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Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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| Free Help Completing Tax Forms |
 Community Tax Centers offer free tax preparation to people with low incomes, helping hard-working families receive millions of dollars in returns. Foundation Communities has opened 9 Community Tax Centers from Round Rock to Bastrop to offer free assistance in completing tax forms. Click here for a map of locations and hours of operation.
Last year, 17,200 people received help completing their taxes and they received over $21 million in tax refunds and credits. |
| Travis County Seeks Input on CDBG Funds |
 Travis County receives about $840,000 a year in CDBG funds. The first public hearing on how these funds should be spent will be held on February 17th at 9 a.m. at the Commissioner's Court Room, 314 W. 11th Street.
CDBG funding is targeted to benefit low- and moderate-income residents who live in unincorporated areas of Travis County. Learn more about upcoming public hearings and the process to apply for CDBG funding on the County's website. |
| CollegeReadyAustin to Support Increased College Enrollment |
 As part of the "20,010 by 2010" initiative, the Austin Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website CollegeReadyAustin.com to promote post-secondary enrollment in the Metro Austin area. The site includes information on Free Financial Aid Saturday events which are going on now and other information to help guide students through the process of finding and applying for the right college or university. | |
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| CPPP State of the State Report |
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| Local "Host" Rates for NAPC Conference |
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The National Association of Planning Councils will hold its annual conference in Austin March 2nd - 4th. Local organizations get a special "host" rate through CAN. Click here for information about the conferece. Contact Vanessa Sarria for local registration and rates. | |
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| The People's Law School |
 Attorney volunteers will offer free classes in consumer law, foreclosures, credit repair, bankruptcy, divorce, child custody, estate planning, tenant's rights, wills, and more! The People's Law School will be held on Saturday, February 28th from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the UT Law School. Click here for a listing of classes. The People's Law School is a joint project of the Austin Bar Association, the UT Law School, the Lawyer Referral Service, and KEYE. |
| Wooten Elementary's Health & Community Resource Fair |
Wooten Elementary is seeking exhibitors for its annual "Health & Community Resource Fair" on April 8th from 4 - 6 pm. The goal is to increase knowledge of parents, students and staff about community resources, health and safety issues, and various careers. For information, contact Bernardo Martinez, Parent Support Specialist and Fair Coordinator at 414-0623 of bemartin@austinisd.org.
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| African American Family Support Conference |
The 9th Central Texas African American Family Support Conference will be held February 12th - 13th at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark. The conference is planned by and for behavioral health consumers, family members and professionals. The two day conference is free to the general public. Click here for more information and to register. The African American Family Support Conference is hosted by Austin Travic County MHMR Center and is sponsored by New Milestones Foundation and other community partners. |
| Get the Most Out of Medicaid |
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Find out the latest about Medicaid eligibility and the Texas Health Steps Program at a free seminar on Friday, February 13th from 8:30 am to noon at the Goodwill Community Center at 1015 Norwood Park.
Representatives of the Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Social Security Administration will provide information on Medicaid eligibility for children and families, children in foster care, and children who are disabled. Contact Leonor Dominguez at 533-3875 or LeonorDominguez@maximus.com to register. |
| Free Screening of "Iron Jawed Angels" |
The League of Women Voters of Texas will celebrate its "Keep the Vote" Kick-Off with a free screening of HBO Film's "Iron Jawed Angels." The film, starring Oscar-winning Hilary Swank and Angelica Huston, is a true story of two women who pushed the boundaries of political protest to secure women's voting rights in 1920. The film will be shown on Sunday, March 8th at 4 p.m. at the UT Thompson Center. RSVP to rsvp@lwvtexas.org.
The objective of "Keep the Vote!" is to build on the current high voter interest by spotlighting upcoming elections and reverse the trend of low voter turnout following high profile elections. |
| Universal Living Wage Campaign |
Join advocates for a universal living wage on tax day, April 15th, as they go to the nation's post offices to encourage businesses to pay a living wage. Advocates in Austin will meet at 5th and Guadalupe at 4:30 p.m.
The slogan for the Universal Living Wage Campaign is, "If all businesses paid a Universal Living Wage, we could reduce the tax burden on every single American!" For information visit the Universal Living Wage website. |
| Nominations for "Community Stewardship Awards" |
 Envision Central Texas is now accepting nominations for Community Stewardship Awards. The award recognizes and honors the innovative people, projects and processes that are addressing the growth challenges facing our region in ways that will move us closer to a vision for our future that preserves and enhances our natural resources, economic vitality, social equity, and overall quality of living.
Local non-profit and community organizations, businesses, cities, counties, developers, builders, designers, media, neighborhood groups and others based in the five-county Central Texas region (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties) are encouraged to submit applications for the annual ECT Community Stewardship Awards.
Visit www.envisioncentraltexas.org for more information. The deadline for applications is noon on February 20, 2009.
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 CAN Partners: Austin Area Human Services Association, Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Austin Chamber, Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center, Capital Metro, City of Austin, Community Justice Council, Integrated Care Collaboration, Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Community Health Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, Travis County Healthcare District, United Way Capital Area, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area.
CAN Issue Area Groups: Aging Services Council, Austin/Travis County Victim Services Task Force, Basic Needs Coalition, Behavioral Health Planning Partnership, Central Texas After-School Network, Child & Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership, Developmental Disabilities Planning Partnership, Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, Success by 6, HousingWorks, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Ready by 21, Reentry Roundtable, and Regional Transit Coordination Committee. | |
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