Though Ohio is The Benefit Bank's largest and most successful location, it also has branches in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. The following is a summary of the nationwide network of TBB sites.
2011 TBB essential stats:
Dollar Value of benefits and tax refunds received since 2006: $639,003,113
Clients Served this year: 86,540
Counselors Trained this year: 4,595
Twitter Followers: 266
Our TBB major advocate in the Twitter-sphere has been social activist Sarah Buttenwieser, who writes for Preview Massachusetts Magazine, HandEYE Magazine and various other publications. In December Sarah tweeted, " I RT every update I see by @TheBenefitBank b/c the work they do is so amazing. I want everyone to know about it. #socialjustice #realhelp
Facebook Friends: 664
Our Facebook post - "Financial Aid Myth: I make too much to qualify for aid," generated the most viral activity this year. Facebook reported over 680 friends of friends were talking about this post in August.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
How to end homelessness
Opening Doors, a program adopted in 2010, is "the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness." The website contains fact sheets on the faces of homelessness, steps that the private sector and local and state governments are taking to end it, and a 2011 update on the legislation.
More facts and figures can be found at: http://www.homelessnessinamerica.com/
More facts and figures can be found at: http://www.homelessnessinamerica.com/
Monday, December 5, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
New supplemental poverty measure changes the face of poverty
The Census Bureau has just released a new measure of poverty that takes noncash government benefits and tax credits into account as income, and costs such as medical spending, taxes, commuting, and child care into account as expenses. This results in a slightly higher poverty threshold, and changes the portion of Americans at each income level. Under the new measure, significantly fewer citizens are considered "well off," while the middle and low income classes have grown.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Food Banks: Hunger's New Staple
Feeding America, the larger national organization that runs the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, has just released a study called "Food Banks: Hunger's New Staple." They found that more and more of their clients are using food assistance as the "new normal."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Volunteer to be a tax counselor!
It's that time of year...time to recruit volunteers for tax season! We need students (and others) to help out the Ohio Benefit Bank by assisting clients in filing their taxes. Here's how it works:
1. You get trained in the software. You only need to be comfortable operating a computer. You do NOT need to be an expert in taxes--we'll teach you what you need to know and provide resources for any questions that might arise. Training consists of a one-hour e-learning course completed at your convenience and a 3-hour in-person training. We will be holding weekday morning trainings in December and January, and a Saturday morning training in early February.
2. Once you're trained, we need help with our tax clinics! We are holding 5 tax clinics on Saturdays from late January to late March. At a tax clinic, several counselors gather at Oberlin Community Services and each one sees approximately 4-5 client appointments in a day. We provide lunch and a fun time.
3. There are even more opportunities to help aside from tax clinics. We will need counselors to work during walk-in hours or meet with clients who are unable to attend the tax clinics. This will frequently be on a weekday evening.
Does this sound like something you want to do? E-mail Anna (anna.brown@oberlin.edu) to sign up for a training! If you're interested in working on this as a Winter Term project, let me know!
Friday, October 14, 2011
'Tis the season...
to start looking at your Winter Term options! Do you want to do service, an internship, research, create something? Should you stay in snowy Oberlin, go somewhere tropical, make your parents happy by going home to visit them?
When I entered Oberlin as a first-year, I made a vague plan for my four Winter Terms (one on campus, one at home, one abroad, and one TBD adventure)--and followed through with it!
- My first year, I lived with my parents in Maryland and interned in a Dennis Kucinich's office on Capitol Hill.
- My second year, I stayed on campus and independently researched the Israel-Palestine conflict (after my attempted abroad trip to teach environmental sustainability on a kibbutz in Israel was canceled three days before departure due to political instability)
- My third year, I was studying abroad in Morocco for the spring semester and the program started in early January so I couldn't even fit in a half-credit project (but it was OK, I was in sunny, warm Morocco)
- My fourth year, I WWOOFed on a horse farm in central France that specialized in endurance racing and breeding Arabian horses, and then traveled a bit through Europe on my own.
- This year, as the BCSL AmeriCorps*VISTA, I'll be supervising my very own Winter Term interns here on campus!
Want to have your very own Winter Term adventure? Here are some resources to get you started:
Apply for internships from all corners of the country on ObieOpps - the deadline to apply is Nov. 7!
