Foundations and the nonprofits they fund can be important centers of thought, action, and involvement. At its best, philanthropy provides a check against corporate and government overstepping or indifference, yet funding for advocacy has brought as much criticism as admiration. At the same time there is concern that foundations are slipping into the role of service providers or surrogates for government. A distinguished group of experts will address the question: What is the proper role of foundations? Lively dialogue within the panel of presenters and with the audience will focus on how foundations most effectively serve the public interest.

The Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership provides advanced education in public policy, public and nonprofit management, advocacy and philanthropy, with domestic and international applications. Their multi-sectoral approach, public policy orientation, and research focus on effective practices, ensure the breadth and relevance of the educational experiences they offer. To accomplish the mission, the focus is on four program areas:

• Graduate Study
• Executive and Professional Training
• Research that Informs Practice
• Community Involvement

Since 1979 the DC Rape Crisis Center has been organizing the Take Back the Night March and Rally and workshops on sexual violence for the Washington D.C. community. In 1996 the March and Rally were moved to April to coincide with National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Center expanded its week of workshops to a full month. Workshops are conducted for community organizations, universities, senior centers, schools and youth programs to raise awareness about sexual violence in our community. Take Back the Night is one of the highlights of Sexual Assault Awareness in Washington, D.C.

The DC Rape Crisis Center's Take Back the Night march and rally serves two functions: women's empowerment and community education. While they realize that most sexual assaults occur by acquaintances in private, women are systematically taught to be afraid to move freely through the night- and an opportunity to do so, in mass and without fear, is extremely empowering. The Take Back the Night March and Rally is also a time to speak publicly on issues of sexual violence, to heighten awareness within the larger community.

In 1972, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) was legally incorporated as one of the first rape crisis centers in the nation. Since then the DCRCC has grown, but the organization has maintained a deep commitment to the empowerment of women and a recognition of the connections between various forms of oppression.

The Center's services include: a 24-hour hotline, group and individual counseling services for rape and incest survivors and their families and friends, a companion program to accompany survivors to hospitals, courts and police proceedings, low-cost self-defense classes, a growing library, training for professionals working with survivors and a wide array of community education programs including "Staying Safe" classes for children of all ages within the D.C. public school system.

The Center is dedicated to continuing and improving its services and programs. It celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1997.

Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) is seeking organizations to participate in a career development workshop series for teens, Connections to Careers. WOW has funding to to implement this series of three 1.5-hour workshops in schools and organizations around the region. The workshops educate youth about what it costs to make ends meat and helps teens to use that information to plan career paths to reach their career goals. They are designed for teens between the ages of 13 and 21.

If you think your program would benefit by participating in these workshops, please contact Lauren Gritzer, local program associate, at (202) 464- 1596 ext. 107.

*Successful schools and educational innovations for K-12, higher education, and adult learners

*Healthy families/ healthy communities

*Livable wages, employment opportunities and job training

*Affordable housing for all

*Building and preserving diverse communities

*Using culture and the arts to promote community development

*Faith and spirituality as resources for community building

Registration

Register today to join us at the GWU Cafritz Conference Center to discuss these and other topics, learn more about the CoRAL Network, explore the principles of community-driven research, and network with community partners committed to social change. The general registration fee is $25 for individuals and free for students. Nonprofit staff (2 or more) flat fee of $50

We look forward to having YOU join us!

If you would like to share any announcements from your organization or campus with the CoRAL Network community, send a brief blurb to kcarter@coralnetwork.org by close of business each Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Newsbits.

Please note that submissions MUST be about local events, news, opportunities and activities that are related to community affairs in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Northern Virginia.