http://www.micahscall.org/content/index.php?topic=ac_home Top opportunities from MicahsCall Act/Volunteer Copyright 2010 MicahsCall GeekLog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:10:59 -0700 en-gb http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100909150950807 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100909150950807 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:09:50 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100909150950807#comments Act/Volunteer From DonorsChoose.org Pleasant surprise for DonorsChoose.org, schoolsOut of the blue, in the middle of a recession, the phone rang. What would it cost, the caller asked the founder of DonorsChoose.org, to fund every California teacher's wish list posted on the Web site? The founder, Charles Best, thought perhaps the female caller would hang up when he tossed out his best guess: "Something over $1 million," he told her.Twelve hours later, the woman, Hilda Yao, executive director of the Claire Giannini Fund, sent Best an e-mail. It said, in short, OK. A day later, Yao mailed a check of more than $1.3 million to cover the entire California wish list, 2,233 projects in all, with an extra $100,000 tossed in to help pay for other teacher needs across the country.The projects funded by the donation range from about $100 to cover pencil sharpeners or paper to thousands of dollars for technology, Best said. "Use of the word 'miracle' is not an overstatement," Best said Tuesday, a day after 1,000 California teachers were notified that their needs were funded. "I think it's fair to say it's the best first day of school they've ever had."With budget cuts hitting schools hard, teachers and parents are often covering the costs of basic material like pencils or even textbooks as well as things now considered optional in public education such as field trips and art supplies. Help for teachersDonorsChoose stepped in to help fill those needs 10 years ago to give K-12 teachers an easily accessible site to post what they need. Contributors can pay for part or all of each "project" requested, focusing on a specific school or subject area or even the type of gift. The $1.3 million donation is among the largest gifts given by the San Francisco fund and one of the largest received by DonorsChoose. At San Francisco's Monroe Elementary School, computer teacher Laura Edeen had several projects posted on DonorsChoose.org. There was a digital camera to replace one that still used floppy disks; a computer with wireless access for a portable classrooms that doesn't have other Internet access; an art cart; new printers; and the big-ticket, $1,000 licensing rights to a software program the teacher knew worked for kids. It was a pipe-dream list from a teacher who was trying to keep working technology in her classroom using the equivalent of duct tape and chewing gum."I'd been busying myself with wishes, just hoping," Edeen said.The $3,000 in wishes came true. "I actually e-mailed my husband thinking he funded it," she said laughing, adding she couldn't imagine how else it was all paid for. "It felt like my birthday yesterday."Teacher thinks big Reaching for the stars, one Bay Area teacher requested $10,000 for 25 netbook laptops to create a traveling computer lab for her school. They'll be shipped to San Francisco's Sheridan Elementary soon.Later Monday, the teacher submitted a new request to DonorsChoose: a computer cart for a traveling computer lab. "She's got herself a shower of stars," Yao said of the teacher. "I'm just so pleased to think this grant has brought so much happiness to such deserving people."The fund Yao directs was created in 1998 to honor Claire Giannini Hoffman, the daughter of the founder of Bank of America. Donations have focused on education as well as other issues, including a $3 million gift to the nation's school libraries from 2002 to 2004, Yao said. Yao's mother, Dorothy Yao, the fund's former trustee, and Claire Giannini both believed education was a penetrating and enduring way to transform lives, she said."It makes me feel like I'm doing something to remember two remarkable women in the way they would like to be remembered," she said. "I'm happier than even some of the teachers." This article appeared in the September 1, 2010 issue of the San Francisco ChronicleMoved by Hilda's generosity? Take a look at the most urgent project requests on DonorsChoose.org, and give one classroom the best return to school they've ever had. http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100909150950807 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903150031102 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903150031102 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:31 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903150031102#comments Act/Volunteer The following information is from PeaceWeek - A Global TeleSummit for Building a World of Peace. You are invited to attend this summit, for free!  About the Summit: In the years ahead, we have the opportunity to help wean the world of its addiction to violence by harnessing best practices, deepening our personal commitments, healing ancient wounds, building bridges between cultures, advancing the science of peace, and teaching our children to live peacefully. In fact, most of the “technologies” for creating peace at all levels of society are well advanced - we simply need to share them on a wider scale. The broad trend of human evolution is to move beyond violence. Given the scale of global crises, we must accelerate that evolution and learn to live, collaborate, and create in a more harmonious way. PeaceWeek will unite pioneers from around the world together for the largest virtual peace summit ever created, culminating with the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21st. It will be a celebration and exploration of everything that is working to foster peace, from the family level to whole nations. Our featured pioneers are building the practices, structures, and systems that can help evolve human society. Individually, they are deeply inspiring. Taken as a whole, they offer a remarkable picture for how to help evolve our world, covering topics such as: Personal Peace PracticesHealing Collective Wounds & TraumaThe Economics of PeaceAddressing Global Hotspots Social Justice Politics of PeaceScience of PeaceMedia & Peace However, even the most illustrious group of peace pioneers can only do so much. It is up to all of us to lead the way in our own lives, which is why we invite you to co-create with us, connect with others drawn to the Summit and build a global movement of peace pioneers. We’ll