Check out last year's group projects for inspiration (this year's projects will be posted October 24!)
Good luck and don't forget to let the BCSL know what cool things you end up doing!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Some Food for Thought (pun intended)
Is Junk Food Really Cheaper? Mark Bittman of the New York Times calls for a cultural shift away from fast food and towards buying and cooking healthy food. Read the article here.
My take: He raises some excellent points but glosses over some of the barriers that people living in poverty face. Healthier options at the grocery store may be cheaper than fast food, but the labor required can offset those savings. Yes, the average American watches an hour and a half of TV--but can you blame someone who worked a long shift at a physically demanding job for preferring some fast food in front of the TV over spending a couple hours in the kitchen? Buying in bulk or shopping at farmers markets can save some money--but many poor people live in small and crowded apartments with little space for storing food, and shopping on a Saturday morning may not be an option with work schedules or kids to take care of. So, yes. Advocating for a culture shift towards these healthy options isn't a bad idea. But it may be necessary to do something about these additional barriers that the poor are up against.
My take: He raises some excellent points but glosses over some of the barriers that people living in poverty face. Healthier options at the grocery store may be cheaper than fast food, but the labor required can offset those savings. Yes, the average American watches an hour and a half of TV--but can you blame someone who worked a long shift at a physically demanding job for preferring some fast food in front of the TV over spending a couple hours in the kitchen? Buying in bulk or shopping at farmers markets can save some money--but many poor people live in small and crowded apartments with little space for storing food, and shopping on a Saturday morning may not be an option with work schedules or kids to take care of. So, yes. Advocating for a culture shift towards these healthy options isn't a bad idea. But it may be necessary to do something about these additional barriers that the poor are up against.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
New census data shows highest poverty rate in 30 years in Ohio
A new census report shows Ohio's poverty rate is the highest in more than 30 years, and median household incomes are at their lowest levels in more than a quarter century.
Census officials report that 15.3 percent of Ohioans are in poverty, which translates to a family of four living on less than $22,300 a year.
The share of Ohioans living in poverty has never been higher since record-keeping began in 1980.
The state's inflation-adjusted median household income last year was about $46,100, the lowest in records going back to 1984.
An economist with Commerce National Bank says the census survey released Tuesday reflects the hits the state has taken from the recession, the loss of manufacturing jobs and other factors.
From: WKSU News
Census officials report that 15.3 percent of Ohioans are in poverty, which translates to a family of four living on less than $22,300 a year.
The share of Ohioans living in poverty has never been higher since record-keeping began in 1980.
The state's inflation-adjusted median household income last year was about $46,100, the lowest in records going back to 1984.
An economist with Commerce National Bank says the census survey released Tuesday reflects the hits the state has taken from the recession, the loss of manufacturing jobs and other factors.
From: WKSU News
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
LifeShare blood drive, Sept. 7-8
What: LifeShare blood drive
Where: Wilder Main
When: Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7 and 8, noon-7 pm both days
Why: Each time you donate with LifeShare, as many as four lives in your community may be saved or sustained.
Please bring a photo ID and a list of any medications you are currently taking.
Friday, September 2, 2011
$500 grant for initiatives to help end childhood hunger
If you're younger than 25, live in the United States, and have an idea for an initiative that will help end childhood hunger, apply for this $500 grant!
(Double post today, I just find so many cool things when I clean out my inbox!)
Circles Campaign
The Circles Campaign to break the cycle of poverty brings together those living in poverty and those in a middle or upper class lifestyle. Interesting idea!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Hungry For Health: A Journey Through Cleveland's Food Desert
A moving video produced by an Oberlin student who graduated in 2010 and featuring Brad Masi, founder of the New Agrarian Center, a BCSL community partner.
Hungry For Health: A Journey Through Cleveland's Food Desert from Theresa Desautels on Vimeo.
This short documentary features a day in the life of Willa Sparks; a woman who overcomes the environmental obstacle of living in a food desert, an inner-city neighborhood without easy access to a grocery store. Determined to give her family the healthy food that every person deserves, Willa takes an hour long bus ride at the first of every month to get to the closest grocery store. If healthy food won’t come to her, as her neighborhood is infested with fast food restaurants and corner stores, then she will go to it.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Greetings!
