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News From The Coalition, Inc. Friday 24 June 2011 “Communication – Cooperation – Collaboration” Volume 5, Number 40 The Coalition, Inc. Board of Directors Gary R. Adams (President/CEO), John E. Churchville (Treasurer), Members: Josephine Blow, Stanley Daniels, Edwin Desamor, Nijah Famous, Tom ‘Bunny’ Henry, Abdul Malik Raheem, Lewis Williams, Table of content For Our Children … 02 This Week … 04 Employment and Training Opportunities … 06 Health Matters …07 Green Piece … 10 Grants, Scholarships & Instruction… 11 SpotLight … 12 Arts for Awareness … 18 Coming Up …16 Computers and Technology … 16 A Hand Up … 17 Word-of-the-Week … 18 Page 02 If this publication is being forwarded to you, and you wish to be placed on our mailing list, send an email to TheCoalitionNews@gmail.com with “subscribe” in the subject. If you are receiving this publication without consent, send an email with “unsubscribe” in the subject to be removed from our database. If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. Page 03 "You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair" - Chinese Proverb We are proud to announce that News From The Coalition, Inc. is featured on the internationally acclaimed site Eight Cities Map which is read in more than One hundred seventy countries! Click here: EightCitiesMAP Choose “Philadelphia’s Online Community “Newsletter” from the menu. Page 04 Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. ~David Star Jordan If you have a favorite relevant quote, why not share it with our readers. send to TheCoalitionNews@gmail.com We will credit you with the submission. JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 05 A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top. ~Author Unknown (thx Sylvia Urich) JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 06 There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein (thx JaBarda Jones) JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 07 “I may sometimes drive you crazy, but I’ll never steer you wrong.” Shem Adams JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 08 An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman are driving through the desert when their car breaks down. So they have to get out. The Englishman takes a bottle of wine with him, the Scotsman takes an umbrella and the Irishman takes a car door. On the way they meet this old bastard. He says to the Englishman "I know why you've got the wine so you can have a drink when your thirsty", He says to the Scotsman "I know why you've got the umbrella to keep the sun off you", "but" he says to the Irishman "Why have you got the car door?" and the Irishman replies "If I get hot I can wind the window down!" (thx Dan) If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. Page 09 "People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering." - St. Augustine JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment complete, and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 10 "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." - Wayne Dyer (thx Teresa Lloyd) JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 11 How easy it is to repel and release every impression which is troublesome and immediately to be tranquil. - Marcus Aurelius Coalition members! Get ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site Page 12 We were born to succeed, not to fail. - Henry David Thoreau Page 13 The real leader has no need to lead - he is content to point the way. - Henry Miller JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment complete, and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 14 Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions. Lao Tzu (thx Keisha Whyte) If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. Page 15 A man goes skydiving for the first time. After listening to the instructor for what seems like days, he is ready to go. Excited, he jumps out of the airplane. After a bit, he pulls the ripcord. Nothing happens. He tries again. Still nothing. He starts to panic, but remembers his back-up chute. He pulls that cord. Nothing happens... He frantically begins pulling both cords, but to no avail. Suddenly, he looks down and he can't believe his eyes. Another man is in the air with him, but this guy is going *up*!! Just as the other guy passes by, the skydiver -- by this time scared out of his wits -- yells, "Hey, do you know anything about skydiving?" The other guy yells back, "No! Do you know anything about gas stoves?" (thx Addie Curry) Page 16 Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. Page 17 Hereeeeeeeeeeeeees... Kathy’s Korner! "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world." "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin." "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church." (Kathy Parsons is a regular contributor.) If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. Page 18 You can't have everything. Where would you put it? – Steven Wright Page 19 One of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid. – Jonathan Swift JOIN THE COALITION, INC! To join The Coalition go to: TheCoalitionInc.net and download a copy of the Pledge of Commitment complete, and return it to us the.pa.coalition@gmail.com Page 20 Teacher: Marcie, give me a sentence starting with "I." Marcie: I is... Teacher: No, Marcie.... . Always say, "I am." Marcie: