News You Can Use (And Where To Find It)

Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse:

O  From The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking:
      >>  News over the past few weeks of local stings, arrests and convictions around human trafficking have prompted many phone calls from community members shocked to realize that it does happens here, and what more can be done. Given that trusted members of the public were arrested in the latest sting, it has really hit home for people. In response, the Kirsti Mouncey, President & CEO of the Collab has issued a press release addressing this issue. It is a quick read and does contain some very helpful information.
      >>  Interactive Survivors Resource Guide... To provide survivors with the information they need to access shelter, medical care, and therapeutic services, the Collab has created an interactive resource guide for all providers in Northeast Ohio. The Resource Guide can be easily accessed here.
     
O  From Cleveland Rape Crisis Center:
      >>  An integral part of its mission CRCC is promoting the prevention of sexual abuse by now offering free educational and training programs for youth and adults!  Go here to see what’s available and here to request a program. Questions? Email educationoutreach@clevelandrcc.org.
      >>  A free, virtual “Human Trafficking Identification and Awareness Training” is scheduled for
10:00 am – 11:30 am,  Tuesday, June 20th. – Register here for this overview of human trafficking and information about how to respond to suspected trafficking situations.
      >>  “SING OUT!” ... A unique & inspiring musical performance featuring the voices of more than a hundred community leaders coming together to raise awareness and funds for the life-changing and life-saving services of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. The performance will take place on the evening of Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Severance Music Center. Go here for details and ticketing information.

O  From Futures Without Violence... Recognizing that homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women, often at the hands of a current or former partner, “... coupled w/the country’s appalling – and worsening – rate of maternal mortality,...”, F w/o V has assembled an impressive collection of programs and resources to focus attention and help mitigate this problem.
        >  For organizations/individuals involved w/Home Visitation visit Connected Parents, Connected Kids for information and materials that help home visitation and early childhood staff address domestic violence among their clients. Research from home visiting programs has shown that as many as half of low-income mothers visited have experienced abuse.
        >  Visit their Health Resource Guide: Key Tools webpage for resources as well as information re two new websites (www.ipvhealth.org  &  www.ipvhealthpartners.org – IVP stands for Intimate Partner Violence) that are designed to be digital hubs for establishing partnerships between domestic violence agencies and health care settings across the U.S.
          
LOCAL EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES:
O  Grant Sources for Nonprofits...Here is another set of five grantors identified by the MyCom network.
>  Key Bank Foundation;  >  Department of Labor’s Youthbuild Grant;  
>  The Abington Foundation (primarily support nonprofits in Cuyahoga County);  >  The Citi Foundation;
>  The Bank of America Charitable Foundation;  >  Intel Semiconductor  Scholarship for Women ..  Female high-school seniors in Ohio who plan to pursue a STEM-related degree relevant to the semiconductor manufacturing industry can apply for one of 25 $5,000 scholarships! The deadline to apply is June 7, 2023.
 If you’re affiliated with a family/youth-serving organization visit these funders’ sites to see if your program/service fits their mission.  

O  From Parma City Schools:
      >>  If you have students that will be new to Valley Forge or Normandy in September, stop in and tour over the summer. No RSVP is required. Call 440.885.8334 for more information
      >>  Last day of school – Students: Thurs, June 1st;    Teachers: Friday, June 2nd  
      >>  PCSD High School Commencement Ceremonies,  Saturday, June 3rd, Byers Field...
             >  Normandy:  10 am-Noon;    Valley Forge:  2 pm – 4 pm;    Parma:  6 pm – 8 pm
      >>  Summer Movie Nights at Byers Field are back. Mark your calendars...June 6th, 13th  & August 22nd.  Gates open at 6:30 and the features start at 7:00 pm. FREE to all residents of Parma, Parma Heights, and Seven Hills. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
       >>  PCSD Summer meals program:  Free for all children ages 1 – 18. WHEN: M – F, June 12 thru July 21 from 11:30 - 12:30;  WHERE: Ridge-Brook and John Muir Elementary.
 
O  From Parma Council of PTA’s ... Recently awarded 84 graduating seniors 110 scholarships totaling $96,250.  Congratulations to these students and a huge thank you to the community for its time and treasure in support of this great PTA program.

O  From UH/Parma Medical Center – Summer Lunch Program ... Free for all  children ages 1 – 18, starting June 5 – September 1, Monday – Friday from 11am-1:30pm.  Once again, children ages 1-18 are eligible to receive a free, healthy lunch in the cafeteria. Each meal will include a special entrée, vegetable, fruit, milk and whole grain side. Registration is not required, but meals must be eaten in the hospital cafeteria to be eligible.

O  From Ohio Dept. of Education:
      >>  “Find Your Career Pathway” video & toolkit aimed at guiding students in their education journey to land a successful career in NE Ohio. Learn more here.  And, ifyou’re a student considering what career path to pursue or an employer looking to partner up with a school system SuccessBound may have the answers you’re looking for.
      >>  ACE  Savings Account program (provides qualifying families with a $1,000 credit per child ) ... team members will be available virtually to answer your questions on the following days:  Today, Tuesday, May 23 | 6-7 p.m; Wednesday, May 24 | 12-1 p.m.; Tuesday, May 30 | 7-8 a.m.; andWednesday, May 31 | 12-1 p.m.

