You're Invited: Hennepin County Fixit Clinic pilot program seeks volunteers

Are you a handy man or woman? The Hennepin County Fixit Clinic could use your able hands and big heart! Check out the upcoming clinics, where you can drop by with an item in need of repair or lend a hand and give someone else's beloved household good a second chance at life. Clinics are scheduled throughout the fall at a variety of locations throughout Hennepin County; find out when they're fixing to stop by your neighborhood!

Hennepin County Fixit Clinic pilot program seeks volunteers

In various U.S. and European cities, people have established Fixit Clinics (also called Repair Cafes or Fixer Collectives), where volunteer fixers help members of the public fix their broken household goods and clothing. These fixit clinics share a common interest in trying to reduce the number of things thrown away by helping people repair their broken possessions.

The benefits are multifold: items get repaired and thus aren't discarded as waste, people learn valuable skills in trouble-shooting and repairing their own items, they and the volunteer fixers gain a feeling of satisfaction, and the events create connections between different community, age and ethnic groups and foster a sense of community.

Hennepin County is starting a Fixit Clinic pilot program. Volunteer fixers are needed to make this initiative a success.

Examples of items brought in for fixing: toasters, radios, DVD and CD players, clocks, computers, lamps, antiques, toys and clothing/linens. Volunteer fixers/coaches have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, wood working, small engine repair, sewing, and general tinkering.

Volunteer fixers are the heart of the fixit clinics. They bring skills and expertise, and have a strong desire to teach people and empower people.

Please email Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@co.hennepin.mn.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details or to volunteer! 

You're Invited: Minneapolis Idealist Grad Fair on October 9th

School is fully in session for this year's students, but for those who are considering heading back to school next year or sometime in the not-too-distant future, the Idealist Grad Fair is a great resource to learn about the schools, programs, and financial aid available to further your social impact career. See more details below about what to expect next week and don't forget to RSVP and save your spot at the head of the class!

You'reinvited to the Idealist Grad Fair at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday, October 9th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The fair is free and open to the public (but please do RSVP), and if you're thinking of going to grad school in the next year or two, we think you'll find it very helpful.

Generously hosted by the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the fair is for undergrads, professionals, and anyone thinking of applying to graduate school to further their social impact career.

You'll meet representatives from 76 schools offering graduate degrees in education, international affairs, nonprofit management, public policy, public health, and social work, among many others. There will also be a Q&A session on admissions and financial aid from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

To RSVP, learn more about the fair, and to see a full list of participating schools, visit:

http://www.idealist.org/step/gfattend/mlr/upcoming/view/fair/sjBg74CC2gW4/

Please share this message with friends and colleagues who might also want to attend.

Thanks, and I hope to see you there!

Kim Davidson

Idealist's headquarters is at 302 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA.

• © 1995-2012, Action Without Borders

Minnesota's Miracle: Learning from the Government that Worked

In the midst of times that seem more troubling than could possibly have been previously encountered, it can be comforting to consider that we, as Minnesotans, have indeed lived through and succeeded in times not unlike these before. Join Tom Berg, author of Minnesota's Miracle: Learning from the Government that Worked, and a host of other guest speakers whose contributions have made significant impacts upon the life of Minnesota. You'll gain insights into a past full of lessons we can to apply today and in the future as we work to create the next Minnesota miracle!

Please join us to celebrate the publication of Minnesota's Miracle  Learning from the Government That Worked by Tom Berg   Attorney and former member of the Minnesota State Legislature Program 4-5 PM in Cowles Auditorium. Reception 5-6 PM in the Atrium.  Books will be available for purchase. Social upheaval, political gridlock, and controversies over taxes, the environment, and an unpopular war:  the state of Minnesota in 1968 was a lot like the state of America today.  Tom Berg, a lawmaker in Minnesota during the 1970s, was a witness to - and participant in - the deal-cutting, arm-twisting, and just plain hard work that led to historic political shifts.  His account of the making of legislative history at the state level and relationships with federal and local governments has much to tell us about where we stand as a nation and how change happens. A firsthand look into the political and personal mysteries and realities that make real and significant differences in people's lives, Minnesota's Miracle is a civics lesson and legislative primer with a rare kick - it's as rollicking as it is relevant.  Berg tells the stories behind changes made in legislative policies and programs during a critical decade, describing the key players, their emotions, the politics they employed, their electoral wins and losses, the impact of national politics when Walter Mondale was elected vice president, and the role of important court decisions.  It was a time of partisanship, high emotions, violent protests, heated controversy, and outright political fights over issues that continue to haunt us; but it was also a time when government functioned well in what Time Magazine called "A State That Works."  Berg's behind-the-scenes view of the "Minnesota Miracle" is an account of living history that offers suggestions and hope as well as hard truths and cold facts. Featuring Guest Speakers: Eric Schwartz, Dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Jim Pederson, former state official and executive assistant to Gov. Wendell Anderson Martin O. Sabo, former Speaker of the Minnesota House and member of Congress Tom Berg, Minnesota's Miracle author, former state legislator and U.S. Attorney  Lee Munnich, Director of the State and Local Policy Program, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Sponsored by the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the State and Local Policy Program; the Martin Olav Sabo Lecture Series; the University of Minnesota Press; the Augsburg College Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning; the Citizens League; and the League of Women Voters Minnesota. The Martin Olav Sabo Lecture Series is a forum for distinguished individuals to address the challenges of public service for our states and nation.  The series honors the public service career of Congressman Martin Olav Sabo from Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. The Humphrey School's State and Local Policy Program on its tenth anniversary in 2002 inaugurated the lecture series with a lecture by Congressman Sabo about his own career and vision for public service.  The State and Local Policy Program was founded to help policy leaders and average citizens understand how changes in the global economy, transportation, technology, and the workplace affect communities. The Humphrey School of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota is hospitable to a diversity of opinions and aspirations.  The Humphrey School does not itself take positions on issues of public policy.

