New ESOL class calendar, discounts on winter tires and Flynn Center tickets, free Flu shot clinics on campus starting soon, and intro to Sarah Allerton!

https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/wheels-for-warmth

Fall is definitely in the air with the temperature drop this week!  It’s a good reminder to get ready for the winter by taking advantage of this car tire discount program from United Way and Working Bridges and a few other programs, such as a free dental care day or discounted Flynn Center tickets.

Speaking of Working Bridges, we have a new Resource Coordinator — Sarah Allerton!  She has a new schedule and will be excited to meet you as she begins touring campus this month.

There’s also a new list of community based classes for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) available, courtesy of Julia DiPietro from Vermont Adult Learning.

Lastly, don’t forget to get your flu shot at one of our upcoming Flu Shot clinics at UVM.

Tax Season is here along with an updated ESOL calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s tax season, and Working Bridges is here to help with free, in-person tax preparation services held at the United Way office (412 Farrell St, Suite 200, South Burlington, VT 05403) on two dates:

  • Monday, February 11th from 9am-5pm AND
  • Monday, March 4th from 9am-5pm

In addition, VT Legal Aid is offering a tax info session on February 7th from 10:30am-12pm at the Janet S. Munt Family Room (20 Allen St, Burlington, VT 05401).

Our friends at VT Adult Learning have updated their calendar of local ESOL classes in the greater Burlington community, and there is info below about a career preparation opportunity for women interested in the trades through a program called Trailblazers.

Trailblazers

FamilyRoom_TaxFlyer—ProBonoLegalClinics.Jan27.Feb24.Mar24.April28.June9.2019Adult ELL Classes Winter Spring 2019

Tax Preparation Outreach Flyer – 2019

 

Winter is here, and so are a bunch of new events!

OK — it’s safe to say that two storms and about a foot of accumulation in one week means that winter has arrived in Vermont!  Now is a good a time as ever to get involved in community events to push away the winter blues (as long as possible!).

In Winooski, there is an opportunity to serve on an election committee.  And maybe you should consider starting to improve your digital literacy skills, the importance of which is outline in an attached slide presentation courtesy of RISPnet and the local nonprofit, Technology for Tomorrow.

You might encourage a family member to join the VT Commodity Program for paid job training around food insecurity, an important reminder about other, less fortunate members of our community we begin to enjoy the many extra meals and celebrations of early winter.

You can find out about all of these events by flipping through the digest below.

CSD-Train-Digest-November-2018

Stay busy to stay warm as cooler weather approaches

It’s super warm this week, but cooler weather and snow may arrive as soon as next week!  So be sure to check-out our Working Bridges ROM for October, which mentions the Wheels for Warmth discount program and a CVOEO matching grant for any of you trying to save money for car repairs.

If you’re looking for something to do around campus before the snow arrives, you should attend the Intro to the Labyrinth event or a lecture about spirituality and religion on campus.  Both events are free, open to the public, and located in the Interfaith Gathering Center located near the water tower on Redstone campus.  If you have kids, then you should definitely mark your calendars for the 2nd annual My Brothers Keeper college entrance forum and fair.  Or you could take a class yourself from the many offerings of Mercy Connections.

Lastly, there are lots of different levels of English Language Learner (ELL) classes happening this fall around the Burlington area.  Many thanks to Vermont Adult Learning for putting together this list.

OCTOBER ROM 2018 -LJ

Save the Date MBK Final2

SR on Campus 8.5 x 11

Intro to Laby 8.5 x 11

Mercy Connections 2018-2019 Brochure

Community ELL Classes Fall 2018

Welcoming Economies Playbook and UVM PD&T classes this Fall

 

 

 

 

Now that summer is over, do you feel like it’s time to get back to work?!  Or maybe you just know someone who is looking for a job.

Spectrum is on the lookup for a Multicultural Youth Program, and VT Tent Company (click here for details) has lots of opportunities for part time work on a variety of shifts — limited English proficiency welcome!

All of this talk of work reminds me of the value that refugees and New Americans add to our local economies.  Check out the guide linked below, which highlights model programs from across the country that show you people from all walks of life have leveraged the resource of New American talent to grow their business.

