Allen County Public Library’s Post

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, public library usage has soared. Along with it, so have the rates of violence against library staff and among its visitors.  The role of the library has continually evolved. Public libraries serve as vital social hubs, offering diverse educational services such as programs for both children and adults, resume workshops, job search aid, homework support, and technical/research assistance. Often public libraries are utilized by individuals and groups, serving as day shelters for at-risk populations. Additionally, they provide crucial computer access and high-speed Wi-Fi for the approximately one in five Americans lacking residential or smartphone connectivity.  In our focus on public safety, it is apparent that libraries are an invaluable community resource, and strategies to mitigate the violence and toxicity are crucial. Stay tuned for updates on our newest partnerships and projects in the field of public safety! #LearningSafely #Libraries #PublicSafety #PAVE

Where do I see myself going if education and outreach separate? Outreach workers do education while they are doing outreach. Education seems like it’s doing outreach anyway. This makes my head hurt, but I honestly don’t think I’m going to do E&O forever. I enjoy it. It gives me a lot of room to heal and freedom to explore things I want to explore. Eventually, I think I will go into direct service because I always find myself flouncing down the stairs to talk to the direct service advocates or CRAs at the desk. I know direct service is harder, and I might be terrible at it, but I think direct service might heal my heart more at some point. When I see the mommas, they remind me of my mom, and when I see the kiddos, I just see myself. Those littles…they’re future advocates it training. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like, or 5 years from now looks like. I don’t even know if I’ll be alive in 5 years. I think it’s all about right now, this moment. How am I showing up in community? How am I making a difference to someone? We can’t get to tomorrow, if we don’t make it through today. I know we have to be organizational and have a plan and do all the things, but I can just keep doing the best I can do, one day at a time.

New Contracting Opportunities The City of Los Angeles Youth Development Department (YDD) is seeking responses to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from vendors interested in providing as-needed services in one or more of the following categories: Training Program Evaluation, Community Outreach and Engagement, Marketing Video and Content Production, Graphics and Website Design, Social Media DJ and MC Services Brief descriptions of the categories are included below. Respondents may be selected as pre-qualified vendors for one or more service categories. Selected vendors will be included on a pre-qualified list of vendors that can provide services to YDD and other departments. Once a pre-qualified list is established, the departments will issue specific scopes of work for particular services and request bids from pre-qualified vendors in the appropriate service areas to perform the scopes of work. Successful bids will result in a Notice to Proceed and a City contract to perform services on an as-needed, on-call basis. https://lnkd.in/gKmgfMY3 CLICK HERE TO APPLY https://lnkd.in/gzt-i47P

🌟 Do you work with youth or young adults? Did you know that PA now has a transition website FULL of resources for people looking for employment, community living opportunities, and education after high school? Visit https://lnkd.in/gumD7_Ud to see it all! This is one of the many huge steps Pennsylvania has taken since becoming an Employment 1st state in 2016. We'll be highlighting more in the coming weeks, check out the link below and share with others in the meantime! #TransitionPlanning #EmploymentFirst #EmploymentForAll #DisabilityAwareness [ID: Yellow circle including text that reads: "Did you know PA has an entire website for young people planning their transition after high school?" pasecondarytransition.com.]

🗞️ Journalists trust me. Being invited to comment is a pleasure and a privilege. I do my best to bring evidence-based points to help the reader in a practical and positive way. I also like throwing in "what if"** type ideas some people might think ridiculous*. With this platform I'm given why wouldn't I attempt to stimulate new thinking and provoke change? 😄 Happy to help People Management magazine staff writer Mahalia M. this week. *The world is ridiculous. Imagine building HS2 to shave 20 minutes off the journey between Birmingham and London when we don't have childcare infrastructure to allow millions of parents to do their jobs? ** Here's one such that didn't make the cut. Mahalia: What are the main barriers to increasing the availability of wraparound child-care? Jessica: The availability of trained staff to play and look after children. What would be brilliant is if universities had links with all local primary schools and could offer training to students to be play leaders or in-home helpers. Imagine an evergreen supply of bright young things coming to care for our children after school until we came home? If mandatory community service for young people came into action wouldn’t this be a brilliant win-win? #workingparents #childcare #journorequest

A Journey of Empowerment: The Child Online Protection Project In a quest to create a safer digital world, our mission is clear: reach 5000 Ghanaian youth aged 5-16, navigating the realms of internet, phones, and computers. Guided by the spirit of volunteerism, university students have embraced this cause. Their dedication isn't just about safeguarding young minds; it's an opportunity to hone vital skills like public speaking, effective communication, negotiation, and teamwork. Over the past 35 days, we've woven a tapestry of progress. Community calls have echoed with passion, setting the stage for meaningful interaction. Training sessions have illuminated the path, equipping our volunteers with knowledge to impart. We've meticulously crafted teams – each thread contributing to the fabric of change – from social media managers to graphic designers. With 25 days ahead, our journey continues. As the clock ticks, hope is our compass. The anticipation of nurturing brighter digital horizons fuels our spirits. Together, we're poised for the best – a harmonious symphony of empowerment, education, and progress. This is our story. This is our commitment. This is the tale of shaping a safer digital haven for generations to come. #ChildOnlineProtection. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION

