Politics,debating and cool community stuff

Ok dok, its been a crazy week, lots of exciting political action on the local, state and federal level. If you want to check out more about candidates for all elections, check out the Secretary of State's website on elections where you can see the a video voter's guide and the online voter's pamphlet, pretty nifty! http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/2008.aspx
You can also check the status of your voter registration and watch some cool videos including instructions for how to run for office. Get involved!

Don't be Speechless in Seattle.

Come on, that's lame!

If you want to get involved a different way and learn about the Seattle Non-profit community, there is the idealist.org career fair next week, check it out:

*WEDS OCT 22, 11 am - 3 pm, at Seattle University,Campion Hall Building, 914 East Jefferson Street, mainentrance via East James, Seattle; Please join us for theIdealist.org NONPROFIT CAREER FAIR. Our nonprofit careerfairs are a place for everyone who wants to make adifference in the world (including recent undergraduate or grad school students, experienced nonprofit professionals,and those wishing to transition to a nonprofit career fromother sectors) and we encourage you to consider the widerange of opportunities to move forward in your nonprofitcareer. To register, free for jobseekers info including schedule, directions, anda list of registered organizations, http://snipr.com/seattlecf or idealist.org

Some other interesting events coming up this weekend and they early part of next week that will energize you and give you the opportunity to learn something new are:

**SAT OCT 18, 9:30 pm, at Cinerama, Seattle; LangstonHughes African American Film Festival is proud to be theCommunity Copresenter of Noah's arc: Jumping the Broom,Dir. Patrick Ian Polk (US 2008 102 min), part of the 13thAnnual Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Picking upwhere Logo's landmark African-American ensemble televisionseries left off, Alex, Ricky, and Chance join Noah and hispartner Wade on a cross-country trip for Noah and Wade'swedding on Martha's Vineyard. Instead of a weekend ofrevelry, secrets and lies are exposed, hearts arechallenged, and friendships are turned upside down. Asassy, sexy look at the lives of a CLOSE-KNIT QUARTET OF GAY MEN who discovered their real family when they foundeach other. info http://www.threedollarbillcinema.org/

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**MON OCT 20, 7 - 9 p.m., at Kane Hall, Room 130,University of Washington, Seattle; Free, but advanceregistration is requested. UW Forum on the FINANCIALCRISIS: How Did We Get Here, and What Does it Mean?Panelists include: Richard Bennion - Executive VicePresident and Residential Lending Director, HomeStreetBank; Alan Hess - Professor, Foster School of Business;Lew Mandell - Visiting Professor, Foster School ofBusiness; Dick Zerbe - Professor, Evans School of PublicAffairs; Eric Zivot - Professor, Economics. Steve Scher -KUOW Host. Registration and info 206-543-0540 or 1-800-AUW-ALUM
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TUES OCT 21, and subsequent 3rd Tuesdays, but pleaseconfirm, 6 - 8 p.m., at Boards & Commissions room, FloorL2, City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, downtown Seattle; PublicMeeting on POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY held by the Office ofPolice Accountability Review Panel (OPARB), info 206-684-8146 or opareviewboard@seattle.gov, Listen to meetings inprogress on the Boards & Commissions Listen 206-684-4718

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TUES OCT 21, 7:30 pm, at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8thAvenue at Seneca Street, Downstairs, enter on Seneca,Seattle; Antonia Juhasz on 'THE TYRANNY OF OIL.' Aleading expert on international trade and finance, AntoniaJuhasz is a fellow with Oil Change International and theInstitute for Policy Studies. Author of The Bush Agenda,Juhasz returns to Town Hall to talk about her upcomingbook, The Tyranny of Oil: the World's Most PowerfulIndustry, and What We Must Do To Stop It. Presented by theTown Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay BookCompany. Tickets $5 available athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/, 800-838-3006 and at thedoor beginning at 6:30. Town Hall members receive priorityseating. info http://www.townhallseattle.org/

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Also, an interesting TV show worth tuning in for on the local community access channel:

TUES OCT 21, and subsequent 3rd Tuesdays, 6 - 6:30 pm, onSCAN, the Seattle Community Access Network TV, cablechannels 77 (Comcast) and 29 (Millennium) and streamingvideo at http://www.scantv.org/ ; The Abe Keller PeaceEducation Fund is sponsoring a new cable program seriesentitled THINK PEACE: PEACEMAKING IN A TROUBLED WORLD.This month's program TBA. Sponsored by American FriendsService Committee in collaboration with the Abe KellerPeace and Education Fund. [confirmed 10/10/07]