Hello BCSL followers! My name is Anna Brown and I took over Ondrea's position a month ago. I'm the new AmeriCorps*VISTA for the Bonner Center and I'm just now getting into the swing of posting on the blogs, facebook pages, etc. on a regular basis. Hold me to that!
My job is very similar to Ondrea's. I'll be:
- Working on continuing the collaboration between Oberlin College and the Ohio Benefit Bank, a computer program that makes it easier for those in need to apply for government benefits
- Educating the Oberlin community about poverty in the United States, Lorain County, and Oberlin
- Collecting, compiling, and sharing data about Oberlin students' community involvement
- Managing social media for the BCSL--sharing photos, cool facts, articles, videos, etc.!
I just graduated with a degree in Politics from Oberlin in May. I spent my time as a student working in the Admissions office, riding for the Equestrian Team, completing my honors project on education policy, and spending a semester abroad in Morocco. I liked living here so much I decided to stay!
We're busy preparing for the impending influx of students--LEADS, a two-week leadership workshop for a small group of returning Oberlin students begins Monday! I'm looking forward to seeing campus bustling again and getting to know the awesome students and community members I'll be working with!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Student Leaders Wanted
This November OpportunityNation in partnership with TIME, the Ford Foundation, AARP and other key conveners will be hosting a national summit in New York City around the issues concerning economic mobility. OpportunityNation aims to stimulate a national dialogue about the state of opportunity in America; to develop a smart, bipartisan policy agenda, to build a large coalition to develop and support this agenda, and to host a national summit on opportunity, convening leaders from man sectors to shine a spotlight on solutions that are creating opportunity.
OpportunityNation is seeking ~100 students (Scholars) to participate at the Summit. The Scholars will be recognized and profiled through our various media partnerships and at the Summit. They will participate in a leadership training curriculum and given access to various leaders in academia, business, entertainment and government. OpportunityNation will also provide stipends to cover expenses such as travel and lodging.
The Opportunity Scholars program is a national leadership program identifying promising young activists and entrepreneurs striving to increase opportunity in their respective communities and campuses and promote their vision of the American Dream. They are looking for nominations from Oberlin, and anyone can do so at: http://www.opportunitynation.
OpportunityNation is seeking ~100 students (Scholars) to participate at the Summit. The Scholars will be recognized and profiled through our various media partnerships and at the Summit. They will participate in a leadership training curriculum and given access to various leaders in academia, business, entertainment and government. OpportunityNation will also provide stipends to cover expenses such as travel and lodging.
The Opportunity Scholars program is a national leadership program identifying promising young activists and entrepreneurs striving to increase opportunity in their respective communities and campuses and promote their vision of the American Dream. They are looking for nominations from Oberlin, and anyone can do so at: http://www.opportunitynation.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Day of Service: Where are you?
Bonner Scholar Tim Krumrieg is our Day of Service Coordinator for 2011, and he's been super busy handing all the registration forms that have been pouring in. As he's been signing people up for the event, he's also been making a google map of where everybody is from. Check it out (and make sure to check out the international students):
View Day of Service Registration Distribution in a larger map
View Day of Service Registration Distribution in a larger map
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Myimpact.org
Looking for a way to track your volunteer hours and let everyone on Twitter know what you're up to? That's exactly what MyImpact.org is all about. From their main page:
Check it out! Be sure to include @ocbcsl in your tweet so we know what work you are doing.
Check it out! Be sure to include @ocbcsl in your tweet so we know what work you are doing.
Friday, June 3, 2011
*room change* Education Discussion Lunch
Monday, June 6
12:00-1:15
Wilder Hall, room 115
Free pizza and salad lunch provided -- **Please let me know if you’re coming so that I can plan the right amount of food.
All are welcome. Please forward this invitation to others.
Dear Friends of Education:
This will be the last of ten monthly lunches that have been held throughout the school year. Most Oberlin College students are gone, but any who are on campus are still welcome to attend. Program leaders, college staff, school staff, and interested community members are invited to share, discuss, and brainstorm about education in Oberlin. Specifically, we’ll focus on three questions:
• 2010-11 school year: What were the highlights?
• summer 2011: What’s happening?
• 2011-12 school year: New plans? Things we would like to see? New ways we can work together?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Final education discussion lunch for 2010-11
Monday, June 6
12:00-1:15
Wilder Hall, room 112
Free pizza and salad lunch provided -- **Please let me know if you’re coming so that I can plan the right amount of food.
