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ITI Program: “This is one of the Best Trainings I Have Experienced”

February 25th, 2010 - Posted by OneStar Foundation - No Comments

Recently, we profiled the first training session of the Impact Texas Initiative’s first cohort of participants. In the article, we discussed the unusual style of the training session, and the great feedback it was getting. Today, we received the following letter from one of the participants. We could not be more delighted to receive this and learn first-hand about the benefit that this program is already having:

Jane, Jada and the OneStar Foundation,

I want to thank you for selecting me to participate in the second cohort of the Impact Texas Initiative. The first week of training was exceptional as were the leaders chosen. Many times, a room full of leaders can be overwhelming, especially leaders of non-profits who are so passionate. But this cohort found a healthy balance and worked together as a “team,” in all of the meanings of the word that we learned during training.

Barry and Joyce facilitated the material in a way that was engaging and extremely informational. This is one of the best trainings I have experienced, and I wish that our entire organization could participate!

Barry and Joyce commented early in the training that this is useful only if you go back to your organizations and implement. On my first day back in the office, I attended a local community group’s luncheon. It was there that the group’s leader introduced some changes that would be happening. I immediately started to think of what we had learned in training about teams and how change affects people. Like a good leader, the leader discussed the sense of urgency, the transparency that would be happening with communication and the rewards that would be given for top performers. As I heard a few people nearby start to mumble at the table next to me, I realized I was seeing the resistance to change already building. I do not know how this situation will end but I thought how great it would have been if everyone in the room could have been in training with me during that week!

I can’t wait for the next training session!

Rita

Tags: Capacity Building·Leadership·Nonprofit Organizations·OneStar Foundation·Social Impact

OneStar Grantees Made MLK Day “A Day On, Not A Day Off”

February 12th, 2010 - Posted by OneStar Foundation - 1 Comment

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our grantees did some amazing things for their communities. Scroll down to read about their MLK Day service projects:

