City administrative offices to close for Independence Day

City of Austin administrative offices and other municipal facilities will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

Closures include City Council offices, the Town Lake Animal Center, all recreation and senior centers, clinics, cultural centers and museums. The First Workers Day Labor Center will also be closed. Normal business hours will resume Monday, July 6.

Austin Public Library facilities will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. If a library facility is regularly open on a Sunday, it will be open on Sunday, July 5.

Garbage, recycling and yard trimmings collection for City of Austin Solid Waste Services customers will remain the same. If your regular collection date is scheduled for Friday, July 3, it will be picked up on Friday. However, the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be closed Saturday, July 4.

City of Austin aquatic facilities will be open their regular schedule on Independence Day. Check www.cityofaustin.org/parks/aquatics.htm for pool hours. The Austin Nature and Science Center will be open during its normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 3, but will be closed Saturday, July 4.

Several streets will be closed for events during Independence Day weekend:

Cesar Chavez Street from MoPac Expressway to Barton Springs Road at Auditorium Shores will be partially closed from 10 a.m. to midnight, July 4.
Several blocks downtown, close to Lady Bird Lake will also be closed, as well as access to neighborhood streets along Barton Springs Road.
For precise locations and a map of all Fourth of July street closures, visit:
www.cityofaustin.org/events/city_calendar.cfm?action=eventdetail&event_id=37356

Vivir Unidos - What a Party!

So here's the wrap on our Vivir Unidos volunteer fair for Hispanics down at the beautiful MACC in Austin.

We had over 300 folks attend, delicious tasty food, dancing, music, Univision 62, Ahora Si, the Austin American Statesman, Giving City magazine and about 30 nonprofits represented.

The vibe was good, well, APD Chief Art Acevedo was there to ensure no-one got out of hand, and everyone seemed to get the message of the night: get involved. Si se puede. Vivir Unidos

We've posted our photos here on Flickr.



Many thanks to everyone who participated and sponsored Vivir Unidos!

If you were there, please leave us a comment and/or send us any pictures you'd like to share.

You can VIVIR UNIDOS today at the MACC!

Join us today to LIVE UNITED with Hispanic communities and all communities! Today, we're hosting VIVIR UNIDOS at the MACC at 6pm. It's a great way to find out how you can make a difference in the community & connect with the Latino community.

Here’s what we have in store…

Free VIVIR UNIDOS t-shirts

Feria de los Voluntarios – Nonprofit Volunteer Fair

VIVIR UNIDOS photo booth

A Taste of Latinoamerica – Food from Casa Colombia , Buenos Aries Café, Hecho en Mexico y mas!

La Esquina de HEB – Loteria games, sandias (watermelon slices) & agua fresca

St. Edward’s University Ballet Folklorico & Salsa Performance by Jason Lozada and Rita Catriotta

Door Prizes donated by National Instruments, Catholic Charities, Bucca de Beppo y mas!

Muy popular public figures: Univision TV’s Leslie Montoya, ACM Mike Martinez & Austin’s favorite Police Chief, Art Acevedo!

All pact in 2 ½ hours of fun!

See you today at 6pm at the MACC!

Adelante!

Mando

Director, Hands On Central Texas

United Way Capital Area

armando.rayo@unitedwaycapitalarea.org

512-785-0447

VIVIR UNIDOS/LIVE UNITED: Connecting & Understanding Latino Communities

Nonprofits,

Interested in connecting with Latinos? Want them to serve on your board or open doors into the different segments of the fastest growing population in the U.S.? You can start by hosting a booth at our VIVIR UNIDOS event this week or by checking out our VIVIR UNIDOS: Connecting & Understanding Latino Communities video. Last week, I met with young Hispanic professionals and asked them what it takes for them to volunteer at a nonprofit and how to connect with the Hispanic community. This is what they had to say...

LIVE UNITED: Connecting & Understanding Latino Communities from elmundodemando on Vimeo.

If your nonprofit is interested in booth space at our Feria de los Voluntarios at VIVIR UNIDOS, please contact Jerry Ronquillo at jerry.ronquillo@unitedwaycapitalarea.org or 512.323.5566 x55029.

Adelante!
Mando

United Way and IBM's World Community Grid

Since United Way Capital Area's World Community Grid team was formed on July 13, 2005, and began assisting the IBM World Community Grid, our organization has "donated" ten years and 108 days of computer run time to various research projects.

Each day, United Way Capital Area PCs generate more than 2.5 days' worth of computing time!

IBM's World Community Grid utilizes personal computers around the world, compressing thousands of years of computer time. UTMB researchers are using the grid to identify chemical compounds--a process that can speed drug development.

Learn more, and register your computer with the Grid:
http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/

Financial Stability Advocacy -- $25 million JET Fund needs Perry signature

Last May, we wrote about the Financial Stability advocacy efforts of our friends at Austin Interfaith. They worked this legislative session to get bills passed and signed that will help keep our economy here in Central Texas strong.

