Second Round Promise Zones Competition Applicants 

For the Second Round Promise Zones competition,   there were 123 applications submitted: 97 urban applicants, 19 rural   applicants, and 7 tribal applicants. Designations are expected to be   announced in Spring 2015.  View the   list of applicants here.

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program

The Five Star and Urban Waters   Restoration Program seeks to develop nation-wide-community stewardship of   local natural resources, preserving these resources for future generations   and enhancing habitat for local wildlife. Projects seek to address water quality   issues in priority watersheds, such as erosion due to unstable streambanks,   pollution from stormwater runoff, and degraded shorelines caused by   development.

Funding: Approximately $2,100,000 is   available nationwide for projects meeting program priorities. Awards range   from $20,000* to $50,000 with an average size of $30,000 and 40-50 grants   awarded per year

Eligibility: Eligible   applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations,  state government   agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes and   educational institutions

Promise   Zone Preference Points:  No Promise Zone Preference Points are   available for this opportunity

Deadline for Applications: February   2, 2015

For more information: www.nfwf.org/fivestar.

Environmental Education (EE) Grant Program

The EPA’s   Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program supports environmental education   projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help   provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the   environment. This grant program provides financial support for projects that   design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices,   methods, or techniques.

Funding: Three   grants, for approximately $192,000 each

Eligibility: Eligible   applicants include local education agencies, state education or environmental   agencies, colleges and universities, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations,   noncommercial education broadcasting entities, tribal education agencies

Promise   Zone Preference Points:  No Promise Zone Preference Points are   available for this opportunity

Deadline for Applications: EE Model   Grants RFP accepted through February 2, 2015; EE Local Grants RFP accepted   through March 6, 2015

For more information: EPA   Environmental Education Grants

Violence Reduction   Network Webinar: Innovative Strategies to Address Youth Violence

January 27^th, 2015

2pm EST/ 11am PST

The U.S. Department of Justice   (DOJ) Violence Reduction Network (VRN), in   partnership with the National   Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, will host   a webinar on Innovative Strategies to Address Youth Violence that will engage   participants in discussions about innovative approaches to working with   high-risk and gang-involved youth, based on the city of San Jose’s Mayor’s   Gang Prevention Task Force and the application of the Milwaukee Homicide   Review Commission process on Juvenile Case Review. In addition, local police   department representatives will share their expertise.

More   information and registration for the webinar here.

Tools for Social   Change: The National Equity Atlas

January 28^th, 2015

1 pm EST/10 am PST

The National   Equity Atlas, developed by PolicyLink and the Program for Environmental   and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California, is a   first-of-its-kind data and policy tool for those working to build an economy   that is equitable, resilient, and prosperous-in regions, states, and   nationwide. During this webinar, speakers will describe the equity framework,   take you on a tour of the Atlas, and share examples of how foundations can   employ equity data and policy strategies to foster inclusive growth.    Register here.

Brownfields   Redevelopment Community Showcase: Financing Tools for Transformation

February   19^th, 2015

2pm EST/ 11am PST

The Council for Development   Finance Agencies (CDFA) provides technical assistance to communities that are   looking to finance brownfield redevelopment as part of the U.S. Environmental   Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program.  The debut webinar of the CDFA-EPA Brownfields Webinar   Series will highlight communities that have successfully employed the   development finance toolbox to transform former brownfield sites into   economic assets.  Learn more about the webinar series and register here.

Additional resources for financing brownfield   redevelopment here.

Get Ready to Read: Free   Early Learning Resources

Get Ready to Read,   a service of the National Center for Learning   Disabilities, provides educators and parents with free resources to   develop early literacy skills in young children before Kindergarten.    The site provides skills building activities, screening tools, games, and   webinars.

Guidance for English   Learners

The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Justice (DOJ)   recently released joint guidance reminding states, school districts and   schools of their obligations under federal law to ensure that English learner   students have equal access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to   achieve their full academic potential. Read more http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-el-201501.pdf">here.    

A new toolkit to help school districts identify English learner   students, including preschool-age children, prepared by the Education   Department’s Office of English Language Acquisition. Read more http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/eltoolkitchap1.pdf">here. 

Center for   Parent Information and Resources

Parents of young children with   disabilities face additional challenges to help their children learn and   thrive.  Parent centers in every state help parents learn more about the   nature of their children’s disabilities and their rights under the   Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Parents can find the   parent center that serves them at the Center for Parent Information and   Resources http://www.parentcenterhub.org/">here at http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/">find your center,   where they can also find a landing page with links to resources on http://www.parentcenterhub.org/priority-earlylearning/">evidence based practices  that improve early learning. 

Social Impact Calculator

The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) has created the Social Impact Calculator – a tool that allows you to put a dollar value to the   impact of capital investments. Using the Social Impact Calculator, LIIF is   able to monetize the impact of capital investments in communities -- such as   funding for housing, child care centers and charter schools -- and assess how   well its investments are creating opportunities and reducing inequities in   communities.  The calculator is available to the public and LIIF invites   communities to explore how they might use the calculator to assess their own   efforts.

USDA Healthier School   Day: Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools offers topic-specific policy and   resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards.   Refer to the latest regulations, find free nutrition education curricula, or   get ideas for adding tasty, kid-friendly foods to enhance your school meals   program.

Report: Children Exposed to Violence

The Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed   to Violence has released their final report and recommendations. The full   report can be accessed http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf">here.

Teachers can play a critical   role in preventing and reducing the impact of exposure to violence on   children by creating a predictable environment, listening to students'   stories, and watching for signs of possible exposure to violence. Find more   tips for teachers http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/legacy/2011/09/19/tips-teachers.pdf">here.

Brief: After Winning, Then What? An Inside Look at Four Winners   of Federal Early Education Grant Competitions

The   Early Education Initiative at New America released a brief that includes an   overview of four competitive grant programs that impact early education: Race   to the Top - Early Learning Challenge, Investing in Innovation, Promise   Neighborhoods, and the Social Innovation Fund. With a focus on grantees in   Washington, Detroit, Minnesota, and San Antonio, this brief provides an   inside look at what kind of progress is possible – and what   limitations exist –when policies are advanced through competitive grants.   Access the full brief here.

NBC Philadelphia: West Philadelphia Promise Zone 1-Year Update

Update on small business owners in the West Philadelphia Promise   Zone.  View the video here.  

Fox News San Antonio: Eastside Promise Neighborhood and Promise   Zone

News segment on education achievements from San Antonio’s   Eastside Promise Neighborhood and Eastside Promise Zone.  View the video   here.  

Lexington Herald-Leader: Op-Ed “Year of Promise, Partnerships”

Op-Ed on the first year of the Kentucky Highlands Promise   Zone.  Read the article here.