Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Community Service, Education, Events, Family, Homeless, library, Mesa, Public Library | Tags: agencies, Assistance, Citizens, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Employment, Exhibition, Family Resource Center, Homeless Shelters, Mesa, Murderers, Murders, October, support
In Arizona, a woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend every four days.
In an effort to bring attention and awareness to this staggering problem,
the City of Mesa and Save the Family Foundation of Arizona have joined
forces to create a display at the Main Library, 64 E. First St., which will
run through the month of October. The display contains artwork and
stories from the mothers and children in Save the Family’s program.
Visitors to the display will learn to recognize domestic violence, see how
domestic violence victims are working to turn their lives around as well as
find out how they can volunteer and help be part of the solution. The
display coincides with October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Save the Family provides transitional housing and case management services
to more than 300 families a year. With 159 housing units serving homeless
families with children throughout the Valley, Save the Family is changing
the face of homelessness and helping many women and children of domestic
violence get a fresh start. Through programs like Career Development, Legal
Assistance and domestic violence and parenting classes, clients in Save the
Family’s program learn to become both economically and emotionally
self-sufficient.
For more information, contact Save the Family Volunteer Director Andrea Sok
at 480-898-0228, extension 215.
Filed under: Awards, City of Phoenix, City of Phoenix News, K-12 Schools, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Schools, US - AZ (Phoenix), Youth | Tags: Assistance, Back to School, Children, Grants, Phoenix Youth and Education Commission, Results
Phoenix Youth Commission has Grants Available for Youth Projects
The Phoenix Youth and Education Commission has announced a second round of funding for the Focus on Results (FOR) Youth grants.
Applicants must represent a middle or high school (public, charter or private) that serves grades 7 – 12. The school must be located in Phoenix or have more than 50 percent of the school attendance within the Phoenix city limits.
FOR grants focus on priorities identified by youth at the Phoenix Youth Town Hall, which seeks to create new or support existing activities that promote teen involvement in the community.
Schools are eligible to apply for up to $12,000.
A panel of youth and adults from the Youth and Education Commission will review the grant applications and evaluate the proposals based on project quality; active involvement of students; staff qualifications, commitment and ability to execute the project; commitment to diversity; impact on the student body; and representation of all students on campus.
Applications may be downloaded at phoenix.gov/youth/diverse.html and submitted electronically or postmarked by Nov. 27 to be eligible for spring semester activities.
For more information, call the city of Phoenix Youth and Education Office at 602-495-0314.
Filed under: Arizona, City of Mesa, Education, K-12 Schools, Mesa, Youth | Tags: Assistance, Children, Citizens, Citizenship, Donations
Neighborhood Services staff donate backpacks to group homes
The days are getting shorter. Commercials and ads for back-to-school sales are everywhere. This means that teenagers all across Mesa are preparing to go off to school. But staff in one City of Mesa department knew that the ringing of the bell would not signal joyous preparation for every student. Neighborhood Services were aware that some teenage girls did not have the proper school supplies for the coming year, so they answered the call of that ringing bell.
The staff took nineteen backpacks filled with school supplies to the girls at A&A Cottages to outfit them for their first day of school. Jane Albin, Management Assistant in the Community Revitalization Division, who spearheaded the effort, said, “We were just as excited to buy these supplies as the girls were to receive them. The staff of A&A Cottages assured us that with 18 girls in the houses everything would be used, right down to the last piece of paper.”
The girls are between the ages of 12 and 18 years old and live in one of several group homes in Mesa. Kee Hudgens, staff member at A&A Cottages told Jane Albin when the backpacks were delivered, “The girls of A&A Cottages will go back to school with their heads held high, thanks to City of Mesa Neighborhood Services and Community Revitalization. …this generous group at the city gave the girls all the tools they needed for a great start to the school year.”
A&A Cottages provides homes for teenage girls who have been abused, neglected or who come from troubled backgrounds. A&A Cottages was formed in 1996 to address the increasing need for foster care group homes for teenage youth in Arizona. Its mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of at-risk youth through quality residential and support services that promote dignity, integrity and responsibility.
For accompanying photos of city staff and A&A staff with the backpacks, please call Katie Brown at 480.644.3705.
Filed under: City of Mesa, Family, Health Care, Homeless, Human Services, Mesa | Tags: Assistance, Grants, Health and Safety, Homeless Shelters
MesaCAN receives community action agency designation
Mesa Community Action Network, Inc. (MesaCAN) has been awarded the Community Action Agency (CAA) designation by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). When the CAA designation becomes effective on Oct. 1, MesaCAN will directly receive Federal and State funding to provide services that assist low-income individuals and families in Mesa to move out of poverty toward economic self-sufficiency. Previously, services and funds were provided to MesaCAN through the City of Mesa.
“This is one of the agency’s most significant milestones,” according to Pat Gilbert, MesaCAN Executive Director. “MesaCAN is excited about the opportunities ahead as it moves forward as the community action agency. Without the help of city staff in this achievement, MesaCAN could not have accomplished this goal.”
The City of Mesa has been the CAA since 1996, however the Mesa City Council voted to relinquish that designation in Aug. 2005 in order to allow a private nonprofit organization the opportunity to obtain the designation.
“The City has long recognized that nonprofit agencies are vital community partners that provide invaluable services to Mesa residents and we are very pleased that MesaCAN received this designation,” said Kit Kelly, Community Revitalization Director.
MesaCAN brings significant knowledge and expertise in serving low-income individuals and families, and presently provides an array of services including case management services, emergency services, and utility assistance, transitional living facility for homeless men, tax preparation assistance, individual development account programs, emergency food box services, clothing bank and a thrift store.
Phoenix Arizona 