All right... "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet." Page 21 If you would like to report on a recent community event, feel free to send us a brief account of what happened in document format, and we will share it with our readers. Send your information to: News From The Coalition, Inc. All entries for submission should be received by noon, the Monday prior to publish date and in Press Release form. WORD-OF-THE-WEEK didactic \dy-DAK-tik; duh-\, Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; instructive; teaching some moral lesson; Inclined to teach or moralize excessively; moralistic. Greetings Coalition Family! The Coalition, Inc. will be convening the First National Organizational Policy Summit in September 2011. This forward-thinking project is the brainchild of our Treasurer Dr. John E. Churchville. When we harness the resources GOD has given us, how then can we fail? There are always those that look at you as a threat or competition. You are NOT their problem, they are a problem to themselves. They are not YOUR problem, they are a problem to themselves. Their challenges are simple cries for approval at your expense. They are NOT a challenge for you but could be a distraction if YOU allow them to be. Ignore them, you have a greater challenge. There is no bigger challenge then challenging yourSELF. - Carlos Muhammad “We each hold a piece to the puzzle.” – Dr. John Elliott Churchville “Communicate… Cooperate… Collaborate” FOR OUR CHILDREN “It is easier to build children than it is to repair men.”…Frederick Douglass REGISTER NOW for ASPIRA S.O.L. Camp for 6-8 graders Still Accepting Applications for ASPIRA S.O.L. (Shaping Outstanding Learners) Summer Enrichment Camp for rising 6th through 8th graders. We will have two Philadelphia sites for the camp during the summer Antonia Pantoja Charter 4101 North American Street John B. Stetson Charter located 3200 B. Street. Students will develop academic and inquiry skills though project based learning and will participate in a variety of athletic and arts activities. Program starts July 5th until August 12th, 2011 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. For more Information Please 215-539-7504 or stop by Stetson Charter at 3200 B. Street Room 8 for an application. Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- School District publishes summer course guide for parents The School District of Philadelphia has published the summer course descriptions for its Parent University. Parent University is based on research which shows that when families are involved in learning, they will play an active role in the educational process. This increase in parental engagement will positively contribute to the child’s academic and social success. The program engages parents in innovative and meaningful partnerships for learning. By offering workshops and classes, Parent University develops a strong professional learning community to increase student achievement. To download the summer catalog, go here. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Half Off Drexel University's All-Star Basketball Camp Got a future NBA or WNBA Hall of Famer in your house? Make a fast break for this Dealyo and drive it straight to the hoop—it’s a slam dunk! For $ 87.50, sign up your sons and daughters for Drexel University’s 20th annual All-Star Basketball Camp with Bruiser Flint, the head coach for Drexel’s men’s team ($175 value!). From Monday, June 27 to Friday, July 1, boys and girls ages 7 to 17 will meet each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center on the Drexel campus in Philadelphia to learn from the best. About Drexel University All Star Basketball Camp Drexel Basketball Coach Bruiser Flint has led the Dragons to four NIT appearances since taking over as Drexel’s Head Coach in 2001. He has been named the CAA Coach of the Year on three different occasions, one of only two coaches in the history of the CAA to do so. In his 10 years with Drexel, Flint has had 15 players named all-conference and has had the CAA Defensive Player of the Year play for him four times. A native of Philadelphia, Flint had an impressive high school career at Episcopal Academy where he earned All-Philadelphia First Team recognition. After graduation, he played for four years at St. Joseph's University, where he was an All-Atlantic 10 honoree. The Drexel All-Star Basketball Camp, under Coach Flint's direction, promises an enjoyable and challenging basketball experience for area boys and girls who wish to develop both their skills and passion for the game. Coach Flint and his staff are committed to providing a memorable experience for every camper. WORK WITH AN EXPERIENCED, FIVE STAR CAMP STAFF The Drexel University men's basketball coaching staff will team with Coach Flint to ensure the quality of your child's camp experience. Serving as the primary camp instructors, they will be joined by numerous college and high school coaches from throughout Greater Philadelphia during a week of individual and team instruction. Today's Dealyo is admission to Session 1 of Drexel University's All-Star Basketball Camp with Bruiser Flint. Session one dates are Monday, June 27 to Friday, July 1 only. Cannot be combined with any other offers. One voucher redeemable per camper. