nonProfits work: 31 January 2010

5 February 2010

STOP!

These Crazy Background Checks HAVE TO STOP!

via Prison Talk by justjoni1223 on 2/5/10

I am just so angry and pissed off right now that I cant see straight. My daughter is dating the most sweet and loving person I have ever met BUT he happens to have a felony conviction on his record from when he was just a very very young man:eek:. He cant get a job no matter what:angry:, he applys and applys to companys (he has a degree and has served time in the armed forces). I found him a job today on Craigs List and he was turned down Bcause of his past record for which he has served his time and just because he has that Stupid thing on his record ( that will follow him around for a life time) he didnt get the job.............

I just dont even know what to think when Dusty gets out. How is he going to stay out of prison if they require him to have a job when no one is willing to hire him????? Even if there is any jobs out there in a year in 1/2 or 2 what will he do????

I want to know what in the heck can we all do to change this CRAZY mixed up system???

Thanks, I just needed to vent a little!!!

Hugs, my other Family

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Bahati: Out of Compton Television Trailer

via YouTube on 2/5/10

Network Trailer for Bahati: Out of Compton Executive Producer: Matt Hall Exec. Producer/Writer/Director: Sonny Marler Executive Producer: Eric Smart Producer: Prema Ball Producer: Tulsy Ball Director of Photography: Ryan Purvis

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

comfort.

ventisette: it was exactly this.

via still upside down on 2/5/10

ventisette: it was exactly this.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

3 February 2010

Word Origins

Naughty Bits in the Bible

via Marginal Revolution by Alex Tabarrok on 2/2/10

From a review of The Uncensored Bible:

In court we swear to tell the truth with a hand placed on the Bible. But in the book itself, Jacob, nearing death in Egypt, asks Joseph to swear an oath not to bury him there by “put[ting] your hand under my thigh” (Gen. 47:29). Earlier in Genesis, Jacob wrestles with God, who touches “the hollow of his [Jacob’s] thigh” (32:25). “Thigh” happens to be a biblical euphemism for male genitalia; it’s from Jacob’s “thigh” or “loins” that his numerous offspring sprang.

This was new to me:

The practice of swearing an oath while touching one’s or someone else’s testicles was common in the ancient Near East (Abraham also orders a servant to do just that in Genesis 24:2). Its linguistic memory survives in our word “testify”—testis being the Latin both for “witness” and the male generative gland.

I will never be able to listen to George Clinton and Parliament's funkadelic classic, "I just want to testify, what your love has done for me," in the same way again. The album title is interesting in this context also.

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Check out this site I found on StumbleUpon!

Discover Favorites Stumblers

Hi,

Faith

golden-gate.jpg (JPEG Image, 1600x1200 pixels) - Scaled (5..
dontclickthis.whatingods.name/...

- Jim

View now! >

About StumbleUpon
Discover great web content recommended by your friends and like-minded stumblers just by clicking the Stumble! button - learn more.
If you do not wish to receive emails sent by your friends via StumbleUpon, please click click here.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

2 February 2010

Check out this site I found on StumbleUpon!

Discover Favorites Stumblers

Hi,

Whaat?

2008 / Juketube
piminski.com/2008_Jutube.html

- Jim

View now! >

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Check out this site I found on StumbleUpon!

Discover Favorites Stumblers

Hi,

soylent green is people

bfw_446.png (PNG Image, 600x600 pixels)
bigfatwhale.com/archives/bfw_4...

- Jim

View now! >

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Check out this site I found on StumbleUpon!

Discover Favorites Stumblers

Hi,

R U Weird?

not an insult
viruscomix.com/page500.html

- Jim

View now! >

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Health Care for the Homeless 05 MARCH 2010

Download now or preview on posterous

Health Care for Homeless_3 5 10_1 20 10.pdf (418 KB)

Please consider this opportunity to collaborate and increase our capacity as a coalition..jim

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

The Great Motivator, Leading by Example.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Who Gets Denied Census 2010 Jobs?

Don't Deny Census Jobs to Former Prisoners

via Change.org's Criminal Justice Blog by Matt Kelley on 2/2/10

The U.S. Census Bureau will provide temporary employment for thousands of Americans this year, but if one Congressman gets his way, people with criminal convictions need not apply.

We’ve reported here in recent weeks about the devastating effect the census has on poor communities and inner cities -- for example, by counting prisoners where they’re incarcerated rather than where they’re from. The census also misses millions of hard-to-count, usually poor individuals, which means struggling neighborhoods are denied their fair share of federal and state resources.