have a variety of ways that you can engage with each other. To register, click here. The speakers are shown below: http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100903150031102 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903144608502 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903144608502 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:46:08 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100903144608502#comments Act/Volunteer Friday September 10th5pm to 6:30pmJames McEntee Plaza70 West Hedding StreetSan Jose, CA 95110On September 10th, people of all faiths will gather to affirm their joyful cooperation and sharing with one another here in Santa Clara County and to express their peaceful opposition to physical attacks against their Muslim sisters and brothers, and to those who oppose the construction of mosques, or who propose to burn copies of their holy book, the Koran. Congregations are invited to come, bring your choirs, your youth groups, your beautiful banners showing the solidarity of the interfaith community of Santa Clara County, where we work peacefully with each other through sharing, understanding, and community service programs.  This gathering is being coordinated by the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice of the Santa Clara County Council of Churches. http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100903144608502 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100831122015274 Derrick Kikuchi http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100831122015274 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:20:15 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100831122015274#comments Act/Volunteer The Rebuilding Alliance, an organization rebuilding homes in Palestine and other war-torn areas,  is looking for a few good people to volunteer with their organization. Particularly they are looking for...1. Social media coordinator  http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp350179.jsp2. Olive Oil tasting event volunteer http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp319042.jsp3. Technology coordinator  http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp357154.jsp4. Operations intern   http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp722834.jsp5. Project Leader "Community Thyme with Veterans" http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp709346.jspIf interested, please contact Justyna at the Rebuilding Alliance.  Contact information can be found at http://www.rebuildingalliance.org/contact-usThanks and much peaceDerrick Kikuchi http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100831122015274 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100826162750276 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100826162750276 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:27:50 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100826162750276#comments Act/Volunteer A court has ruled that Troy Davis could be executed, despite serious doubts about his guilt. Troy's case is so powerful because it has inspired: A majority of witnesses to admit that they lied 19 years ago Four witnesses to finally testify against the person whom they suspect to be the real killer of police officer Mark MacPhail Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to all call for clemency A movement of human rights supporters to unite and pass Troy's story along from one person to the next to the next... There are no do-overs when it comes to death. As long as there's doubt, there should be no execution. But as long as there's hope, we'll continue to fight for Troy Davis. Please send your letter in support of Troy Davis today.   http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100826162750276 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100820131317522 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100820131317522 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:13:17 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100820131317522#comments Act/Volunteer From our friends at the Children's Defense Fund:National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® Manual The 2010 National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Manual, Vol. 19 is available for download on CDF’s website. The manual serves as a resource for you and your faith community to guide participation in the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths weekend (October 15-17) and in year-round child advocacy. This year’s manual includes a wealth of easy-to-use resources for Bahá'í, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faith traditions to use in worship services or prayers, education programs, direct service activities, and social justice initiatives. The resources can be used within one’s own faith community or in multi-faith events. This year’s Children’s Sabbath weekend will focus especially on ending child poverty in our rich nation, with the theme “Blessed to Be a Blessing: Lifting Up the Next Generation.” Check out the resources today to learn how you can be a blessing by helping to engage your faith community in ending child and family poverty in our nation. Faith Community Outreach Opportunity There is a special action opportunity for places of worship—whether they are participating in the Children’s Sabbath or not—to host outreach and enrollment events to connect uninsured children with the health coverage for which they are eligible. CDF’s “100% Campaign” aims to enroll 100 percent of uninsured children with health coverage for which they are eligible or with community health resources for those who are not eligible for CHIP or Medicaid. Download the steps for holding an enrollment drive document and visit our website to find state-specific packets of materials to guide you so you can make this simple but vital difference in the lives of uninsured children in your place of worship and in your community. These outreach and enrollment events can be planned for the Children’s Sabbath weekend, as a follow-up to the Children’s Sabbath in the coming year, or as stand-alone events. Whenever you plan them, you will be making a life-changing difference for children.  