All are welcome. Please forward this invitation to others.
Dear Friends of Education:
This will be the last of ten monthly lunches that have been held throughout the school year. Most Oberlin College students are gone, but any who are on campus are still welcome to attend. Program leaders, college staff, school staff, and interested community members are invited to share, discuss, and brainstorm about education in Oberlin. Specifically, we’ll focus on three questions:
• 2010-11 school year: What were the highlights?
• summer 2011: What’s happening?
• 2011-12 school year: New plans? Things we would like to see? New ways we can work together?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Transition
To the seniors who are graduating on Monday, and to these valuable members of the BCSL staff who will no longer be at the BCSL: Sarah Ho, Avi Minor, Brenda Reeves, and Julia Nieves
Good luck, love from the BCSL, and keep in touch!
Good luck, love from the BCSL, and keep in touch!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Need a summer job?
HELP WANTED! Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio is searching for 3 good people for Summer VISTA positions. You will be helping with the Summer Food Service Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County for 8 weeks during the summer. Looks great on a resume! Includes a stipend and education award. Must be 18 and a high school graduate.
Click on the link to apply: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Fall Survey data
Since I spend so much of my time collecting data, I thought I would share the results. Here are the graphs from the fall 2010 campus-wide community service survey, which had 258 unique responses.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Education Discussion Lunch Today
Monday, May 9th
Wilder Hall, room 112
12:00 free pizza and salad lunch
12:15 introductions and announcements
12:30 presentation and discussion
When we invest time and energy into education outreach programs like America Reads, we assume that the work will yield good results. Good data to confirm that assumption, however, can be hard to come by. That's why it's exciting to report that we now have statistically significant data related to reading performance at Eastwood Elementary School, thanks to the work of Oberlin College senior Noah Schwarz, psychology professors Nancy Darling and Cindy Frantz, and the staff of Eastwood. Noah will share this data at our luncheon, and we will talk more broadly about how (and why) to do evaluation and assessment in education programs.
Wilder Hall, room 112
12:00 free pizza and salad lunch
12:15 introductions and announcements
12:30 presentation and discussion
When we invest time and energy into education outreach programs like America Reads, we assume that the work will yield good results. Good data to confirm that assumption, however, can be hard to come by. That's why it's exciting to report that we now have statistically significant data related to reading performance at Eastwood Elementary School, thanks to the work of Oberlin College senior Noah Schwarz, psychology professors Nancy Darling and Cindy Frantz, and the staff of Eastwood. Noah will share this data at our luncheon, and we will talk more broadly about how (and why) to do evaluation and assessment in education programs.
All are welcome at this event.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wanted: VISTA for 2010-2011
The BCSL is looking for a willing person to fill my job next year. Email me (okeith@oberlin.edu) if you have questions or would like to submit a resume/cover letter/3 reference contacts. Full job description posted below:
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 6TH
2011-2012 VISTA Position Description
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 6TH
2011-2012 VISTA Position Description
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday Hoorays
1. It is three weeks until the end of tax season. Hooray!
2. I met all my goals for tax returns filed. Hooray!
3. I'm on track for gathering BCSL data. Hooray!
4. My BCSL data spreadsheet is color coordinated. Hooray!
5. I have two willing and excellent students to continue the Poverty: Taking Action ExCo. Hooray!
6. I got a new tape dispenser out of the supply closet and it brings me endless joy. Hooray!
7. The tape dispenser is sparkly green. Hooray!
8. It is sunny today. Hooray!
9. I got just about everything on my short-term to-do list done this week. Hooray!
10. It is three weeks until the end of tax season. Hooray! (this one bears repeating)
2. I met all my goals for tax returns filed. Hooray!
3. I'm on track for gathering BCSL data. Hooray!
4. My BCSL data spreadsheet is color coordinated. Hooray!
5. I have two willing and excellent students to continue the Poverty: Taking Action ExCo. Hooray!
6. I got a new tape dispenser out of the supply closet and it brings me endless joy. Hooray!
7. The tape dispenser is sparkly green. Hooray!
8. It is sunny today. Hooray!
9. I got just about everything on my short-term to-do list done this week. Hooray!
10. It is three weeks until the end of tax season. Hooray! (this one bears repeating)
Monday, March 21, 2011
$13,059 brought back to Lorain County!