What’s more, the census offers thousands of good temporary jobs -- but most don't go to people with records. The Washington Post reports that thousands of former prisoners in D.C. and beyond are taking tests to be census takers or clerks. But while census rules on criminal records are vague, it’s clear that most with felony charges on their record won’t get a callback.

Experts in post-release parole and employment tell the Post that background checks would be sufficient to weed out dangerous criminals from the census, while still allowing those with old non-violent convictions a chance at the job. But Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz (above left) doesn’t see it that way. He introduced a bill in January that would prohibit anyone charged with or convicted of a crime from serving as a census taker. Chaffetz got fired up about this issue after an error in background checks allowed people with serious criminal records to be hired last year. Now, though, his overreaction could mean a missed opportunity for good post-release jobs.

"I don't want a convicted felon going to knock on Grandma's door," Chaffetz said. "With unemployment as high as it is, there are plenty of people who don't have criminal backgrounds who we can better trust to gather this personal, sensitive information."

That’s the spirit, Chaffey. Think about it. Every year, we release 700,000 people from prison. Denying them opportunities is a surefire way to make sure they get locked up again (incidentally, on taxpayers like Grandma's dime).

Send Chaffetz an email today urging him to withdraw his bill and support second chances for people convicted of non-violent crimes, or people who have proven over a period of years that they've changed. Bills like this send the wrong message, so it's on us to send Chaffetz the right one.

Herbert Wood, a 41-year-old man who spent eight years in prison for running a chop shop, described to the Post his difficulties in seeking a second chance.

"I fill out a lot of applications," Wood said. "I go to all the job sites. When I tell them I've got a record, I can see the change in their facial expressions. I go in with hope, and I lose it."

The census does enough damage to inner-city communities without also denying job opportunities to the formerly incarcerated in a disasterous economy. Take action today: tell Chaffetz why his bill is a mistake.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

The Other 'Do Not Hire List'.

At a networking event last August in Bellevue, Wash., a recruiter pointed to a software developer across the room. He's qualified, but "very bad in his presentation skills," he told career coach Paul Anderson and a human-resources official for a big technology concern. "What's that guy's name?" Mr. Anderson remembers the HR official asking, and then scribbling the name in her notebook. "I want to add him to our blacklist." MORE

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Scholarship Opportunity

Download now or preview on posterous

L000000_Tradescholarship_Flyer (2).pdf (141 KB)

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

2011 Federal Budget Proposal: Where. Next: How?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/01/us/budget.html

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

The Bail Bond System

How the Bail Bond Lobby Keeps Our Jails Packed

via Change.org's Criminal Justice Blog by Matt Kelley on 2/2/10

More than half a million people will sleep in jails across the U.S. tonight, most of them facing charges for non-violent crimes, and most of them poor. They’re spending months behind bars because they can’t afford bail, and a powerful bail bond lobby is largely responsible for keeping them there.

A groundbreaking three-part story on NPR last week looked into our country’s uniquely backwards bail system, which -- like our prison system -- locks people up not only to preserve public safety, but also to maintain private profit. Counties and states will spend $9 billion on pre-trial detention this year, and countless lives will be disrupted or destroyed by long, unnecessary stays in jail.

As Megan Greenwell wrote on Change.org’s Poverty in America blog this week, the defendants caught in this trap are overwhelmingly poor. NPR, for example, leads its reporting with the story of a Texas man who spent six months in jail because he couldn’t afford bail or even the bond deposit. He was eventually forced to accept a felony conviction, which lost him a chance at a job when he got out. The cycle continues -- but it doesn’t have to be this way.

The problem rests mainly with the powerful bail bond lobby -- a business that earns safe profits by collecting non-refundable deposits (bond) from families and friends of poor defendants in exchange for putting up bail. When the defendant shows up for trial, the bond company recoups its money, but keeps the deposit. Even if the defendant doesn’t show up, the bond company usually comes out ahead, because the state only charges a fraction of the bail.

The better alternative to packed jails are pre-trial release programs, which allow the release and monitoring of defendants before their hearings -- at a fraction of the cost of detention in jail. But bail bonds companies have successfully lobbied county officials across the country to gut pre-trial release programs in order to protect their predatory business.

When NPR’s Laura Sullivan asked bail bondsmen about their lobbying efforts, they didn't mince words.

“We take care of the people who take care of us,” one told her.

‘We're tenacious; we do our job," another says. "People should not just be released from jail and get a free ride. I mean, this is the way the system's got to work."

It’s a problem similar to the private prison companies that lobby governments for longer sentences, three-strikes laws and expanded immigration detention. These shadowy dealings cost taxpayers literally billions, and cost defendants their livelihoods, homes and families -- all for the profit of a few.

