Staying in the Loop

Letter to Chicago Aldermen Regarding Chicago Infrastructure Trust

Valerie F. Leonard — Sat, 12 May 2012 06:07:58 +0000

Chicago Aldermen recently approved of a $7 billion infrastructure trust to privately finance capital projects for the city in years to come. Click onto the link below to download a copy of Valerie’s letter to Aldermen urging them to strengthen the ordinance.

Letter to Aldermen Regarding the Chicago Investment Trust 4-23-12

Catch Dwayne Truss and Me on the Garfield Major Show on Mothers Day

Valerie F. Leonard — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:04:38 +0000

Dwayne Truss and I will be guests on the Garfield Major Show on May 13, 2012. We will discuss a number of topics on the call-in show, including the impact changes to legislation surrounding school boundaries could have on North Lawndale and Austin Schools, and the impact the upcoming Cook County redistricting process could have on local residents of North Lawndale, Austin, East and West Garfield. The show goes from 10:00 pm to midnight on Sunday evenings, on AM-1450 (WRLL). You can stream live on http://wrll1450.com/english/personalities/index.html

Redistricting of Cook County board to be determined in coming weeks — AustinTalks

Valerie F. Leonard — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:22:58 +0000

I am deeply honored that AustinTalks.org carried my op ed piece on the Cook County redistrricting process. http://austintalks.org/2012/05/redistricting-of-cook-county-board-to-be-determined-in-coming-weeks/

I Will Be Teaching an Online Class in Nonprofit Operations for the UIC Great Cities Institute

Valerie F. Leonard — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:37:56 +0000

I will be teaching a class in nonprofit operations for the University of Illinois’ Online Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program, starting July 5th. Registration deadline: June 26, 2011 http://exedweb.cc.uic.edu/cnm/courses.asp?c=2324

I’ve Been Invited to Participate in the UIC-Great Cities Institute Participatory Budgeting Project

Valerie F. Leonard — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:32:09 +0000

I am deeply honored to have been invited to participate in the University of Illinois Great Cities Institute Participatory Budgeting Project, sponsored by the Chicago Community Trust. The project will also include a Steering Committee to be comprised of leaders in the fields of good government, community organizing, information technology, community education, and community-based planning, who will design the basic participatory process and make key decisions about issues that arise during the year.

Partipatory budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. There are over 3,000 PB processes around the world, most for city budgets. Alderman Joe Moore launched the first US process in 2009 in the 49th Ward, letting residents decide over $1 million of capital gmenu money. This year the Participatory Budgeting Project will expand participatory budgeting to several other wards, based on a model successfully used in New York City. In the process, we hope to:

1. educate residents about budgeting, local government, and their city,
2. generate fairer spending decisions that better reflect community needs,
3. boost political participation of marginalized and disenfranchised populations,
4. build new community networks and develop new grassroots leaders,
5.use technology, arts, and culture to engage people in new ways,
6. increase government transparency, and
7. build momentum for broader reforms to democratize budgeting.

My Father, Theodis R. Leonard, Sr., Retired Principal of Paderewski School, Has Died

Valerie F. Leonard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:21:18 +0000

My father, Theodis R. Leonard, a retired educator and community activist, died on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012. Please find below links to his obituary (press release) and pictures that could go into the obituary/program. I will share the program booklet once it is finalized.

Theodis R Leonard Obituary-Final

Dad’s Obit Pics

In the Loop -February 8, 2012

Valerie F. Leonard — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:24:35 +0000

Here is the latest issue of In the Loop.
In the Loop 2-8-12

There’s Still Time to Register for Our Webinar on Nonprofit Compliance

Valerie F. Leonard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:56:36 +0000

Ask the Expert Webinars are jointly sponsored and facilitated by Valerie F. Leonard and Terrance Harrington. Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development, and Terrance is the CEO of Helping Others Provide Excellence, NFP. (HOPE). On a regular basis, Valerie and Terrance will share insights into the latest developments in nonprofit management. Sometimes the discussions will be casual, although they will all be focused and professional. From time to time Valerie and Terrance will also invite other experts to join and share their know-how. Participants are encouraged to share their knowledge as well.

Valerie works with community-based organizations to improve their internal board and management systems so that they may effect positive changes in the lives of their clients and surrounding communities. To learn more about Valerie, visit http://Valeriefleonard.com.

Helping Others Provide Excellence (HOPE) is a team of experienced business people applying their professional expertise, their networks and their passion for change to help nonprofits realize their potential to accomplish even more for Chicago. To learn more about HOPE, visit http://hopeinchicago.org.

This webinar is also being sponsored by the UIC Online Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program, the longest running online nonprofit management program in the country. Students from around the world come together in a stimulating e-classroom to learn the principles of managing effective nonprofit organizations from expert faculty and other nonprofit practitioners. Visit http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/gci/programs/profed/online/

Reminder: Register for Free Workshop on Nonprofit Compliance

Valerie F. Leonard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:04:04 +0000

Over 395,000 US nonprofits have lost tax exempt status because they did not file Form 990 for three consecutive years. This is up from 275,000 that lost tax exemption just seven months ago. Over 18,000 Illinois nonprofits lost tax exempt status, and about a third of the organizations were based in Chicago. There are countless other organizations that had difficulty understanding Form 990, let alone, who knew the various state agencies’ filing requirements and resources to make them stronger. As a result, many nonprofits are not in a position to grow to their fullest potential. Helping Others Provide Excellence, a North Lawndale-based nonprofit organization, and I will be facilitating a free webinar to provide an overview of the compliance requirements on Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 10:00 am-12:00 noon. We thank the University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute Online Certificate in Nonprofit Management for being a sponsor. We hope you can attend.

Download a Flyer http://www.scribd.com/doc/77712100/Ask-the-Expert-Webinar-14

Register http://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EB53DE82834B

View our YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daUd1acRZtU&feature=player_embedded

Learn More About UIC CNM http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/gci/programs/profed/online/

Upcoming AFI Grants

Valerie F. Leonard — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:46:35 +0000

I just got the following e-mail from AFI

Assets for Independence (AFI) helps individuals and families secure long-term financial stability through asset building. Collectively, asset building leads to transformational change in low-income communities. If you think your community might benefit from an AFI Individual Development Account (IDA) project, the AFI Resource Center encourages you to apply for an AFI grant in 2012.

The AFI Program will review and fund new grants in three cycles during 2012:

Winter Cycle – due January 25, 2012

Spring Cycle – due March 26, 2012

Summer Cycle – due May 25, 2012

The AFI Resource Center will host a series of calls this winter to help prospective applicants develop an AFI grant application. Register online now to participate in these interactive calls and learn more about AFI application requirements and procedures.

Upcoming Webinar dates:

· Thursday, January 19, 2012, 2:00 p.m. EST: AFI Questions and Answers

· Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 2:00 p.m. EST: Tips for Developing Resources and Partners for AFI Projects

· Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 2:00 p.m. EST: AFI Program Overview and Grant Application Process

Additional information about applying for an AFI grant is available in the Apply for an AFI Grant section of IDAresources.org:

· Determine whether the AFI Program is right for your organization.

· Learn how to apply for an AFI grant.

· Locate Current AFI grantees near you.

· Learn about Asset Building in Native Communities.

The Apply for an AFI Grant section on IDAresources.org also contains the AFI Project Builder, a guidebook for organizations that want to design and implement an asset building program supported by the AFI Program. The AFI Project Builder toolkit contains worksheets and other tools to help grantees design and implement their program.

AFI Resource Center | Office of Community Services
www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding | www.idaresources.org

1-866-778-6037 | info@idaresources.org