<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">pg359606-forward</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pattyguzowski@gmail.com">pattyguzowski@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 2:07 PM<br>Subject: Patricia - Careers in Community Organizing for Social Justice for Alpha Phi Omega members at OU!<br>To: "Hopkins, Laura" <<a href="mailto:lh260406@ohio.edu">lh260406@ohio.edu</a>><br>
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<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Hannah Wittmer</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hannah@thedartcenter.org" target="_blank">hannah@thedartcenter.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 2:42 PM<br>
Subject: Patricia - Careers in Community Organizing for Social Justice for Alpha Phi Omega members at OU!<br>
To: <a href="mailto:pg359606@ohio.edu" target="_blank">pg359606@ohio.edu</a><br>
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Dear Patricia,<br>
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I hope you are doing well. My name is Hannah Wittmer and I'm a community organizer with the Direct Action and Research Training (DART) Center. I noticed on the OU student activities website that you are associated with Alpha Phi Omega, and I was hoping you
may be able to help me identify students who might be interested in learning more about a career in community organizing. We will be visiting the OU campus on Wed., May 5 @ 7PM in the Baker University Center, Rm 231 to talk about careers in community organizing
with DART.<br>
<br>
As you may know, the DART Center has been conducting a paid training program for those seeking a career in grassroots community organizing for the last ten years, and has enabled dozens of people to launch permanent salaried positions in the field. You may
also be familiar with our Columbus, OH affiliate -- BREAD -- and their work to substantially lower payday lending rates in Ohio.<br>
<br>
This is an excellent opportunity for people interested in organizing at the local level around common issues affecting low-moderate income communities like affordable housing, immigrant rights, access to healthcare, quality public education, youth services,
crime, etc. Let me know if you have any direct referrals to certain students involved with Alpha Phi Omega. I would be happy to provide a personal invitation to our Info Session by phone or email to anyone that you know that has a particular interest in this
area. Though I have learned over the years that the personal invite seems to work the best, I was also wondering if you could make an announcement during an upcoming meeting or pass along an announcement to any relevant listservs. I have provided a brief
description below and a flyer attached for the DART Center, and our efforts on campus. Please feel free to forward this announcement to available listservs, fellow student group leaders, interns, or to anyone you know that might be interested in pursuing grassroots
organizing as a career.<br>
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Thank you for your help, and please let me know about certain students you could recommend.<br>
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(ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW)<br>
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Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Hannah Wittmer<br>
Community Organizing Recruiter<br>
Direct Action and Research Training Center<br>
(785) 841-2680<br>
<a href="mailto:hannah@thedartcenter.org" target="_blank">hannah@thedartcenter.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.thedartcenter.org/" target="_blank">www.thedartcenter.org</a><br>
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Message to forward to OU students and alums:<br>
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**************************************************<br>
Careers in Community Organizing for Social Justice Available to OU students and alums!<br>
<br>
The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center will be on the OU campus on Wed., May 5 @ 7PM in the Baker University Center, Rm 231 to discuss careers in the field of community organizing with students interested in empowering their communities and working
for social change.<br>
<br>
Please RSVP if you are interested by contacting Hannah Wittmer at <a href="mailto:hannah@thedartcenter.org" target="_blank">
hannah@thedartcenter.org</a> or calling 785.841.2680 with your name, phone #, email address and school.<br>
<br>
After years of research into best practices, experimentation, evaluation, and refinement, the Organizers Institute has become THE elite field school in the training of grassroots community organizers in the country.<br>
<br>
DART is now accepting applications for the 2010 DART Organizers Institute, the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering such
topics as:<br>
<br>
* Entering a community<br>
* Identifying and training local leaders<br>
* Strategic planning and issue cutting<br>
* Relationship and community building<br>
* Direct Action on community issues<br>
* Fundraising<br>
<br>
The DART Center has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:<br>
<br>
* Education reform in low-performing public schools<br>
* Job Training<br>
* Drugs and Violence<br>
* Criminal Recidivism<br>
* Living Wage<br>
* Neighborhood Revitalization<br>
* Predatory Lending<br>
* Affordable Housing, etc.<br>
<br>
The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $7,000 living stipend, transportation to the classroom orientation and host
city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into permanent full time salaried
positions ranging from ($32-35,000/year for Associate Organizers and $35-40,000 for Lead Organizers starting salary + health & benefits). DART is a 501(c)(3) organization, therefore, employees of the DART Network are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
under the recently enacted College Cost Reduction and Access Act. For more information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness, visit
<a href="http://www.ibrinfo.org/" target="_blank">www.ibrinfo.org</a>.<br>
<br>
Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the country.<br>
<br>
The 7-day classroom orientation and 15-week infield training start in July 2010. Training locations will include placements in several states around the country.<br>
<br>
Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master's degree, JD,
or similar life experience is preferred though not necessary. Candidates must have a college degree or be graduating prior to July 2010. Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to
build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with religious institutions, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting.
OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.<br>
<br>
Low and moderate income communities across the country are feeling the bite of recession on issues like healthcare, education, employment, and housing. At the same time, the field of community organizing has obtained more legitimacy and interest than ever before
given its recent profile in the 2008 presidential election. Low and moderate income communities are in need of passionate and talented individuals with the dedication and skills necessary to transform communities. Now is the time to stand up for social and
economic justice.<br>
<br>
To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to contact: Hannah Wittmer, DART Network, 820 New York Street Lawrence, KS 66044 or by email:
<a href="mailto:hannah@thedartcenter.org" target="_blank">hannah@thedartcenter.org</a>. If you have any questions, please call: (785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous OTs at the DART website:
<a href="http://www.thedartcenter.org/" target="_blank">www.thedartcenter.org</a>.<br>
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-- <br>
Senior - Advertising Management<br>
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism<br>
<br>
Cell: (440)283-7776<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:pattyguzowski@gmail.com" target="_blank">pattyguzowski@gmail.com</a><br>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>In LFS,<br>Laura Hopkins<br><br>Alpha Phi Omega - National Service Fraternity<br>President<br>440.223.8382<br>