OTHER NEWS

• Baltimore Sun, "Md raising lid on BDC could foster U.S. model"
• New York Times, "Criminal Records Erased by Courts Live to Tell Tales"
• CLASP and The Women Legislators' Lobby, "Paid Sick Days Legislation: A Legislators Guide"
• Wall Street Journal, "Companies get creative with benefits"
• Working Poor Families Project, "Promoting Student Success in Community Colleges by Increasing Support Services"
• JOTF Congratulates Caroline Center on Its 10th Anniversary

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Welfare Advocates Host Their 27th Annual Conference "Key Concepts for Creating Solutions" (11/30/2006)
• 2007 Baltimore Social Enterprise Course and Business Plan Competition (Applications due 12/01/2006)

OPPORTUNITIES

• Primo Electric Company / Primenet Inc Job Opportunities

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“Waging a Living" On the Road

On September 19, 2006, JOTF hosted a widely attended screening of "Waging A Living", a 26-minute documentary that follows the lives of three low-wage workers as they struggle to make ends meet. Since then, numerous organizations have requested their own individual screenings. JOTF has provided mini-showings to the State Adult Education Commission, Baltimore City Community College, and Maryland New Directions among others.

To schedule a screening at your place of business, please contact Melissa Chalmers Broome at (410) 234-8046.

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Baltimore Sun, "Md raising lid on BDC could foster U.S. model"

Jay Hancock of the Baltimore Sun writes on November 8, 2006, of the inadequacies of public information laws subjected to Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) as well as other economic development agencies. He calls for the Maryland General Assembly to create a national model for tax-payer financed, economic development disclosure. The requirement of centralized and lucid publication of all tax breaks, sweetheart loans, incentive grants, and other emoluments furnished to provate parties from the public purse.

Read "Md raising lid on BDC could foster U.S. model"

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New York Times, "Criminal Records Erased by Courts Live to Tell Tales"

The New York Times Adam Liptak reports, October 17, 2006 how in forty-one states, people accused or convicted of crimes can have their criminal records expunged. In theory this means that all traces of their encounters with the justice system will disappear. However, with the introduction of vast commercial databases, these are fast undoing the societal bargain of expungement, one that used to give people who had committed minor crimes a fresh start.

Read "Criminal Records Erased by Courts Live to Tell Tales".

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CLASP and The Women Legislators' Lobby, "Paid Sick Days Legislation: A Legislators Guide"

This guide, a joint publication of The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the Women Legislators' Lobby, is intended to help legislators think through the provisions that make up paid sick days legislation. It identifies ten primary issues to consider when moving from a hypothetical idea to concrete legislation, and it offers several possible options for addressing each.

Read "Paid Sick Days Legislation: A Legislators Guide" in PDF format.

(Document is in PDF format.)

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Wall Street Journal, "Companies get creative with benefits"

M.P. McQueen writes in the Wall Street Journal, October 30, 2006 of companies who are trying to lessen the pain of cuts to pensions and healthcare by introducing other kinds of workplace benefits.

Read "Companies get creative with benefits"

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Working Poor Families Project, "Promoting Student Success in Community Colleges by Increasing Support Services"

With support from the Annie E. Casey, Ford, Joyce, and Mott foundations, the Working Poor Families Project works primarily to assess and strengthen state efforts to help low-income families advance and achieve economic security.

As the national economy evolves and a greater premium is placed on workers with postsecondary skills and credentials, states must find ways to encourage and enable students to complete a certificate or degree. This policy brief identifies state strategies and policies to expand and enhance student support services and thereby foster higher retention and completion rates in postsecondary institutions and systems.

Read "Promoting Student Success in Community Colleges by Increasing Support Services" in PDF format.

(Document is in PDF format.)

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JOTF Congratulates Caroline Center on Its 10th Anniversary

Congratulations and happy 10th anniversary to Caroline Center! Since 1996, Caroline Center has provided job readiness and job skills training, GED certification, and job placement for women in East Baltimore.

More than 900 women have received training in basic computer skills, health care, child care, pharmacy tech, and upholstery that prepared them for family-supporting jobs. Patricia McLaughlin, SSND, has been at Caroline Center since the Center began and its executive director since 1998. CC’s most recent award was Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Award for 2006.

May CC continue to bring hope and opportunity to East Baltimore!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Welfare Advocates Host Their 27th Annual Conference "Key Concepts for Creating Solutions" (11/30/2006)

Welfare Advocates are to host their 27th annual conference "Key Concepts for Creating Solutions" on Thursday November 30, 2006 from 8.15 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center, 5625 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore.

Featuring:

• Motivating and Enriching Keynote Address
• Response Panel
• Informative Workshops
• Networking Opportunities

Please RSVP to Carol L. Palmer at (410) 261-6780.

Download invitation and registration details for "Key Concepts for Creating Solutions" in PDF format.

(Document is in PDF format.)

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2007 Baltimore Social Enterprise Course and Business Plan Competition (Applications due 12/01/2006)

The 2007 Baltimore Social Enterprise Course and Business Plan Competition is now accepting applications.

Open to non-profit organizations, you can participate in the 15 week course to be held at The University of Baltimore (UB) this coming spring semester. Selection is competitive, and only the 10 best applications will be admitted to the course. And only those that complete the course will be able to participate in the contest.

This course will guide selected nonprofit organizations, along with their UB-appointed student intern, through a rigorous process of conducting a feasibility study, financial assessment, and market analysis for the development of social ventures. The curriculum is designed to help teams explore ways to diversify revenue sources, improve efficiency, and add capacity. We will investigate and assess each organization’s own innovative ideas in the area of social enterprise. The class will focus on various facets of research, evaluation, and analysis and will culminate with the development of a business plan by each organization’s team.

In addition to the knowledge and experience gained and bonds formed with peers as a result of completing the course, participants will be eligible to participate in the inaugural Nonprofit Social Enterprise Business Plan Competition which will provide a cash award to the top winners. Follow-on peer group meetings and individualized coaching and business support services may be available to the Business Plan Competition winners.

Individuals who register for and successfully complete the course are eligible to receive three academic credits which may be applied to a certificate or degree program at the University of Baltimore if the individual takes steps to apply for graduate student status within three years.

An application and details on the course and the contest are available below in PDF format. Please forward this to any of your colleagues who may be interested.

Remember that in order to participate in the contest, you must complete the course, and in order to complete the course, you must apply by December 1, 2006.

Download details and an application here in PDF format:

/ The Baltimore Social Enterprise Program Information and Application January – May 2007

/ The Baltimore Social Enterprise Business Plan Competition Information

(Document is in PDF format.)

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Since their founding more than 40 years ago, Primo Electric Company has promoted an environment where people take pride in their work. As a result, Primo employees enjoy challenging careers, valuable educational opportunities and a competitive wage and benefit package. All in a workplace that emphasizes teamwork, safety, commitment and mutual respect.

Whether seeking an apprenticeship, laborer, journeyman, foreman, or equipment operator position, Primo Electric offers numerous career opportunities.

PrimeNet Inc specializes in helping clients define, optimize, and manage their voice, data, video, and security communication systems.

At PrimeNet, pride is more than just a feeling; its a concrete attitude and philosophy that influences every aspect of their business. As a result, employees enjoy challenging careers, valuable educational opportunities (Including onsite BICSI® certification) and a competitive wage and benefits package. All in a workplace that emphasizes teamwork, safety, commitment and mutual respect.

Click here to view Primo Electric Company and Primenet Inc job opportunities.

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