Amarillo Independent School District (ISD) / Amarillo ISD AmeriCorps: Each AmeriCorps member planned lessons on the ideals of Dr. King, and presented them to groups of elementary school students.
AVANCE, Inc. – El Paso Chapter / AVANCE – El Paso AmeriCorps: The AmeriCorps members partnered with the local Children’s Health Insurance Program office to reach out to and educate local parents on health insurance options for their children.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas / CCCTX-ESDR AmeriCorps Case Management: Worked with Keep Austin Housed AmeriCorps Program and LifeWorks at the MLK Day of Wellness distributing shoes, coats, socks, meals, hair cuts, massages, hearing exams, referrals to services and more.
Casa De Amigos of Midland / STARS: The program held a Senior Fair, where they presented information to seniors on healthy living, general well-being and exercise.
Central Dallas Ministries (CDM) / N2 Texas Corps: AmeriCorps members held several projects, including repairing two homes with bcWorkshop and former Dallas Cowboys running back and 2010 Hall of Fame candidate Emmitt Smith; preparing meals for the homeless at SoupMobile; organizing the children’s library at Roseland Community Center; sorting CDM thrift store items; creating welcome bags for CityWalk@Akard’s new residents; and reflecting on Dr. King’s service.
Communities In Schools of Central Texas / CIS of Central Texas AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps members made 50 hats for terminally and chronically ill children through Happy Hats, adding a positive note to each hat. In addition, the members marched in Austin’s MLK Day march and rally.
City Year, Inc. / City Year San Antonio: Members participated in the city’s MLK Day march.
College Forward / College Forward Partnership for Higher Education: AmeriCorps members held five projects: working in The Caring Place’s food bank and thrift store; beautifying Copperfield Nature Trails; cleaning Guerrero Park; volunteering and playing with children at the Greater San Marcos Youth Council shelter; and cleaning and interacting with residents at the Southside Community Center shelter.
Communities In Schools – Dallas Region / CIS – Dallas Region AmeriCorps Program: Members met and discussed why Dr. King was important, the difference he made and how to put his spirit into action at schools and in their community.
Easter Seals Central Texas / ASSET*AmeriCorps: Members surveyed 13 apartment complexes for accessibility features; AmeriCorps*VISTA members will upload this data into the Access Texas Housing Web site. Members also repaired the wheelchair ramp and fence at an Accessible Housing Austin!-managed house. In addition, member Phillip C. earned a Certificate of Appreciation for his assistance with an MLK Day event at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Front Steps / Keep Austin Housed AmeriCorps Program: Along with members from Catholic Charities and Goodwill, Front Steps’ AmeriCorps members hosted the annual MLK Day of Wellness, a four-hour homeless resource fair that gave shoes, socks, coats, backpacks, hygiene kits and various donated items to over 400 homeless individuals. They also provided foot care, eye exams, haircuts, massages, STD screenings, mini-case management sessions and information on accessing service providers.
Goodwill Industries of Central East Texas / TMC MentorCorps: Members gathered and distributed children’s books. They also participated in the 18th Annual MLK Commemorative March. In addition, they attended a banquet that honored mentors from different organizations from their community.
Harris County Department of Education / CASE AmeriCorps Kids’ Day Project: Members distributed AmeriCorps information at Houston’s MLK Day parade. In addition, members discussed the “I Have A Dream” speech and did an activity with children at the Jewish Community Center.
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. / Jumpstart Texas / Dallas: Members organized a canned food drive and donated the collected food to a local nonprofit and fellow AmeriCorps program, Central Dallas Ministries.
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. / Jumpstart Texas / Lubbock: Members worked on several projects: cleaning rooms at the Ronald McDonald House; gathering care package supplies to send to troops deployed overseas; playing Loteria and talking with a retirement community’s members; and beautifying a preschool and elementary school.
National Association of Community Health Centers / Community HealthCorp – Texas / Brownsville Community Health Center (BCHC): Members served food at the Good Neighbor Settlement House. They also gave free blood pressure checks and information about BCHC services at the Ozanam Center, a homeless shelter and services center.
National Association of Community Health Centers / Community HealthCorp – Texas / Valley Primary Care Network: Members visited a local nursing home, where they spoke to the residents about MLK Day, sang songs from MLK’s protest in Selma and recorded the residents describing their experiences with the civil rights movement.
Project Transformation / Project Transformation AmeriCorps: Community volunteers, staff, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps alumni sorted book donations and organized a library at Wesley Rankin Community Center. The book donations were form from Barnes and Noble, which distributed 2,000 books to Project Transformation over Christmas.
Schulenburg Weimar In Focus Together Inc. / SWIFT AmeriCorps: Members conducted a food drive at grocery stores in Schulenburg and Weimar, then sorted and delivered the donations to the Weimar Community Food Pantry and the Schulenburg Area Food Pantry.
Texas A&M International University / TAMIU ADELANTE: AmeriCorps members from Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Carrizo Springs, Crystal City, Cotulla, Zapata, Hebbronville, San Diego, Benavides and Edinburg provided educational activities on Dr. King’s actions, moments and events for students in third through seventh grade.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Del Rio: Members distributed food to parents while children learned about Dr. King through coloring books and storytelling.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Eagle Pass: Members created coloring books of Dr. King and distributed them to Seco Mines Head Start, They also read to children and taught them about Dr. King.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Laredo: In Webb County, AmeriCorps members distributed handmade blankets, clothing, toys and food baskets to 20 families living in colonias. Members raised the money for blanket fabric and sewing supplies and hand made these beautiful, warm blankets for the children and adults.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Lower Rio Grande Valley: Members and volunteers canvassed the colonias, speaking to over 1,800 people about the 2010 Census and how it impacts communities.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Western Rio Grande Project: Members developed an emergency goods response system that will help provide essential food, hygiene products and household items to families after a disaster. The project was launched in Fort Hancock and may be expanded to Canutillo and Socorro. In addition, materials were gathered to help 12 families.
Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Zapata County: Members visited a nursing home, where they talked to the residents and shared diabetes management information with them.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / Texas A&M University – Kingsville: AmeriCorps members held educational arts and crafts project with the children at three Kingsville Housing Authority housing developments. The members led the children in learning about Dr. King as well as African-American inventors Garrett A. Morgan and George Washington Carver.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / Texas State University: In the morning, members volunteered at the Greater San Marcos Youth Council Emergency Shelter, where they prepared breakfast and lunch for residents and played with children. In addition, members adopted and cleaned a San Marcos park; they will continue beautifying the park throughout the year.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / University of North Texas: AmeriCorps mentors cleaned the interior and exterior of an adult day care center in Lewisville, preparing the facility for its opening next month.
Travis County Department of Human Services / Travis County CAPITAL AmeriCorps Project: Along with Waste Management, members worked on trail clearing, mulching and Chimney Swift tower installation on a wildlife trail.
United Way of El Paso County / HIPPY El Paso: Members divided up and worked on three different projects: cleaning and repairing a house for a local family; sorting food for a local food drive; and cleaning out the Westside Animal Shelter’s storage room and animal play area.
United Way of El Paso County / Ready for Disasters: Along with HIPPY El Paso and AmeriCorps NCLR Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe sorted canned goods and distributed them to the Salvation Army, the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, the El Paso Rescue Mission, the Center Against Family Violence and additional organizations.
University of North Texas / Texas HIPPYCorps: Members sorted cans and perishable foods for the North Texas Food Bank.
The University of Texas at Austin – Charles A. Dana Center / ACE AmeriCorps: Members cleaned the Austin Groups for the Elderly headquarters, beautifying a historical building while also organizing the materials of a nonprofit that provides classes, fun activities and free rides to Austin-area senior citizens.