You're Invited: Submit your proposal for Five Minutes in Hell!

You've attended Ignite, Pecha Kucha, and TED, but have you ever spent 5 Minutes in Hell? Consider taking the stage at Hell's Kitchen at the next YNPN-TC event and burning up the mic. Proposals are due by Thursday night. No matter if you're in front of the crowd or watching the show from the audience, either way, we'll see you in Hell!

Are you ready for five minutes in hell? For the very first time, YNPN Twin Cities offers the stage to you, to share what you know best about work and life in a quick, fun environment. It's located in the deep, fiery kitchen of Hell. You'll surely not be alone. And we'll even provide you a fire-resistant platform to plead your case. This is Five Minutes in Hell—YNPN Twin Cities' next event taking place on Monday, October 29 at 6:00pm. This high-energy, fast-paced event is the perfect bite-sized opportunity to share your knowledge and sharpen your speaking chops with our audience. Who knows...you may hit it out of the park, become a trending sensation on Twitter, and be the next nonprofit thought leader hitting blogs and conferences nationwide (enter evil laugh). Proposals are due at 11:59pm CST on Thursday, October 4. The guidelines: Presentation must be 5 minutes. You will be timed (and burned to ashes if necessary). Presentation must sit on a slide deck—PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. You must be a member to submit a proposal. Hint: Membership is free. Sign up here. Make it something fun and tailored to the wants, needs, and interests of YNPN's membership (remember, that's people like you). You're welcome to team up—only the proposal submitter needs to be a YNPN Twin Cities member. Did we mention that's free? Submit your proposal today!  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of the Twin Cities, All rights reserved.

[Minnesota Rising Dispatch] September 2012

[#mnrising Dispatch] September 2012 Thanks to all those who made Saturday, September 22, 2012 such an amazing day at the Minnesota Rising 2012 Un/Conference: Leveraging Expansive Leadership for Our Minnesota! In the beautiful DLR Group event space filled to the brim with incredible emerging leaders spanning issue and career interests, we created new connections, shared powerful stories and ideas, and considered how we can think even bigger for a brighter future for our state and communities. Hats off to our talented 2012 Un/Conference planning team, industrious Network Partners, and generous sponsors, as well as to our numerous presenters, including the inspiring Solome Tibebu. Stay tuned to the Minnesota Rising blog as we continue to recap the great insights shared and partnerships developed in the weeks to come! While the day itself was awe-inspiring, it was one example of how we can continue building a network for what's next in Minnesota and leveraging expansive leadership for our state. To that end, we invite you to take part in the Minnesota Rising Cascading Conversations Tour and help to discover our generation's shared visions and values. With common purpose and shared vision, we can begin to shape the future of this place we so proudly call home, starting now. Leaders of Today and Tomorrow: 2013 Fellows Program Leaders of Today and Tomorrow, Minnesota Rising Network Partner If every woman viewed herself as a leader, what kind of world would we create? The League of Women Voters Minnesota's Leaders of Today and Tomorrow Fellows Program brings together women from diverse backgrounds and creates collaboration. Our program brings women together under the belief that women's leadership is different and necessary. Over the course of three months, fellows and mentors embark on an exciting journey of partnership, reflection, coaching, and inspiration. Activities include interactive discussions, a variety of guest speakers, and one-on-one mentoring. LOTT Fellows are challenged to envision themselves as current leaders and plan for future leadership opportunities. The program is designed to develop young women's potential to lead professionally, personally, and in their communities. Are you interested in developing your leadership skills? Apply to be a 2013 Fellow. Applications are due October 14, 2012. [Read more.] The Digital Divide Brian Cihacek, Guest Blogger Chester Irving Barnard, a telecommunications executive and author of Functions of the Executive, argued that one of the three functions of an executive was to establish and maintain a system of communication. At the time of his writing, the modes of communications were limited for Chester: he had postal mail, television and phone. Today's executive faces nearly double the modes; they have gained email, web pages and social networking. Over the past decade, the use of electronic or IT communications have increased and stand to become the dominant form of communication for most of the population. Yet as a recent Pew Research report tells a divide between the technological haves and the technological have not's remains. The report tells us that 1 in 5 American adults do not use the internet, particularly those who are senior citizens, those who prefer Spanish to English, those who have less than a high school diploma, and those living in households that make less than $30,000. So what does this mean for organizational communications?   [Read more.] Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend News from the Network Updates and events with our esteemed network partners and collaborators! Give & Take in the Creative Enterprise Zone Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Doors at 6:30pm, Event at 7:00pm MN Mattress Factory 558 Vandalia Avenue, St. Paul Free and open to the public Citizens League 2012 Civic Celebration Thursday, October 25, 2012 Doors 5:30pm, Program 6:30pm, After-Party 8:00pm Nicollet Island Pavilion 40 Power Street, Minneapolis 55401 Free and open to the public YNPN-TC's Five Minutes in Hell Monday, October 29, 2012 5:30pm - 8:00pm Hell's Kitchen, Minneapolis Proposals due by 11:59pm on Thursday, October 4   Making Our #MNRising Mark! Don't forget to tag your upcoming emerging leader events, thoughts, musings, and more, #mnrising, on Twitter and Facebook. Let's aggregate and organize ourselves for increased interaction and potential for collaboration!  Copyright © 2012 Minnesota Rising, All rights reserved.