O  12th Annual Parma Area Run/Walk for Pierogies...7:30 m,Saturday, July 1st at Tri-C Western Campus. Go here for details & to register

O  From Parma Area Chamber of Commerce:
      >>  The Annual Rib n Rock rib cook-off is taking place at Tri-C Western Campus beginning Thursday, June 8 thru June 11.Go here for details & ticketing information. FYI – Fireworks will announce the event to the community at approximately 9:45 pm Thursday.
      >>   PACC’s Annual Golf Outing is scheduled for Friday, July 21st at Ridgewood G.C. All proceeds will go towards funding their student scholarship program. Register here.

O  From All Faiths Pantry ... Visit their website to learn more about this local program that delivers nutritious groceries to seniors and people with limited mobility once a month at no cost to the recipients.
      >>  If you’re 60 yrs. of age or older or have a mobility challenge call 216.496.4329 to see if you qualify.
      >>  Volunteers are always welcome. Go here to complete their Volunteer Interest Form & someone will call to discuss the next step.
      >>  Check out Wheels for Meals Cruise-in, a free fundraiser coming up on Wednesday, June 7th, from 5 – 8 pm at Yorktown Lanes.

O  From Search Institute:
      >>  How educators can overcome barriers to building relationships with youth. Despite meeting testing scores, the needs of large class sizes, and lack of time, staff & financial resources, educators have a lot of power to make connections.  Go here to learn more about these challenges and some clever tips on how best to overcome them.
      >>  The importance of relationships between families and educators. Attend this free webinar - “Parents Get It: Teachers are Important Partners in Young People’s Growth”, at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 7th. This virtual session shares the findings of a national survey conducted by Search Institute and provides new insights into parents’ perceptions of the educator/student relationship, including how schools and other youth-serving organizations can reframe family engagement.
      >>  If you’re looking for research-based resources for building peer-to-peer developmental relationships, go hereto learn more about the three priority areas for peer-to-peer relationships.

O  From Goods Bank NEO ... Helps nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations provide new goods to the people they serve or use them to support their operations, all for a nominal handling fee. In operation for just 7 months, they have already signed up over 130 partners/members & have exceeded $421, 000 in value of goods distributed. Check out their website for details & testimonials.

O  From Achievement Centers for Children/Camp Cheerful:
      >>  Registration for the summer Pony Pals program is now open. Designed for typically developing children ages 4 – 14, 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!  Go here to begin the registration process.
      >>  Cleveland Browns Adaptive Football program has begun and volunteer signup is underway.  The playing season runs from June 10 – August 5 at Berea-Midpark H.S. Volunteers are needed from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm to assist players, greet families and/or perform registration-type duties. Click here to signup. Contact Ryan Holesko, Program Manager at 440.238.6200 x-245; email: ryan.holesko@achievementctrs.orgw/any questions
      >>  Click on the above Achievement Ctrs/Camp Cheerful hyperlink to learn more about their summer camps and therapeutic horsemanship programs, both of which would welcome new volunteers.

O  From Connecting For Kids ... Still 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. To join this free group, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CFKFliers. Visit their website to learn more about what this local organization has to offer.

O  From Blue Avocado – A magazine of Nonprofits Insurance Alliance ... One of the better sites offering practical tools & tips for nonprofits, bu nonprofits. A case in point is this article... “A Beginner’s Guide to Filing a Form 990 For Your Nonprofit Organization.” The information is current, and, considering the topic, it's relatively short & written so you can understand it.
    
O  From Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL):
      >> Go here to sign up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Those who accept the challenge – which runs through August 13 – will have a chance to win prizes, including books, bikes a Nintendo Switch, and more  
      >>  Go here to view when specific Branches will be hosting a Cleveland Food Bank FRESH PRODUCE Mobile Food Pantry. Locally, Parma Hts mobile pantry will take place from 10 – 12 noon, Wednesday, June 21st.  
      >> Learn how you can become a CCPL Volunteer and the programming opportunities available. The Summer 123 Read program, in particular, is looking for additional volunteers.
      >>  Use your CCPL library card (or get one here) to take advantage of just some of these more unique services/programs available at your library.
            > WiFi Access & Computer Classes – A full complement of free, in-person & online computer classes are now available including Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Prep courses.
            > One-on-one tech help is available from the Digital Navigator service.
            > Learn how to hold a conversation in over 70 languages
            > Digital Newsstand - Enjoy digital versions of your favorite news publications and magazines
            > 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
            > Passport services are now available.
            > Check out programs for preschool & school-aged youth. Scroll down for Teacher resources.
            > Cuyahoga Works: Job and Career Services, ESOL, GED, Citizenship classes
            > Sign up to receive the Library's weekly e-Newsletter
    ­­­        > Click here to visit CCPL’s, Home Page