Many of our grantees submitted service project photos to us. Visit our MLK Day album on Facebook to view them!

Tags: AmeriCorps·AmeriCorps*Texas·MLK Day·OneStar Foundation·Texas·Volunteerism

Watch the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Webcast on Service

January 21st, 2010 - Posted by OneStar Foundation - No Comments

JustGood.tv, which broadcasted our Texas Social Innovation Initiative video conference, recently held another great online event. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, JustGood.tv broadcasted the MLK Day Virtual Town Hall, a conversation that spanned several cities across the country. Various speakers in Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York City, Sacramento, Phoenix and St. Louis discussed the work of over 70,000 nonprofit organizations, and how that work is capturing the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

For more information on the MLK Day Virtual Town Hall and to view the event’s schedule, visit HandsOn Network’s MLK Day 2010 Web page. This online event was sponsored by Points of Light and HandsOn Network.

Tags: Civic Engagement·MLK Day·Nonprofit Organizations·OneStar Foundation·Social Impact·Volunteerism

Tweeting for Impact

December 23rd, 2009 - Posted by OneStar Foundation - 8 Comments

We’ve found Twitter to be a great way to stay informed about what’s going on in the nonprofit sector. We use it to chat with our colleagues, learn about new programs and meet new contacts doing great things for the people of Texas.

Because Twitter has been such a valuable resource for us in 2009, we wanted to start 2010 off right and share with our colleagues a few lists of Twitter feeds that we find especially informative and interesting.

This list was compiled using the Texas nonprofit organizations, Texas nonprofit employees and Texas/national nonprofit stakeholders we are following on Twitter. However, it is not a complete list of all nonprofit organizations, employees and stakeholders who tweet.

Do you follow a Texas nonprofit organization, Texas nonprofit employee or Texas/national nonprofit stakeholder on Twitter who is not on any of these lists? If so, feel free to add them in the Comments section!

