#nonprofit puerto rico

[theobviousparadox]

Review: Feeding Dangerously by José Andrés, Steve Orlando, and Alberto Ponticelli

Feeding Dangerously: On the Ground with José Andrés and World Central KitchenJosé Andrés and Steve OrlandoIllustrated by Alberto PonticelliTKO StudiosPublished January 10, 2024 Amazon | World Central Kitchen | Goodreads About Feeding Dangerously: On the Ground with José Andrés and World Central Kitchen Join Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen for the incredible story of how their…

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #17

May 3-10 2024

Vice President Harris announced 5.5 billion dollars to build affordable housing and address homelessness. The grants will go to 1,200 communities across all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 1.3 billion will go to HUD's HOME program which builds, buys, and rehabs affordable housing for rent or ownership. 3.3 billion is headed to Community Development Block Grants which supports housing as well as homeless services, and expanding economic opportunities. Remaining funds focus on building housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, Housing for people struggling with HIV/AIDS, transitional housing for those with substance-use disorder, and money to support homeless shelters and homeless prevention programs.

At the 3rd meeting of the Los Angeles Declaration group in Guatemala Security of State Blinken announced $578 million in new US aid to Latin America. The Los Angeles Declaration is a partnership between the US and 20 other nations in the Americas to address immigration, combat human trafficking, and support economic development and improved quality of life for people in poor nations in the Americas. The bulk of the aid, over $400 million will go to humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people. Inside of Venezuela over 7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to decades of political and economic instability. Over 7 million more have been forced to flee the country and live in poverty across the Americas. The aid will help Venezuelans both inside and outside of Venezuela.

The Department of Energy lead an effort to get the G7 to agree to phase out coal by the early 2030s. The G7 is a collection of the 7 largest Industrial economies on Earth, the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy. To avoid catastrophic climate change the International Energy Agency believes coal needs to be phased out by 2035. However this has been a sticking point with the G7 since 1/3rd of Japan and 1/4th of Germany's energy comes from Coal. This agreement to phase out represents a major breakthrough and the US plans to press for even wider agreement on the issue at the G20 meeting in November.

President Biden announced a major investment deal in Racine, Wisconsin, site of the failed Trump Foxconn deal. In 2018 then President Trump visited Racine and declared the planned Foxconn plant "the eighth wonder of the world.". However the promised 13,000 jobs never materialized and the Taiwan based Foxconn after bulldozing 100s of homes and farms decided not to build. President Biden inked a deal with Microsoft for the land formally given to Foxconn which will bring 2,000 new jobs to Racine to help replace the 1,000 job losses during Trump's Presidency in the community.

200 tribal governments and the US territories of American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, published climate action plans. The plans were paid for by the Biden Administration as part of a 5 billion dollar Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. The federal government is supporting all 50 states, territories, DC, and tribal governments to draft climate action plans, which will be used to apply for more than 4 billion dollars in grants to help turn plans into reality

As part of marking Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), the Biden Administration announced a number of action aimed at combating antisemitism and supporting the Jewish Community. This included $400 million in new funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The Program has supported Synagogues and Jewish Community Centers with security improvements like bullet proof windows and trainings for staff in how to handle active shooter and hostage situations. The Department of Education issued guidance to all schools districts and federally funded colleges stressing that antisemitism is banned under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These actions come as part of the Biden Administration's National Strategy To Counter Antisemitism, the first ever national strategy addressing the issue by any Administration.

USAID announced $220 million in additional humanitarian aid to Yemen. This new funding will bring US aid to Yemen over the last 10 years to nearly $6 billion. Currently 18 million Yemenis are estimated as needing humanitarian assistance, 9 million of them children, and the UN believes nearly 14 million face imminent risk of famine. The US remains the single largest donor nation to humanitarian relief in Yemen.

The Department of Interior announced nearly $150 million to help communities fight drought. The funds will support 42 projects across 10 western states. This is part of the President's $8.3 billion dollar investment in the nations water infrastructure over the next 5 five years.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Revelator:

Every June, cities around the globe celebrate Pollinator Week, an international event to raise awareness about the important roles that birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals serve in pollinating our food systems and landscapes. These crucial species are declining worldwide, with many on the brink of extinction.

