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Communities Torn Apart: The Impact of Detention and Deportation in Houston.

The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) released a new report today, Communities Torn Apart: The Impact of Detention and Deportation in Houston. This report addresses the manner in which the existing immigration system impacts our community, including an overview of the processes by which a staggering number of Harris County and Houston-area residents are detained and deported, often without legal representation.

The report was published in anticipation of a vote today, November 10, at the Harris County Commissioners Court, which is expected to allocate $2 million in funding for the Immigrant Legal Services Fund, as well as $500,000 for immigration legal representation for victims of crimes. This $2.5 million allocation to fund immigration legal services would be the largest in Texas and on par with funds for large cities nationally.

Houston Leads will hold a press conference later today after the vote – watch the livestream on the Houston Leads Facebook page!

Since 2018, Houston Leads has urged the Commissioners Court to allocate a sufficient amount to help meet the growing need for legal representation in deportation proceedings in Harris County, particularly among low-income residents.

Implicit Bias Awareness Series

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools is offering free, responsive, and timely professional development on Implicit Bias Awareness. After hearing concerns and data trends from several area school districts regarding disproportionate student discipline infractions, this implicit bias awareness training will be a critical component in establishing and maintaining restorative practices within school discipline approaches to build and enhance school climate and culture. This 8-hour Implicit Bias Awareness Series is a 4-Session Series and will convene on the following dates from 4:00-6:00 p.m.:

Mondays: November 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th (each participant must be present for each session).

Registration is required.

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools is offering this opportunity to participate in this series on a first come, first serve basis.

Answering Tough Student Questions

Early Childhood funding opportunity in Houston / Harris County

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Early childhood has been a top priority for Judge Hidalgo since she entered office. Last week, the Judge proposed and Harris County Commissioners Court approved the Early Childhood Impact Fund (ECIF), which will invest up to $10 million in programs and interventions with significant potential to dramatically improve early childhood outcomes in Harris County. 

We are now reaching out nationally seeking proposals from public, private, and nonprofit entities for both the implementation of ECIF initiatives and, separately, independent evaluation of those efforts:

· Implementation: Request for Proposals (to apply for ECIF funding to launch or expand early childhood initiatives)

· Evaluation: Request for Proposals (to apply to independently evaluate the ECIF-funded initiatives)

We will hold information sessions for each of the Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Sign up by emailing Sandra Melancon with Harris County Purchasing at [email protected], who will share the relevant call-in information.

·        Implementation: Tuesday, November 17th at 2pm (for those interested in applying for ECIF funding, but anyone can attend)

· Evaluation: Thursday, November 19th at 10am (for those interested in applying to serve as independent evaluator, but anyone can attend)

More information can be found here.

Excelling Together 2020: Not-for-Profit Virtual CPE Series

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1 CPE credit available for each live webinar • Level: Basic • No prerequisites • Free to attend

You and your board members are invited to join the conversation and advance your skills at Excelling Together 2020, Weaver’s Not-for-Profit CPE Series. Our half-day series features presentations and networking opportunities to keep you informed and connected.

Creative Fundraising in a Virtual World: Erica Yaeger, Chief External Affairs Officer, North Texas Food Bank

1:00 – 2:00 PM CST Register

Kicking off our series, Erica Yaeger, Chief External Affairs Officer, North Texas Food Bank, shares her firsthand experience in developing innovative fundraising opportunities that engage donors in our new virtual world.

Communicating with the Board: Rob Nowak, Partner in Tax Services, Weaver

2:30 – 3:30 PM CST Register

Sharing critical financial data can become challenging when board members have varied experience and understanding of not-for-profit accounting. This session offers insight on the financial reports your board finds most valuable and how best to present that information.

Building an Inclusive and Diverse Board
Live Panel Discussion

4:00 – 5:00 PM CST Register

Weaver brings together a panel of not-for-profit diversity experts to discuss the challenges of creating a diverse board and what not-for-profit leaders can do to encourage board participation from all backgrounds.

Dr. Froswá Booker-Drew, Vice President of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances, State Fair of Texas

Ronnie Hagerty, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, United Way of Greater Houston

This webinar is for all levels of accountants, finance professionals and CFOs. Please note that each person should register and attend individually in order to receive CPE credit.

NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS

Structure and Clear Limits

Thursday, November 5, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

How do you prevent chaos in a youth environment without stifling the positive energy of youth? Youth need structure and clear limits in order to feel safe. This interactive workshop helps participants analyze the level of structure in their programs and practice identifying and maintaining clear limits.

Active Learning

Saturday, November 7, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know the difference between active learning and “hands-on” learning? Giving youth materials is just the beginning. This interactive workshop introduces strategies for incorporating active learning and helps participants create more powerful learning opportunities for youth.

Building Community

Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know what it takes to build an emotionally and physically safe space for youth? Building an emotionally safe community of peers and adults is essential for youth to learn and develop as individuals. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to a variety of activities designed to support the community building process.

Ask, Listen, Encourage

Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 10:30 am- 11:45 am

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask effective questions, listen actively to youth, and offer youth encouragement rather than praise.

Out 2 Learn Quarterly Meeting

Join us for the last O2L Quarterly meeting of the year! We’ll have an opportunity to hear from some surrounding school districts on how the school year has been going thus far. Additionally, we’ll hear from a licensed therapist social worker on the topic of compassion fatigue and coping techniques.

When: Tuesday November 3rd

Where: Zoom, please register
Time: 9am- 11am (NOTE: Calendar invite will say 8:00 am as a start time-that is just for presenters. Meeting agenda starts at 9:00 am.)

2020 Lights On Afterschool

We are nearly a week away from celebrating the 2020 Lights On Afterschool in Houston. This year will feel very different because of COVID restrictions, but it has NOT stopped us from creating a list of Spirit Week ideas to help you celebrate both safely and socially distanced with your youth. Post your activities on social media and tag us @out2learnhou and #lightsonhou for an opportunity to win prizes.

2020 LOAS Houston Spirit WeekDownload

In addition to Spirit Week, we have included some awesome downloads to get your social media and virtual meetings into the Light On Afterschool Spirit!

2020 LOAS Facebook CoverDownload
2020 LOAS Landscape Instagram PostDownload
2020 LOAS Square Instagram PostDownload
2020 LOAS Twitter CoverDownload
2020 LOAS Virtual Meeting BackgroundDownload

Finally, check out the Instagram Filters created by the Afterschool Alliance to celebrate Lights On Afterschool.

HAPPY LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!

Immigrant Health Initiative (IHI)

Through funding from the Schweitzer Fellowship, UT Health students and Amaanah Services are launching the Immigrant Health Initiative (IHI) to equip immigrant women with the capacity to take ownership of their own health legacies. Every two weeks, a new short video on a new topic will be posted on social media in three different languages; English, Arabic and Spanish. Please take a few minutes to watch the intro video. Fill the short survey using the link below to help Amaanah Services cover topics that you believe are important. By filling the survey you will also enter for a chance to win a $20 gift card!

Survey Link (English): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveyEnglish

English Video: https://youtu.be/nq670M9mcX0

Survey Link (Arabic): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveyArabic

Arabic video: https://youtu.be/RRcSV2-vTbg

Survey link (Spanish): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveySpanish

Spanish video: https://youtu.be/DtK5rpZXKqw

United Way of Greater Houston: Data & Dish

Data and Dish

Although our work varies, we all have an interest in bolstering our community.  One-way United Way of Greater Houston does this is through the release of the ALICE report.  The ALICE report provides county-by-county and community-level data including analysis of how many households are struggling and the obstacles ALICE households face on the road to financial independence.   The ALICE Report provides the data we need to better understand the daily tough choices and risks those struggling to make ends meet must take in today’s economy and unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us for the Data and Dish series where we will feature the 2018 data, explore the intersection of ALICE and community issues, including discussion of how to take the data into action to remove obstacles to financial stability, identify gaps in community resources and build data-informed solutions to help ALICE families achieve economic stability. 

All sessions held from 12:00 – 1:00 pm via Zoom video conferencing. 

RSVP for each Data and Dish session.

Please direct all questions to Jessica Davison, [email protected]