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News from CTA May2013

Join CTA's Fundraising Campaign and
Celebrate Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs!  
By Anke Wessels

I have the joy of working with students whose ambition is to help resolve critical social problems such as poverty, uneven and unequal education, declining health, environmental deterioration, disappearing cultures, endemic conflict, structural prejudice, systemic injustice, and food insecurity.  Along with hands-on educational opportunities, these students yearn for role models -- inspiring adults who have built a life around pursuing innovative ideas to pressing social issues.

Natalie Bridgeman Fields of the Accountability Counsel, Kirby Edmonds of the Dorothy Cotton Institute, and Bill Myers of Ithaca's Alternative Federal Credit Union, are such people.  These social entrepreneurs, all Cornell alumni, have taken
Kirby
Kirby Edmonds, Dorothy Cotton Institute Senior Fellow
the initiative to develop transformative social ventures that  address a problem's systemic roots. 

Social entrepreneurs are action-oriented.  They are collaborative, innovative, resilient, and optimistic. They think big, and are able to break the mold of how things are always done. Yet, they are also pragmatic and realistic. They not only envision new ideas, but also make them happen through ventures and organizations that prioritize a social purpose and are financially viable. They attract resources because their vision is bold, doable, and has the potential for tremendous social impact.

Natalie Bridgeman Fields, Accountability Center
Do you know a social entrepreneur who has inspired you?

Do you know someone who fits this description? Would you like to see this person recognized and celebrated for her or his powerful role in creating communities that are just, sustainable, and work for everyone?

If so, we invite you to join our crowdfunding campaign and become a Champion for social entrepreneurs!

CTA is partnering with Ithaca's local crowdfunding platform, PEAKS, to facilitate a fundraising effort that recognizes social entrepreneurs, provides young change makers with diverse and powerful role models, and raises the money necessary to support CTA's growing educational programs for aspiring social entrepreneurs. These programs include:
  • A nationally recognized, award-winning undergraduate course.
  • A hands-on Fellowship Program for students.
  • Individual mentorship. 
  • The Finger Lakes Social Entrepreneurship Institute for aspiring and established social entrepreneurs.
  • A TEDx Event featuring celebrated social entrepreneurs.
If you would like to get involved, please contact  Anke Wessels to learn how to get started.

Specifically, the funds raised will:
  • Support the Center for Transformative Action's curricular and extracurricular educational programs in social entrepreneurship at Cornell and in our community.

  • Support a Celebration of your honoree. Your honoree will be invited to speak at a webcast TEDx event associated with CTA's Finger Lakes Social Entrepreneurship Institute in the fall of 2013. A profile of your honoree will also appear on CTA's website, in our social media, and in a print publication dedicated to the Celebration.

  • Support the honoree's social venture. 15% of all funds raised will be given to the honoree to support her/his social change work.

  • Enhance the visibility of individuals who exemplify CTA's and Cornell University's commitment to social engagement.

Help us honor transformative social entrepreneurs and provide young people with the education and support to follow in their footsteps. 

 

Thank you for supporting  the  Center for Transformative Action!

 

News and Events

Wood's Earth Living Classroom   
  • Volunteer opportunities every Saturday in May, 11am-4pm. Help grow organic produce for school food programs on our one-acre field. Please RSVP.
  • Shiitake log inoculation workshop. Saturday and Sunday, May 11 & 12.  Learn how to inoculate shiitakes and other mushrooms for multi-year yields. Take home logs for yourself!  $10 workshop fee for non-gardeners, one take-home log included; Take home additional inoculated logs for $5/each.RSVP required.
  • School field trips available in May for any age group or size. Contact us to schedule. 

To RSVP or questions/comments - woodsearthclass@gmail.com, 607-592-2902.

 

Dorothy Cotton Institute 

 

Human Rights Education Workshop

Thursday, May 2, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 

 

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of the international human rights framework and resources to begin integrating human rights education in your existing curriculum and program activities. It will also provide an opportunity to build relationships with community partners in the effort to provide human rights education in the classroom and in community programs for young people.

 

Please email Kirby Edmonds to pre-register 

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Citizenship Education Program (CEP)

June 23 and July 21,  9:00am -5:00pm   

  

For activists and emerging new leaders in the Tompkins County community who want to take effective, non-violent action for positive social change, the CEP is:

  • a free, interactive workshop, spanning 2 days with follow-up workshops based on participants learning needs.
  • offering tools and skills for social change today.
  • led by Dorothy Cotton, Margo Hittleman, Laura Branca, Kirby Edmonds, & other presenter.
  • based on the strategies people used to organize the demonstrations and other non-violent campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement.  

 Please email Kirby Edmonds to pre-register.  

   

Veterans' Sanctuary

 

Veterans' Sanctuary Community Garden

Work Day Every Monday from 9am- 5pm at 46 King Street, Trumansburg
Upcoming dates: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27

Veterans' Sanctuary Community Garden is a space for veterans and
supporters to grow food and medicine together. We provide a supportive
community and practice permaculture, growing perennials, vegetables,
herbs, shrubs and trees. Join us for a Monday work day at the garden
and take veggies and herbs home.

