Don't Miss Taste of the Arts Tomorrow!

Don't miss one of Fort Wayne's best arts and cultural events of the year! Arts United's Taste of the Arts takes place tomorrow, Saturday, August 28 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Arts United Plaza & Freimann Square (in fact, the party extends for a few blocks). If you've never attended, here's a brief look into what you will find at Taste of the Arts: an art fair and art exhibits, area restaurant booths, entertainment (on three different stages), tours, movies, performances, and hands-on activities for all ages.

AND, something special this year - Dessert. That's right, a Taste of the Arts after-party, called Dessert. Enjoy four different rock-&-roll bands, and yummy food and beverages. Dessert will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the parking lot stage by Clay and Berry streets.

During the evening, an old-fashioned trolley will be available every 15 to 20 minutes - the trolley will connect Dessert, Rock the Plaza, and a block party on The Landing - and each of these events is free! (And the trolley is, too.)

I can't wait - see you there!

Ivy Tech and Charis House Partner on New Classroom Site

This week marks the beginning of a special partnership between two Chamber members - Ivy Tech Northeast and Charis House. The two organizations have come together to offer classes to residents at Charis House as well as to Ivy Tech students. The first class being offered begins this week, and is an academic skills advancement course that emphasizes life and success tools for incoming students. Eventually, Ivy Tech hopes to add other introductory level courses as well as those that promote keyboarding and computer skill sets. 

The new classroom facility provided by Charis House holds 19 computers, printer, and a teacher station supplied by Ivy Tech. The goal of the partnership is not only to provide another convenient class location for students, but to work specifically with Charis House in incorporating higher education into the life goals of their residents. Rules and guidelines have been outlined in the Ivy Tech Community Campus Resource Guide for faculty and students to ensure added protection and confidentiality at this location.

Easter Seals Invites You to attend "The Artful Ask"

Easter Seals Arc and the Arc Foundation is hosting a development training with one of the country’s ‘grandmasters of fundraising’, Dr. Jerry Panas, and is inviting local, regional, and national professionals to attend. A day with Jerry Panas is scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 2010, from 8am – 5pm at Sweetwater Sound, 5501 US Hwy 30, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Panas, author of 12 books, including two that are the best-selling books in the field of fundraising, will explore the 27 areas of fundraising and philanthropy that will dramatically change the way money is raised during the next three years.

“The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be” will be the theme as future trends of fundraising are re-inventing themselves during a rebuilding economy, presenting both challenging and exciting times for organizations that rely heavily on donated and granted income. The cost to attend is $65 and attendees will leave with a better vision of efficient strategies and tactics that are key for successful future fundraising.

For more information click here. To register to attend The Artful Ask, please call 260.456.4534 ext. 265, or send payment to William Andreas, Easter Seals Arc, 4919 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825.  Checks should be made payable to Easter Seals Arc.

Habitat for Humanity in the Running for Pepsi Refresh Funds

Chamber member Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity needs your help! It’s time to put that community spirit to work. They are in the running for $250,000 with the Pepsi Refresh Project, but they need Fort Wayne's help to make this happen. If Habitat wins, $180,000 will go toward building three additional houses in 2011 – which means three additional Fort Wayne families will have safe, affordable housing.

Additionally, $45,000 will go towards upgrading Chamber member Habitat ReStore, and $25,000 will go towards rejuvenating the 5 Million Cans Fort Wayne Recycling Program.

Habitat needs to get the most votes in this contest in order to receive the funds. You can vote right here, or you can text 101659 to PEPSI (73774). When you sign in, bookmark your page, and you can visit the page and vote every day! (You are allowed to vote one time a day, every day.) Voting continues until the end of August. 

Please spread the word! If you would like more information on how you can help Habitat achieve this goal, contact Andi Jo Shroyer at ashroyer@fortwaynehabitat.org or (260) 422-4828, ext. 302.

Disability Advocacy Coalition Commemorates Legislation

This morning at 10 a.m., join members of the Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition as they hold a press conference on the steps of the Federal Building (1300 South Harrison Street) in Fort Wayne to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
 
In Northeast Indiana nearly 22,000 individuals have a disability. The Coalition invites you to join them to hear from individuals whose lives have been transformed because of ADA and discover how our community has made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. The Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition will also unveil a report card on the efforts being made to make this a disability friendly region. Chamber members who are part of the Coalition include AWS Foundation, Easter Seals ARC, Goodwill, Pathfinder Services, and Turnstone. 

History Center Debuts Blog

We'd like to welcome Chamber member The History Center to the blogosphere! They recently launched a blog with postings from local historians and writers. “History Center Notes and Queries” is available at historycenterfw.blogspot.com. 

The idea is to present a variety of articles about Fort Wayne's events and people. Initial offerings have included posts on Lindenwood Cemetary's 150th anniversary, Civil Ware heroine Eliza George, and how to determine the accuracy of historical photograph descriptions.

The blog is intended to supplement the History Center’s publications such as the “Old Fort News” and provide information for those wishing to know more about our community as they explore the museum and other historical sites in the city and county.

Talent Initiative Accepting Applications for Grant Funds

Here's some news you may be able to take advantage of. The Talent Initiative has just released the guidelines and application for $2.3 million of Professional Development Grants. The Talent Initiative is a regional program that was established last year by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Of the $20 million, $2.3 million was earmarked for professional development efforts centered on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curricula and project-based learning (PBL) in public and private schools in 11 Northeast Indiana counties.

We know something about that! We're very grateful to the Talent Initiative for providing support of our collaborative partnership with the Northeast Indiana Defense Association, called Industry to Educators Externship. Industry to Educators will equip math and science educators with the tools to prepare their students for STEM careers right here in Northeast Indiana. 

School corporations, individual schools, colleges and universities, and nonprofits are eligible to receive funding. The Talent Initiative expects to award grants through two grant cycles. The deadline for the first cycle of grant applications is December 1, 2010. Grant awards will be made commensurate with the expanse and impact of their intended outcomes; innovative ideas that meet the grant criteria in unique ways are encouraged. Read more about these grants here.