Cities have responded to this crisis with a variety of urban initiatives designed to foster pollinator habitats and in the process transform once-stark cement landscapes — as well as pocket parks, curb strips, and highway dividers — into lush, welcoming areas for pollinators and humans alike.

In Washington, D.C., ambitious pollinator projects are abundant on rooftops of public, office, and private spaces, ranging from the renovated D.C. Public Library’s main branch to National Public Radio’s headquarters, which hosts an apiary. Throughout the District of Columbia, municipal code requires buildings to maintain the tree boxes and curb strips outside their properties. This often leads to creative landscaping on the smallest of scales.

It’s not just businesses. Parks and other public spaces also play an important role. For example, Fargo, North Dakota’s Urban Pollinator Plots Project aims to establish more than 50 acres of high diversity, forb-rich, native prairie plantings in urban parklands.

“I think some of the bigger challenges are just simply the establishment of the prairie,” says Sam DeMarais, a park forester in the Fargo Park District, who oversees the program. “It’s a skill set and a knowledge base that really takes a keen eye and some diligence on doing it properly. Everyone thinks you can just plant the prairie and let it go, but that’s not really the case.”

Fargo’s and Washington, D.C.’s programs are each over 10 years old, and time has brought knowledge of what works and doesn’t, and the ability to adapt. But less-established initiatives across the country could provide even more clues. A new project at the Port of Vancouver, in Washington state, aims to add a small native plant and flower pollinator garden in the port’s mitigation bank in the Lower Columbia River watershed. It could serve as a case study in introducing pollinators into industrial areas. In Michigan, the nonprofit organization Detroit Hives showcases how to transform vacant lots into pollinator-friendly habitat, a program that recently contributed to Detroit joining the Bee City USA program. Researchers in Puerto Rico are examining the relationships between animal and plant resources in urban areas on the island, and conducting interviews to learn more about public perspectives on plants and wildlife.

But why stop at the city level? Pollinator programs around the world can look to Ireland, where the entire island, north and south, has implemented the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, a program that brings together community groups, local authorities, councils, businesses, farmers, and others to create a pollinator-friendly landscape.

[beardedmrbean]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — When in-person school resumed after pandemic closures, Rousmery Negrón and her 11-year-old son both noticed a change: School seemed less welcoming.

Parents were no longer allowed in the building without appointments, she said, and punishments were more severe. Everyone seemed less tolerant, more angry. Negrón's son told her he overheard a teacher mocking his learning disabilities, calling him an ugly name.

Her son didn’t want to go to school anymore. And she didn’t feel he was safe there.

He would end up missing more than five months of sixth grade.

Across the country, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened during the pandemic. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year, making them chronically absent, according to the most recent data available. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school.

All told, an estimated 6.5 million additional students became chronically absent, according to the data, which was compiled by Stanford University education professor Thomas Dee in partnership with The Associated Press. Taken together, the data from 40 states and Washington, D.C., provides the most comprehensive accounting of absenteeism nationwide. Absences were more prevalent among Latino, Black and low-income students, according to Dee’s analysis.

The absences come on top of time students missed during school closures and pandemic disruptions. They cost crucial classroom time as schools work to recover from massive learning setbacks.

Absent students miss out not only on instruction but also on all the other things schools provide — meals, counseling, socialization. In the end, students who are chronically absent — missing 18 or more days a year, in most places — are at higher risk of not learning to read and eventually dropping out.

“The long-term consequences of disengaging from school are devastating. And the pandemic has absolutely made things worse and for more students,” said Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works, a nonprofit addressing chronic absenteeism.

In seven states, the rate of chronically absent kids doubled for the 2021-22 school year, from 2018-19, before the pandemic. Absences worsened in every state with available data — notably, the analysis found growth in chronic absenteeism did not correlate strongly with state COVID rates.

Kids are staying home for myriad reasons — finances, housing instability, illness, transportation issues, school staffing shortages, anxiety, depression, bullying and generally feeling unwelcome at school.

And the effects of online learning linger: School relationships have frayed, and after months at home, many parents and students don't see the point of regular attendance.

“For almost two years, we told families that school can look different and that schoolwork could be accomplished in times outside of the traditional 8-to-3 day. Families got used to that,” said Elmer Roldan, of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, which helps schools follow up with absent students.