The March tax clinic happened this weekend! Here are the numbers:
7 Tax counselors helped 22 appointments file 18 federal/state/school district returns for a net profit of $13,059 for Lorain County. Hooray! That is a lot of returns and a lot of people who can rest easy come tax day, April 18th.
This brings the total OBB numbers for the 2011 tax season to 74 returns filed and $138,687 net profit for Lorain County residents. That is amazing and I am so lucky to have this as my job.
Thank you
Beth and Bev for behind-the-scenes paperwork and support
Kathy and Linda at Oberlin Community Services for the space (and printer full of ink!)
Greer and Sam for OBB support
Shelia, Rachel, and Claudine for being tax counselors at all of the clinics this season (and Claudine for starting the project!)
Kyle and Olivia for cheerfully giving their time for the past two clinics
Aliza, for debuting as a tax counselor and deftly handling all of her clients
Folana, for watching the front desk
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Free Resource Fair and Tax Clinic for Local Residents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/8/2011
Media Contact:
Ondrea Keith
440.935.7259
okeith@oberlin.edu
Free Resource Fair and Tax Clinic for Local Residents
Free Resource Fair to be held at the Oberlin Depot on March 19th and Free Community Tax Clinic to be held March 19th and April 10th
OBERLIN, OH – A free Community Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, March 19th at the Oberlin Depot. The Fair will feature local education, recreation, and aid organizations. The event is being organized by Ondrea Keith, an AmeriCorps* VISTA hosted through a partnership between the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio and Oberlin College’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning (BCSL). The Resource Fair will be held in at the same time as a Free Community Tax Clinic at Oberlin Community Services.
“I’m excited to expand March 19th beyond taxes and have information about summer camps, local food, and benefits,” said Ms. Keith. “I want the Resource Fair to connect people to something new in the community, whether it’s an organization they want to volunteer at or a service that meets a need.”
Among the organizations that will be at the fair are Legal Aid of Cleveland, First Merit Bank, Ohio Educational Credit Union, Oberlin Heritage Center, and the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts.
The Free Community Resource Fair is open to any interested persons from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Oberlin Depot on March 19th 2011.
The Free Community Tax Clinic is only open by appointment. The service, provided by the Ohio Benefit Bank, is free to all Ohioans who qualify, which is many with an annual household income of less than $60,000. To make an appointment (appointments are limited) Saturday, March 19th or Sunday, April 10th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or for more information call Ondrea Keith at 440.935.7259.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Education Discussion Lunch Monday 3/14
Our next education discussion lunch is Monday, March 14, 12:00-1:15 in Wilder Hall, room 112. These lunches are held monthly to bring together college students, faculty and staff, as well as educators and community members involved in education in the Oberlin community. At our gatherings about half the time is for informal chatting and sharing information about local education, and half the time is for a guest speaker.
Our guest speaker this month will be Allison Ricker, a librarian in the Oberlin College Science Library, and the topic is the Big Read. We will discuss this community-wide reading initiative, as well as the themes of censorship and media control in education. More details are below.
Please join us, and forward this invitation to other individuals and groups who may be interested in attending. The event is free and open to the public, and a pizza and salad lunch will be served.
Details: The city, college, and schools of Oberlin have received a grant to sponsor community-wide reading of the book Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury during the 2010-2011 year. The Big Read is a nation-wide project of the National Endowment for the Arts. Communities may choose a book from a given list and apply for a grant to host a Big Read event. Events so far this year have included Bradbury's biographer Sam Weller coming to Oberlin for a public lecture, a series of films related to themes in Farenheit 451, and a series of book groups discussing the book. Upcoming this spring are a visit from author Chris Crutcher and an art exhibit at FAVA gallery.
Our guest speaker this month will be Allison Ricker, a librarian in the Oberlin College Science Library, and the topic is the Big Read. We will discuss this community-wide reading initiative, as well as the themes of censorship and media control in education. More details are below.
Please join us, and forward this invitation to other individuals and groups who may be interested in attending. The event is free and open to the public, and a pizza and salad lunch will be served.
