Downtown Women's Center’s Post

Applications are still open for next year's CIP fellowship program that will begin in October. It is open to people with disabilities from low and middle income countries early in their careers who want to pursue a career in policy analysis. The deadline for applications is July 31. Our fellowship program provides financial support, exposure to global discourse and developments in the policy landscape, and mentoring to people who are actively working on issues of inclusive policy or policy research in support of the rights of people with disabilities as put forth in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We believe that successful advocacy and policy change hinge on the ability to gather and analyze all types of data – quantitative, qualitative, legislative, financial – to provide a strong evidence base for policy change and that it is of fundamental importance that people of disabilities from low and middle income countries be at the center of these efforts. To learn more about it and see how to apply, go to: https://lnkd.in/gC-KHzyh

"Dreaming big, serving bigger! 🌈 Maryland's Service Year Option is now in motion, for a year of impactful service. From UMD initiatives to community projects, these changemakers are ready to make waves! We're so proud of our inaugural class 🌊💪 #ServiceYearOption #CommunityImpact #DreamBigServeBigger"

April 22-26, 2024 is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (APAW), a dedicated week to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. Research shows that skilled and knowledgeable program staff are the backbone of program quality and are key to desired positive youth outcomes. We hope everyone joins us April 22-26 in celebrating afterschool professionals and then continues to advocate for job quality in support of these essential professionals throughout the year. Why is it important to recognize Afterschool Professionals? An estimated 7.8 million children participate in afterschool programs each year; for every child in an afterschool program, two more are waiting to get in. Every young person deserves quality afterschool experiences that positively impact their development. It takes skilled professionals to create these experiences. Because of the important role afterschool professionals play in kids’ lives, they deserve recognition and support! What is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week? Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week is a time to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations, public relations, and advocacy efforts encouraging appreciation and support for afterschool professionals who make a profound difference in the lives of young people. Get your FREE communication kit here: https://lnkd.in/ehGdpiiS

A crucial step forward to ensure the young people we engage not only receive the results of our actions, but also influence the decision making process that gets us there.

Please consider joining this informational session about the ABA Wealth and Trust School. The content and instructors that Kimberly Chancy puts together are best in class!

For those in need of a specialty coffee supplier, but want to change lives at the same time.. I'm very proud to work with SEND Coffee and here's a short video that outlines some of the work we do. #SpecialEducationalNeedsaandDisabilities

Attention educators add this to your toolbox.

Did you know that one of this year's grant recipient's was the Apex Police Youth Enrichment Camp. In a world where community engagement and positive law enforcement interactions are vital, police youth summer camps have emerged as a beacon of hope and an opportunity for building strong relationships between law enforcement agencies and the younger generation. These camps provide a unique and enriching experience that goes beyond the conventional summer activities, fostering trust, understanding, and leadership skills among the youth. 2023 marked the 14th anniversary of the Apex Police Department’s Youth Enrichment Camp. The positive effects of YEC ripple beyond the participants themselves. As these young individuals return to their communities, they become ambassadors of understanding, sharing their experiences and insights with peers, family members, and neighbors. This leads to improved relationships between the police and the community at large, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration. In an era where building bridges between law enforcement agencies and the youth they serve is paramount, police youth summer camps emerge as a transformative force. Through fostering understanding, nurturing leadership skills, and creating lasting relationships, these camps lay the foundation for a brighter and more cohesive future.

If You’re Black or Brown and thinking of going to college, You Still Have Options. Excerpt from: 𝐈𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐨w❓𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 from Coalition4Justice "For some students, earning a four-year degree is deemed a rite of passage. But for many, it is considered a privilege and out of reach. Whether you're the first in your family or one of a long line, applying to college can be daunting. While it’s true that some careers require a bachelor’s or graduate degree, there are enumerable good, well-paying career choices that can be had with a two-year associate degree, a certificate program, or a training program or apprenticeship in the skilled trades." 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: 𝐀 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭. Ask them about the pros and cons of their field. Inquire about volunteering or shadowing them at work. Can you see yourself enjoying doing their job? (𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌.) 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐇𝐁𝐂𝐔𝐬.)  Their reputation of academic excellence, dedicated faculty, a welcoming environment and peer group, and financial affordability are strong incentives. https://lnkd.in/erKVzZ47 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭: https://lnkd.in/eFBGd2MK Watch for my next post. #affirmativeaction #hbcuexcellence #collegeadmissions #volunteering #mentorship