Facilitated by Nate Lewis  716.531.5362
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Warrior Writers
Veteran Writing Group

Meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 6:30-8pm
Upcoming dates: 5/8 and 5/22
TC Workers' Center 115 The Commons, Ithaca

Veterans can heal together by expressing themselves with spoken and
written word. Each week writing prompts address veterans' issues,
transitioning from military to civilian life, and everyday struggles.

No writing experience needed.
Facilitated by Jenny Pacanowski 570.269.7528

Vitamin L

 

Vitamin L's new CD, received a Recommended Parents' Choice Award from the national Parents' Choice Foundation.

The CD is available in Ithaca at Alphabet Soup, the Bookery, Heron Creek Cards and Gifts and Cat's Pajamas, and on Itunes and vitaminL.org.
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Sing for Social Change! It's Audition Season For the Vitamin L Singing Group!

If you are in 5th - 10th grade and you like to sing, perform, and make a positive difference in this world, you can audition for Vitamin L. This is a unique and wonderful opportunity for young people.  Check it out! 

 

For audition info, and more info about Vitamin L go to vitaminL.org.
or call Vitamin L's director, Janice Nigro at 273-4175.
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Saturday, May 4

"Walk a Mile in My Shoes" Walk 

A benefit for the Chemung County Department of Mental Hygiene  

 

Vitamin L will perform and have a team walking a mile on Saturday May 4 at the "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" walk for suicide prevention in Eldridge Park in Elmira. Vitamin L will be walking in memory of Jack Gallagher, a beloved friend of many Vitamin L chorus members, who passed on in 2012.   

 

If you would like to donate to the efforts of the Vitamin L team, you may send a check payable to: "Community Foundation Suicide Prevention Fund" and mail it to Vitamin L, 105 King St. Ithaca, NY 14850
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Vitamin L performs at the Ithaca Festival on Saturday, June 1 at 3:00 - 3:45pm in Dewitt Park at the corner of W. Buffalo St. and N. Cayuga St.

 

Durland Alternatives Library

 

People's History: This show, curated by Ryan Clover-Owens, features artwork from the Just Seeds Artists' Collective, a group of contemporary artists who have addressed a myriad of topics in the "Celebrate People's History" series, from Emma Goldman and Malcom X to the Occupation of Alcatraz and the Zapatista uprising in Mexico. The show is an educational program of the Durland Alternatives Library at Cornell University and is comprised of about 60 posters.

 

Now Showing, until May 30th
Next Reception-First Friday, May 3rd

Ink Shop Printmaking Center (2nd floor)

Community School of Music and Arts
330 MLK Street / E. State Street 1st floor
Legacy Foundation Gallery Hallway   Ithaca, NY  14850

Hours: Ink Shop  Tuesday to Friday 12 -6 PM, Sat 12-4 PM
Hours: CSMA Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM and Friday 9 AM- 5 PM
Contact: The Ink Shop   607 277-3884
Email:  artists@ink-shop.org  Web site:  www.ink-shop.org   

 

Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming 

 

In four short years, Groundswell has...

* Provided training for 270 aspiring farmers, food entrepreneurs and activists.
* Helped launch 31 new small-farm enterprises.
* Provided thousands of dollars in tuition support for limited-income trainees.
* Established the new Groundswell Incubator Farm to provide access to land for beginning farmers.  

 

They have accomplished all of this and more while maintaining a strong commitment to social justice and inclusiveness throughout their recruiting for program participants, hiring practices and governance.

They now need your support. 

 

Their current programs cost $170,000 annually. The ongoing federal budget sequestration process means that they can't re-apply for the USDA funding that has provided a significant portion of the programming support for the past three years. In order to continue with the current level of programs, Groundswell needs your support.

Groundswell has launched a Grow Your Farmer! membership drive to help close its budget gap. Please consider donating $25 or more to help them reach their goal of $24,000 in member contributions by the end of September.



 

CTA logoThe Center for Transformative Action (CTA) helps to create communities that work for everyone. We do this by providing fiscal sponsorship to innovative social change agents in New York State, as well as financial, human resources, and grants management services. CTA is an educational non-profit organization affiliated with Cornell University.

 

Our Vision

We envision change makers everywhere engaging and strengthening the power of the heart to remake the world.

 

Our Mission

We are an alliance of individuals and organizations inspired by principles of nonviolence and committed to bold action for justice, sustainability, and peace. CTA supports change makers with the tools to build thriving, inclusive communities that work for everyone. We serve our projects, the public, and Cornell University by offering educational programs and strategic organizational resources.
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Anke Wessels, Ph.D. Executive Director
117 Anabel Taylor Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-5027

Della Herden
 Director of Operations
119 Anabel Taylor Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-6202
  
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