Discovering UVM | Undergraduate Admissions | The University of Vermont I wanted let you know about our annual overnight visit program at the University of Vermont, Discovering UVM. This program is designed for students who identify as first-generation to college, low-income, or are otherwise underrepresented in and lack access to higher education. Each year we welcome high school students from across the United States. Our fall 2023 Discovering UVM dates are October 22-24 and November 5-7. During the program attendees will be able to: Explore academic offerings—we are a university with a rich liberal arts tradition and extensive research and internship opportunities.   Learn about the 275+ clubs and organizations we have available—our student community is vibrant and highly engaged.    Receive assistance with the college search process.   Connect with current students and explore the city of Burlington. The application deadlines for both programs are in September so I encourage you share with your students today! In order to reduce financial barriers, we do offer travel grants for students who need assistance. If you have any questions about the program or about traveling to UVM, please contact Brian Gomez, Assistant Director of Admissions, at Brian.Gomez.1@uvm.edu or (802) 656-4370. Sincerely, Brian Gomez '20 (he/him/his) Assistant Director of Admissions and Access Initiatives 

Radical Imagination and the Political Consciousness is a weekly evening discussion-based course on Wednesdays from 6-8pm geared towards formerly incarcerated people centered around the theme of consciousness in history, literature, film, and art. This course will explore how our experiences influence how we see the world and moments in which we come to a place of greater clarity about the society we live in, its injustices, and what changes are necessary. Consciousness raising is key to imagining and creating the worlds we want to live in. Throughout the course, students will examine novels, poetry, speeches, short stories, memoirs, movies, and other media from various traditions including revolutionary writings by incarcerated people to come away with a greater sense of self, agency, and justice. This course is led by Princeton SPEAR (Students for Prison Education, Abolition and Reform), a student organization that educates, advocates, and agitates against the carceral state on Princeton’s campus, in New Jersey, and beyond. SPEAR is committed to centering and uplifting the voices of those directly impacted by the carceral state, which is why we will be centering works by incarcerated people. It is critical to highlight the perspectives of incarcerated people as some of the most critical analyses of our society and visions for justice come from those held in prisons and jails across the U.S, what currently incarcerated Black queer activist Stephen Wilson termed the imprisoned black radical tradition. By exploring these themes, this course will help students develop important skills such as writing, communication, self-empowerment, self-reflection, and critical thinking, as well as practical life skills. This class wants to meet the needs of formerly incarcerated people, so we will provide resources related to housing, welfare, medicaid, computer skills, financial literacy, and educational access based on feedback from students. We also hope to provide personalized support and connections to outside resources based on each students’ individual need. Classes will be led by Princeton professors and undergraduates in African American Studies, sociology, theater, and literature. Each class will consist of three sections. The first section will be devoted to the texts for the week, the second to practical skills, and the third will consist of reflection and meditation. Classes will be held in-person with virtual options. Students will engage in activities such as writing for homework and close reading. Each week, we will also invite a guest speaker to give a short talk and help facilitate conversation about the text for that week. Weekly assignments will consist of readings and optional journal entries. After class, students have the option of staying for a community dinner and an opportunity to connect with classmates and facilitators in a more informal setting. All participants will receive for free: Transportation to and from Princeton University Physical and digital copies of selected readings A binder to store class materials A reflection journal and writing utensils Access to resources related to life skills such as technology and financial literacy, welfare, medicaid, housing, etc. Community dinner after class We invite students to attend every session and engage fully in the texts and class discussions. Practical Skills to Cover: Zoom Email Financial Literacy Admissions ASAP Internship Program Tabs on computer Audiobooks