Finally, UVM Professional Development & Training is offering several classes on combatting racism and bias this Fall 2018.  See below for details about each class as well as info about how to register via Peoplesoft.

Welcoming-refugees-playbook

MYP Outreach Worker Aug to post
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Seeing and Disrupting Racism
Sept 13th 12pm to 1:30pm
Time Allotted: 1.5 Hours
PeopleSoft Course Number: DEI037
Description: This lecture/presentation was developed for predominantly white audiences. We start by defining racism. Then we walk participants through the concept of white fragility. We go over how white fragility perpetuates racism and specific ways to disrupt that cycle. If you are interested in attending either of our other workshop series – Building Empathy and Addressing Racism or Privilege & Accountability for Aspiring Allies, it is recommended to attend this workshop first.

Building Empathy and Addressing Racism
Mondays 1pm to 3pm,
Sept 17th , Sept 24th, Oct 8th
Time Allotted: Three 2-hour sessions
PeopleSoft Course Number: DEI038
Description: This program gives participants the opportunity to build skills and knowledge to engage in undoing racism. The sessions focus on racism within self, community, and taking action. White Fragility and White Supremacy Culture are always included, details of each workshop vary based on facilitators, partners, and participants. Please know that these programs are designed in large part to engage and encourage white people to do racial justice work. To this end, while many of our workshops have multi-racial attendance, they do center whiteness in a way that can be frustrating, harmful, and/or just not that meaningful to people of color. This is not always the case. We trust that each individual knows best what will be most useful to them. Another option is to stay on the workshop e-mail list to see what resources we are sharing but not come to the sessions. We are happy to do this if you would like. Let us know if you want more information on the content or anything else that will help you make a good choice for yourself. WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS YOU ARE COMMITTING TO ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS as each is a foundation of learning for each successive session. Please note: PEOPLESOFT REGISTRATION WILL ONLY LIST THE FIRST DATE OF ATTENDANCE HOWEVER YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED IN ALL THREE SESSIONS.

Privilege & Accountability for Aspiring Allies
Wednesdays 10am to 12pm
Nov 7th, Nov 14th, Dec 5th, Dec 12th,
Time Allotted: Four 2-hour sessions
PeopleSoft Course Number: DEI039
Description: This workshop is designed for participants to increase their skills as aspiring allies who can effectively build support for and with colleagues, neighbors, and other community members to address oppression. Participants will explore their own identities and practice skills to take action in addressing microaggressions and interrupting oppression in real time. Please know that these programs are designed in large part to engage and encourage white people to do racial justice work. To this end, while many of our workshops have multi-racial attendance, they do center whiteness in a way that can be frustrating, harmful, and/or just not that meaningful to people of color. This is not always the case. We trust that each individual knows best what will be most useful to them. Another option is to stay on the workshop e-mail list to see what resources we are sharing but not come to the sessions. We are happy to do this if you would like. Let us know if you want more information on the content or anything else that will help you make a good choice for yourself. WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS YOU ARE COMMITTING TO ATTEND ALL FOUR SESSIONS as each is a foundation of learning for each successive session. Please note: PEOPLESOFT REGISTRATION WILL ONLY LIST THE FIRST DATE OF ATTENDANCE HOWEVER, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED IN ALL FOUR SESSIONS.

Disrupting Racism Role Play Workshop
Oct 25th 9am to 1030am
Time Allotted: 1.5 Hours
PeopleSoft Course Number: DEI042
Prerequisites: It is highly recommended that participants attend at least one of the program offerings from the Peace & Justice Center series, Building Empathy and Addressing Racism or Privilege & Accountability for Aspiring Allies, before participating in this program.
Overall Objectives:  This session will include practicing disrupting racism. Please know that these programs are designed in large part to engage and encourage white people to do racial justice work. To this end, while many of our workshops have multi-racial attendance, they do center whiteness in a way that can be frustrating, harmful, and/or just not that meaningful to people of color. This is not always the case. We trust that each individual knows best what will be most useful to them. Another option is to stay on the workshop e-mail list to see what resources we are sharing but not come to the sessions. We are happy to do this if you would like. Let us know if you want more information on the content or anything else that will help you make a good choice for yourself.