Now the three bills that would create the “Jobs for Education for Texas” (JET) Fund are awaiting Gov. Perry's signature. From the Statesman's POSTCARDS blog:

Capital IDEA, the Austin branch, has seen a surge in activity during the past 10 months, organizers said. At a program orientation last month, some 150 of the city’s jobless crammed into the auditorium of an East Austin church.

About 650 use the highly selective program a year to obtain a job in nursing, technology or green energy, said Doug Greco, lead organizer for Austin Interfaith. If Perry approves the fund, Capital IDEA could handle about 300 more students a year, he said.

VIVIR UNIDOS - You're invited to LIVE UNITED! (video)

So what is this VIVIR UNIDOS event? Well, it's part of our cultural engagement programming; it's a volunteer fair for Latinos; it's a way to connect with Hispanic communities; it's a celebration! Need more details? Check it this fun preview video!



Also, check out my interview with GivingCity which give you mas details!

Adelante!
Mando

How I LIVE UNITED: Alex Valdez

As we gear up for our VIVIR UNIDOS event next week, we'll be highlighting Latinos doing good in Central Texas. There are lots of Latinos active in our community and we know they many talents to contribute! Thanks to Alex Valdez for championing Latino leadership and United Way!

How I LIVE UNITED: Linda Medina

I was able to capture some magic this week! I did a video shoot with Hispanic professionals & asked them why they have the ganas to VIVIR UNIDOS. A big thank you to Linda Medina with the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation for telling us how she LIVES UNITED! Check out what she has to say...

How I LIVE UNITED: Linda Medina from elmundodemando on Vimeo.

Don't forget to RSVP for next Thursday's VIVIR UNIDOS!

Mando

The Hispanic Community Engagement Advisory Board

We're less than 2 weeks away from VIVIR UNIDOS (June 18), our community engagement event that will connect Hispanic communities with nonprofits and doing good in Central Texas! In order for any nonprofit, initiative or community event to be successful, it needs community support and buy-in; they have to believe in the goals and mission. Well, we did our homework and that's exactly who we have on our Hispanic Community Engagement Advisory Board. I tell you, it is one of the most diverse groups coming from the Hispanic community. We were able to recruit the usual suspects to the non-usual to the ones that don't necessarily get asked to serve. And really, that's the main focus of the board - To VIVIR UNIDOS - LIVE UNITED. The (40 member strong) board is chaired by Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez and the board's role is to provide guidance, counsel, feedback & direction to Hands On Central Texas & United Way on engagement strategies as it pertains to the Hispanic communities. I for one, am excited about our engagement with this board and even more on the work that is ahead of us. As my abuelita used to say, "Siempre para adelante, nunca para atras!"

2009 Hispanic Community Engagement Advisory Board Roster

Mike Martinez, Austin City Council (Chair)
Art Acevedo, Austin Police Department
Janis Guerrero, Executive Director for Planning and Community Relations, AISD
David Escamilla, Travis County District Attorney
Linda Medina, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation & Founder, Young Hispanic Professional Austin Association
Sandy Alcala, Con Mi Madre
Mark Williams, Austin ISD Board of Trustees
Peggy Vasquez, HISOPANIC TODAY "LIVE" TV Show
Rita Gonzales-Garza , LULAC District VII
Dolores Ortega-Carter, Travis County Treasurer
Claudia Kramer-Santamaria, Supervisor of Parent Programs for AISD
Perla Cavazos, Community Leader
Lori Moya, Austin ISD Board of Trustees
Vanessa Sarria, CAN Executive Director
Monica Pinon, TDI Staff Attorney, Financial Counsel
Monica Williams, GivingCity
Mateo Esquibel, City of Austin
Javier Valdez, President, Young Hispanic Professional Austin Association
Tommy Darwin, The University of Texas at Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement
Cynthia Colbert, Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Jose Velasquez, American Bank Of Commerce
Alfredo Santos, La Voz de AUSTIN
Donato Rodriguez, City of Austin
Barbra Boeta, People Fund
Laura Garcia , Community Leader
Alfredo Sarria, Austin Energy
Priscilla Guajardo Cortez, FuturoFund
Sebastian Puente, Cultural Strategies, Inc.
Juan Tornoe, Hispanic Trending, Cultural Strategies, Inc.
Cristina Tzintzun, Workers Defense Project
Jose Martinez, Strategic Planning/Program Management/Facilitation
Oné Musel-Gilley, Visibly PR, RiverCity Youth Foundation
Victor Saenz, Professor, UT College of Education
Paul Saldaña, Adelante Solutions
Oliver Bernstein, National Sierra Club
Monica Sanchez, Community Advocate
Annabelle Arteaga, Community Advocate
Adriana Argaiz, Mexican Consulate

What do you think? Anyone missing? Let us know so we can get them connected with our board!

