"I’m a reflection of my community. I can’t separate myself from it. My experiences are shaped by the people around me, and it’s my responsibility to uplift and advocate for that community.” |
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Welcome to the October 2024 edition of the NOW Innovation Forum Newsletter. We are excited to share additional opportunities and resources with you this month. In this edition you’re invited to: Learn more about the National Birth Justice Fellowship, and register for the informational webinar on October 29 Register for the November 12 Peer Learning Cluster Workshop, Collective Visioning for 2025 on Peer Leadership Strategies to Promote Advocacy Save the Date for the final webinar, December 5, Building Community Power through Food and Education Systems Transformation Subscribe to In the Arena with NOW podcast, Season 3 launching soon Explore the NOW Resource Library featured resource, Health Policy and Advocacy Toolkit Learn more about the Community Food Systems Fellowship, and register for the information session on November 5 Learn more and apply for the Vital Village Networks Social Justice Mediation Program by November 4 Submit a nomination for the Vital Village Networks Unsung Hero Awards by November 1 Support Our Campaign, Together We Thrive
Thank you for your commitment to children, families, and communities and for joining us as we journey through another year together. Bienvenido a la edición de octubre del 2024 del Boletín Informativo del NOW Innovation Forum (Foro de Innovación NOW). Nos complace compartir oportunidades y recursos adicionales con usted este mes. En esta edición está invitado a:
Aprender más sobre la Beca Nacional de Justicia de Nacimiento, y registrarse para el seminario web informativo el 29 de octubre Registrarse para el Taller del Clúster de Aprendizaje entre Pares del 12 de noviembre, Visión Colectiva para 2025 sobre Estrategias de Liderazgo entre Pares para Promover la Abogacía Guardar la fecha para el webinar final, 5 de diciembre, Construyendo Poder Comunitario a Través de la Transformación de los Sistemas Alimentarios y Educativos Suscribirte al podcast de En la ARENA con NOW, lanzamiento de la Temporada 3 pronto Explorar el recurso destacado de la Biblioteca de Recursos NOW, Política de Salud y Kit de Herramientas de Abogacía Conocer más sobre la Beca de Sistemas Alimentarios Comunitarios, y registrarse para la sesión informativa el 5 de noviembre Aprender más y solicitar el Programa de Mediación de Justicia Social de Vital Village Networks antes del 4 de noviembre Enviar una nominación para los Premios a los Héroes Anónimos de Vital Village Networks antes del 1 de noviembre Apoyar Nuestra Campaña, Juntos Prosperamos
Gracias por su compromiso a los niños, las familias, y las comunidades, y por acompañarnos en nuestro recorrido ante otro año juntos. |
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National Birth Justice Fellowship: Now Accepting Applications |
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Applications are now open for the National Birth Justice Fellowship! This 18-month fellowship supports local changemakers who are actively engaged in initiatives aimed at reducing health inequities and injustices experienced by birthing families, particularly among populations that have been historically marginalized. Be a part of building a national, community-led birth justice network. Applications close on Friday, November 22 at 11:59 pm ET.
Join us for an informational webinar on Tuesday, October 29 at 12:00 pm ET to learn more. Register here.
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Peer Learning Cluster: Collective Visioning for 2025 on Peer Leadership Strategies to Promote Advocacy |
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Join us Tuesday, November 12 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ET for an interactive and collaborative group visioning session focused on peer-led strategies to promote advocacy. This co-design process will create space to identify group priorities, build consensus on advocacy strategies, skills, and approaches to advance equity for children and families that the Peer Learning Cluster (PLC) community would like to explore in 2025. We will also discuss additional leadership opportunities for PLC members. | | |
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Next Webinar: Building Community Power through Food and Education Systems Transformation |
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Throughout the year, we’ve explored the critical question: What does it look like to harness, activate and build community power? What can we learn from resident-led advocacy movements and their strategies toward self-advocacy, collective action, and legislative change? Join us on Thursday, December 5 at 1:00 pm ET for our closing webinar of the year to learn from local leaders who are centering healing and community power sharing by transforming food and education systems. Featured speakers include Ashely Rouse, Executive Director at The Edible Schoolyard Project, and Tailor Coble, Food Access and Community Education Manager at FRESHFARM. | | |
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In the Arena with NOW: Season 3 Launches this October |
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In the Arena with NOW lifts up the voices of community leaders who are “in the arena” -- in classrooms, playgrounds, Congressional halls, hospitals, and neighborhood streets -- working to make sure that all children and families can live healthy, thriving lives. Season 3 premieres this month, and our premiere episode features long-time Vital Village Networks leader and founding circle member, Josette Williams, who reminds us that for many, systems change advocacy is deeply rooted in our own personal journeys and early experiences that shape our understanding of who has access and opportunities to important community resources and spaces. Tune in to hear Josette explore what shared power looks like in practice between agencies and families in Boston and examples of strategies she has been leading to center parent and family leadership within community systems. | | |
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NOW Resource Library Feature: Health Policy and Advocacy Toolkit |
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From Families USA, this Health Policy and Advocacy Toolkit provides strategies and tactics for affecting change through federal, state and local policy advocacy. Meant as a guide for those new to being an advocate, Families USA notes that one of the “most effective tactics…includes contacting your elected representatives or other public officials.” Read more and check out other resources in the NOW Resource Library. | | |
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2025 Community Food Systems Fellowship: Applications are Open |
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Are you a local leader working to advance just and equitable community food systems in partnership with families? Applications for our 2025 Community Food Systems Fellowship are open now though November 8th at 11:59 pm ET! Learn more about the fellowship, apply here, or nominate a leader. You can also register for a virtual informational session on November 5, 2024 at 4pm ET to learn more. | | |
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Social Justice Mediation Program: Applications are Open |
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The Social Justice Mediation Institute (SJMI) Program is accepting applications through Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. This is an annual training co-hosted with Leah Wing and Deepika Marya, two facilitators from the Social Justice Mediation Institute, and aims to build the capacity of our neighborhood by training community members in conflict resolution skills that can be used at home, in the workplace, in schools, and beyond. The Vital Village SJMI Program seeks to resolve conflicts in our community while addressing underlying issues of race, class, and gender. Learn more about the program and apply to join this year’s session. | | |
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Unsung Hero Awards: Nominations are Open |
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We are excited to announce that Vital Village is accepting nominations for the 2024 Unsung Hero Awards. Each year, we recognize members of the network as unsung Heroes, honoring those who have extended themselves beyond expectations in their community and organization as a leader in maximizing child, family, and community well-being. We are accepting nominations for this year’s honorees through Friday, November 1st at 11:59 pm ET. Submit your nomination using the online form. | | |
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At Vital Village Networks, we envision a world where every child's birthright includes a healthy, joyful, and equitable future. As we continue to work collectively to improve child well-being and nuture community leadership, we see power in knowing we are not alone, and that Together, We Thrive. Every contribution, regardless of the amount or type of service, helps to sustain this critical work of supporting civic leadership and driving positive change. Can we count on your support to reach our goal? |
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The NOW community hopes to stay connected and lift up the work and stories of all of our members. Follow and tag us so that we can virtually highlight the community-led transformation you are leading |
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