Friend's Email: Subject:I have found a book that I think you would enjoy
Search - ACORN - Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now - Congressional Documents, plus Community Organizing and Related Issues (Ringbound Book and CD-ROM)
ACORN - Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now - Congressional Documents plus Community Organizing and Related Issues - Ringbound Book and CD-ROM Author:U.S. Government This ringbound book and CD-ROM provides an up-to-date collection of documents and material about ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. ACORN was founded by Wade Rathke in 1970 in Little Rock, Arkansas. It has hundreds of affiliates in most states and registered over a million people to vote in the 2008 election. ACORN... more » states that it is the nation s largest grassroots community organization, working on issue campaigns, service delivery, ballot initiatives, and voter participation. A report from the ranking member, Darrell Issa (R-CA) of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform alleges: ACORN has gained a reputation in the news because of assertions that it committed voter registration fraud, embezzled funds, mismanaged its operations and engaged in political activity. The disc also contains material about community organizing and related issues. Tips for Neighborhood Meetings - 1. Give everyone a chance to speak, and keep a list of all the issues they raise. 2. Invite a representative of the town or city government to attend your meeting to tell you what kinds of solutions are already in the works and what kinds of solutions are possible. 3. Ask your neighbors for their suggestions for ways to address the problems in your community. 4. Gather facts! This may be the most important thing you can do. Find out all you can about the issue, from all points of view. Determine who would be affected by a change, so you can plot your strategy accordingly. Find out if there are any programs or funding options to implement your solutions, from your local government or local businesses. Ask for volunteers among your neighbors to do this fact-gathering - get them all involved in the process so they'll have a stake in the outcome. Present all the facts to your neighborhood group, and make sure everyone understands them. AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It's a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you'll be getting things done through AmeriCorps! AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. As an AmeriCorps member, you can: Tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth, Fight illiteracy, Improve health services, Build affordable housing, Teach computer skills, Clean parks and streams, Manage or operate after-school programs, Help communities respond to disasters, Build organizational capacity. As an AmeriCorps member, you'll gain new skills and experiences-and you'll also find the tremendous satisfaction that comes from helping others. In addition, full-time members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans; members who serve part-time receive a partial Award. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a modest living allowance during their term of service. AmeriCorps Programs - AmeriCorps is made up of three main programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). AmeriCorps State and National: AmeriCorps State and National supports a broad range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans in intensive service to meet critical community needs.« less
