CBHC's overall advocacy strategy. For more info., please click here.

The Chicago Public Education Fund - Director, Program Investments
Reporting directly to The Fund's President and the program committee of the Board of Directors, the Director, Program Investments will manage a small and talented staff to meet programmatic objectives. For more details, please click here.

Christopher House - Director of Family Support Services
Christopher House currently has an opening for a dynamic, passionate and disciplined team member to help us continue to increase the capacity of our multi-site family resource center dedicated to helping low-income children and their families thrive. Please click here for more info.

Action Now - Communications Organizer
This individual would have a community organizer who uses the tools of a monthly newsletter, the media and our website to organize the community. The individual chosen for this position will first and foremost have a passion for community activism and organizing. Please click here for more details.

America's Second Harvest - VP of Planning
The Vice President of Planning will lead the organizational processes in short- and long-term planning; research; metrics and management reporting, and assure all strategic plans are translated into annual work plans required for meeting the Board stated Outcomes. For more details please click here.

Youth Outreach Services - Activity Leader
Under the direction of the Program Coordinator, Activity Leaders work in various school districts with 3rd-8th graders in an after school program planning, implementing and evaluating creative services that engage and reward youth involvement. Please click here for more info.

ABJ Community Services
ABJ is currently accepting applications for qualified, caring individuals to join us in providing quality services to our clients. Multiple positions are available. For a full list of job opportunities please visit http://www.abj.org/html/career.html

Volunteer Opportunity!
Power Hour - Can you tutor 1 child, 1 day a week (Thurs), from 12noon - 1pm? If so contact Christina Armstrong at christina.armstrong@uchospitals.edu.

An ILAACP Member You Should Know...

Join ILAACP

Imagine how our families, work, and communities would be transformed if you had a voice in a powerful coalition of early intervention and prevention practitioners and other stakeholders who advocate policy change, facilitate resource sharing, and offer professional development opportunities. Envision joining forces with leaders from around the state to build a new prevention and early intervention reality. Welcome to the Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention.

To learn more about ILAACP membership, please click here. To join or renew your membership, please download the membership application, or contact us at 312.850.4444 or ilaacp@illaacp.org