In late August, we welcomed 485 new students to the OWU campus, many of them supported by you throughout their college search and selection process. Early reports from faculty indicate that they are well prepared and engaged, and their presence is also being felt on team rosters, in student government, and in organizations across campus. Thank you for the encouragement you provide to your students as they prepare for the next step in their education and personal growth. We expect to be able to report great things from them as they make their mark on OWU! Some statistics about our new students: 22% first generation to college 6% international (from 15 countries) Top states: OH, PA, IL, CA, FL, and NJ Average HS GPA: 3.71 19% U.S. students of color Gender: 44% identify as male; 56% identify as female Total enrollment at OWU this fall is 1,410 and first-to-second year retention improved to 82%. This is the largest, most diverse, and academically strongest new class since 2018, which is especially gratifying as the newly renovated first-year residence, Smith Hall, was ready for their arrival. As you may know, Stefanie Niles, former Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, was named President of Cottey College last spring and assumed her responsibilities this summer. I joined the talented enrollment team led by Laurie Patton, Director of Admission, and Kevin Paskvan, Director of Financial Aid, in July and will serve in this capacity for the academic year. Laurie led the efforts to hire several new team members this summer, and we are now fully staffed, just in time to return to a renovated Slocum Hall where the Admission and Aid offices are housed. We encourage you to visit campus whenever you are able and will gladly show you around campus and the wonderful city of Delaware. We know that campus visits are often critical for students to make their college choice, and we expect they are equally helpful to you as you recommend schools for your students to consider. (Students who visit before May 1 of their senior year will receive a $4,000 Campus Visit Award, adding $1,000 each year to other scholarships and financial aid they earn). Perhaps most exciting about our return to Slocum Hall is the fact that Enrollment is now sharing space with the office most central to our students’ experience: the OWU Connection. The OWU Connection represents the very best of intentional, experiential learning and is now part of the general education for all OWU students. Its components of research, service, travel, and internships are introduced to our students as: Think Big, Do Good, Go Global, and Get Real and the staff coordinating the OWU Connection are here to help each student optimize their experiences. Finally, if you didn’t already know about these recent updates/enhancements at OWU, I wanted to call your attention to them: We now offer a Pre-Nursing Program Our brand new Esports team holds a roster of 61 students in its inaugural competition year Bradford Milligan Hall, a beautiful new apartment building on campus for upper class students, opened in Fall 2021 We are pleased to be able to offer the “Choose Ohio First” grant - a $5,500 stackable scholarship (10 available) for Ohio residents with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who plan to pursue a major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Economics, Mathematics). A separate application is required. We have expanded our Dr. Charles Thomas Scholarship and will offer at least 20 this year. This scholarship covers full demonstrated need (based on the FAFSA) and is awarded to students who work with CBO’s and other college access groups. A separate application is required.

NBCU Academy is a journalism training and development program designed to prepare college students for a career in the news and media technology industry and to help professional journalists gain new skills. We offer free online instruction and digital content as well as hands-on training at select campuses and in NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo newsrooms. Our continuous learning initiative provides fellowships and other job opportunities, direct funding and course development to our partner universities. These resources are aimed at providing more equitable access to diverse and marginalized communities that have been historically underrepresented in the news industry. What is NBCU Academy? — NBCU Academy

Capital Health's Trenton Neighborhood Initiative (TNI) and Address Yourself, an affordable homeownership mortgage program by New Jersey Community Capital, have partnered to provide down payment assistance grants of up to $20,000 to qualified Trenton homebuyers, accessible homeownership, and financial counseling. Homebuyer Assistance Program Open House TNI HAP Open House Flyer FINAL (constantcontact.com) Meet New Jersey Community Capital staff, brokers, lenders, and counselors who can help you start your home-buying journey! Open House Events: Wednesday, October 12, 6 - 8 pm (English) Thursday, October 13, 6 - 8 pm (Español) Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School 401 Brunswick Ave, Trenton, NJ 08638. Address Yourself by New Jersey Community Capital f2e356a6-6898-49fe-b6f2-b8ff48bde931.pdf (constantcontact.com) Address Yourself is an affordable homeownership mortgage program by New Jersey Community Capital, providing down payment assistance grants of up to $20,000 to qualified Trenton homebuyers, along with accessible homeownership and financial counseling. To learn more, call 732-640-2061 or email addressyourself@njclf.com

Household budgets for many families have been strained by rising food costs and inflation. Finding and accessing free food resources has become essential for many families. To help our community access resources, THT is excited to announce the release of the Mercer County Free Food Finder, an updated version of the Trenton Area Free Food Resources tool. The Mercer County Free Food Finder lists meal sites, food pantries, and meal distribution sites serving children, families, seniors, and adults. The information in this directory is updated regularly, but all food resources, locations, and times are subject to change. Additional features include: A searchable directory of food distribution sites Interactive map display Filtering the day of the week, time of day, eligibility requirements, and more Embedded Google translates support. Events tagging one-time opportunities, such as farm markets and special distributions PDF export of food site search for print distribution Query URL support for linking directory queries The Mercer County Free Food Finder was developed in collaboration with a group of Princeton students in the spring of 2022. This project is part of a more extensive portfolio work led by THT, in concert with the Trenton Food Stakeholders, to understand, document, and strengthen the food safety net in Mercer County. In addition to the release of the new app, THT will publish a Mercer County Food Insecurity Index and launch the Mercer County Food Needs Survey later this month. If you are interested in learning more about each project, please get in touch with Matthew Broad mbroad@trentonhealthteam.org.

