DON'T PAY for tax services if you earned $66,000 or less in 2017! Tax preparation is provided at several county-wide sites, including a location in the Glades at no charge to qualifying residents. In addition, the G lades site offers free tax services in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. 

Three options are available: 

FILED for you - tax preparation is provided at a local site; 

FILED with help - at select sites, file your own tax return; 

FILED yourself - file your own tax return at MyFreeTaxes.com, a simple, secure website with support available via a toll free helpline or web chat. 

A ll options are supported by IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). 

Free Tax Services Available in the Glades at the following times and location

Mentor a student at Glades Central High School. Each student receives a college scholarship upon high school graduation. Each student must meet with mentor to receive the scholarship. Meet once a week during the student's lunch period, 2 - 3 times a month. Our students need you. "Change a Life Over Lunch." 

Our next mentor orientation will be held today at Glades Central High School.

Chamber members and their guests are invited to join us in the morning for a hot breakfast and good fellowship! Dr. Matthew Van Weelden, PhD will be our guest speaker and the breakfast is sponsored by Wedgworth's, Inc.

Join the TRIO Educational Opportunities Center for free professional and personal development workshops at West Technical Education Center in Belle Glade. The first of these workshops will focus on Financial Literacy and Investing. 

At this month's Glades Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, we introduce Lt. Wesley White, Field Supervisor for Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Lt. He has been with the agency for 20 years. He has worked as a field officer, dispatcher, and driver/tech on the neuter and spay shuttle. He is now head of the Commercial Licenses & Enforcement Unit. He has been a field supervisor for eight years.

As a 101 for the 501 chosen participant, you will have exclusive access to an education and training designed to help you take your organization to the next level of operational excellence.

This FREE program includes the following classes:

- Board Governance: Help Me Help You

- Volunteer Management: Managing the "Priceless Professional"

- Human Resource Requirements: Beyond Hiring and Firing

- Management and Fiscal Controls: Out of the Red

- Fund Development: Show Me the Money

- Media Relations: To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Participants who successfully complete the full coursework will receive free benefits, including one year of organizational membership with Nonprofits First (up to $750 value). 

Applications due

After sell-out seasons in Europe and an extended debut run in Australia, Cirque Zuma Zuma is ready to wow you! Audiences and critics in Europe and Australia agree - Cirque Zuma Zuma is unlike anything ever seen before and many describe it as an African-style Cirque du Soleil. The show is part high-energy dance act, part Cirque du Soleil, part Harlem Globetrotters, and is fast paced and full of acrobatic ingenuity!

In anticipation of international Pink Shirt Day 2018, a day to symbolize a stand against bullying, Prime Time Palm Beach County and the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County will host and facilitate a two-day Pink Shirt Day Kick-Off to train and prepare you to create your own Pink Shirt Day 2018 celebration at your after-school program. Pink Shirt Day will take place on February 28, 2018. 

Pink Shirt Day Workshop in Belle Glade

Travel back to the days when Saturday Night Fever was a box-office smash, Donna Summer was the queen of the air waves and Beethoven had his first top-40 hit. It was a music revolution - where records became hits from the dance clubs and DJ's had the power to break records and watch them climb up the charts. Songs like "Last Dance,", "Don't Leave Me This Way", "Funkytown", "I Will Survive,", "YMCA", "Ring My Bell" and "Rock The Boat" were all tested by DJ's in the biggest clubs.

Prior to the show, a traditional "covered dish" dinner is available for purchase from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This annual fundraising event features your favorite dishes prepared by some of the best cooks in the Glades!

The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America's greatest original art form, jazz. Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are programmed to entertain all types of audiences. The band's diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors.

Catch up on the happenings at Palm Beach County Division of Senior Services (DOSS) by reading this month's West County Senior Times!

Do you want ... a home? A car? To go back to school? Financial freedom? We Help Communities to Develop Corporation is offering free one-on-one financial coaching sessions and capacity building to interested residents. 

Financial Coaching Sessions at We Help Communities to Develop Corporation

WHEN: January 2018 - December 2018    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: We Help Communities to Develop Corporation, 349 SE 3rd Street, Belle Glade, FL 33430

Call for an appointment, 561-992-5854.

In the Glades

New Year, New Contacts! Join us for January Power Networking event with the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. It's speed networking with business cards. 

* Make the most of your lunch hour 

* Bring at least 75 business cards and be prepared for quick rounds of networking at each table of ten

* Self introductions and card exchanges 

* Arrive early and network 

* Limit of 2 people from the same company 

* Registration includes a buffet lunch 

* Receive a copy of all of the attendees' business cards

Become a member of the Palm Beach County Nonprofit Chamber and get free admission to this upcoming event! The event is open only to organizations who are members of the Nonprofit Chamber, but it's not too late to become a member!