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Prior enrollment excluded. No refunds or exchanges. Insurance information must be included on camp application. Campers must rely on their guardian's medical services. Campers all must be enrolled by June 26th, 2011 or the voucher is null and void. http://www.facebook.com/l/796eb5vPGDOzitLoHFAApaEEj7A/phillydealyo.philly.com/deal/philadelphia/drexel-star-bb-camp?merchantI d=141&refsrc=3&wId=712&nmbly=true&host=phillydealyo.philly.com&utm_source=i&utm_campaign=b ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Cap4Kids Hint of the Week As the school year is winding down, there are many transitions that families face. New schools, reentry into school, transfers, college opportunities, and looking for scholarships to improve a child's outcomes. On the www.cap4kids.org/philadelphia website, under the Education Resources handout (http://www.cap4kids.org/philadelphia/parent_handouts/education_resources.html), PLEASE be familiar with all the great resources in our community and included on the Cap4Kids site including: Listings of Charter and Magnet schools; Kindergarten registration info; multiple college preparation resources; Ellis Trust, Philadelphia Futures, and Steeping Stone Scholars scholarships; out-of-school youth info; Teen Parenting info; and Parent University to name a few. Check them out and please connect families in need with the resources in their community. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- THIS WEEK Afro- Caribbean Information Festival Dear Friends, I am writing to invite you to have an information table about your organization at our First Annual Afro-Caribbean Information Festival School District of Philadelphia 440 No. Broad St. Saturday June 25, 2011 11am to 3 pm. We will be highlighting all the services the district has available to our students and their parents, as well as specialized services available throughout the community. This is your opportunity to share your information with not only the Haitian Community but also the school community as well. Please accept our invitation to provide valuable information to all the members of our community to invoke more progress and positive growth. My contact information is listed below for your convenience. Yves Marie Desir The School District of Philadelphia The Office of Parent, Family, and Community Engagement 440 N Broad Street, Suite 114 Philadelphia, PA 19130 215- 400-6268 215- 400-4181 Fax ydesir@philasd.org ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Liberation Fellowship CDC is sponsoring a Health Fair Vernon Park (Germantown and Chelten Avenues) Monday, June 27th, National HIV Testing Day. Along with HIV and STD testing, there will be blood pressure, diabetes and other health screenings. There will also be free food, face painting for the children (and those of us who are still young at heart), and more. So, hold the date, spread the word and join us. WHAT: Vernon Park Health Fair WHEN: Monday, June 27th, 1 - 6 p.m. WHERE: Vernon Park, Germantown Avenue above Chelten Avenue If you or your organization would like to provide free health screenings or share health-related information at the Fair, please contact our Fair Coordinators, Dawna Edwards-Watson at (215) 391-9356 or Jerome Rogers at jeromelrogers@gmail.com. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Women of Worth Awards L’Oreal Announces the Sixth Annual Women of Worth Awards Honoring Women Dedicated to Volunteerism and Community Deadline: June 30, 2011 L’Oreal Paris, a division of L’Oreal USA, Inc., has announced the opening of the 2011 Women of Worth nomination period. Now in its sixth year, the Women of Worth program seeks to honor women in the United States for their dedication to charitable programs and volunteerism in their communities. Past honorees have dedicated themselves to providing relief and raising awareness among a broad range of causes, including hunger, homelessness, health care, education, and more. To be eligible, a nominee must be a woman 18 years of age or older who has a record of exemplary non-compensated service within her community and beyond. The nominee should be able to demonstrate the impact of her work within her community, be aspirational and inspirational to others, demonstrate commitment to her cause, and exemplify leadership. Nominees must be legal residents of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia, and the nominee’s volunteer activities must have occurred in the continental U.S. and have primarily served domestic American needs. The volunteer activity should have lasted for at least six uninterrupted months and should be ongoing. Nominations may be submitted by individuals and organizations familiar with the nominee’s work (including friends and family members). Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged. Ten honorees will each receive $10,000 for their charitable cause. One national honoree will be chosen via a public online vote and will receive an additional $25,000 for her charity. All ten honorees will be honored and the national honoree will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York City. Visit the Women of Worth Web site for complete program information and nomination materials. http://www.womenofworth.com/ ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Bebashi and Dorothy Mann Center for Pediatric & Adolescent HIV Will host a National HIV Testing Day and BBQ At Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center located at 1000 W. Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, PA On Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 11a.m. to 5:00p.m. In an effort to test over 100 people and bring awareness about the importance of HIV testing and knowing one’s status. About National HIV Testing Day: National HIV Testing Day was developed in response to the growing number of HIV infections in communities of color and other heavily impacted communities. More than one million people are living with HIV in the U.S., and approximately one in five of those are unaware of their infection. This year, Bebashi is partnering with The Dorothy Mann Center at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and the Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center. The day will include free HIV Testing, free Syphilis Testing, free Face painting, free Henna Tattoos, health information, a live DJ, free tennis, hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and more! About Bebashi: Our mission is to provide culturally sensitive health related information, direct service, research, and technical assistance to the urban community. Through a continuum of HIV/AIDS prevention, advocacy and direct services including street outreach, prevention education workshops, counseling and testing for HIV, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, Case Management, Early Intervention, Care Outreach, Support Groups, Breast Health Awareness and an Emergency Food Cupboard we touch the lives of 15,000 people annually. About Dorothy Mann Center for Pediatric and Adolescent HIV: The Dorothy Mann Center at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine provides HIV/AIDS care, prevention, and outreach to vulnerable youth in the Philadelphia area. About Althea Gibson Community Education and Tennis Center: Our mission is building strong minds and bodies through educational, arts and sports programs such as: health /nutrition, graphic arts design, scrabble, gardening, leadership development, chess, homework help and special projects and initiatives. The center provides after school and summer camp programs for youth ages 5 to14. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Deena Weems Thornton, Director of Development and Public Relations (O) 215-769-3561 x 140, (C) 267-767-3327, (E) deenaw@bebashi.org. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- This week the National Junior Tennis and Learning program launches at 35 sites in Philadelphia! This low-cost half-day camp provides 7 weeks of fun, learning and opportunities to make friends. Most sites $150, with family discounts and scholarships available. For more info or to register, visit www.ashetennis.org. 8 sites sponsored by Citizens Bank just $35 for all seven weeks: Barry Playground, Markward Playground, Bill Johnson Tennis Courts, Penrose Playground, Mander Playground, Kingsessing Rec Center, Rose Playground, Awbury Rec Center. Call 215-487-9555 for more info for these sites. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORUNITIES FEMA positions up to six figures available in our online Coalition Group ongoing updates will be posted as they become available. North Philadelphia Job Fair set for Honickman Center The Seventh Annual North Philadelphia Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, June 28th from 11am to 2:30pm at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs at 1936 N. Judson Street Philadelphia. Participants include Pepsi, Comcast, Project H.O.M.E., Horizon House, PA CareerLink, State Civil Service Commission, PECO, Slomin’s Home Security, Rite Aid, PA Department of Corrections, Urban League of Philadelphia, Community Legal Services, ShopRite, PNC, NHS Human Services, Lowe’s, Hilton Worldwide, Americorps VISTA, First Transit, and Coventry Cares For more information, contact 215-235-2900 x6116. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- HEALTH MATTERS Smokers show higher risk of leg artery disease Mon, Jun 6 2011 By Amy Norton NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who smoke are much more likely than non-smokers to develop clogged arteries in the legs -- but quitting can lower those odds, according to a study published Monday. The study, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that female smokers were up to 17 times more likely than non-smokers to develop peripheral artery disease (PAD). About 8 million Americans have PAD, which usually arises when atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, restricts blood flow to the legs. The main symptom is leg pain or cramps during normal activities, like walking, though not everyone with the condition has symptoms. People with PAD often have widespread atherosclerosis, including coronary heart disease -- where arteries feeding the heart become narrowed and stiff. For some, leg pain is the first symptom of wider problems. Smoking has a well-established link to heart disease. But fewer studies have focused on PAD. The good news from the current study is that women who kicked the habit appeared to lower their risk of PAD -- though they did not eliminate it. "Our most important finding, in my view, is that smoking cessation substantially reduces this risk," said lead researcher Dr. David Conen, of the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. "We found a gradual decrease in risk with an increased duration of smoking abstinence, highlighting the importance of smoking cessation," Conen told Reuters Health