And for those of you who have kids and want to learn how to talk with your children about multiculturalism, which is super important, check out:

SUN OCT 19, and subsequent 3rd Sundays, 1 - 3:30 pm,email for location and agenda; P.E.A.R. PRESCHOOLEDUCATORS AGAINST RACISM. How to teach young children toreject bias and embrace differences requires deep study andreflection of our own teaching practices. Are you trulylistening to children? Come join this conversation. infoMollypeach@hotmail.com [added 5/22/05]

Let people know what you offer

Some opportunities to put your ideas out there and get heard. Put your voice out there and get involved! Have an awesome day!

I thought this was a funny picture.

The Service Board is recruiting volunteer mentors and high school students to participate now! Our program runs from January to June combining mentoring, job/life skills, social justice, community service, snowboarding, and good food. Check out our website today to apply! http://www.theserviceboard.org/ Register Now for the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment "Employer Awards Program" on October 23rd! The Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) will hold its annual Employer Awards Program on October 23rd in Seatac Washington. The event recognizes businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in Washington State that have excelled in hiring people with disabilities. In addition, the Governor's Trophy is awarded to an individual with a disability for outstanding achievement in promoting the hiring of people with disabilities. The Awards Program is organized collaboratively by the Washington State Business Leadership Network (WSBLN) and the GCDE. Advance registration is required and space is limited. There is no cost to attend and a free breakfast is included. To register, visit the following secure link: https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/swb3/59985. Those who need assistance with the online registration process can call 360-438-3168 (voice) or 360-438-3167 (TTY), Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm. Thanks to assistance from the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Hearing Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle, accessibility accommodations are available for people with disabilities. ________________________________________________

Tenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest Announcement and Rules The King County Civil Rights Commission is sponsoring its Tenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Essay Contest open to all eighth grade students attending public and private schools in King County. The purpose of the essay contest is to encourage middle and junior high school students to think critically about Dr. King's legacy of peace and justice. The essay theme is: "Breaking Barriers." Rules: The essay must be between 750 and 1,000 words and must be typed and doubled spaced on white 8.5" by 11" paper. Contestants must submit one typed original and one typed copy of the essay, by mail. The name, address, home phone number, e-mail address, school, grade and age of student author must be submitted on a cover page, accompanying the essay. Do not place your name on any other page. All essays must be in English and include a bibliography, utilizing at least one book source, but no more than one web site source All essays will be judged on the author's: knowledge of Dr. King and his work in the Civil Rights Movement, originality of ideas, development of point of view, insight into the essay theme, clarity of expression, organization, and grammar. All essays submitted become the property of the Commission and may be displayed on County web pages, in County publications, in local publications, and in the King County Tunnel. Submitted essays will not be returned. Prizes: First Prize: $100.00, Second Prize: $75.00, Third Prize: $50.00. Deadline: All essays must be postmarked by Friday, November 28, 2008, and mailed to: King County Civil Rights Commission, 400 Yesler Way, Room 260, Seattle, WA 98104. Essays postmarked after that date will not considered, nor returned. Notification of Winners: Winners will be notified by mail. Awards will be presented to the winners at the 22nd Annual King County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in January, 2009, held in downtown Seattle. ____________________________________________________

The Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs seeks community exhibition proposals and artist group shows for display in two City Hall gallery spaces in 2009. http://www.seattle.gov/arts/opportunities/calls.asp?opp=294&cat=0&view=3 ________________________________________________

Grants Promote Cultural Conservation Worldwide Genographic Legacy Fund The Genographic Legacy Fund, administered by the National Geographic Foundation, supports indigenous or traditional communities worldwide. The Fund provides grants of up to US$25,000 for the preservation and revitalization of tangible or intangible indigenous or traditional culture. Examples of funded projects include documenting a traditional language or oral history, traditional language training or curriculum development, and preserving significant sites and artifacts. Projects must show strong local community involvement in their planning, governance, and implementation and must deliver positive, tangible, and sustainable benefits. The next application deadline is December 15, 2008. Detailed information on the Fund's priorities and application guidelines are available on the website listed above. https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/legacy_fund.html

Great things going on in Seattle

Well its Monday morning and we are all trying to get back in the saddle at work, if that is possible even. Here are some interesting exhibits, events and workshops that really give voice to diverse populations in Seattle and around the world.

This girl below is already telling her friends about it :) I really recommend you check them out.