How to Find Dates of Classes & Register for a Training Session
•      Log into PeopleSoft using the Human Resources login www.uvm.edu/~erp/portal
•      Click on Main Menu > Self Service > Learning and Development > Request Training Enrollment.
•      Search for a class using the course code.
•      Click View Available Sessions and then click on the Session Number for the date you wish to attend.
•      Keep clicking through (Continue, Submit, Yes, OK) until you see the Save Confirmation screen.
•      You will receive a PeopleSoft-generated confirmation email; then a second reminder email a few days prior
to the session that will include the class location.

Professional Development & Training
develop@uvm.edu
www.uvm.edu/develop

Crop Cash $$, Happy Campers, & Hot Weather Happenings

We’re in the thick of a beautiful (but hot!) Vermont summer, so now is the perfect time of year to stop by at one of Vermont’s many Farmer’s Markets.  Qualifying households who participate in 3SquaresVT can double their buying power at Farmer’s Markets as each dollar spent is matched with Crop Cash.

Summer is also a great time to explore the outdoors.  Starting this year, you can now get a free campsite and camping gear from the State of VT to make your first time camping experience a bit easier.

Does camping sound like too much for you this summer?!  You can still get outdoors at the Ben & Jerry’s sponsored Summer Concert Series that happens each Tuesday night at dusk on Church St.

But be careful!  With this heat, you should follow these heat wave guidelines courtesy of the VT Department of Health that include some surprising facts:

·     Vermonters are at greater risk for serious heat-related illnesses, and even death, when the statewide average temperature reaches 87°F or hotter

  •          During the spring and early summer, hot weather can be especially harmful, since our bodies are still adjusting to the warmer conditions
  •         People at higher risk during hot weather include older adults and children, people active outdoors, people without air conditioning, and people with chronic medical conditions
  •          Learn the symptoms of heat illnesses and basic first aid
  •          Most heat illnesses can be prevented and treated through rest, shade, and water
  •        The number of days reaching a statewide average of at least 87°F is expected to increase in the future due to climate change

Click below to find-out more about any of these summer happenings.

July 2018 ROM UVM CS

HotWeather_MediaToolkit_June28_2018

 

Summer is here, and there are lots of happenings in the Burlington area

There’s soooo much going on in Burlington right now!

  • FREE Summer ELL classes in our local community are listed here by Julia from Vermont Adult Learning

Community ELL Classes Summer 2018

Conversation-Circles-flyer

Sign-up your kid for free swim lessons at the Y

Camp Splash 2018

  • Be on the lookout and AVOID poison parsnip along VT roadways

Release_ Vermonters Cautioned to Look but Don’t Touch “Poison Parsnip”

  • Find-out how to fight sexual harassment in housing and become a PAID fair housing tester

DOJ Combat Sexual Harassment in housing

SHI – Blue Flyer – English and Spanish

Tester Training Burlington June 28

  • Contact a local resource coordinator to find-out more about summer meal planning and childcare for your kid

June 2018 UVM CS

  • Get your kid an updated passport on Saturday, June 30th in St. Albans

Local Media Note

 

April ROM, Bikeshare, and Citizenship Classes

New American Safety Festival poster

Spring is here.  Sort of — brrrrrr!  But at least you can tell it’s spring because everybody is itching to get outdoors!

Maybe you could go for a bikeride by signing-up for the new Greenride Bikeshare that has set up unmistakable, bright green bike racks on campus and around Burlington.  Or maybe you should first drop-in to the annual New American Safety Festival on Saturday, May 12th to get your kid a free bike helmet.  Or maybe you just want to sit back to enjoy a discounted performance at the Flynn Theater.

There’s lots of goings-on in Burlington this spring — even if warmth isn’t one of them!

April 2018 ROM UVM CS

Youth Job Fair Flyer 2018

Citizenship classes flyer

Bikeshare Flyer

PCAFlyer – April 2, 2018-pdf

Restoring Family Links Brochure Red Cross