W e l c o m e N e w S u b s c r i b e r s !
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CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT MEETING 
Sunday, January 3, 2016
3:00pm - 4:30pm
East Liberty Presbyterian Church (map) 116 South Highland Avenue, 2nd Floor
Chapter meetings include various chapter planning, updates on upcoming events and opportunities for new families. The Junior Branch meets separately, and includes peace education activities. All newcomers are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there!
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JUNIOR BRANCH MINI CAMP AND 2016 SELECTION January 23-24, 2016 Family Retreat Center (map)
Mini Camp is a great way to learn more about CISV! Our mini camp is hosted by the Junior Branch, who will plan and run the majority of all activities. It will also include interviews and activities for this year's delegation applicants, whose attendance is mandatory. The camp begins at 11am on Saturday and will conclude at 10am on Sunday. All junior branch members and friends are welcome to attend. Cost for the weekend is $105 and includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday, as well as overnight accommodations. All attendees must register prior to arriving.
Parents of applicants are required to attend the Parent Orientation which will begin as soon as all the attendees are checked in. It will include a light lunch.
It's not too late to apply for 2016-17 Programs! There are still opportunities, so get your applications and references in as soon as possible.
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WELCOME TO CISV'S YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT!
In CISV, we have four peace education content areas, which are explored in our programs:
- DIVERSITY
 - CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION
- HUMAN RIGHTS
- SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Many of our programs and themes this year will be based on the theme of sustainable development. Sustainable development combines economic and social well-being, with protecting the environment by using natural resources responsibly. We will be forwarding resources provided by CISV International as they become available, and are looking forward to upcoming activities where CISV Pittsburgh can make a local impact.
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CanExUs by Nancy Golio 
CanExUs, a neighborhood workshop for JB North (USA, Canada, and Mexico), is a program that in its second year is still being developed. Although the theme, participants, and staff/planners change every year, the goals of the workshop remain the same: to connect JB leaders from these three countries in order to create a more cohesive JB neighborhood and to build an identity for JB North within America's Junior Branch.
This year, CanExUs focused largely on building stronger JBs, problem solving within our local and national JBs, and completing refreshing educational content activities to bring back to our chapters. In addition to our workshop time, participants got to attend CISV Dallas' annual New Years candle lighting ceremony, in which participants and Dallas chapter members had the opportunity to share their favorite CISV experiences of 2015. The ceremony was incredibly impactful, and was filled with youth that had just returned from Village, parents that had hosted youth, CanExUs participants from various countries, and the founders of CISV Dallas seeing their chapter through another year.
After a brief discussion of resolutions and goals for a new year, participants discussed ideas for next year's CanExUs workshop, and how to continue to remain a united JB neighborhood throughout 2016.
I can't wait to bring some of these educational content activities and workshop ideas back to Pittsburgh!
Here is a link to PHOTOS from Nancy's amazing week at CanExUs in Dallas, Texas.
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EAST-MIDWEST REGIONAL MINI CAMP (RMC)  February 26-28, 2016 Cincinnati, OH
RMC is an annual weekend-long camp for all chapters in a particular region of Junior Branch USA. Anyone in the JB is invited to RMC, but it is especially planned for chapters in the East Midwest Region, which are: Northeast Ohio, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Over the weekend participants engage in educational and thought-provoking activities planned by the region's junior presidents. It's a great chance to get to know the people and learn more about what a CISV experience is like.
Official registration has not begun yet, but we are getting ready early and would like to know if you're interested in either attending as a delegate, or interested in being a chaperone/driver to Cincinnati. This is a great opportunity for a parent to fulfill volunteer requirements, so please let us know if you have any questions. Interested individuals should SIGN UP now.
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JUNIOR BRANCH ANNUAL COOKIE BAKE 
March 19, 2016
Save the date! Each year our Junior Branch comes together to bake dozens of cookies to donate to a local food pantry. We'll also have pizza, CISV activities, and gather as a chapter to help those in need. More details are coming, so make sure you can attend!
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JB USA - NATIONAL MINI CAMP 
May 27-30, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA
CISV Pittsburgh is proud to be hosting this year's National Mini Camp! JB members from all over the USA will be attending. We should have a big turnout, so make sure to save the date. More details are coming, but you will need to be prepared to register early, because we are going to fill up quickly!
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CISV FAMILIES: HELP AJAPO
Donations are being accepted to help refugee families being resettled in Pittsburgh. Items needed include: housewares, furniture, warm clothing, school supplies, and food. Contact AJAPO for more ways to give at (412) 391-4985.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
2016 will be a very busy year for CISV Pittsburgh. We are hosting two great events, and we need your help. Every chapter family is required to volunteer, so please sign up for one of the following:
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CULTURE CLIPS AND CISV 
What is Culture Clips?
Culture Clips is about giving youth a voice in building cultural understanding. They are creating a platform to connect young people worldwide to talk about their identity, illuminate cultural clashes, ask questions and connect in the spirit of friendship, building understanding and forging peaceful ways of getting along.
How it works
The Culture Clips platform invites youth to upload clips - videos, images, music, performances and other creative expressions - along with their questions and comments that represent who they are and what they want to understand. Resources will be made available for teachers and youth leaders. Culture Clips is the only on-line, international resource that connects youth on issues of culture and identity.
CISV Pittsburgh will be partnering with Culture Clips in 2016 and we are looking forward to working with them during their developmental phase. For more information, or to learn how to become more involved in Culture Clips, check out their website or contact Stephanie Acosta-Mikulasek.
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We received a great, big pile of warm weather clothing and accessories at December's meeting to donate to AJAPO. We appreciate everyone's generosity! If you happen to have more items or missed the opportunity to give, please contact Elaine Hyder.
There was a great turnout at this year's Ten Thousand Villages fundraiser. Your purchases help us continue efforts here in Pittsburgh, so thank you for always showing your support!
A big THANK YOU to the Golio family for allowing our JBers to have their sleepover at their home. We hope everyone had a great time and we truly appreciate their hospitality!
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January 3 - Chapter Development Meeting
January 23-24 - Chapter Mini Camp, Selection and Parent Orientation
February 26-28 - East-Midwest Regional Mini Camp, Cincinnati, OH
March 19 - Annual JB Cookie Bake
All events and more info can be seen on our website calendar!
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