University ofWashington, Seattle; Health Alliance International presents a photojournalism exhibit about the War in Iraq"Unembedded: Four INDEPENDENT PHOTOJOURNALISTS ON THE WARIN IRAQ." Unembedded is a national touring exhibit of 60visually stunning images that tell the story of the war'simpact on the lives of the Iraqi people on the ground. Itis a powerful expression of the effects of war that golargely ignored by the mainstream media. Work by GhaithAbdul-ahad, Kael Alford, Thorne Anderson, and RitaLeistner. Free. ends Dec 5, infohttp://depts.washington.edu/haiuw/hai/news/category/events/upcoming_events/ or http://www.unembedded.net/ orhttp://www.healthallianceinternational.org/

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**THROUGH OCT 16, 7 pm & 9 pm, at Northwest Film Forum,1515 12th Ave., Seattle; Northwest Film Forum presents TheExiles. After years of researching in the Native Americancommunity in Los Angeles, Kent Mackenzie began working withhis protagonists on The Exiles in 1957. The film, which wascompleted three years later, is one of the first - andstill very few - films about YOUNG INDIANS IN THE BIG CITY.For his empathetic observations, Mackenzie found poeticforms far from any kind of romanticizing. His graphic sensefor nocturnal Los Angeles, the use of interviews with theactors as the inner monologues of the protagonists, and thesoundtrack of the rock 'n' roll band "The Revels" fromradios and jukeboxes make The Exiles a masterpiece of greatbeauty and integrity. Its restoration closes another gapin the history of independent cinema. Special "Exiled inSeattle" Film Release Party, Q&A with Sherman Alexie on Oct14 after 7 pm screening. Tickets $6/NWFF members,$6.50/children & seniors, $9/general. Tickets and infohttp://www.nwfilmforum.org/, info 206-329-2629

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Human Trafficking: Modern Day SlaveryOn Thursday, October 23rd from 7 to 9pm the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC) will present a free workshop entitled “Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery” at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Center, 15236 21st Ave SW, Burien. Our featured speaker will be Rani Hong, a trafficking survivor and founder of the Tronie Foundation. We will also have education, resources and opportunities for action as we launch the Stop the Demand Campaign. IPJC and religious communities have been working on the issue of human trafficking for a number of years. We invite you to join us in making a difference on the issue of Human Trafficking. We encourage you to bring friends and other networks to the event.

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Also for some relief and relaxation after exposing yourself to some fantastic events and exhibits or even some relief from work, check out:

Health & HappinessTue 10/14/08 03:00 PM to Tue 10/14/08 04:00 PMJoin the Stress-Free Seattle Campaign! Free yoga and mediation seminars conducted by The Art of Living Foundation. Learn practical techniques that can be practiced at work and and home.
http://stressfreeseattle.org/

Wow life is busy

Hey there,

What a busy week, there are so many great Seattle community events happening, its really inspiring/ time consuming but I love every minute of it. Today I went to the Seattle Race Conference which was a great opportunity to dialogue with folks about current issues of race and culture in Seattle. Really fantastic!


Here are some fantastic opportunities in the next week or so to invest your time in:


