| From the February 2007 Newsletter |
OPPORTUNITY WORKS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS
Message from OW Director Morgan Hoosman: Happy New Year! We did not send out a newsletter for the month of January so we are starting off the year with our February newsletter. As always I want to thank everyone for your much-appreciated support. As you know the newsletters are now sent out electronically. If you have not done so, please log onto our website at www.opportunityworksiowa.org and fill out the sign-up page in order to receive your newsletter by email. I would like to thank all the volunteers that helped with our Earned Income Tax Credit Program that is finishing up this month. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!
Opportunity Works is going to the Day on the Hill: Quality Counts Iowa Early Care Health & Education Day on the Hill will be Wednesday, February 7, 2007 from 8am –2pm at the State Capital and Wallace Building in Des Moines, Iowa. The Day on the Hill will be one of the most visible opportunities for advocates to make their case for investing in young children. In support of this day, Opportunity Works will be providing a charter bus to the capital and back. To reserve your seat on the bus please contact Shinita Crawley at (319) 226-3560 or by email sc483504@uni.edu. For more information about the Day on the Hill or to register to display exhibits go to www.empowerment.state.ia.us.
Opportunity Works Receives Grants! Opportunity Works recently received a $3,000 grant from “Speaking of Women’s Health” Community Investment Grant. The grant stems from the 2006 Speaking of Women’s Health initiative because we “provide exceptional services to women of this community.”
Opportunity Works also received a Community Foundation grant in the amount of $5000. This will assist with expenses associated with our Americorp VISTA volunteer that will be working to further our economic empowerment activities.
UNI Regional Business Center’s MyEntreNet Program: Starting a Business? Have an existing Business? Get the Training You Need to Succeed……… The MyEntreNet Program is ready to roll into Spring 2007 and is looking for individuals who are interested in participating in one of two eight-week courses being offered by the UNI Regional Business Center-SBDC and ISED Ventures. The courses will address business planning, market analysis, and an introduction to financial and strategic decision -making. For more information contact the UNI Regional Business Center-SBDC at 319-236-8123.
Earned Income Tax Credit Program: Opportunity Works Economic Empowerment Team and Operation Threshold are currently offering tax assistance by appointment only. The tax assistance will be held in Black Hawk County on February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th at Operation Threshold in Waterloo. To make an appointment call 319-291-2065. Assistance will be provided in Buchanan County on February 3rd and 10th at Operation Threshold in Independence. To make an appointment call 319-334-6081. Assistance will be provided in Grundy County on February 3rd and 10th at Operation Threshold in Grundy Center. To make an appointment call 319-824-3460. Additional questions may be directed to Lekeisha Veasley at Operation Threshold (319-291-2065) or Brooke Adams (badams@uni.edu) Thanks for your help!
Career Ladders: The Career Ladders program is currently looking for entry-level businesses within the customer service and manufacturing placements that are interested in participating in the program. If you know of a business or worker who would like more information about the program, please email contact information to Beth Cox at elizabeth.cox@iwd.iowa.gov
OPPORTUNITY WORKS’ UPCOMING TASK TEAM MEETINGS
The Cedar Valley’s Promise Early Childhood Education Task Team Meetings: The next meeting will be held on Friday, February 2, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at AEA 267, Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. This month’s meeting will be held in the Conference Center Seminar Room C. The meetings are held every first Friday of the each month at AEA 267. For more information please send an email to Shinita Crawley at sc483504@uni.edu.
The Opportunity Works Early Childhood Education Task Team: The OW ECE Advocacy Task Team needs your help! If you would like to join us in advocating for our children, please attend our next meeting. It will be held on Friday, February 23, 2007, at 11am. The meeting will be held at the AEA 267, Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. For more information, please send an email to Shinita Crawley at sc483504@uni.edu.
The OW and CVP Economic Empowerment Task Team: The next meeting for the Economic Empowerment Task Team will be Monday, February 26 at 3:00 pm at the UNI Regional Business Center, 212 E. 4th St., Waterloo. We will be discussing possible local training options for potential employees. If anyone has suggestions or contacts with possible first tier employers for the Career Ladders project, please contact Beth Cox at elizabeth.cox@iwd.iowa.gov, or Angie Britton at abritton@uni.edu.
There is new information on the Opportunity Works website concerning the Career Ladders program and there are Career Ladders brochures that can be downloaded off of our homepage. Check it out!
NOTES: If you have any questions, concerns, community event announcements or want to unsubscribe? Please send to contact@OpportunityWorksIowa.org.
Opportunity Works is a project of the Community Foundation of Waterloo/ Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa (www.communityfoundationneiowa.com) and is supported by a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota (www.nwaf.org), the R.J. McElroy Trust, the Community Foundation, the University of Northern Iowa and Veridian Credit Union, among others.
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