Mando
Director, Hands On Central Texas

P.S. Don't forget to RSVP for Vivir Unidos!

Need Your Help - Austin 3rd Least Prepared City for Digital TV Conversion on June 12th

From Community Action Network's newsletter:
On Friday, June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations will cease "analog" transmissions and broadcast only a "digital" television signal. This affects all households that receive over-the-air television via rabbit ears or rooftop antenna.

Recent Nielsen statistics show that Austin is the third least prepared city in the nation. This means over 30,000 Central Texas households could be at risk to lose television reception. The risk is most concentrated in low-income, senior, and non-English-speaking households. This is a serious public safety matter. Television remains the most widely used resource for important news and information, such as current weather conditions.

You can help by informing the public of their options and the need to take action. Older televisions can receive digital signals with the addition of a low-cost digital converter box. Coupons are available from the federal government to offset most of the cost of the converter box. Click here for coupon information.

The City of Austin is sponsoring a free DTV Walk-In Help Clinic through June 12 at the DeWitty Job Training and Employment Center, 2209 Rosewood Avenue, Suite 210. Clinic hours and additional information are available here.

Additional resources to help people with the DTV transition:
- Information on the DTV transition: http://www.dtv.gov/
- FCC hotline for questions & assistance: 1-888-225-5322
- Local Spanish-language assistance: 1-877-625-2591

For further information, please contact Chip Rosenthal at chip@unicom.com or 512-573-5174.

5 Reasons Why We Still Need United Way

From GivingCity Magazine's blog:

1. Collaborations like Success By 6, which brings together more than 30 local nonprofits, community leaders, and concerned businesses to build more quality into the network of early childhood centers. SB6 has helped more than double the number of early childhood centers with a quality rating in two years.
   
2. Their 24×7 helpline 2-1-1 Texas, which fielded almost 200,000 calls last year from Central Texans in need of assistance, connecting them with help, whether with utility bills, finding a local food bank to escaping Hurricane Ike.
   

Click here to read the rest.

Film festival lights the way for nonprofit and grassroots films

From INSITE Magazine:

Film festival lights the way for nonprofit and grassroots films

On Thursday, April 30, the Reel-to-Reality opening event officially began the festival’s submissions process. Representatives from the American Cancer Society, United Way, Capital Area Food Bank and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary discussed the value of film and video in today’s nonprofit community, showed trailers of their films and formally submitted them to the festival.


“As the saying goes, a picture speaks 1,000 words, so we really believe that video is the way of the future,” said United Way representative John Turner before showing his film that advocates the importance of volunteering.

Click here to read the entire story.

Introducing "1 Hour For Kids," the most important hour you'll spend all week.

1 Hour For Kids is a true collaborative, convened and led by United Way Capital Area and supported by the Austin Independent School District, the Manor Independent School District, the E3 Alliance and the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

For the first time ever, United Way will collect objective results that are measured consistently across programs, and aligned with the regional strategic plan known as The Blueprint for Educational Change.™

It's no secret that we accomplish more by working together. Won't you join us?

Vivir Unidos - Thursday, June 18, 2009

Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters Conference

  The 211 United Way Capital Area Helpline participated in the 2009 Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (TXVOAD) training conference.  It was held at the AT&T Conference Center and Hotel in Austin, Texas, June 1st &2nd. The workshops and training programs focused on increasing the level of preparedness, response, and recovery operations in Texas.  There were voluntary organizations, civic and community service groups, state agencies, and emergency management officials in attendance. The goal was to improve the coordination and communication between voluntary disaster relief organizations, not only during the 2009 hurricane season, but for other disaster events in Texas.

211 Co-Presented with Mary Mays, Emergency Management Coordinator from the Health and Human Service Commissions' (HHSC) Texas Information Referral Network (TIRN) on 211's role state wide during disaster.

 211 also participated in other workshops.  Such as, 2008 Hurricane Season Lessons learned presented by Michael Harmon, Field response Administrator Governor's Division of Emergency Management, and Pandemic Flu: Preparing Your Organization for Potential Impact This Fall presented by Cynthia Morgan PhD, RN, Community Preparedness Section Department of State Health Services, to name a few.

If you would like to see how you can become involved in disaster preparedness please contact Jerry Ronquillo, Community Outreach Coordinator with the 211 Texas United Way Capital Area Helpline at 512-323-5566 x55029.

E3 Alliance's Blueprint for Educational Change

John Sharp and other Central Texas leaders talk about E3 Alliance's Blueprint for Educational Change. The Blueprint is Central Texas' commitment to building the most successful educational pipeline in the country.

DADS and 2-1-1 - Caregiving means caring every day.

The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and Capital Metro have compiled a list of services and supports that are available for family caregivers through the Texas Department of Aging and DADS.

Call 2-1-1 or 1-800-252-9240

or visit www.dads.state.tx.us/care