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Interfaith Leadership Summit What: NICO’s sixth annual Interfaith Leadership Summit “The Fourth Way: Hope for Compassionate Living” When: Monday October 13th, 2008 Where: Seattle Center (contact John Hale to confirm location) Cost: Free The Seeds of Compassion program culminated in an inspiring Day of InterSpirituality on April 15, 2008. NICO was represented on the Seeds of Compassion Executive Planning Team and we now have the opportunity to continue our collaboration in support of the Seeds of Compassion sustainability initiative called CAN, Compassionate Action Network. Specifically, NICO, CAN and Camp Brotherhood will jointly co-sponsor NICO’s Sixth Annual Interfaith Leadership Summit at the Seattle Center. The theme for this year’s summit is The Fourth Way: Hope for Compassionate Living – Learning is Healing; Healing is Learning. This will allow the energies created in April to widen the circle of friends acting compassionately for a better world. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact John Hale at jehale@earthlink.net 425-865-0659 Warm for Winter 08 Once again the Warm for Winter: 1000 Handmade Hats and Scarves Interfaith project is running strong. We are asking for beautiful handmade hats and scarves collected on or by 11/16/08. Last year 5,000 handmade hats and scarves were collected and distributed into 4 local counties to the homeless and needy. Start an Interfaith Knitting bee! Get your congregations together for a gift making session. Bring together people of all ages and faiths and create wonderful handmade gifts for our brothers and sisters in need. Pacific Fabrics will also be collecting for Warm for Winter at their 6 stores throughout the month of October. We are encouraging all faith communities to hold their own “Blessing of the Hats and Scarves” Service. Ask your minister and or Faith Leader if this is possible by the Sunday before the 16th of November. Many of you arranged this last year and the congregations really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful gifts from their own local faith communities. contact Janice Tufte: 206-675-2672 warmforwinter@yahoo.com Web: http://interfaithcouncil.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161
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The Seattle Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. cordially invites you to "A Celebration of Reds and Whites- A Wine Tasting Experience" featuring some of the most exquisite wines from the State of Washington and across the world. Also, the sorority celebrates its 2008-2009 year of service and the warm community supporters who have helped us throughout the years. View the work of local artists from C. Art Gallery as you sample various red and white wines and delightful cheese and chocolate pairings. A local expert from Pete's Winery will be on hand to offer wine tasting lessons and insight. Date: October 18th 2008 Time: 730-10pm Location: C Art Gallery- Community Room 843 Hiawatha Place South Seattle, WA 98144 Tickets are available for $25.00+service charge through &&&&&&http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/42760 or by contacting Seattle Alumnae by phone at (206) 666-9782 or via email at seattlealum@gmail.com.
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Living Voices Presents: The Right To Dream, written by Rachel Atkins October 23, 2008 Come enjoy an entertaining and thoughtful live theatrical performance at the Northwest African American Museum! The struggle and sacrifice for civil rights in America is witnessed in this compelling story. The Right to Dream recreates a young man's coming of age as an African American in Mississippi during the 1950's and 1960's. This program illuminates the issues of civil rights, leading audiences to understand how the fight against prejudice has shaped our history. Free to the Public Thursday, October 23, 2008 6:30pm-7:30pm Northwest African American Museum 2300 S. Massachusetts St. Seattle, WA 98144 206.518.6000 http://www.naamnw.org
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Human Rights Observers Needed in Guatemala – The national organization, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA), Guatemala Accompaniment Project (GAP) is recruiting qualified candidates to be human rights accompaniers. NISGUA is one of many organizations around the world that employ accompaniment as a vital tool in the global struggle for the respect of human rights. In the Guatemalan context, accompaniment creates a non-violent response to the threats, harassment, and violence faced by those who speak truth to power. They accompany survivors of Guatemala's 36-year-long civil war, grassroots organizations working for justice, and indigenous communities combating destructive mega-development projects on their land. For the first time ever, testimony from genocide survivors is being heard in Guatemalan courts. Please join us in supporting this historic process! Application Deadline: December 1, 2008; Next training: January 11-17, 2009; Six-month minimum commitment required. For more details: http://http://www.nisgua.org/get_involved/join_gap/

Volunteer Event Calendar

I know all of you in Seattle are looking for ways to support the community and one great way is to volunteer at non-profits who can really use your help.

A super cool resource for all of you folks looking to volunteer is the United Way volunteer event calendar. Here you can see opportunities that are available around the city, contact volunteer coordinators, get directions to the volunteer sites etc.

Check it out at:

http://www.volunteersolutions.org/uwkc/volunteer/calendar/

Rainy, Wack Economy, Debates, Non-profits and Volunteering

Howdy,

Everything in the title is actually in this blog post.... wild I know, read on.....

Tommorrow is the second presidential debate starting a 6p.m. PST. A couple of places to watch the debates that I know of are: Shoot me an e-mail if there are some other places I should let people know about!

The Moe Bar- Debate watch party -The second Presidential debate, with Washington Bus group for a party at Moe Bar (next to Neumo's in Capitol Hill).at Moe BarTue, October 7th at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Montlake Ale House- this is more of an organic and rowdy debate crowd, but definitely watching and enjoying the debate.