When classrooms closed in March 2020, Negrón in some ways felt relieved her two sons were home in Springfield. Since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Negrón, who grew up in Puerto Rico, had become convinced mainland American schools were dangerous.

A year after in-person instruction resumed, she said, staff placed her son in a class for students with disabilities, citing hyperactive and distracted behavior. He felt unwelcome and unsafe. Now, it seemed to Negrón, there was danger inside school, too.

“He needs to learn,” said Negrón, a single mom who works as a cook at another school. “He’s very intelligent. But I’m not going to waste my time, my money on uniforms, for him to go to a school where he’s just going to fail.”

For people who've long studied chronic absenteeism, the post-COVID era feels different. Some of the things that prevent students from getting to school are consistent — illness, economic distress — but “something has changed,” said Todd Langager, who helps San Diego County schools address absenteeism. He sees students who already felt unseen, or without a caring adult at school, feel further disconnected.

Alaska led in absenteeism, with 48.6% of students missing significant amounts of school. Alaska Native students’ rate was higher, 56.5%.

Those students face poverty and a lack of mental health services, as well as a school calendar that isn’t aligned to traditional hunting and fishing activities, said Heather Powell, a teacher and Alaska Native. Many students are raised by grandparents who remember the government forcing Native children into boarding schools.

“Our families aren’t valuing education because it isn’t something that’s ever valued us,” Powell said.

In New York, Marisa Kosek said son James lost the relationships fostered at his school — and with them, his desire to attend class altogether. James, 12, has autism and struggled first with online learning and then with a hybrid model. During absences, he'd see his teachers in the neighborhood. They encouraged him to return, and he did.

But when he moved to middle school in another neighborhood, he didn’t know anyone. He lost interest and missed more than 100 days of sixth grade. The next year, his mom pushed for him to repeat the grade — and he missed all but five days.

His mother, a high school teacher, enlisted help: relatives, therapists, New York’s crisis unit. But James just wanted to stay home. He's anxious because he knows he's behind, and he's lost his stamina.

“Being around people all day in school and trying to act ‘normal’ is tiring,” said Kosek. She's more hopeful now that James has been accepted to a private residential school that specializes in students with autism.

Some students had chronic absences because of medical and staffing issues. Juan Ballina, 17, has epilepsy; a trained staff member must be nearby to administer medication in case of a seizure. But post-COVID-19, many school nurses retired or sought better pay in hospitals, exacerbating a nationwide shortage.

Last year, Juan's nurse was on medical leave. His school couldn’t find a substitute. He missed more than 90 days at his Chula Vista, California, high school.

“I was lonely,” Ballina said. “I missed my friends.”

Last month, school started again. So far, Juan's been there, with his nurse. But his mom, Carmen Ballina, said the effects of his absence persist: “He used to read a lot more. I don’t think he’s motivated anymore.”

Another lasting effect from the pandemic: Educators and experts say some parents and students have been conditioned to stay home at the slightest sign of sickness.

Renee Slater's daughter rarely missed school before the pandemic. But last school year, the straight-A middle schooler insisted on staying home 20 days, saying she just didn't feel well.

“As they get older, you can’t physically pick them up into the car — you can only take away privileges, and that doesn’t always work,” said Slater, who teaches in the rural California district her daughter attends. “She doesn’t dislike school, it’s just a change in mindset."

Most states have yet to release attendance data from 2022-23, the most recent school year. Based on the few that have shared figures, it seems the chronic-absence trend may have long legs. In Connecticut and Massachusetts, chronic absenteeism remained double its pre-pandemic rate.

In Negrón’s hometown of Springfield, 39% of students were chronically absent last school year, an improvement from 50% the year before. Rates are higher for students with disabilities.

While Negrón's son was out of school, she said, she tried to stay on top of his learning. She picked up a weekly folder of worksheets and homework; he couldn’t finish because he didn’t know the material.

“He was struggling so much, and the situation was putting him in a down mood," Negrón said.

Last year, she filed a complaint asking officials to give her son compensatory services and pay for him to attend a private special education school. The judge sided with the district.

Now, she’s eyeing the new year with dread. Her son doesn’t want to return. Negrón said she'll consider it only if the district grants her request for him to study in a mainstream classroom with a personal aide. The district told AP it can't comment on individual student cases due to privacy considerations.

