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February 18, 2009

City Facing $20 Million in Funding Cuts
 
E3AllianceCity Manager Marc Ott will host a Community Town Meeting tomorrow evening discuss how the recession is affecting the City's finances and to gather the public's input about priorities.  The public meeting will be Thursday, February 19th at 6 p.m. at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street.  You may also comment on budget priorities by email
 
The City Manager attended the CAN Resource Council meeting last Friday to share proposals to cut $20 million from the City's budget.  Click here to view the City Manager's presentation
CAN 2009 Priorities
The CAN Resource Council last week approved three priority areas of focus for the collaboration for 2009.
  • Development of a community-wide dashboard of high level indicators of our community's well-being;
  • Development of a Compact for Children and Youth; and
  • Collaborate to maximize outreach and enrollment in federal subsidy programs.
Link to this presentation that describes more about these initiatives and the 2009 CAN workplan. 
In This Issue
Freedom Weekend
African American Men and Boys Conference
Go-to-College Resource Directory
AAHSA Membership Drive
Ecnomic Stimulus Transportation Projects
Register for the NAPC Conference
Click here to register for the NAPC Conference March 2nd - 4th at the Hyatt on Town Lake.  Join folks from across the US as they wrestle with doing community planning in difficult ecnomic times.
Join our Mailing List!
Freedom Weekend
Freedom_Weekend_logoFreedom Weekend, this Thursday through Sunday will feature forums, prison protest poetry readings, a play and information on social activist research. 
 
Veteran activists, international and criminal law attorneys, community leaders, historians and others from Texas and around the country will come together for the Bringing Human Rights Home community forum to facilitate an important conversation about the relevance of human rights as a tool for Black self-determination and racial justice. 
 
Freedom Weekend is Co-sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin:  Center for African and African American Studies, the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice, the School of Law, the Humanities Institute, the History Department, and the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society. Click here for more information.
African American Men and Boys Conference
The 28th African American Men and Boys Conference will be held on Saturday, February. 28th from 10 am to 2 pm at Manor High School in the Cafeteria. Registration begins at 9:30 am. The conference is free, many door prizes will be given away and refreshments will be served.  Visit the AAMBC website for a schedule of these monthly conferences designed to empower young men and women with information for a successful future.
"Go-to-College Resource Directory
Go To CollegeReadyBy21 partner organizations have created a "Go-to-College" resource manual full of information for students preparing to attend post secondary higher education institutions.
AARP Scholarships for Women 40 and Over
The AARP Foundation's Women's Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to women aged 40 and over seeking new job skills, training, and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. The AARP Foundation Women's Scholarship Program is available to women with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. Learn more.

Catholic Charities - Immigration Legal Services
Catholic Chairities has a new walk-in service for clients needing an initial consultation on immigration issues.  Services are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to the first 18 people for a fee of $35.  February consultations are Thursday, February 19th and Tuesday, February 24th.  Doors open at 8:30 a.m.  Call Rae Ann Carrizales at 651-6100 for more information. 
A&M Study of Hurricane Survivors With Disabilities
Researchers at the Center for Disability and Development at Texas A&M University are conducting a study on the long-term recovery of survivors from Hurricane Katrina who have diabetes or a disability.  If selected, individuals will participate in either an interview, telephone survey, or a focus group and will be eligible for up to $50 in compensation. Interested individuals or their guardians should contact the Texas A&M project, toll free, at 1-866-578-4366.
AAHSA Membership Drive
Established more than 25 years ago, the Austin Area Human Services Association (AAHSA) conveys the human service needs of our community to policy makers and the public and supports member organizations in meeting these needs.  AAHSA invites non-profit health and human service organizations to join over 50 organizations that are already AAHSA members.  For more information, visit the AAHSA website.
Economic Stimulus Transportation Projects for Central Texas
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is accepting public comment on the Region's Potential Transportation Economic Stimulus Projects List.  Click here to view the (CAMPO) master list of projects currently being proposed for funding under the federal economic stimulus/recovery initiative. Public comments will be accepted through March 1st and may be submitted by mail to the attention of Dan Dargevics at CAMPO, PO Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767, or via email [email protected].
Child Care Council Becomes The Early Childhood Council
The City of Austin advisory council for improving the lives of the youngest of our citizens is now known as the Early Childhood Council.  The name change reflects the reality that early care and education occur in a variety of environments, including in-home and out-of-home settings. The
Early Childhood Council seeks to integrate community activities designed to benefit children and families through a holistic, seamless system that includes families, teachers, service providers and the community as a whole.  Visit the Early Childhood Council's website to see who is serving on this Council-appointed group.  
Fair Housing FIRST Accessibility Training
Housing_accessibilityHUD's Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST program is conducting a training session along with the City of Austin at the Learning and Research Center in Austin, Texas on April 23, 2009. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided courtesy of the Austin Tenants' Council and the Texas Apartment Association.  Architects will be eligible for up to 6 hours of AIA credit. Please note that seating for this session is limited and will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Register here.
CAN Partners
CAN logoCAN 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.