This has been a supercrazy week with the stock market and the world economy so it is a great time to learn from some folks in the community about the economy and your options. Check this out:

"IN THIS ECONOMY" Thursday, October 9, 7:00 PM Not A Number Gifts and Cards, 1905 N. 45th St, Wallingford Author Michael Tivana and Bob Xavier, a financial advisor are offering a free presentation on the economy. We live in a money-centric society and how money as we know it is changing, How do we chart our way through these turbulent times and keep our heads above water? This talk will be for people wanting to survive the looming economic crash. Free
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SIMPLICITY GATHERING: "MONEY, HAPPINESS, AND SIMPLICITY" Monday, October 20, 2008, 7:30-9:00 PM St. John United Lutheran Church, 55th & Phinney across from zoo Facilitated by Cecile Andrews: What is the source of human happiness, and what role does money have to play? The economy's troubles have many of us focusing even more on what's important to us while rejecting the false palliatives of consumerism and spending. cecile@cecileandrews.com, http://www.cecileandrews.com, http://www.phinneyecovillage.net
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And if your life is feeling crazy because of the economy, maybe you want a job in the non-profit world. If you are looking for a job in the non-profit world or you want to learn about non-profits, this is a great fair to check out!

Idealist.org Non-Profit Career Fair at Seattle University

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 11am-3pm. This event will take place in the Campion Hall Building at 914 E. Jefferson Street.To register (it's free for jobseekers), and for more details including schedule, directions, and a list of registered organizations, please go to: http://www.idealist.org/fairs Please note that not all organizations at the fair will have job openings on that day. Some will have jobs, while others will have internships and volunteer opportunities. Our nonprofit career fairs are a place for everyone who wants to make a difference in the world (including recent undergraduate or grad school students, experienced nonprofit professionals, and those wishing to transition to a nonprofit career from other sectors) and we encourage you to consider the wide range of opportunities to move forward in your nonprofit career. There are two great FREE workshops preceding the event:Meaningful Work for Experienced Adults: Considering a Nonprofit Encore Career?(Monday, October 20, 2008, 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Seattle University Student Center Room 160)http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Event/107365-96Making the most of the Seattle Idealist Nonprofit Career Fairhttp://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Event/107215-149
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Here is a really cool event that is bringing folks together to build community and develop leadership, two of my favorite things! I am planning to go for sure!

2008 Latino Community Fund Summit
Are you ready to make a difference in the Latino community? Are you ready to connect with and be part of Latino community and leadership? Are you ready to find cross-sector solutions to improve the lives of all Washingtonians?
The Latino Community Fund (LCF) in partnership with WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) and the University of Washington College of Education invite you to the:

2008 Latino Community Fund Summit
Working across sectors (business, academic, government, and non-profit) to strengthen community leadership.

Saturday Oct. 25th, 2008
8:00am to 2:30pm

Spirit of Washington Event Center
233 Burnet Ave. S
Renton, WA 98055
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This is a cool opportunity to volunteer in the U-district. Help young adults through art, you could have a big impact working with folks a bit younger than you. Definitely check it out.

Sanctuary Art Center
The Sanctuary Art Center is a non-profit art studio serving homeless youth and young adults ages 13-25 in the University District. The center operates five days a week and offers programs in Visual Arts, Theater and Music. Programs are instructed by professional and amateur artists from local community. The focus of our instruction is on creating meaningful relationships with the youth we serve as they are guided through the art making process. Most of the youth whom participate in our programs have experienced significant mental and or physical trauma. The programs we offer give youth an outlet for creative expression by which they can begin to create safety and meaning back into their lives.
We are looking for people to be volunteers for our drop in program. Volunteers are expected to come to the art center at least twice monthly for a school year. While here volunteers are responsible to help, instruct, and inspire youth in a variety of art mediums and music. Volunteers are also here to form positive adult relationships with the youth that utilize the art center.
Volunteers can choose from Tues 9am-12pm; Thurs 9am-12pm; Fri 4:30pm-7:30pm; Sat 10am-1pm
Contact: Adam Pierce
206.522.6256
volunteer@sanctuaryartcenter.org
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A rainy Saturday! Here are some interesting things to do next week.

Here are some cool opportunities to look into:

This is a really nifty opportunity to meet others folks committed to peace and justice through watching a movie. Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice have been doing this for years and if you can't make the movie but want to know about a good social justice movie to rent, they have a great archive list of movies they have shown in the past. Check them out!

Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice "Friday Night at the Meaningful Movies" Social Justice Films & Community Discussion ...Every Friday Night Free! - Donations Very Much Appreciated!! http://www.MeaningfulMovies.org All Films At: Keystone Congregational United Church of Christ, 5019 Keystone Place N., Seattle (Wallingford) 0.4 miles west of the I-5 NE 50th St. Exit - Metro Bus Routes 16, 26 & 44 Below: 1. Friday Night at the Meaningful Movies Schedule …followed by: 2. Other worthy events in the neighborhood (** indicates a change from the last posting)

Film: “WE FEED THE WORLD” (96 min, Erwin Wagenhofer, 2005) Friday, October 10, 2008, 7:00-9:30 PM Close to a billion of the nearly seven billion people on Earth are starving today. But the food we are currently producing could feed 12 billion people. This is a film about food and globalization, fishermen and farmers, the flow of goods and cash flow -- a film about scarcity amid plenty. Why doesn't a tomato taste like a tomato today? How does one explain that 200 million people in India, supplier of 80% of Switzerland's wheat, suffer from malnutrition? Why are thousands of acres of the Amazon being cleared to grow soybeans? Is water something to which the public has a basic right or, as the CEO of the world's largest food company Nestlé suggests, a foodstuff with a market value? (Event is FREE and open to the public! ...but Donations are kindly accepted).

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Community Women's Voices: "Organizing for Women's Political Leadership and Participation in the 2008 Elections" Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 - 7:30 - 8:00 pm (and 3 other showings!) Don't miss the airing of this month's Community Women's Voices hosted by chapter activist Jan Strout on Channel 77. This 28 minute public affairs program sponsored by Seattle NOW will feature Seattle NOW Board members, Terianne Wilson of the Red Hotz Blues Sisters Band and Lulu Carpenter of Ladies First/CARA. The October program airs four times per month on Channel 77. October air dates include" Wednesdays, October 8th & 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm and Saturdays, September 11th & 25th, 2008 @ 8:30 pm. The program is also streamed live at pacific time on the http://www.scantv.org website.

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Come Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Neighborhood Matching Fund! This is a fund from the City of Seattle that reaches out support community projects in various neighborhoods in Seattle. http://nmf20thanniversary-emailinvite.eventbrite.com/?invite=ODA3ODIvY3NoYW5hZmVsdEBjaS5iZWxsZXZ1ZS53YS51cy8x%0A Neighborhood Matching Fund 20th Anniversary Celebration When Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM (PT) Location Town Hall 1119 8th Ave Seattle, WA

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China Teaching Opportunity If you would like to teach English in China with a team of proven professionals for five months (or longer), the Graduate School, USDA and F&S International may have an opportunity for you. We are looking for college students or already graduated students (those between one and five years post-graduation with a B.A. degree or above) with excellent English language skills to work at elementary/high schools and universities in Dalian, Hangzhou, Beijing and other cities in China. As part of the program, we will provide a basic salary, free housing in modern facilities with Western conveniences, free Chinese lessons and an international travel bonus. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty (30) college, recently graduated university-level students, or adults with TESOL or teaching-related experience and strong English skills DATES: Five (5) months minimum (renewable once for a total of 10 months) – March 1, 2009 through July 15, 2009 or September 1, 2009 through January 15, 2010 Ten (10) months from March 1, 2009 through December 30, 2009 or September 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. BENEFITS: Basic salary of RMB 4000 per month (equivalent to USD 570); round-trip international airfare bonus (USD 500 – paid at the completion of program period of 5 months, or USD 1000 for 10 months); airport pick-up and ground travel assistance if necessary; free accommodation on or off campus in the form of a furnished flat with one bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom (24 hour hot water shower, TV, telephone, internet, bed, etc. Occupant will have to pay utilities, which should be no more than RMB 500.) A program for 10 months includes 2-3 weeks free to travel around China and free Mandarin lessons by native speakers. INSURANCE: The interns will be covered by a basic accident and sickness insurance through the Graduate School, USDA during the duration of their stay. LANGUAGE: Applicants need not know Chinese or to have taken Chinese classes. EFL and English majors are encouraged to apply. Those with majors in other subjects, such as social sciences, are also welcome to submit an application. DEADLINE: November 30, 2008 for spring placement, and March 30, 2009 for fall placement for spring and fall placement, postmarked. Rolling selection policy - Priority will be given to those who apply by the above deadline. Applications for the September start date only will be accepted after the deadline up until May 15, 2009. Please submit applications with all sections (main application, letters of reference, and official transcript) in one package. Letters of reference should be in a sealed envelope signed over the flap by the reference. References should comment on applicant's teaching ability and international/cultural experiences, and suitability for the assignment. Teachers must apply 4-6 months in advance of their desired program. We will confirm the offers 3 months before the starting date. Teachers are required to arrive 1-2 weeks earlier for Orientation and training in China. Interested applicants should e-mail Colin Fink at Colin_Fink@grad.usda.gov for a copy of the Chinese Internship Application http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org