A Journey of Empowerment: The Child Online Protection Project In a quest to create a safer digital world, our mission is clear: reach 5000 Ghanaian youth aged 5-16, navigating the realms of internet, phones, and computers. Guided by the spirit of volunteerism, university students have embraced this cause. Their dedication isn't just about safeguarding young minds; it's an opportunity to hone vital skills like public speaking, effective communication, negotiation, and teamwork. Over the past 35 days, we've woven a tapestry of progress. Community calls have echoed with passion, setting the stage for meaningful interaction. Training sessions have illuminated the path, equipping our volunteers with knowledge to impart. We've meticulously crafted teams – each thread contributing to the fabric of change – from social media managers to graphic designers. With 25 days ahead, our journey continues. As the clock ticks, hope is our compass. The anticipation of nurturing brighter digital horizons fuels our spirits. Together, we're poised for the best – a harmonious symphony of empowerment, education, and progress. This is our story. This is our commitment. This is the tale of shaping a safer digital haven for generations to come. #ChildOnlineProtection. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION

A Journey of Empowerment: The Child Online Protection Project In a quest to create a safer digital world, our mission is clear: reach 5000 Ghanaian youth aged 5-16, navigating the realms of internet, phones, and computers. Guided by the spirit of volunteerism, university students have embraced this cause. Their dedication isn't just about safeguarding young minds; it's an opportunity to hone vital skills like public speaking, effective communication, negotiation, and teamwork. Over the past 35 days, we've woven a tapestry of progress. Community calls have echoed with passion, setting the stage for meaningful interaction. Training sessions have illuminated the path, equipping our volunteers with knowledge to impart. We've meticulously crafted teams – each thread contributing to the fabric of change – from social media managers to graphic designers. With 25 days ahead, our journey continues. As the clock ticks, hope is our compass. The anticipation of nurturing brighter digital horizons fuels our spirits. Together, we're poised for the best – a harmonious symphony of empowerment, education, and progress. This is our story. This is our commitment. This is the tale of shaping a safer digital haven for generations to come. #ChildOnlineProtection. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION

During my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days, I had the privilege of experiencing firsthand the transformative power of community engagement. In our community, a local school stood as a beacon of hope for children from underprivileged backgrounds. However, it lacked essential amenities like clean water, proper classrooms, and even basic toilet facilities. The disparity in educational resources was stark, and it called for action. Motivated to make a difference, I, along with a dedicated team of fellow corps members, embarked on a mission to improve the school's conditions. We recognized that our role extended beyond the confines of our workplace, and that we had the potential to create real change in the lives of these young students. Our journey was marked by collaboration, advocacy, and unwavering determination. We sought government intervention to address the pressing needs of the school, emphasizing the importance of providing a conducive learning environment for these underprivileged children. In parallel, I took charge of a project that would have a lasting impact—a new toilet facility for the school. The construction of this toilet facility was not just a physical structure; it represented hope, dignity, and a tangible change in the learning conditions of those students. It was a testament to the power of community engagement, reflecting our commitment to making a positive impact beyond the borders of our daily work. This experience taught me that learning and growth extend far beyond the borders of the office. It showcased the profound impact we can have when we take our skills, determination, and passion and apply them to meaningful causes. It's a reminder that we can make a difference in the world, one project at a time, and that the lessons we learn outside the workplace often leave the most indelible mark on our hearts and minds. #CommunityEngagement #MakingADifference #BeyondTheOffice

A Journey of Empowerment: The Child Online Protection Project In a quest to create a safer digital world, our mission is clear: reach 5000 Ghanaian youth aged 5-16, navigating the realms of internet, phones, and computers. Guided by the spirit of volunteerism, university students have embraced this cause. Their dedication isn't just about safeguarding young minds; it's an opportunity to hone vital skills like public speaking, effective communication, negotiation, and teamwork. Over the past 35 days, we've woven a tapestry of progress. Community calls have echoed with passion, setting the stage for meaningful interaction. Training sessions have illuminated the path, equipping our volunteers with knowledge to impart. We've meticulously crafted teams – each thread contributing to the fabric of change – from social media managers to graphic designers. With 25 days ahead, our journey continues. As the clock ticks, hope is our compass. The anticipation of nurturing brighter digital horizons fuels our spirits. Together, we're poised for the best – a harmonious symphony of empowerment, education, and progress. This is our story. This is our commitment. This is the tale of shaping a safer digital haven for generations to come. #ChildOnlineProtection. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION