The Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grants Development (OPGD), in conjunction with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement (CNA), announces its Seventh Annual Public-Private Partnership Conference. This year's theme is "Stronger Partnerships - Stronger Communities: Bringing Neighborhoods Together."

Workshops will include:

• Developing Federal Grant Application Budgets
• When Partnerships Don't Work
• Individual Fund Raising
• Funding for Faith-Based Organizations
• Foundation Funders Panel
• President's 2006 Budget; and more

There will be opportunities to network with representatives from local DC, Maryland, and Virginia governments, as well as the federal government, local foundations, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. In addition, an extensive exhibit hall there will be information on the latest technology and capacity building opportunities for conferees. Interested exhibitors should contact Jeff Kost, CNA, at (202) 457-0540.

The Association for the Study and Development of Community (www.capablecommunity.com) is announcing a small grants and capacity building program, funded by the C.S Mott Foundation, to help understand and promote the value of diversity in neighborhoods or other communities. Community and neighborhood groups, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and local foundations are eligible. The Request for Proposals describes the program, resources available, and application process and materials.

For more information contact buildingcommunity@capablecommunity.com.

The CentroNia is looking for a Communications or Journalism graduate student interested in spending hours during the week in an internship.

CentroNía delivers its numerous educational programs and accomplishes its mission of "educating children and youth and strengthening families in a bilingual, multicultural community" through four educational departments:

• Learning Center
• Family/Community Development
• Professional Development Academy
• DC Bilingual Public Charter School

The forum will review key budget issues, how city budget processes work and ways for organizations to gain access to the process. What language do organizations and individuals need to be familiar with in order to promote their issues and participate in the budgetary process? What are key timelines? How does an organization make their voice heard? How can nonprofits and the people they serve make an impact on policy makers?

The Forum Program will be followed by a 30 minute networking session.

The Washington, DC Historical Studies Conference is a unique opportunity for a range of participants-- scholars, amateur and professional historians, students at all levels, community activists, long-time residents and recent arrivals--to deepen their knowledge of the history of the city, its neighborhoods and communities, and the surrounding region.

The Division was established in 1905 with the mission to collect and make available material related to the District of Columbia. Covering a wide variety of subjects and consisting of various formats it is the largest comprehensive collection of material on the District of Columbia, current and historical. The collection supports all levels of research from high school papers to scholarly research.

If you need additional information or would like a conference program mailed to you, please call the Washingtoniana Division of the DC Public Library at 202-727-1213

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.