Negrón wishes she could homeschool her sons, but she has to work and fears they'd suffer from isolation.

“If I had another option, I wouldn’t send them to school,” she said.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

#20yrsago New Yorker hotel’s new anti-privacy policy https://web.archive.org/web/20030406193537/weblog.siliconvalley.com/column/dangillmor/archives/000918.shtml

#10yrsago How DC insiders launder insider market information for the rich https://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2013/04/government-report-examines-political-intelligence-but-questions-remain.html

#10yrsago How the global hyper-rich have turned central London into a lights-out ghost-town https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/world/europe/a-slice-of-london-so-exclusive-even-the-owners-are-visitors.html

#5yrsago Facebook is unfixable. We need a nonprofit, public-spirited replacement. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/opinion/facebook-fix-replace.html

#5yrsago FCC refuses public records request about Ajit Pai’s monumentally unfunny “comedy” videos https://www.vice.com/en/article/gymdn7/fcc-wont-release-harlem-shake-emails

#5yrsago In an attempt to quantify stupendous risk, cyberinsurers ratchet up premiums, deploy gimmicks https://www.wired.com/story/cyberinsurance-tackles-the-wildly-unpredictable-world-of-hacks/

#5yrsago Puerto Rico to dismantle its statistics agency in the midst of radical shock doctrine project https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-04120-5

#5yrsago For years, Facebook has been secretly deleting Zuck’s messages from his correspondents’ inboxes https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/05/zuckerberg-deleted-messages/

#5yrsago Even if governments backdoor crypto, they still won’t be able to spy on terrorists https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/212.pdf

#5yrsago Lawsuit reveals the deadly, out-of-control free-for-all inside Red State America’s for-profit prisons https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/us/mississippi-private-prison-abuse.html

#5yrsago To solve America’s housing crisis, build public housing https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/05/why-we-need-social-housing-in-the-us

#5yrsago A science fiction writing workshop lexicon https://bruces.medium.com/a-science-fiction-workshop-lexicon-the-paragons-iterarion-1996-20752a861896

#5yrsago New Florida law lets beachfront property owners kick people off of public coasts https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/rick-scott-just-signed-a-bill-that-could-make-many-of-floridas-beaches-private-10231813

#1yrago The Mormon Church owns the most valuable property portfolio in America https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/06/foia-be-damned/#ok-landlord

#1yrago How trade secrets swallowed your right to know https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/06/foia-be-damned/#but-id-have-to-kill-you

[dominateeye]

Why don't you like the mcelroys?

Some of these are objectively bad things, some of them are petty, some are in between, all of them are my reasons. In order of (recalled) recency:

Travis' tweets about serious issues really being about him/performative allyship/being creepy to people online

Travis' Among Us incident

The loan shark MBMBaM sponsorship

Their history of working with other people I don't like, for example Lin-Manuel Miranda who is antiblack and helped implement austerity in Puerto Rico

Me actually giving them a chance and getting into their content to find out that they have a history of working with people I don't like as well as the loan shark thing

Badmouthing the Green Party US in that really infuriating arrogant way that liberals like to do where they pretend the Democratic Party is God's gift to the world

Calling giving money to Maximum Fun, a for-profit company, "donations" in a "fun(d) drive" <- this one really bothers me because I do actual nonprofit community radio and our station often isn't making enough in donations meanwhile people are "donating" money hand over fist to a for-profit company (just fucking call it a sales event or something and I won't have this problem anymore)

They're fucking everywhere and I'm sick of hearing about them

[elijones94]

🌊 Today was the last day of our camps in Puerto Rico for the summer. The prayer of Solomon was the main Bible lesson for today. After having pizza for lunch, the kids got enjoy a bounce house with a water slide. It’s hard to believe that this has been mine and my family’s fourth year of mission work in Puerto Rico in the summer. It all began on May 25 and well into July before coming home the week of my older brother, Ben’s wedding. Plus, this is the third year of doing a Bible school at the church in Aguadilla. As of now, eight different churches on the island have partnered with my mom’s nonprofit, Encourage Puerto Rico. No doubt about it, it has certainly been an adventure since day one. 🍕🇵🇷

[nyc-uabn-photography]