WorkWell's FREE 4-week job training focuses on life skills to gain long-term employment and life stability. The training starts on Monday, October 17, 2022. and is Mon-Thurs 9-3, with two Fri 9-12 and two Sat 9-12. A weekly stipend of $100 based on attendance; transportation assistance; and daily lunch is provided. Interested individuals must have a criminal history, at least 6 months clean from any substance; housed (this can be discussed on a case by case basis); and prefer that they are vaccinated for COVID-19. Please Call or text 856-671-1243 to be interviewed : You will get a returned call or text. Thanks Tarry Truitt

There are two separate programs designed to reduce the student loan burden, but confusion abounds because most news reports lump them into one story. Nonprofit employers are urged to inform your staff about these important but temporary opportunities: The first program is the longstanding, formal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that can provide relief to nonprofit employees and others in public service jobs. Under a special expanded window of opportunity that expires October 31, borrowers may be eligible to receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF. The second program – the debt cancellation plan – which has received the most attention because it’s available to almost everyone with federal student loans – would cancel up to $10,000 (or $20,000 for some people) of federal student loan debt. Applications are expected to be available starting this month. PSLF Waiver Expiring Soon - Check Your Status NOW! The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Temporary Waiver ends Oct. 31, 2022, meaning individuals with federal student loans who work in public service jobs – which expressly includes 501(c)(3) nonprofits -- only have until Halloween to submit their loan certification forms to determine whether more of your previous payments (late, early, lump sum, etc.) may count towards forgiveness. The formal PSLF, which has been around since 2007, has a Temporary Waiver that expires October 31, 2022. The Temporary Waiver significantly expands who's eligible. So even if you’ve been denied in the past, you now may be eligible, but only if you take immediate action. Check out the PSLF Help Tool now! Employees with Federal Student Loan Debt: check your eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness today! CEOs and Executive Directors: tell your employees to check today! Everyone: spread the word! Bottom Line: All charitable nonprofit workers with federal student debt should check your eligibility status for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under the Temporary Waiver before October 31. (Remember that the Temporary Waiver is separate from the debt cancellation plan.) Do not miss out on this one-time opportunity to receive forgiveness on previously ineligible payments. Student Debt Cancellation In August, President Biden announced a plan for student debt relief by cancelling up to $10,000 in federal student loans for most borrowers and $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. To qualify, borrowers must have incomes of less than $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for couples. The Administration stated applications for the cancellation will be available beginning this month and will be open through December 2023. See A Nonprofit Perspective on Student Loan Relief for more information. Cost Estimate: The plan is estimated to cost the Treasury $420 billion over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The estimate does not, however, take into account new repayment caps or other changes to loan terms implemented this summer. The CBO states that the “estimates are highly uncertain” and will depend on projections on future economic conditions and modifications in loan terms. Litigation: Six Republican state attorneys general filed suit to challenge the loan forgiveness program, arguing financial hardship to the private, for-profit loan servicers that hold and process federal loans (FFEL loans) will harm their state revenues. The suit further contends the debt relief violates the federal Administrative Procedures Act and that the pandemic emergency declaration basis for the plan is invalid now that the President has said the pandemic is over. The Administration responded by no longer permitting the consolidation of certain private loans to federal loans and excluding privately held debt from the relief. More lawsuits are expected although legal experts differ on whether the cases will be permitted. 

We are sending this email as a reminder that registration for Fall 22 session for Coding AND Calls for entries for Winter 22 Blissful Pursuit Magazine has begun! Our Coding classes run for 6 weeks and meet twice a week for an hour each day. This year's fall class lineup includes Python, Scratch, Cybersecurity and App Development. HTML/CSS and Cryptography workshops will be held over one weekend (November 19th and 20th) and meet Saturday and Sunday for 1.5 hrs each day. Classes are held from October 10th - November 14th. For more information, please visit our website: Blissful Coding Club If you're ready to sign up, here is the link to the student sign up form: Student Sign Up Form Please feel free to pass along this information to friends and family who are interested! We hope to see you again soon!

Hi There, My Name is Zaheer Bowen and I'm an Intern with Hobart and William Smith Colleges Admissions looking to connect you with an exciting new program we're offering. This November HWS is hosting our first Access 2 Success weekend in which we invite students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to participate in a cost-free weekend visit at the Colleges. Between 30-35 students will be chosen to attend the Access 2 Success weekend and the deadline to apply is October 17th. ​As an organization that works closely with students from diverse backgrounds, this is a great opportunity to provide them with a weekend of true college immersion through a campus hosting from current HWS students. The schedule for the weekend is: Arrival at Hobart and William Smith on Thursday (11/10) evening to be paired with a student-host, attending classes with the student host on Friday (11/11) with the end of the day dedicated to an exploration of school social activities and campus events, and finally an Open House on Saturday (11/12) morning with our Admissions staff. Accepted students will then return home on Saturday afternoon/evening after the open house. Both food and necessary transportation will be covered for all accepted applicants, and students can apply through this link: https://apply.hws.edu/register/HWSAccess2Success. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. We hope you'll encourage those in your communities to apply! Thanks, Zaheer