Details: The city, college, and schools of Oberlin have received a grant to sponsor community-wide reading of the book Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury during the 2010-2011 year. The Big Read is a nation-wide project of the National Endowment for the Arts. Communities may choose a book from a given list and apply for a grant to host a Big Read event. Events so far this year have included Bradbury's biographer Sam Weller coming to Oberlin for a public lecture, a series of films related to themes in Farenheit 451, and a series of book groups discussing the book. Upcoming this spring are a visit from author Chris Crutcher and an art exhibit at FAVA gallery.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Recyclebank internship
Recyclebank- a leader in the emerging “green” industry, is proud to announce summer internship opportunities for Oberlin College. We are seeking individuals to help Recyclebank expand recycling awareness and participation in the Greater Cleveland area. Qualified candidates must:
Have a STRONG passion for the environmentBe OutgoingBe Highly EnergeticHave your own transportation
Internship Description
The Community Marketing Outreach Interns will help with the following:Community Outreach: The interns will campaign to raise the visibility and awareness of recycling and the Recyclebank program. This may include planning and implementing targeted outreach events, door-to-door canvassing, speaking engagements and involvement with local “green” social-networking groups. The intern will also be involved in grass-roots, community events (green, recycling, environmental, etc.) across the Greater Cleveland market. This could include event planning, staffing, participation and media relations.Program Awareness, Participation and Registration: In addition to the above outreach programs, the interns will be actively involved in increasing the participation and registration in the Republic/Allied Waste-Recyclebank program. This will consist of traditional and non-traditional marketing activities to be determined before and during the internship period. The interns could also engage and develop relationships with the local business community in our Local Rewards Partners program.Hours
The start and end dates are flexible, but would like the internship to begin in May and work through August. Interns typically work between 20-25 hours/week, and the level of commitment can be tailored to your schedule.Qualifications
We are looking for people who are serious about saving the planet, have a desire to strengthen and grow the environmental movement, and have demonstrated leadership experience. Must also have strong oral and written skills, be a self-starter and have phenomenal internet research and computer capabilitiesCompensation
The internship will be paid at a rate of $0.25 per new Recyclebank member and an additional $0.25 if the new member adds Home Recycling to their account. The interns will also be reimbursed for normal, approved business expenses. Because anyone can join Recyclebank, the number of new members is virtually endless. In the Greater Cleveland area there are approximately 30,000 members who are eligible for Home Recycling.While this internship does not offer the opportunity to earn college credit, the intern will gain valuable life/business skills from environmental leaders and also make a huge impact in the “green” world. Additionally, Recyclebank will provide each intern a letter of recommendation and Merit Certificate for their work.To Apply
Email a compelling resume and cover letter to Duane Maladecki: dmaladecki@recyclebank.com
Friday, March 4, 2011
Summer WAVE Jobs taking applications
The Words Are Very Empowering summer tutoring program in Oberlin is now taking applications.
Job description:
Must be an Oberlin federal, work-study student (!) for summer job tutoring and teaching children in grades K-5 mostly. Likely pay is $9 per hour, with no other benefits except the joy of helping both unmotivated and motivated children. Hours for all are about 8 to noon, generally Mondays through Fridays, though some workers may qualify to work the full day. Email booker.peek@oberlin.edu, no phone calls please. Maybe up to ten weeks of work starting in early June, if possible. Interviews might begin before the midterm break.
Job description:
Must be an Oberlin federal, work-study student (!) for summer job tutoring and teaching children in grades K-5 mostly. Likely pay is $9 per hour, with no other benefits except the joy of helping both unmotivated and motivated children. Hours for all are about 8 to noon, generally Mondays through Fridays, though some workers may qualify to work the full day. Email booker.peek@oberlin.edu, no phone calls please. Maybe up to ten weeks of work starting in early June, if possible. Interviews might begin before the midterm break.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Symposium this weekend
Creative Force: Arthur Romano & Cherine Badawi
Saturday, February 26
1 PM – 6 PM Workshop & Facilitators’ Training
Wilder 115, 135 West Lorain St.
1 PM – 6 PM Workshop & Facilitators’ Training
Wilder 115, 135 West Lorain St.
Sunday, February 27
10 AM – 1 PM Generation Waking Up Experience
3 PM Р6 PM World Caf̩ & Open Space (reception will follow)
Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse, Oberlin College Lanes, 180 West Lorain St.