Texas Nonprofit Employees who Tweet

@pastelmagick –Emily Babb, Database Manager, Capital Area Food Bank
@jberetta – Jacqueline Beretta, CEO, TexasNonprofits (San Antonio)
@SCaldwell – Stacy Caldwell, Executive Director, Dallas Social Venture Partners
@Karlacantu – Karla Cantu, Agency Relations Director, Capital Area Food Bank
@rjcarreon – RJ Carreon, Executive Director of Teach For America (Rio Grande Valley)
@acolehour – Alese Colehour, Story Bank VISTA, Capital Area Food Bank
@juliacuba – Julia Cuba, Executive Director, GENaustin
@Ddavenport – David Davenport, President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank
@LaylaFry – Layla Fry, Communications Director, Southwest Key Programs (Austin)
@lisa_goddard – Lisa Goddard, Advocacy and Online Media Director, Capital Area Food Bank
@jeremygregg – Jeremy Gregg, Executive Director, Executives in Action (Dallas)
@HeatherMcK – Heather McKissick, President and CEO, Leadership Austin
@kerri_qunell – Kerri Qunell, Vice-President, Communications, Capital Area Food Bank
@aimyclair – Aimy Steadman, Online Development Coordinator, Capital Area Food Bank
@elmundodemando – Armando Rayo, Director, Hands On Central Texas (Austin)
@GTF_Wynn – Wynn Rosser, Executive Director, Greater Texas Foundation (Bryan)
@LIVESTRONGCEO – Doug Ulman, President and CEO, Lance Armstrong Foundation (Austin)
@cmvara – Christina Vara, Community Relations Assistant, Capital Area Food Bank
@kimberwillis – Kim Willis, Communications Coordinator, Capital Area Food Bank
@hailayates – Haila Yates, Marketing and Outreach Manager, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success (Austin)

Texas Nonprofit Organizations, Including Faith-Based and Community Organizations, That Tweet

@AARPTX – AARP Texas
@Asaustin – AIDS Services of Austin
@acatexoma – American Camp Association (Texas/Oklahoma)
@CenTexRedCross – American Red Cross of Central Texas (Austin)
@AmerYouthWorks – American Youthworks (Austin)
@theArcofSA – The Arc of San Antonio
@AFTS – Art From the Streets (Austin)
@Austinelderly – Austin Groups for the Elderly
@austinhumane – Austin Humane Society
@AustinPartners – Austin Partners in Education
@BookSpring_TX – BookSpring (Austin)
@BrazosEducation – Brazos Education Foundation (Waco)
@bcloftexas – Business & Community Lenders of Texas
@Capital_IDEA – Capital IDEA (Austin)
@CFNTEXAS – Caring Family Network (Austin)
@CASATravis – CASA of Travis County
@caseamericorps – CASEAmeriCorps (Houston)
@CCDOFW – Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth
@CCcentraltexas – Catholic Charities of Central Texas (Austin)
@thecipheratx – The Cipher (Austin)
@CSchoolsTX – Citizen Schools in Texas
@CityYearSA – City Year San Antonio
@CollegeForward – College Forward (Austin)
@ciscentraltx – Communities in Schools Central Texas (Austin)
@cishouston – Communities in Schools Houston
@DallasSVP – Dallas Social Venture Partners
@Dallaswomensfdn – Dallas Women’s Foundation
@EIFdotorg – Education is Freedom
@Emancipet – Emancipet (Austin)
@ GIVEtoAUSTIN – Entrepreneurs Foundation (Austin)
@eschouston – Executive Service Corps of Houston
@Frontsteps – Front Steps (Austin)
@GENaustin – GENaustin
@GSCTXcouncil – Girl Scouts of Central Texas (Austin)
@Girlstart – Girlstart (Austin)
@GoodwillDallas – Goodwill Industries of Dallas
@houstongoodwill – Goodwill Industries of Houston
@LubbockGoodwill – Goodwill Industries of Lubbock
@grannysplace – Granny’s Place, Inc. (Dallas)
@Gr8rTXFdtn – Greater Texas Foundation (Bryan)
@Houstonaplus – Houston A+ Challenge
@HoustonFoodBank – Houston Food Bank
@AustinJCRC – The Jewish Community Association of Austin
@LIVESTRONG – Lance Armstrong Foundation (Austin)
@Lead_Austin – Leadership Austin
@LifeWorksAustin – LifeWorks (Austin)
@Mealsonwheels – Meals on Wheels and More (Austin)
@restore_austin – Restore Austin
@RiverCityYouth– River City Youth Foundation (Austin)
@RMHDallas – The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
@FTWORTHRMH – The Ronald McDonald House of Ft. Worth
@RMHCNorthTexas – The Ronald McDonald House of Greater North Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth)
@TxSacredPlaces – Sacred Places (Fort Worth)
@SAAFdn – San Antonio Area Foundation
@TX4K – Sense Corp Texas 4000 for Cancer
@komenforthecure – Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Dallas)
@southwestkey – Southwest Key Programs (Austin)
@TarrantLit –Tarrant Literacy Coalition
@txedpartners – Texas Association of Partners in Education (Austin)
@TNOYS – Texas Network of Youth Services (Austin)
@TexasTribune – Texas Tribune (Austin)
@TravisAudubon – Travis Audubon Society
@unitedway_abtx – United Way of Abilene
@Unitedwayca – United Way Capital Area
@LiveUnitedLbb – United Way of Lubbock
@LiveUnitedNTX – United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
@UWTarrant – United Way of Tarrant County
@UnitedWayWilco – United Way of Williamson County
@TheWomensMuseum – The Women’s Museum (Dallas)
@youthconflict – Youth Conflict Resolution Center

