Call for Applications: National CAPACD Community Development Training Fund

National CAPACD is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2009 Community Development Training Fund!

The Community Development Training Fund provides scholarships of up to $500 for individuals to attend trainings and conferences in the fields of housing, community and economic development.  The Training Fund was created to increase access to training and learning opportunities for staff at member organizations with operating budgets under $500,000.  These scholarships may be used to cover travel, accommodations, and registration fees at relevant trainings and conferences. 

Learning opportunities can also include engagements such as site visits to other community based organizations.  If you choose a learning opportunity that is not listed above, please provide a detailed description of it along with your application.  Please note that the Community Development Training Fund scholarships may not be applied to National CAPACD’s Annual Convention – if interested, please apply separately for a Convention Scholarship.

Scholarships will be offered in the form of a reimbursement.  Recipients must complete a National CAPACD evaluation of the training effectiveness in order to receive reimbursement. 

Applications must be received by December 1, 2008.  To receive a copy of the application, please download the application here.  For more info, please contact Hieu Truong, National CAPACD’s Program Coordinator, at .

 

NeighborWorks Foreclosure Basics Course Free to National CAPACD Members!

NeighborWorks America now offers an online foreclosure basics course for you and your staff to stay close to your clients while gaining the same valuable skills and knowledge on foreclosure basics offered at NeighborWorks training events.  The course costs $195 for the general public, but is being made available free of charge until December 31, 2008 for National CAPACD members!  

This new online course satisfies one of the requirements for counseling certification, and is equivalent to the popular two-day Foreclosure Basics course taught at NeighborWorks training institutes and regional trainings.  The course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about dealing with foreclosures, but is especially designed for people with one year of general homeownership counseling experience, and less than one year of foreclosure counseling experience. 

It’s a user-friendly learning experience, and comes with frequently asked questions and online help to ensure an efficient use of your time. 

For more information about the course and how to sign up, please contact Hieu Truong, National CAPACD’s Program Coordinator, at

Little Tokyo Service Center Gets Green Light on Recreational Facility!

 
After a 15 year long campaign, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles City Council to build a multi-use facility for sports and community activities.  The center will sit on a 36,000 square foot city-owned lot.  LTSC and the L.A. City Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing the overall structure for an agreement to build on city property.  

Over 35 years ago, the original plans to build a basketball court around the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center were nixed in favor of a plaza designed by famed sculptor Isamu Noguchi.  But the support for the recreational facility never waned.  In 1998, a task force was formed dedicated to building a gym.  Community leaders have constantly advocated for a facility where Japanese Americans can have basketball league tournaments, martial arts events and programs for Little Tokyo’s many senior citizens.  

Edward Takahashi, the president of the Little Tokyo Recreational Center is working to raise $15 million in the next two years.  Construction of the facility designed by Hayahiko Takase will be completed two years after the fundraising campaign. 

Congratulations, LTSC!

Philadelphia Chinatown Community Fights to Stop Proposed Casino

Nearly ten years after a remarkable battle against plans for a baseball stadium in their neighborhood, the Philadelphia Chinatown community must engage again with the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania to stop a Foxwoods Casino, a 5,000 slots-only parlour, from being built in their backyard.  Community groups in Philadelphia, including National CAPACD member Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) and Asian Americans United, will participate in a public hearing on Saturday, November 1st, to express their concerns over these plans for a Foxwoods Casino. 

Currently, the City has no formalized studies or plans that indicate the impact of a casino in a downtown, Center City neighborhood.  Residents are concerned by the heightened casino traffic in addition to the likelihood of more crime.  Community organizations also believe that the casino could undermine the work they are doing to build the community and build youth.  An environmental impact study has not been produced.  Additionally, other local groups have raised concerns about the predatory targeting of Asian American communities by the gambling industry.  Local businesses may also suffer as discretionary dollars are drained from the economy.  In Atlantic City, the number of independent restaurants dropped from 48 the year casinos opened to 16 in 1997.  Within just four years of the casino’s arrival, one-third of the city’s retail businesses had closed.  Increases in traffic, density, crime, nuisance behavior, and community participation in gambling are expected to rise.    

National CAPACD will be working with its local member, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, to support its stance against the Casino being built in Chinatown.  For more information on how to support this cause, please contact John Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation at .  He may also be reached at 215-922-2156.  Also, please visit Asian Americans United’s website for more up-to-date information at http://www.aaunited.org.