A reflection for today: In the Racial Equity Learning Community, one of the questions that we asked ourselves recently is: How do we deal with guilt, shame and blame? This video by Dr. Heather Hackman asks us to avoid these stoppers and focus instead on curiosity, empathy and humility. If these feelings and experiences of guilt, shame and blame are stopping you in your equity and justice work, we encourage you to watch this video and reflect.

Please continue to keep us informed of what's happening with you in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The information here comes from you, with links to our website for more complete information and resources. Send your events and updates to Kristyn: [email protected]. Thank you!

Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director

Shushma Patel, Training & Outreach Manager

Municipal Managers from communities in the Indian Valley will be speaking at this Breakfast. The meeting will be held at the Indian Valley Country Club, 650 Bergey Rd., Telford.

Hatfield Township - Aaron Bibro, Township Manager

Hatfield Borough - Jaime Snyder, Borough Manager

Telford Borough – Cary Vargo, Interim Borough Mgr. / John Taylor, Borough Council Chair

Souderton Borough – Mike Cole, Borough Manager

Lower Salford Township – Holly Hosterman, Assistant Manager

Towamencin Township – Dave Kraynik, Township Manager

Those interested should reply to Renae Gagen, [email protected], with the following information:

Please see the list of free available supplies below, with some pictures additionally available. If you would like to request these items, please contact Ann Durkin, Finance and Operations Senior Manager, [email protected] or 610.476.9036

Join CeaseFire PA and March For Our Lives as they call on the new gun safety majority in the House to act. Sign up to learn more about transportation and training, and to get scheduled into a lobby meeting.

Thank you to the Coalition for Racial Equity and Social Justice for sharing! This information below is from PolicyLink, and offers information and resources for sharing your comments regarding just housing futures and the proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule.

On January 19, 2023, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new housing provision that could be a critical tool in communities’ work towards new housing futures. The new proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule presents an opening for communities that have faced decades of housing divestment and displacement to design just housing futures across the country. Now that the proposed AFFH rule is announced, there will be a 60-day comment period before it’s finalized, giving us the opportunity to make it the strongest yet. Learn more and share your comments!

Designing Our Just Housing Futures: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Public Comment Guide: This resource provides more background on the 2023 proposed AFFH rule, an overview of the federal rulemaking and public comment process, and a step-by-step guide to support community-based organizations, organizers, advocates and leaders in writing and submitting a strong, equity-focused comment, and data sources to support it.

The County of Bucks Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is currently drafting the 2023 Annual Action Plan (AAP). The County submits an Annual Action Plan to HUD in order to receive federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs. The Annual Action Plan directs how the County will meet current and future needs and priorities in the coming year. HCD is distributing the following survey as a part of the consultation process in order to determine public opinion regarding the use of funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This survey will be available for response until March 31, 2023. Your participation in this process is greatly appreciated!

More than 6,000 people have been fatally shot already in this new year in the United States. These deaths are filled with so many levels of trauma for loved ones and family members. It sometimes feels hopeless that we can fix this epidemic of violence since these numbers continue to rise nationally.

However, in Omaha, Nebraska there is a community-based model that has seen significant reduction in shootings. Their number of shootings has dropped from 246 in 2009 to 121 in 2022, with the lowest at 90 victims in 2017. Their strategy has been succinctly laid out in the values and practices of collaboration, prevention, enforcement, reentry and support services. This all began with 7 people who started the Empowerment Network founded by Willie Barney.

They have astutely identified that there are multi-dimensional issues that contribute to gun violence. They have segmented the issues of everyday community violence, domestic and intimate partner violence, mass shootings and suicide. They acknowledge that to prevent each of these types of violence, each area needs to be strategized for individually. Read more.

A new special support group series is offered in partnership with Generations and the Center for Loss and Bereavement.

Thursdays, April 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 11, 18, 12:30 - 2:00 pm

Open to Generations participants and any friends or persons who may benefit.

Learn more.

Learn more including Generations February & March in-person and virtual programming here!

March is Women’s History Month and a time to reflect on the notion that women are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s. This month is also Brain Injury Awareness Month, which brings attention to the importance of protecting against head injury. Finally, we celebrate March as Nutrition Month, an ideal time to take stock of how we eat and explore the brain benefits of adopting a healthy diet.

Thank you to the Hunger Nutrition Coalition of Bucks County for sharing these resources with all of us as we prepare for the end of the federal Public Health Emergency and its impact on individuals, families and safety net programs!

"The availability of SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) was originally tied to the federal Public Health Emergency; however, Congress changed this and put an end to EAs in its 2022 end-of-year spending package. Pennsylvania is one of 32 states where SNAP recipients received their final extra SNAP payment in February. Starting in March, SNAP recipients will only receive their regular benefit amount in the first half of the month - which can be as low as $23 per month. This will make it extremely difficult for many SNAP households to afford food to get them through the month." - Philabundance

The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year! Learn more.

CTIPP continues to analyze federal grants to help the trauma-informed movement access government funding available for states, localities, and community-based organizations to address trauma. Here are five grant opportunities they have analyzed for your consideration. Learn more here!

The VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn spring grant cycle is open with applications accepted through March 17 for general operating and flexible program support for organizations that directly provide under-resourced people in the North Penn region with access to Food, Housing and Basic Health Needs (including mental health & addiction).

General Operating Funds are available for those applicants where more than 50% of your service population is in the North Penn region. Flexible Program Funds are available for those applicants where less than 50% of your service population is in the North Penn region. If you are trying to determine your eligibility and are unsure of what zip codes constitute the North Penn region in their definition, check out the Application Questions to see zip codes listed beginning on the bottom of Page 2.

The Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund addresses the historical exclusion of Black leaders and Black community-serving organizations from tackling the challenges and opportunities facing Montgomery County residents. This grant opportunity offers unrestricted, general operating support. The Fund anticipates funding up to 10 organizations with grants up to $15,000 per organization during its second funding round. Learn more!