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How can community colleges transform the student experience in ways that will dramatically increase completion, so that the next generation receives the degrees and certificates that will vastly improve their life chances? How can they help the 25 year-old return to college to complete a credential that prepares her to find a decent-paying job? How can they prevent the 18 year-old part-time student working full-time to pay for his education from dropping out because he doesn't have the time to c...

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March 30-31, 2012, New York City

Join us in New York City to learn about a new type of democracy! After spreading around the world for over 20 years, “Participatory Budgeting” is making waves in the United States and Canada. It is giving people the power to make real decisions over the budgets that affect their lives–and it may soon be coming to a city near you!

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how t...

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Earlier this month, the Charlotte Observer published a story about the birth of Tommy Arias, the first baby born in 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The article sparked an outpouring of hate from some readers. How could news of a newborn baby instigate so much outrage?

Here’s what happened. A photo of new mom Lucero Arias, 19, and baby Tommy, was published along with the article, which did not reference Ms. Arias’ immigration status, or national origin. The piece, however...

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By Tom Danehy

With the election year already in full stride, here are several things I absolutely know to be true (and a couple of things about which I am quite certain):

• If Barack Obama wants to get re-elected, he is going to have to drop his Cool Breeze persona and go on the attack. The soul of America is at stake.

• As we've been reminded throughout our lives, great civilizations crumble from within. The minute that the American middle class blinks out of existence is the moment w...

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By Dr. Paul Marciano

Growing up my parents taught me to respect my elders, teachers, and those in uniform e.g., police officers, fire fighters, military personnel, and clergy.  As I got older I also learned the importance of respecting those for whom I worked – even when I disagreed with them or felt treated unfairly.  You respected the boss because he was the boss, as you respected your parents because they were your parents. You didn’t have to like it but I think that it ...

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Battle Creek, MI – W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) released a new report, “Cultures of Giving: Energizing and Expanding Philanthropy by and for Communities of Color” with support from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.  This new report shows how the face of philanthropy is rapidly changing to become as ethnically, culturally and socioeconomically diverse as our country’s population, with some of the most significant growth stemming from identity-based philanthropy&mda...

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L.A. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson, and L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich lend support to The California Endowment-sponsored conversation on th affect of joblessness, home foreclosures, debt and poverty on our health and that of our communities.

Los Angeles, CA – On Leap Day, Wednesday, February 29, L.A. area leaders from politics, business, labor, education, philanthropy, government and religion will come together at sites across the city to...

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SOURCE: Inside Tucson Business by Carol West

Gabrielle Giffords has resigned her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to spend full-time in her recovery after a gunman shot her and 18 others, six fatally, on Jan. 8, 2011.

Since that tragic day last year, some have wondered why the governor couldn't have called a special election to replace Giffords. Nothing could have happened until Giffords tendered her resignation.

According to the Arizona's constitution "a primary and general election is...

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The Jewish Dialogue Group is seeking interns in the summer and fall of 2012 to help us promote vibrant, constructive dialogue within Jewish communities about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Interns will assist with creating our new Guidebook for Deliberation about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Read below for more information, or click here to apply.

WHAT IS THE GUIDEBOOK FOR DELIBERATION?

In late 2012, we will publish a new guidebook that will enable Jews across the United States...

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The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data illustrating that the Affordable Care Act continues to significantly increase the number of young adults who have health insurance.

Because of the health care law, young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26.  This policy took effect in September 2010.  Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) shows that since September 2010, the percenta...

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SOURCE: James Fishkin at SFGate

Around the country members of Congress are holding “town halls” to hear from their constituents. It is proving to be a hot summer. While openness is laudable, the design of these meetings does not permit feedback to a Congressperson about what the constituents in a district really think.

“Town halls” are an open invitation to mobilized groups to capture the public dialogue and appear to speak for the rest of the district. While expression o...

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