Photo Credit: Jackson West

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Behind The Bail Bond System

Audio NPR Reports:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122336311

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122725819

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122725849

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

From: Craig Stevens

Download now or preview on posterous

Veterans Justice Outreach.pdf (194 KB)

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

1 February 2010

Asset Forfeiture: My Yard; My Ball.

Asset Forfeiture: “A License to Steal”

via The Volokh Conspiracy by Ilya Somin on 1/31/10

Radley Balko has an interesting article in Reason detailing the many abuses of the asset forfeiture system, which often allows police to seize property without compensation — even in cases where the owners have not been convicted of any crime:

Over the past three decades, it has become routine in the United States for state, local, and federal governments to seize the property of people who were never even charged with, much less convicted of, a crime. Nearly every year, according to Justice Department statistics, the federal government sets new records for asset forfeiture. And under many state laws, the situation is even worse: State officials can seize property without a warrant and need only show “probable cause” that the booty was connected to a drug crime in order to keep it, as opposed to the criminal standard of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Instead of being innocent until proven guilty, owners of seized property all too often have a heavier burden of proof than the government officials who stole their stuff.

Municipalities have come to rely on confiscated property for revenue. Police and prosecutors use forfeiture proceeds to fund not only general operations but junkets, parties, and swank office equipment. A cottage industry has sprung up to offer law enforcement agencies instruction on how to take and keep property more efficiently.

As I have argued elsewhere, many such seizures are a fairly blatant violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which bars state seizures of “property” without “due process of law.” In many cases, the authorities hold on to the seized property for months at a time without giving innocent owners any opportunity to contest the seizure whatsoever. If that isn’t deprivation of property without “due process,” it’s hard to see what is. The Supreme Court recently passed up an opportunity to curb asset forfeiture abuses in Alvarez v. Smith, which I wrote about in this Findlaw column written before the Court threw out the case on procedural grounds. Hopefully, the issue will make its way back to the Supremes, and they will see fit to give innocent property owners at least some protection for their constitutional rights.

I am not optimistic that the political process will protect these rights on its own. As Radley explains, police departments and prosecutors in many areas have a vested interest in perpetuating these practices. In addition, most of the people whose property is seized in this way are relatively poor and lacking in political influence. There have been a few modest reforms over the years. But for reasons Radley outlines, they have only addressed a small part of the problem.

Copyright © 2010
This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only.
The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:
)

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

This is how we do it.

A decidedly non-populist approach to sentence reduction: Corporate fatcats first

via Grits for Breakfast by Gritsforbreakfast on 2/1/10

Upon learning that the U.S. Sentencing Commission issued a 78-page document suggesting amendments to sentencing guidelines to reduce sentences and increase use of alternatives to incarceration for corporate crime, I have two immediate thoughts: 1) That's probably a reasonable idea, but 2) Why should crimes committed by corporations be first in line for reduction instead of crimes that apply to average people?

Drug sentences are also too high, but the priority is keeping the Wall Street guys out of prison? First things first, I guess.

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

From Rick Flanagan

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Feel free to forward out this information

1) Attend the next Pittsburgh Public Schools East Regional Advisory Committee meeting to be held at Pittsburgh Peabody on Tuesday, February 9th beginning at 7 PM. Provide input into a plan that will shape the region's academic and facilities operations for the east section of the City of Pittsburgh. This is a very timely and important event. Do not let this plan move forward without your input!

2) Below and attached is inform on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS along with some amazing trainings and jobs informational sessions.

3) Lastly, do you have risk factors that put you at risk for Kidney disease-- if so, get screened before it is to late. On March 11th the Kidney Foundation is sponsoring a very valuable screening at Kingsley Association. Sign up now because slots are limited. Check out the attached flyer. Feel free to distribute and post this flyer as you wish.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Download now or preview on posterous

ENECflyer.pdf (171 KB)

Download now or preview on posterous

KidneyScreening.pdf (124 KB)

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

From Grammar Girl

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com

Is "Swum" a Word?

I'm frequently asked a variation of this question from Vivian M.:

I know that "swam" is the past tense of "swim." Is there such a word as "swum"? It sounds peculiar but I think it's correct, though I never hear anyone using it.

"Swum" is a word; it's the past participle of "swim." You use it when writing in certain tenses.

A trick to help you remember when to use "swum" is that past participles always come after a helping verb such as "have" or "had."

· I have swum. (present perfect tense)

· I had swum. (past perfect tense)

· I will have swum. (future perfect tense)

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

what's outside the Box?