🎉✨ Celebrate Culture and Positive Peace at the 2024 Puerto Rican Day Parade! 🇵🇷✨🎉

Mark your calendars! The 2024 Puerto Rican Day Parade is back, and this year, we're not just celebrating our vibrant culture, but also embracing the spirit of Positive Peace! 🌟

🗓️ **Date:** June 9th, 2024

📍 **Location:** 5th Avenue, New York City

Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich traditions, dynamic music, and colorful floats that represent the heart and soul of Puerto Rico. From salsa rhythms to delicious cuisine, this parade is a feast for all your senses! 🎶🍲

But beyond the festivities, this year’s theme of Positive Peace invites us to reflect on the power of unity, kindness, and community. Positive Peace isn’t just the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of justice, equality, and harmony. Let’s come together to build bridges, uplift each other, and spread love. 🌍❤️

**Highlights to Look Forward To:**

- 🎺 Live performances from top Puerto Rican artists

- 🎨 Beautifully decorated floats and traditional costumes

- 🍹 Authentic Puerto Rican food stalls

- 🤝 Community initiatives promoting peace and unity

- 🌟 Special tribute to Puerto Rican heroes and influencers

Join us for a day filled with joy, pride, and a shared commitment to making the world a better place. Whether you’re Puerto Rican or simply a lover of culture and peace, everyone is welcome!

Let’s show the world the power of Positive Peace and celebrate the rich heritage that makes Puerto Rico so special. See you there! 🌴💃

#PuertoRicanDayParade2024 #PositivePeace #VivaPuertoRico #CulturaYPaz #PeaceAndUnity #CelebrateTogether

Visit https://arac-international.org our nonprofit advocate for peacebuilding, human rights, and Positive Peace.

M. Nuri Shakoor

https://mnshakoor.com

[petnews2day]

Lawsuit Aims to Stop National Park Service from Removing Cats from San Juan Site

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/vX1qR

Lawsuit Aims to Stop National Park Service from Removing Cats from San Juan Site

A feline advocacy group filed a legal challenge this week against the National Park Service over its plan to remove cats from the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico. The Maryland-based nonprofit Alley Cat Allies filed the lawsuit on Wednesday arguing that the Park Service’s plan is not just “cruel, futile, and unlawful” […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/vX1qR #CatsNews

[ausetkmt]

The embattled prime minister of Haiti, the Caribbean country whose capital has been overwhelmed by violent gangs, said Tuesday that he would resign.

In a short speech posted to Facebook, Ariel Henry said his government would dissolve once a transitional council had been set up, following a week of "systematic looting and destruction of public buildings and private buildings."

"It hurts us. And it has revolted us," Henry said.

The prime minister appealed for calm: "Haiti needs peace. Haiti needs stability. Haiti needs sustainable development. Haiti needs to rebuild democratic institutions." 

The timing of the interim government remains unclear.

The resignation announcement follows weeks of spiraling violence, including prison breaks and an attack on the country's main airport. It came the same day as leaders of Caribbean nations held an emergency meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, to discuss the worsening crisis. Notably, Henry did not attend.

A senior administration official said Monday night that the talks, involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken with 40 representatives from Haiti as well as regional heads of state, had lasted seven hours.

It was agreed that the transitional council will include seven members, with one representing the private sector, the official said.

Earlier, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of Guyana andchairman of the group known as Caricom, confirmed Henry's resignation at a Monday night news conference.

“We acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and the naming of an interim prime minister," he said.

Ali said the move to a transitional government "paves the way for a peaceful transition of power.” He said the commitment includes “the road to free and fair elections,” as well as continuity of governance and near-term security.

Henry has been on U.S. soil since last week, forced to land in Puerto Rico after he was unable to land in Haiti due to threats at the airport. Protesters had been seen outside the hotel he’s believed to be staying in as calls for his resignation grew louder.

Last weekend, Haiti was sent into a state of emergency after gangs banded together and attacked government institutions, the airport and prisons, setting free thousands of prisoners.

The notorious “G9 and Family" gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier — known as “Barbecue”— threatened more violence if Henry, prime minister since 2021, did not step down.

Blinken, who flew to Jamaica for Monday's meeting, said earlier Monday that the U.S. and Caricom, a regional trade bloc, "support a clear political transition plan, led by trusted representatives of Haitian society.”

