News You Can Use (And Where To Find It)

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse:
O  From The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking:
      >>  Know who to call….If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking call the Cuyahoga County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Hotline at 216-443-6085 or 911 in the case of an emergency.
      >>  Visit Collab’s website a/o Follow them on Facebook. View the close to 70 local partners working collaboratively in support of victim recovery.To stay current in regards to HT-related events and activities sign up for their E-newsletter here.

O  From The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force...Significant progress has been made during the last several years to enhance the state’s anti-trafficking policy landscape.

O  From Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to learn more about their free Ambassador Training Workshops, classes for Parents, Students, and Teachers & Staff, as well as specific programs offered out of their Training Institute.

LOCAL EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES:
O  Grant Sources for Nonprofits...Here is another set of five grantors identified by the MyCom network:
> The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood;  > The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation;  > The Nordson Corporation Foundation;  > The AstraZeneca Corporate Contributions Program;  > The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation. If you’re affiliated with a family/youth-serving organization you s/b visiting these funders’ sites to see if your program/service fits their mission. So far, starting w/the Sept. 28th  “What’s Going On...” issue there have been 40 vetted funders identified.

O  From The Parma Area Chamber of Commerce:
      >>  SAVE THE DATE #1: PACC is once again hosting the State of the Schools Luncheon on Wednesday, February 23rd at 11:30 am at the Red Reis Room located at Parma Sr. High School. The cost is $20. 
      >>  SAVE THE DATE #2: The 30th Annual Rib Cook-Off and Music Festival – June 9 – 12, 2022.

O  From Best of Parma...Nominations are now being accepted for “The Best ________(business/organization) in Parma”.

O  Minority Men's Health Fair Comes to MetroHealth...Mark your calendar for April 28, 2022, the date of MetroHealth’s Minority Men's Health Fair. The free event will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at three MetroHealth locations: Main Campus Outpatient Pavilion, Cleveland Heights Medical Center, and Broadway Health Center.

O  From Islamic Center of Cleveland, 6055 W. 130th St, Parma, 44130:
      >>  The Ibn Sina Free Health Clinic….offers free healthcare services to community members who are uninsured or under-insured. The clinic serves anyone in need regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnicity.  Visit https://clevelandibnsina.com for details.
      >>  Offering Free Fresh Produce... the first Saturday of each month, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Federal program income guidelines apply; please bring your ID & your bags/cart; no admittance before 10:30.

O  From The Ohio Afterschool Network – OAN Pitch Challenge... OAN invites community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, parents, community leaders, schools, libraries, and others to help Ohio K-12 youth to share their great ideas in the Ohio Afterschool Network Pitch Challenge. Youth submit a 30-90 second video pitching an idea for a business or social venture and compete for prizes including $500 Amazon gift cards. Youth don’t need to start a business; they just need to pitch an idea! The entry deadline is Monday, March 28, 2022.

O  From Connecting For Kids… Looking for a camp, program, or adaptive activity for your child this summer? Connecting for Kids posts all of the latest fliers and webinar information it receives from local and national providers on the CFK Flier Connection page on Facebook. And, to learn more about what this local organization has to offer, click on the Connecting For Kids link above.

O  From University Settlement/SW Community Based Svcs...Two free virtual financial workshops are being offered:
      >>  “Real-World Money” Series – Learn basic financial tips to help stretch a dollar, understand how others see your credit & how to use credit wisely... 10:00 am – 11:30, Feb. 8 & 22, Mar 1 & 8.
      >>  “Lunch & Learn Series – Using EXCEL” – 11:00 am – Noon, every Thurs. from Feb 24 – Mar 31.
      >>  For more information contact: Sandra Buckner, Workforce Development Manager, Email: sbuckner@universitysettlement.net

O  From Achievement Centers for Children/Camp Cheerful (https://achievementcenters.org/) ... Give the gift of riding!!! Register for their 2022 Pony Pals Program! Each 1-hour class includes a 30-minute beginner horseback riding lesson and a 30-minute hands-on ground lesson covering topics such as safety, grooming, stable care & more! Classes are 1 hr/wk,  Wed. mornings from 9:30a-10:30  & are limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Each 6-week session costs $180.00. This program is offered to typically developing children ages 4 - 14. The first session starts  3/2 – 4/6. Click on the following link and select the PONY PALS program!https://acc.campbrainregistration.com/.

O  Parma Council of PTA’s (PCPTA - https://www.parmacityschools.org/PCPTA  or FB at:https://www.facebook.com/parmacouncilpta/ )
      >>  If you’re affiliated w/a District school’s PTA or the Parma Early Childhood PTA,  mark your calendars & plan on attending PCPTA’s Family Health & Safety Fair scheduled for 9 – 11 am, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Parma Sr. High School’s Cafeteria.  Judging by the list of exhibitors, this promises to be a great event. If your organization would like to participate, contact Dalenna Zingalis at 216-799-4396 or bbndz1087@gmail.com.
      >>   PCPTA Kalahari Night Fundraiser...March 24, 2022. Make it a Spring Break getaway!!! Support PTA while having fun and enjoy a special rate for families and friends! $142 for 2 Queen beds and INCLUDE waterpark passes for 4 guests! A portion from EACH room booked will benefit the Parma Council of PTA. ROOMS MUST BE BOOKED BY MARCH 8TH. Additional discount rates are available for March 22-26th. Book your room here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50175630
     

O  From Parma City Schools:

      >>  Attention NEW incoming families to the Parma City School District! Online Student Registration for the 2022-2023 school year will open on February 1st..
    
      >>  Join the free, Embracing Parenthood sessions on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. The topic for February’s session, coming up on the 16th, deals with issues related to “Our Identity”.
       >>  Visitwww.parmacityschools.org for the most current information regarding COVID Dashboard/protocols, community walking, and open swim programs, the latest “PCSD in :60” video, and much more.

O  From Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL):
      >>  NOTE:  All Cuyahoga County Public Library branches are now opened to the public for regular hours of operation.  Masks are required. Meeting rooms and in-person programs are unavailable until further notice. 
      >>  At-home COVID-19 testing kits are available via DRIVE-THOUGH ONLY at the Parma & Parma-Snow locations.
      >>  Specific Branches will be hosting a Cleveland Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry. Locally, the Parma Heights Branch will be offering free boxed food for those in need from 10 – 12 noon on Feb. 16th & March 16th - rain, snow, or shine — on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. 
      >>  FYI - The CCPL Board of Directors has approved renaming the Parma and Southeast branches. The Parma Branch will now be called the Parma-Powers Branch and the Southeast Branch will now be called the Bedford Branch. 
      >>  Use your CCPL library card to take advantage of just some of these more unique services/programs available at your library.
            > Get access to these free online learning platforms taught by professionals in their fields
            > WiFi Access & Computer Classes
            > Learn how to hold a conversation in over 70 languages
            > Learn more or register for any of 50+ virtual programs for adult learners
            > Take your pick from thousands of streaming movies & TV shows from Hoopla, Kanopy & Overdrive
            > Design something & use the 3D printing capabilities of the Parma-Snow Innovation Center           
            > Learn more about Library2You, their homebound delivery service
            > Check out programs available for pre-school & school-aged youth. From there scroll down to see resources available for Teachers.
            >Cuyahoga Works: Job and Career Services
            > Sign up to receive the Library Insider e-Newsletter
            > Click here to visit CCPL’s Home Page