10 AM – 1 PM Generation Waking Up Experience
3 PM Р6 PM World Caf̩ & Open Space (reception will follow)
Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse, Oberlin College Lanes, 180 West Lorain St.
Two experienced and passionate community educators, Arthur Romano and Cherine Badawi, come together in Oberlin to lead a series of workshops for community leaders. Arthur and Cherine will use alternative approaches and techniques to generate dialogue around issues of diversity and conflict resolution.
On the first day, they will facilitate a story-based experiential workshop, and then lead a workshop training participants to facilitate dialogue and work towards solutions in their own communities.
On Feb. 27, they will present the “Wake Up,” a multimedia experience which educates young people about the world we are inheriting and ignites them into action. Later that day, they will host a final workshop designed to foster group collaboration and visioning, followed by a dinner.
Reposted from http://oberlinyoungeducators.org/creative-force/
Monday, February 21, 2011
36 returns filed!
Thank you for coming out today and helping at the Ohio Benefit Bank Tax Clinic! Here are the numbers:
12 OBB tax counselors addressed 41 appointments and filed 36 returns for a net profit of $67,462. That is a darned impressive days work--it is over double the appointments and returns of the January clinic--and I hope you all are proud of yourselves, because I am!
Thank you
Linda and Kathy at Oberlin Community Services for giving us space, tables, and coffee.
Beth and Bev for filling out VISTA paperwork.
Claudine for starting the project and returning today to fill out a few returns.
Zach and Russell for traveling up from Columbus.
Greer and Sam for OBB North Coast support.
Sheila, Avi, Kyle and Megan for returning as tax counselors.
Olivia, Amber, and Rachel for debuting as tax counselors.
Lorenzo's for donating tasty pizza for lunch.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tomorrow!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/18/2011
Media Contact:
Ondrea Keith
440.935.7259
okeith@oberlin.edu
Free Tax Assistance for Local Residents Returns $52,212 in Tax Refunds
Free community tax clinics to be held at Oberlin Community Services February 19th and March 19th
OBERLIN, OH – Oberlin Community Services is offering free federal and state tax filing clinics to the residents of southern Lorain County through a partnership between the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio and Oberlin College’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning (CSL). At a clinic held on January 29, 2011 20 people filed their federal and state tax returns, for a total of $52,212 in refunds.
“My tax counselor today was just as helpful and professional as the paid tax preparers I’ve used in the past. There was a lot of privacy and courteousness, which I really appreciated,” remarked a client who came to the January 29, 2011 clinic.
The program used to file the taxes, The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB), is an Internet-based program that connects low- and moderate-income Ohioans with access to tax filing assistance and work supports, such as food assistance and the Home Energy Assistance Program. The OBB is a program of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, Ohio’s largest response to hunger and supported by nearly 1,200 agencies and organizations throughout Ohio.
At the free community tax clinics, OBB tax counselors, who are trained Oberlin College students and local community volunteers, use The OBB program to screen for different tax credits, like Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credits, and Education Credits. In 2010, the first year of the tax-season partnership between OBB and Oberlin Community Services, three tax clinics helped 54 residents of Lorain County claim over $76,000 in tax refunds.
Upcoming tax clinics are scheduled at Oberlin Community Services on Saturday, February 19 and March 19, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The service is available to most Ohioans with an annual household income of less than $60,000. To make an appointment, or for more information on The Ohio Benefit Bank, contact Ohio Benefit Bank Community Trainer Ondrea Keith at 440.935.7259.
About the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF)
OASHF is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger, representing Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks and 3,000 member charities including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In SFY 2010, OASHF and its member foodbanks were able to acquire and distribute over 135 million pounds of food and grocery items. Since 2006, OASHF has administered The Ohio Benefit Bank, the nation’s most successful application assistance program.
About The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB)
The OBB is an internet-based program that helps low- and moderate-income Ohioans get connected with work supports, income enhancements and assistance programs, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, food assistance and free federal and state tax filing. Since the program’s inception in 2006, The OBB has assisted over 181,000 Ohioans in connecting with tax credits and work supports with the potential value of over $404 million.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Hey, Seniors
The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations is offering four (4) full tuition scholarships
for full-time master's degree applicants for the fall of 2011.
| |||
|
| |
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)