"Haitians cannot wait any longer for a path to security, stability, and democracy," Blinken said on social media Monday.

Philippe Branchat, the United Nations International Organization for Migration head in Haiti, has said that the capital of Port-au-Prince is "under siege" and surrounded by armed groups.

Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, has long been in crisis.

Gangs have taken over about 80% of the geography of Port-au-Prince, according to the nonprofit Assessment Capacities Project, which provides data to humanitarian groups.

[wutbju]

BJU Missionary Unit has 38 Workers in Four Continents

Not only is Bob Jones University called the "World's Most Unusual University," but its call-letters also could stand for "Worldwide Ministry Unto Unevangelized." The embodiment of this aspect of the university's international influence is found in Gospel Fellowship Missions, the foreign mission society whose office and headquarters are on the campus.

GFM is one of the more recent ministries begun by the university. This independent faith mission completed its fifth year of organized missionary activity. It has grown yearly and now has 38 workers in 11 fields scattered around the world in four continents.

Including two fields established this summer in Korea and Mexico, GFM missionaries are to be found in the Far East -- Japan and Korea; South America -- Chile and Brazil; North America -- Barbados, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Hawaii; Northern Europe -- Sweden and West Germany; and the Middle East --  Lebanon.

Administratively, the mission operates separately from the university and is a part of the Gospel Fellowship Association, chartered as a nonprofit organization in 1940. Through the years GFA has sponsored many kinds of evangelistic ministries through literature, radio, newspaper evangelism, films and evangelistic crusades.

A faith mission board like Gospel Fellowship Missions operates differently from a nominational mission society. The faith mission does not manipulate or salary its workers from a central board and treasury. However, it provides a source of counsel and finances for the missionary. The co-ordination of the total field program as well as the direction of personal ministries can be administered only through the board.

The missionary on the field needs a representative with the United States government as well as with the government of the country in which he is laboring. The board maintains the tie of fellowship between the missionaries on the field and the supporting churches in the homeland.

BECKER IS HEAD

The mission office, located in the Administration Building at BJU, is staffed by two full-time employees, Rev. Kenneth D. Becker, the executive secretary, and Mrs. Corban Tabler, office secretary. Board policy and decision is executed by a seven-member executive committee, consisting of executives and deans of the university. This is backed up by a board of trustees composed of 35 Christians around the country, among whom are pastors, evangelists, educators and laymen.

The nerve center of the worldwide work is in the home office. Donations from over 1,200 supporting churches and friends in 47 states and several foreign countries are received by the home office for the missionaries and their ministries. Each donation is acknowledged with a personal letter describing the current news of the missionary supported. At the end of the month, all missionary accounts are totaled and checks mailed around the world.

In order to maintain the personal touch and keep up with the load of correspondence, data processing equipment and a high-speed typewriter are leased. Because of this personal touch, donors are not only sup. porters, but also enthusiasts of the mission and missionaries, as they have frequently noted in correspondence. The mission office staff keeps a steady stream of information flowing to those who support the work through gifts and prayers.

The oldest GFM field is in Japan. Six missionaries there are working in tent evangelism, founding churches, training national pastors, Bible correspondence courses, literature and street evangelism, and children's and youth work.

Gospel Fellowship Mission's most recent field is in Mexico. It was founded by a Mexican national, Jose Lara, in his home area in Central Mexico. His father was one of the earliest converts to Christianity in the whole region, and Mr. Lara had the distinction of being reared in an evangelical home.

There are six national evangelists and as many as 75 little churches -- some having only one or two families -- in the mountains who look to Mr. Lara and his ministry. He intends to establish a Christian trade school, along with the evangelistic effort in the villages, to train the Mexican Christians in skills so that they can support their families and the church.

The precarious international situation was impressed upon the mission by the recent Middle East war. Lebanon was one of the mission's early fields, and the missionary family was on furlough when hostilities broke out. There may be a delay before the ministry will be re-established, and even then it may take a long time to overcome anti-American hostilities and the damage which has befallen many friends and converts of the missionary.

[stuartbramhall]

Are Bankruptcies of Some States in the Future?