<p>outside the box from joseph Pelling on Vimeo.</p>

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Local Students need Your Help

City Charter High School recently lost their mentor for their FIRST

team, and are looking for someone to help them with design. They must

ship in 24 days! City Charter is Title 1 and most students are living

below the poverty level. They tell me that even if you cannot make a

multi-visit commitment, having someone with design expertise give them

some guidance would be extremely beneficial.

If you are interested, please contact Debbie Domingues-Murphy (see below).

Thanks,

Reid

PS If you end up helping them, please let me know so that your

generosity can be recognized!

===============================================

City Charter High School (www.cityhigh.org) is a downtown charter school

with a FIRST robotics team. We are looking for mentors to assist in the

design of our robot. We currently have mentors with programming experience,

but lack engineering expertise. Information about this year's challenge can

be found at www.usfirst.org. We meet Mon-Fri, 2:30 to 5:00 at our school,

717 Liberty Avenue, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh. We must ship by February 23.

Even if you can't make a long term commitment, a consultation and some

guidance would be greatly appreciated.

If you need more information, please let me know.

Thank you,

Debbie

Debbie Domingues-Murphy, M.S.Ed.

City Charter High School

717 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

domingues-murphy@cityhigh.org

412-690-2489

FIRST- http://www.usfirst.org/

Vision

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."

Dean Kamen, Founder

Mission

Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. His passion and determination to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology are the cornerstones of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

Jim Reid

jreid@monvalleyinitiative.com

412.464.4000 x4034

SouthWestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Coordinator

Mon Valley Initiative

www.monvalleyinitiative.com

303/305 East Eighth Ave

Homestead, PA 15120-1517

Fax: 412.464.1750

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Local Students need Your Help

City Charter High School recently lost their mentor for their FIRST

team, and are looking for someone to help them with design. They must

ship in 24 days! City Charter is Title 1 and most students are living

below the poverty level. They tell me that even if you cannot make a

multi-visit commitment, having someone with design expertise give them

some guidance would be extremely beneficial.

If you are interested, please contact Debbie Domingues-Murphy (see below).

Thanks,

Reid

PS If you end up helping them, please let me know so that your

generosity can be recognized!

===============================================

City Charter High School (www.cityhigh.org) is a downtown charter school

with a FIRST robotics team. We are looking for mentors to assist in the

design of our robot. We currently have mentors with programming experience,

but lack engineering expertise. Information about this year's challenge can

be found at www.usfirst.org. We meet Mon-Fri, 2:30 to 5:00 at our school,

717 Liberty Avenue, 9th Floor, Pittsburgh. We must ship by February 23.

Even if you can't make a long term commitment, a consultation and some

guidance would be greatly appreciated.

If you need more information, please let me know.

Thank you,

Debbie

Debbie Domingues-Murphy, M.S.Ed.

City Charter High School

717 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

domingues-murphy@cityhigh.org

412-690-2489

FIRST- http://www.usfirst.org/

Vision

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."

Dean Kamen, Founder

Mission

Jim Reid

jreid@monvalleyinitiative.com

412.464.4000 x4034

SouthWestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Coordinator

Mon Valley Initiative

www.monvalleyinitiative.com

303/305 East Eighth Ave

Homestead, PA 15120-1517

Fax: 412.464.1750

Posted via email from jimuleda's posterous

Free Tax Services at Parental Stress Center, East Liberty, Just Harvest, Goodwill - McKeesport - Pass It On!

Download now or preview on posterous

PSC Tax Program, Benefit Bank, Fin Ed Flyer 1.19.10.doc (277 KB)

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

Untitled

Download now or preview on posterous

MVI WorkForce Events - February 2010 (2).pdf (2355 KB)

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

31 January 2010

Bunny in the Sky

victrolaism's blog, page 8 - StumbleUpon

via imgfave | popular by digous on 2/17/09

via http://victrolaism.stumbleupon.com/archive/70/
faved by digous

Posted via email from the Un-Official Southwestern PA Re-Entry Coalition Blog

The Boom and Bust Rap

via Marginal Revolution by Alex Tabarrok on 1/25/10

The Keynes-Hayek rap video is finally here and it's brilliant. The lyrics cover Keynesian economics and Austrian business cycle theory very well but what I liked best were the many ways in which the visuals, the story and the music subtly and sometimes not so subtly (!) parallel the economics--e.g. note what happens to Keynes after the big party!

It's clear that a lot of thought went into integrating the music, the story and the lyrics in order to make the most of this medium and I give my colleague Russ Roberts and John Papola much props.