http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100820131317522 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100819144825916 Reach and Teach http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100819144825916 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:48:06 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100819144825916#comments Act/Volunteer On August 26th at Noon (PST) Antonia Juhasz, Director of Global Exchange's Chevron Program and Kevin Danaher, Green Festival/Global Exchange Co-Founder will present a 60-minute report back from the Gulf Coast. Antonia will have just come back from long visits to the Gulf Coast and Washington, DC interviewing people and researching for her new book. Juhasz wrote an article to Huffington Post and was interviewed by Democracy Now! journalist Amy Goodman about the effects of the BP oil spill. She's been working extensively to report on the oil spill and has a lot to share with us.  Antonia and Kevin will lead conversation and Q&A about the impacts of the BP oil spill and what it means for the green economy. They will discuss what really happened and what is truly going on in the Gulf Coast; how this environmental disaster affected the communities; what the BP oil spill has to do with the green economy; and how Washington, DC is dealing with this situation. Don't miss the opportunity to know what the media is not telling us and to hear these two great speakers. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation. Please join us and invite your friends to participate! To attend, please register now at http://bit.ly/ciVOBQ Cost: Only $7. Please, help to support this important work! What people said about past Global Exchange webinars: "An excellent webinar filled with useful information" "Nice job. Well worth the money."
 "It was indeed informative." "Thanks so much. That was awesome." "Gracias to you all....very informative, very helpful!"   Antonia Juhasz is the Director and Founder of the Chevron Program at Global Exchange. She is a policy-analyst, author and activist. Juhasz is an award winning writer, a frequent media commentator and a leading expert on the oil industry. She is the author of numerous books and reports, including her latest, 2009 and 2010 editions of The True Cost of Chevron: An Alternative Annual Report, The Tyranny of Oil: the World's Most Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It. Juhasz is an associate fellow with the Institute for Policy Studies and a senior analyst for Foreign Policy In Focus. If you would like to know more about Antonia Juhasz's background visit: http://www.tyrannyofoil.org/article.php?id=43   Dr. Kevin Danaher is a Co-Founder of Global Exchange (1988), Founder and Executive Co-Producer of the Green Festivals (2001), and Executive Director of the Global Citizen Center (2004). Dr. Danaher has spoken at universities and for community organizations throughout the U.S. on issues ranging from the dynamics of the global economy to how we can replace the power of transnational corporations with local green economy networks. Dr. Danaher has published numerous articles and is the author and/or editor of twelve books, including his latest, "Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grass Roots". If you would like to know more about Dr. Kevin Danaher's background, visit: http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/speakers/56.html http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100819144825916 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100818150224104 Micah Admin http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100818150224104 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:01:07 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100818150224104#comments Act/Volunteer Come to First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto's Fellowship Hall (1140 Cowper Street / Palo Alto) on August 29th from 2pm to 7pm for a fundraiser to help Pakistan's flood victims. This event is sponsored by American Muslim Voice. At the event you'll be able to view and buy: Exquisite hand-made products from India made by organizations supporting income generation for communities will be offered to help raise money for Pakistan flood relief. Products will include fancy evening handbags of the royal Mughal era, intricately embroidered kantha scarves and bedcovers, Kashmiri scarves, rugs, cushion covers, handbags, and elegant and festive Kurtis. Proceeds after costs will be given to relief organizations in Pakistan.This event is sponsored by American Muslim Voice http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100818150224104 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100527101941637 Reach and Teach http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100527101941637 Thu, 27 May 2010 10:19:41 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100527101941637#comments Act/Volunteer Congress is about to vote on this!On January 22, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order that, among other things, requires all government agencies to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to detainees.  This was a huge step toward protecting detainees from abuse, because detainees are much less likely to be abused when there is an independent agency monitoring their treatment.  Because this step was taken by executive order, however, it is not permanent.  A future President can revoke it by issuing a new executive order.  Please contact your Members of Congress and ask them to support legislation to make permanent the policy of allowing the ICRC access to all detainees.Click here to make your voice heard. http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100527101941637 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100524123403952 Jeffrey M. Kisling http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100524123403952 Mon, 24 May 2010 12:34:03 -0700 http://www.micahscall.org/content/article.php/20100524123403952#comments Act/Volunteer Republicans are now demanding less regulation of BP, as well as a taxpayer-funded bailout. This, while the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig continues to spill an unabated one million plus gallons of poisonous crude oil into the Gulf, per day.The estimated cost of cleaning up this catastrophic toxic mess -- now thought likely due to BP's negligence -- is now over $542 million. A group of Republican senators, led by Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)  want the company to only pay for about the first five days of the cleanup and put taxpayers on the hook for everything else.You read correctly. Murkowski and colleagues want to dole out more corporate welfare and bail out BP.If you agree this is not ok, and that it's now time to focus upon developing clean renewable energy and end offshore drilling, please consider making your opinion known at this website: http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=71  http://www.micahscall.org/content/trackback.php/20100524123403952