in an email. Compared with lifelong non-smokers, former smokers had three times the risk of developing PAD over 13 years. But current smokers showed much higher odds: those who smoked fewer than 15 cigarettes a day had a nine-fold higher risk of PAD than lifelong non-smokers, while those who lit up more often had a 17-times higher risk. "Clearly, our study adds one more reason to quit smoking as soon as possible," Conen said. However, he added, "the fact that the risk of PAD does not get down to that of women who never smoked also emphasizes the importance that never starting smoking is at least as important." The findings come from a long-running study of U.S. women who were age 45 or older and free of heart disease and other major health problems at the outset. Of nearly 40,000 women followed for 13 years, 178 were eventually diagnosed with PAD. Among the heaviest smokers -- 15 or more cigarettes per day -- PAD was diagnosed at a rate of 1.6 cases for every 1,000 women each year. Among lifelong non-smokers, there were 0.1 cases for every 1,000 women each year. When Conen's team accounted for other PAD risk factors, like older age, obesity and diabetes, smoking itself was still strongly linked to the disease. The researchers also gained some clues as to why smoking might lead to PAD. Based on blood samples from a subgroup of women, high levels of certain inflammatory proteins accounted for some of the risk linked to smoking. That, Conen's team says, suggests that smoking leads to PAD, in part, by spurring chronic inflammation in the blood vessels. He suggested that doctors be careful to look for signs and symptoms of PAD in patients who smoke. Besides leg pain during exercise, other signs include leg sores that don't heal, feelings of cold or numbness in the legs or feet, and hair loss or slowed hair growth on the legs. Once PAD is diagnosed, treatment usually involves lifestyle changes to improve a person's overall cardiovascular health, including a healthy diet and regular exercise. People with PAD may also take aspirin or other medications to prevent blood clots. In cases where leg pain is debilitating, doctors may prescribe medications that improve blood flow to the legs. Some people end up needing angioplasty or bypass surgery to take care of blockages in the leg arteries. SOURCE: bit.ly/an7XRm Annals of Internal Medicine, June 7, 2011. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Break The Habit! How many of us have lost, or are losing loved ones to the many ailments caused by tobacco use? Having been personally affected, we at News From The Coalition, Inc., will continue to share information on the dangers and present paradigms in efforts to free those intentionally ensnared in these vices. In our continuing efforts to help the tobacco addicted to help themselves, we are presenting the American Cancer Society’s Ten Point Plan. This is the ninth of the series. We hope you find it helpful. 9- How to quit- Staying quit Remember the Mark Twain quote? Maybe you, too, have quit many times before. If so, you know that staying quit is the final, longest, and most important stage of the process. You can use the same methods to stay quit as you did to help you through withdrawal. Think ahead to those times when you may be tempted to smoke, and plan on how you will use other ways to cope with these situations. More dangerous, perhaps, are the unexpected strong desires to smoke that can sometimes happen months, or even years after you've quit. Rationalizations can show up then, too. To get through these without relapse, try these: • Review your reasons for quitting and think of all the benefits to your health, your finances, and your family. • Remind yourself that there is no such thing as just one cigarette -- or even one puff. • Ride out the desire to smoke. It will go away, but do not fool yourself into thinking you can have just one. • Avoid alcohol. Drinking lowers your chance of success. • If you are worried about weight gain, put some energy into planning a healthy diet and finding ways to exercise and stay active. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- U.S. releases graphic tobacco warning labels 3:38pm EDT By Deborah Zabarenko WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dead bodies, diseased lungs and rotting teeth were among the among the graphic images for revamped tobacco labels, unveiled on Tuesday by health officials who hope the warnings will help smokers quit. The new labels must be on cigarette packages and tobacco advertisements no later than September 2012, as part of a law that put the multibillion-dollar tobacco industry under the control of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They represent the first change in U.S. cigarette warnings in 25 years. "With these warnings, every person who picks up a pack of cigarettes is going to know exactly what risks they are taking," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters at the White House. The new labels may disturb some, including one with a photograph of a man smoking a cigarette through a hole in his throat, and one showing a mouth with discolored teeth and an ulcerated lip. Other images stress the dangers of second-hand smoke to children and show tobacco's causal link to lung disease, cancer, strokes, heart disease and death. Sebelius said the goal was to stop children and teenagers from starting to smoke and to give nicotine-addicted