I Got Something to Say
Don Samuelson Explains President Obama’s Broadband Program, Promotes the Use of the Internet by Seniors and Disabled

Don Samuelson, Lionel Nixon and Valerie Leonard will appear on the I Got Something to Say cable television show on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on CAN TV 21. Lionel Nixon will host tonight’s show, and Valerie F. Leonard will serve as co-host. Don Samuelson will explain President Obama’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and share strategies to build smart communities and eliminate the Digital Divide for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Congressman Danny K. Davis is expected to call in at 9:15 p.m. You are encouraged to call in with questions and comments. The live call in number is 312-738-1845. To participate as a member of the live audience, come to the CAN TV studio at 322 South Green at 8:30 p.m.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) with $7.2 billion to expand access to broadband services in the United States. Of those funds, the Act provided $4.7 billion to NTIA to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service, and develop and maintain a nationwide public map of broadband service capability and availability. NTIA will make all grant awards by September 30, 2010.

Don Samuelson is a lawyer trained at the University of Chicago Law School. He was involved in setting up the Illinois Housing Development Authority in 1970. He has been involved in the ownership, management and restructuring of subsidized housing for 40 years. Mr. Samuelson has been involved in the application of broadband internet access to subsidized housing for the last 10 years. He currently serves as Project Manager for the Illinois Senior Housing Internet Broadband Coalition. The Coalition is in the process of developing technology training programs in 23 low-income senior housing buildings throughout Northern Illinois with a goal of creating community “hubs” to promote collaborations among senior housing and service providers. Local Coalition members include Bethel New Life, Habilitative Systems, Inc. and Sankofa Safe Child Initiative. The Coalition also includes public housing authorities in Oak Park, Kankakee County, Henry County, Grundy County, DeKalb County, Rockford, Waukegan, Joliet, Lake Villa, Kewanee, Rock Island and Moline.

Valerie F. Leonard is a community development consultant, with a mission to strengthen the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. She is a technical assistance provider for Illinois ResourceNet: a Funding Initiative (IRN). IRN works diligently to help nonprofits and local units of government throughout the State of Illinois successfully apply for federal funding opportunities. For further information about IRN, visit www.illinoisresource.net.

Join Don Samuelson and Valerie Leonard as they discuss strategies to build smart communities and eliminate the Digital Divide for senior citizens and people with disabilities on the I Got Something to Say cable television show. The live call-in show will air on CAN TV 21 on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. You are encouraged to call in with questions and comments.

Don Samuelson is the Project Manager for the Illinois Senior Housing Internet Broadband Coalition. The Coalition is in the process of developing technology training programs in 23 low-income senior housing buildings throughout the State of Illinois with a goal of creating community “hubs” to promote collaborations among senior housing and service providers. Local Coalition members include Bethel New Life, Habilitative Systems, Inc. and Sankofa Safe Child Initiative.

Valerie F. Leonard is a consultant for the Illinois ResourceNet: a Funding Initiative (IRN). IRN works diligently to help nonprofits and local units of government throughout the State of Illinois successfully apply for federal funding opportunities. For further information about IRN, visit www.illinoisresource.net.

As you  may be aware, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has just released the draft of the  GO TO 2040 regional comprehensive plan for public comments through August 6, 2010.  Click  onto the link below to access the document. For those who live in the Chicago Metro region, this is a document that will  have the most profound impact in your life over the next 30 years. It will determine Where and How federal dollars are spent on public infrastructure  like roads,  public transit, and other major capital projects. Although open houses are planned across the region, sometimes the voices and concerns of minorities are  overshadowed by the main stream.

PBCD, APA, and minority planners are convening a meeting, specifically for  people of color, to give their perspectives, first hand, to CMAP (management and staff that wrote the plan) about what they think of the plan and how it will impact minority communities. This is your opportunity to have your say, in an environment of your peers, and could the last opportunity to have an input in the plan. Please read the Plan in advance and prepare your comments so that we can have an informed discussion. The plan is broken down into different sections (modular) so you can pick the area that interests you the most to comment on.  The plan addresses a full range of quality-of-life issues, including the natural environment, economic development, housing, and human services such as education, health care and other social services. There is also a section on Food Desert ….  local food production and distribution.  The plan recommends action in four  key themes: Livable Communities, Regional Mobility, Human Capital, and Efficient Governance.

You are here by invited to this special meeting, that  will be held on July 30th 2010  at CMAP from 9:30am to 11:00am. Feel free to invite anyone that you think might be interested in giving comments.

Event Venue:   233 S Wacker Drive,

                              Willis Tower, Suite 800

                              Chicago IL 60606

 Please note that you need to register in advance to get access to the building. RSVP or send comments by replying to this email or calling Sef at 312-386-8729

 Sef Okoth
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
233 South Wacker Drive
Suite 800, Willis Tower
Chicago, IL 60606

Voice (312) 386-8729
Fax    (312) 386-8730
e-mail sokoth@cmap.illinois.gov
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ATTENTION:

Job #1
There is an immediate job opening for a Case Manager at an agency on the west side of Chicago. The applicant must have the minimum of a BA degree in a social service discipline,a child welfare license (CERAP), knowledge of the DCFS system, at least 2 years experience in working with (older) wards of the state. Experience in a residential setting is a plus.Salary Range: $36,000-$41,000.

Job #2
There are also several immediate job openings (part time and full time) for staff to work as client monitors in a residential home setting for older male wards of the state. Applicants must be at least 25 years of age, have at least a high school diploma or GED (BA or some college preferred) and at least 2 years experience in working with at risk youth. All applicants must pass a background check and drug test. Salary range: $10-$12 per hour.

Qualified applicants can fax their resumes to 773-854-8341
or email them to EFerrell@habilitative.org.

Kelley Moseley
Youth Ready Chicago Community
Council Coordinator Region 3
Co-Director YouthLAB @ 1512
Better Boys Foundation
1512 S Pulaski Road
Chicago, Illinois 60623
Phone: 773 542 7300 x244
Direct: 773-542-7324
Fax: 773 521 4164

Email: kmoseley@betterboys.org

www.betterboys.org

…to improve the quality of life for North Lawndale area youth and their families…

July 2010 Praise & Prayer Calendar

Agenda-TIF Town Hall Meeting of the Lawndale Alliance

TIF Town Hall Presentation-2010

The Time for TIF Reform is Now