Join us for a highly interactive session presented by Dale Carnegie Training - the world leader in training and development. This session will incorporate practical strategies participants from nonprofits of all sizes can put into practice right away to drive donations. 
All attendees will receive Dale Carnegie's The Secrets of Success booklet FREE.

* How to stand out in fundraising - Refining the ASK 

* Incorporate best practices to overcome donation hurtles 

* Renew your enthusiasm for fundraising success in 2018! 

The Palm Beach County Refugee Task Force has been active in the Palm Beach County area for many years, with participants representing governmental and private agencies providing services to refugees in the area. Services provided by the agencies include employment, English language and vocational training, youth and family services, child care, employment-related immigration services, and refugee health services. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss refugee program service needs and possible solutions. 

We are pleased to invite you to this month's SCORE Business Women's Round table. Join facilitator Suzana Sagy Macario for a roundtable discussion focused on "Building a Powerful Network". The event is offered free of charge but seating is limited to 15. 

Please contact us if you are interested in submitting a workshop proposal for the 8th Annual Youth Summit at Palm Beach Lakes High School on April 28, 2018. Areas that will be considered include: gangs and crime prevention, substance abuse, career development, scholarships and schools, healthy relationships, and trauma informed. the length of presentations must be 50 minutes. Please submit your proposal to [email protected] no later than February 2, 2018. 

8th Annual Youth Summit

Read about two programs available to Palm Beach County residents in this United Way Update from the United Way of Palm Beach County. 

Children's Services Council's weekly news and information bulletin. 

Were you born in another country or in the United States and would like to improve your English? If the answer is "yes" the "free" weekly, informal conversational English Exchange class offered by the Adult Literacy Project is just for you! Meet new friends, practice your English skills, and learn from each other.

Loula V. York Library

Did you know?  Millions of children have never been read a bedtime story. The single greatest indicator of a child's future success is the literacy level of the parents. Thirty six million adults in America struggle to read. Adults who can read and write are more likely to be involved in educating their children. 

Literacy can change lives. You can too! Become a Volunteer Adult Literacy Tutor.  Current teachers, retired teachers, community leaders, aspiring teachers, passionate and patient individuals ... we need you!

It is time to start thinking about The Black Gold Jubilee. This is our 40th anniversary. We are expecting another great event and we hope you will join us. Our date is Saturday, April 14, 2018. In addition to our local entertainment, our amphitheater will have Seven Bridges (an Eagles Tribute Band) and Nashville recording star, Joe Diffie.  

 

If you have any questions, please e-mail or call us at 561-996-2745 or visit www.blackgoldjubilee.org

The Loula V. York Library in Pahokee invites the community to a number of events being held in January. Local teens are invited to participate in this informative workshop, which is a prerequisite for becoming a "Reading Buddy" to children in grades K-5.

Become a Reading Buddy

WHEN: Friday, January 19, 2018   4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Loula V. York Branch, 525 Bacom Point Road, Pahokee 33476

Click here to read about all events happening this month at the Loula V. York Library 

The Lawrence E. Will Museum of the Glades is Proud to Announce: Art Around the Glades, a show of fine and decorative art by the Glades Art Group. The presentation will include music and light refreshments.

News and information from the Lighthouse Cafe in Belle Glade.

The Mentoring Support Opportunity was conceived to help mentoring programs develop additional matches, and help alleviate the wait list of mentees in Palm Beach County. Through the Mentoring Support Opportunity, the United Way of Palm Beach County seeks to support capacity-building efforts that enhance the quality of mentoring programs and increase the number of youth being mentored. The typical Mentoring Support Opportunity mini-grant is between $2,000 up to a maximum of $5,000 (based on available funds) to be used to increase program capacity and become eligible to join the Mentor Center Network.

Application Deadline

In the Glades

The Palm Beach County Community Action Agency's (CAA) mission is to collaborate with other organizations to remove barriers and create opportunities for low-income individuals and families that will enable them to become more self-sufficient. 

P lease be advised of the following upcoming meeting:

From the office of Anne Gannon: Complimentary issues of our new 2018 Tax Planner & Services Guide, Guiding You Through 2018, will be available at all service centers in mid-January. This award-winning publication is a handy resource guide to Tax Collector services, tax transaction tips, frequently asked questions and important payment dates. We've also included a tax planner calendar so you'll never miss a payment deadline.

Children's Services Council's weekly news and information bulletin.