adults an added incentive to quit, helping push down U.S. smoking levels that have been stubbornly stagnant in recent years. "We want kids to understand that smoking is gross not cool and there is really nothing pretty about having mouth cancer or making your baby sick if you smoke," she said. More than 221,000 Americas will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011, accounting for about 14 percent of all U.S. cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society. Nearly 157,000 men and women are expected to die from lung cancer this year in the United States. The World Health Organization has repeatedly called for graphic images of diseased organs and heavily stained teeth on tobacco packs as a turn-off. But in Europe and elsewhere, young smokers often buy decorative holders to hide the warning labels on their cigarette packs. 'SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS' The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act called for cigarette packages to include warning statements in large type covering half of the front and back of each package and graphic images showing the health dangers of smoking. The warnings are also to occupy the top 20 percent of every tobacco advertisement of companies such as Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris USA unit, Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco unit and Lorillard Inc's Lorillard Tobacco Co. The anti-smoking group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said the images were a dramatic change from today's printed warnings that simply list potential health problems from smoking. "The current warnings are more than 25 years old, go unnoticed on the side of cigarette packs and fail to effectively communicate the serious health risks of smoking," the group said. Tobacco companies take advertising curbs and health warning rules seriously as possible restrictions on their ability to do business. R.J. Reynolds, for instance, has challenged the legality of mandated larger and graphic warnings in a federal lawsuit. Elsewhere, Philip Morris International has sued Uruguay over the South American country's anti-smoking rules, which include large health warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on tobacco products branded "light. The company said that arbitration was meant to challenge "extreme and ineffective measures that have created an environment conducive to the black market in cigarettes." Sebelius, estimating that tobacco costs the U.S. economy $200 billion a year in medical costs and lost productivity. Tobacco will kill nearly 6 million people worldwide this year, including 600,000 non-smokers, the WHO said last month, estimating the global annual death toll could reach 8 million by 2030. The Dow Jones tobacco index, whose components include Altria, Lorillard and Reynolds American, was down 1 percent on Tuesday afternoon after the images were unveiled. (Images of the new U.S. labels can be seen here) (Additional reporting by Laura MacInnis, Alister Bull, JoAnne Allen and Doina Chiacu in Washington and Jessica Wohl in Chicago: Editing by Doina Chiacu) ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Get Fresh! Volunteer with Philabundance Fresh for All You recycle out the wazoo and consider yourself consigliore of the enviro-sack mafia. Hence, a cause you can believe in: Philabundance wants to fill those ubiquitous bags with produce through its new Fresh for All programs. And you can help by volunteering. The nonprofit hands out perishables at six sites in the Delaware Valley — where nutritious diet staples are hard to come by, especially in tough times. With a minimum three-hour commitment, you’ll keep busy. Help with admin, approve clients, or do community outreach (posting mailings, making phone calls). Looking for something physical? Take food to sites, divide apples, and dole out the goods. You’ll be doing a major part to help people get the fruits and veggies they need. And that’s a green movement to be proud of. To participate in Fresh for All, contact Tunisia Garnett (215-339-0900 ext. 238 or tgarnett@philabundance.org). For more information, go to www.philabundance.org GREEN PIECE Easy-To-Build Solar Panel See simple instructions using free and inexpensive materials HERE How do we bring up ALL people through the movement to build a more Sustainable City? There are some starter ideas FYI (For Your Inspiration) below. Environmental Justice Videos 1. Van Jones at GreenFest 2007 in Chicago: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid901003925?bclid=900600164&bctid=895238457 2. Majora Carter – “Greening the Ghetto” : http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/53 Free E-Newsletters 1. Public Education Network e-newsletter (Nice resources.): http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_current.asp 2. Next Great City e-Newsletter (Lots of events): www.nextgreatcity.org 3. Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) e-newsletter (Just awesome!): http://phennd.communishare.org Philadelphia Initiatives 1. City of Philadelphia Going Green: http://www.phila.gov/green/index.html 2. East Coast Greenway Pennsylvania: http://www.greenway.org/gw-pa.htm 3. Greater Philadelphia Environmental Network: http://www.gpen.org/ 4. Next Great City Initiative: http://www.nextgreatcity.com/ 5. Urban Green Partnership: http://urbangreenpartnership.org/what-is-green/ 6. Urban Sustainability Forum: http://www.sustainablephiladelphia.com/index.html 7. SustainLane City Rankings: http://www.sustainlane.com/us-city-rankings/overview.jsp Other: The National Religious 1. Partnership for the Environment http://www.nrpe.org/ 2. PennFuture: http://www.pennfuture.org/ 3. PennEnvironment: http://www.pennenvironment.org/ 4. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council www.pecpa.org ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Recycling Services Inc. in Pottstown takes styrofoam on Saturday and Tuesday mornings. http://www.recyclingservices.org/ For sustainable enterprise go to Green Jobs Philly http://www.greenjobsphilly.org/news ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- 40 Ways to Save on Almost Anything GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & INSTRUCTION Internship Grants for Economic Recovery Organizations Internship Grants for Economic Recovery Organizations With funding made available from Learn and Serve America, PHENND will be awarding approximately 50 interns to qualified nonprofit agencies to employ college student interns for capacity-building projects. Organizations must be working in the following areas: public benefit screening and enrollment, volunteer income tax assistance, financial education for youth or adults, micro-entrepreneurship training, workforce development, housing counseling, and other similar services aimed at low-income people. Interns will be paid a modest stipend by the organization; the organization will be reimbursed by PHENND upon completion of the project. Organizations interested in the program can download the application. Organizations are also encouraged to contact Hillary Kane to ask questions and learn more about the program. Hillary may be contacted at hillarya@pobox.upenn.edu or 215-573-2379. Read more at: http://www.phennd.org/index.php/initiatives/initiatives/credit_path/ ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- SpotLight On Our Efforts The Career Boot Camp Series The Career Boot Camp Series is a community driven initiative to bring consistent employment training and services to residents within the 19th Police District. Through several community meetings, which began November 2010, the idea grew into a 6-week consecutive workshop geared towards developing skills to help make unemployed and under-employed residents more attractive to potential employers. For six-weeks the Career Boot Camp Series workshops were every Wednesday evening for 2 hours at ACHIEVEability’s Computer Center located at 59 North 60th Street in West Philadelphia. Each week there were facilitators from various non-profit, private and city agencies that provided expertise and a networking opportunity to participants. The first workshop topic was “Goal Setting”. During this workshop each Boot Camper created an account on March2Success, an online self-assessment tool. This workshop also encompassed information on knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses. The next workshop was “Know thy Resources and thy Self”, which focused on job search process, etiquette, and tips on marketing yourself. Series 3 “Resume and Cover Letter Writing”, provided individualized assistance and critique on Boot Campers resume and cover letters. “Interviewing Skills” workshop followed which allowed each Boot Camper to see how well they interviewed during their very own private mock interview. Next was series # 5, which was “Appropriate Dress and Workplace Conduct”. In this workshop there was a round-table discussion regarding typical challenges to job retention including office politics and proper work place attire especially during extreme weather conditions. The series finale was the “Job and Resource Fair”, which took place at the Haddington Branch Library. Employers who attended the fair sought individuals for administrative assistant, community organizers, security guard, catering, and case manager positions. By the end of the series 37 residents improved their employment searching techniques, expanded their network, and increased their knowledge of employment training resources and programs throughout the city of Philadelphia. ACHIEVEability, Friends of the Haddington Library and PhillyRising Collaborative partnered to help design and implement the Career Boot Camp Series. However, the success of the series could not have happened without the work and support of our very own Mayor Nutter, the United States Army, Lift, Careerlink, Western Fumigation, The Enterprise Center, AppleBee’s, Councilman Jones Jr, National Comprehensive Center for Fathers, Top of the Clock Security, Max and Me Catering, Kintock, Representative Louise Bishop, Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Haddington Branch Library, Office of the Mayor and many dedicated volunteers. Thank you! ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- “One House at a Time” and Beds for Kids” www.ohaat.org. A furniture and bed ministry for families and children in need. The One House at a Time ministry is a joint effort with Upper Dublin Lutheran Church. The use of our Welsh Road building is a huge plus for this ministry. Our goal is new beds for kids and outfitting as many homes with furniture as we can. If you have gently used furniture that you would like to donate to families in need, please contact “One House at a Time” at 215-646-7812. Leave a message of what you wish to donate and a number where you can be reached. Your furniture will be picked up by volunteers and stored until it can be delivered to families in need. Within this ministry there is a ministry called “Beds for Kids” that provides children with a new bed to sleep on. You can volunteer to help with pick-ups, deliveries, or by sorting and boxing table settings, linens, kitchen appliances, pots and pans, and other goods, or phone hours, please Contact Anthony Brummans 267-825-5127 or abrummans@comcast.net ARTS FOR AWARENESS I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. Pauline Kael Jus’ Words at Dowlings Place 1310 No. Broad St. Phila Every Thurs. 9pm to 1am • Poets • Rappers • Singers • Spoken Word Artists ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- COMING UP * * * Outside PA * * * COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY Free online journal focuses on technology for nonprofits Technology can help nonprofits create the change they want to see in the world. But even with daily evidence of world-changing innovations and applications of technology, it's difficult for nonprofit leaders to know how to apply it to their missions. NTEN:Change, a free online journal from the Nonprofit Technology Network, provides the guidance and practical considerations nonprofits need to make the sound investments and decisions that will help them meet their goals. Free subscriptions are available here. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Group offers low-cost web access to nonprofits Mobile Citizen, a provider of mobile broadband for education and nonprofits, will offer a Technology Assistance Grant program beginning in January to provide non-profit organizations with affordable access to the Internet. Available only in Portland, Oregon, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, the grant includes reduced-price service from Mobile Citizen, with unlimited usage for only $10/month or $120/year per account. It bundles Mobile Citizen’s wireless broadband, powered by WiMAX, a fourth generation (4G) technology from Clearwire Corporation with a variety of benefits available only to grantees, including: -- 12 months of service from Mobile Citizen extended to 15 months at no additional charge. With this, nonprofits receive three free months of service per account. -- Dedicated Mobile Citizen Customer Care customized for non-profit organizations. -- A free one-year membership to NTEN, a nonprofit technology network, ongoing information and news as well as access to a support community. -- A choice of additional benefits including an educational webinar series. For more information, email Free Trial. www.mobilecitizen.org/grantphiladelphia A HAND UP! "None of us has gotten where we are solely by pulling ourselves up from our own bootstraps. We got here because somebody bent down and helped us." - Thurgood Marshall America’s Original Savings Network As amazing as it may sound many people do not realize how easy it is to LEGALLY stop paying for their groceries! This is how the one hour television show began for the company whose website is at: http://nofullprices.net FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Are these manufacturer coupons or coupons that I print on my computer? A: All of our coupons are actual manufacturer coupons. Fewer and fewer retailers accept coupons that are printed from your computer because of a huge increase in counterfeit coupons. Actual manufacturer coupons which we issue are accepted everywhere that coupons are accepted. Q: Can these coupons be doubled? A: Yes. These are manufacturer issued coupons and may be doubled in any store that offers double coupons. Q: What are the face values and the expiration dates of these coupons? A: Being manufacturer coupons, the manufactuer determines the face values of the coupons. We currently stock coupons ranging in value from 40 cents to 5.00 dollars. The coupon expiration dates are generally valid for 90 days. Q: How can I use $1,000.00 worth of coupons in 90 days? A: With our program, you get to choose the coupons you want, when you want them. This way you never have to worry about the coupons expiring. Q: How do I choose the coupons I want? A: Each coupon book contains coupon request slips which you fill out and send in. Those coupons are then mailed to you. ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- IT’S HERE!! Our group A HAND UP! Is now open, please go to: A HAND UP! In response to the needs of many grassroots organizations for the basic tools to implement and sustain their ideas and projects, The Coalition, Inc. members have come together to establish a network to facilitate the distribution/re-distribution of unwanted, unneeded, surplus and even repairable items for recycling. To join: A Hand Up! ----- Coalition members! Activate ‘Your’ web link on The Coalition, Inc. web site ----- Remember to support The Coalition, Inc.’s on-air personalities… Sister Phile Chionesu, organizer of the Million Woman March, “Nu Day Resurrection and Liberation" Show LIVE each Saturday evening 10:30 PM--12:00 midnight EST. "NU Day" is heard in Philly and, worldwide, through the internet at: www.blogtalkradio.com/empresschi Or you can tune in via podcast at 646-652-2232 Call in and give your thoughts, comments, opinions at 1-646-652-2232 Or send an instant message to mwmsistahood@aol.com to chat on line.
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