Stephen Anderson Bankruptcy is a developing twenty-first century theme in America. We see bankruptcy in federal government policy and spending, many corporate boardroom decisions, nonprofit and religious groups’ overspending and arrogance, individuals, some United States cities and counties, and the territory of Puerto Rico. The federal bankruptcy law consisting of Chapters 7, 9, 11, and 13 allow…

[thxnews]

Sam's Club: 40 Years of Community Impact

For over 40 years, Sam's Club has not only been obsessed with its members but also deeply committed to serving communities. In 2023, this commitment was more evident than ever, with significant contributions to various community organizations and a continued focus on impactful programs.  

A Legacy of Giving Back

Transforming Communities Through Generosity Sam's Club's dedication to community service is a cornerstone of its identity. In 2023, the company provided two $100,000 holiday give-backs to community organizations: Orlando-based One Heart for Women and Children and Phoenix-based Kitchen on the Street. These substantial donations are a testament to Sam's Club's ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves.   Empowering Associates to Lead the Way Sam's Club associates have always been at the forefront of the company's charitable efforts. They actively participate in local programs, including food donation initiatives, disaster response efforts, and the Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program. This program not only encourages associates to volunteer but also amplifies their impact through matching grants to eligible nonprofits.  

Celebrating Four Community Champions

Paul Argenziano: A Lifelong Commitment to Service Club Manager Paul Argenziano, serving the Tarentum, Pennsylvania community for over 34 years, exemplifies Sam's Club's spirit of giving. His involvement with the Miracle League of Western Pennsylvania, coupled with support from the VAP program, has significantly benefited the league, including a $10,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation in 2023.   Yajaira Castro: A Heart for Disaster Relief Market Manager Yajaira Castro's efforts during Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico highlight Sam's Club's rapid response to community needs. Her leadership in assembling relief supplies and her pride in being part of a company that values community support reflect the ethos of Sam's Club.   Becky Schoewe: From Fresh Manager to Feeding America Becky Schoewe's transition to a project manager role led her to significantly contribute to Sam's Club's partnership with Feeding America. Her involvement in volunteer work and leveraging VAP grants demonstrate how associates are empowered to make a difference in their communities.   Don Harpin: Extending a Day of Service Human Resources Manager Don Harpin's leadership in Fulfillment Center 6490's Day of Service with the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) evolved into ongoing support. The center's contributions, along with a $5,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation, underscore the sustained commitment of Sam's Club associates to community service.  

A Future Focused on Community and Members

Continuing the Legacy of Impact As Sam's Club looks forward to the future, the company remains dedicated to its dual focus on members and communities. The stories of Don, Becky, Yajaira, and Paul are just a few examples of how Sam's Club associates embody the company's commitment to making a difference. With nearly 600 clubs, the potential for positive impact is vast, and Sam's Club is poised to continue its legacy of community service for decades to come.   Sources: THX News & Walmart. Read the full article

[zenaidamacrouras1]

Fun story but Biden actually announced a revival of the CCC called the American Climate Corps this week! From a press release. This is happening because people asked for it and organized around it:

President Biden will announce today that Americans can now apply to join the American Climate Corps through a newly launched website, ClimateCorps.gov . The website will feature nearly 2,000 positions located across 37 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The website is launching in its beta form, and the first class of the American Climate Corps will be deployed to communities across the country in summer 2024.

Additionally, the President will announce a new partnership with the North America’s Building Trades Unions’ nonprofit partner TradesFutures.

Beginning this summer, every American Climate Corps member will have access to TradesFutures’ industry leading apprenticeship readiness curriculum during their term of service in the American Climate Corps.

American Climate Corps members will now have access to a streamlined pathway into federal service after a recent update to modernize the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Pathways Programs.

Today, three states across the country, including Vermont, New Mexico, and Illinois are launching new state-based climate corps programs, building on 10 existing states that have already launched successful climate corps programs.

And finally, the President will announce a new interagency public private partnership to launch Energy Communities AmeriCorps, which will place American Climate Corps members in energy communities across the country to support projects in communities that have powered our nation for generations.

Read more at climatecorps.gov

We need programs that benefit future generations because it is crystal clear that capitalism will leave absolutely nothing.

The wealthy have no connection with humanity and humanity has no influence on the wealthy.

This is why We The People was the genesis of the country. The People will provide. #VoteBlue