Other Sector Stakeholders That Tweet

@americorps – AmeriCorps
@americorpsalums – AmeriCorps Alums
@AmeriCorpsNCCC – AmeriCorps*NCCC
@VISTAbuzz – AmeriCorps*VISTA
@AmeriCorpsWeek – AmeriCorps Week
@ISReligion – Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion
@BushSchool – The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University
@CNMDallas – Center for Nonprofit Management (Dallas)
@VIPHouston – City of Houston Volunteer Initiatives Program
@nationalservice – Corporation for National and Community Service
@DellSocialInnov – Dell Social Innovation Competition
@ILH_IGH – I Live Here, Give Here: Austin’s Campaign for Philanthropy
@learnandserve – Learn and Serve
@NSLC – Learn and Serve Resources
@TheLBJSchool – Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin
@MLKDay – MLK Jr. Day
@NCVS – The National Conference on Volunteering and Service
@serviceresource – National Service Resources
@RGK_Center – RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, The University of Texas at Austin
@seniorcorps – Senior Corps
@ServeDotGov – Serve.gov
@TANOorg – Texas Association of Nonprofits
@Teainfo – Texas Education Agency
@College4AllTX – Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
@VMconnect – Volunteer Match

Tags: Community-based Oganizations·Faith-based Organizations·Foundations·Nonprofit Employees·Nonprofit Organizations·OneStar Foundation·Resources·Social Impact·Social Media·Twitter·Volunteerism

Join us for our New Media Conference today to learn more about the Texas Social Innovation Initiative

December 9th, 2009 - Posted by OneStar Foundation - No Comments

Join us for a new media streaming video conversation with leaders in the nonprofit sector, who will talk about their collaborative efforts to stimulate socially innovative activities in Texas. This exciting conversation will take place today at 10:30 a.m. CST. You can participate in the conversation in the following ways:

Watch live streaming video from bboomer at livestream.com

Tags: Governor's Nonprofit Leadership Conference·Nonprofit Organizations·OneStar Foundation·Social Impact·Social Innovation·Texas

Older Entries

ITI Program: “This is one of the Best Trainings I Have Experienced”

OneStar Grantees Made MLK Day “A Day On, Not A Day Off”

Watch the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Webcast on Service

Tweeting for Impact

Texas Nonprofit Employees who Tweet

Texas Nonprofit Organizations, Including Faith-Based and Community Organizations, That Tweet

Other Sector Stakeholders That Tweet

Join us for our New Media Conference today to learn more about the Texas Social Innovation Initiative

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