P134 Update and a recap of Harry Mitchell's first month.
A quick update about this web site and what I've been doing lately, and then some links describing Congressman Harry Mitchell's excellent first month in US Congress representing AZ-5.
A. Communty service, this web site and my to-do list.
I've received a few emails in the past couple of weeks asking if I've given up on blogging. Just to let you folks know that no, I'm just swamped with other things right now. Namely, obligations related to work and community service. Aside from my regular paying job, here's what I'm involved in right now in the political and community sphere:
1. SPAC. I'm currently serving as a member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Council (SPAC) for Maricopa Community College District (MCCD). This involved a fair amount of initial research once I was named to the Council a few weeks ago. We then met a couple of weeks ago to develop strategies for improving service to students in our community college. One of the things we discussed was how to improve referrals from one community college to another, should a student's class not be available at their college of matriculation. It's encouraging to see how the district's culture change and technological infrastructure can be developed to enhance service to students. We'll have a follow-up session in March.
2. SPPF. As I've noted before, I'm also serving on the Student Public Policy Forum for the MCCD, representing Chandler-Gilbert Community College. We've been meeting regularly since just after the Nov 06 elections to research and develop our skills as lobbyists (yes, the "L" word). This coming week, our group is going to Washington D.C. to lobby for increased funding for grants and tax credits for higher education.
My area of specialty is the expansion of the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, which has needy students in their first two years of college as its focus. Given Bush's recent proposed budget - which raises Pell Grants a little but completely eliminates SEOG grants - it's all the more imperative that we lobby strong to keep access to higher education available to all. I'll be meeting with Congressman Flake and hopefully Congressman Mitchell while there.
3. CPL. Participation in the CPL Fellowship is proceeding apace, as well. I'm learning a lot about how to influence public policy and promote development efforts through fundraising and electoral efforts. Our taskforce is currently working on developing a fundraising plan for a local non-profit that focuses on electoral justice and increased civic participation. More about that as it develops.
4. Church. This weekend, I'm helping coordinate a simulation at my church for people who are considering going into faith-based service. My team of seven will be staging one part of the simulation which imitates the sometimes chaotic experience of going through a Customs and Immigration checkpoint overseas. I've led this simulation twice in the past and it has always been a lot of fun for the folks going through it (we're expecting about 200 participants this time). I get to be the pickpocket...
5. The Democratic Party. In the January district meeting of the D20 Democrats, I was extraordinarily pleased and encouraged to see the direction and energy of the newly elected District 20 leadership. I have great confidence in them and am encouraged at how they are already setting plans and strategies for 2008. I was asked if I would be willing to be appointed as a PC for precinct 134, but declined. I won't have the time to attend meetings in the coming semester due to other obligations that conflict. I'll share more about this in a future post, though.
6. The Precinct 134 Blog. I've always considered this blog to be, first and foremost, a community service to my neighbors in the East Valley. I hope to complete the transcription of the excellent interview with Councilwoman Donovan within the next two weeks, following my trip to D.C. and once the frenzy of all of my mid-February obligations dies down a bit. Thanks to all, and especially Councilwoman Donovan, for your patience as I transcribe the interview for posting. I hope to be blogging more regularly soon.
***
B. A review of Harry Mitchell's first month in Congress.
I'm encouraged to see Congressman Mitchell is wasting no time as a member of the new Congress. Some relevant links from AZCentral about Mitchell's work (and a couple about his former opponent, Hayworth):
Feb 9 - Mitchell urges action on global warming
Feb 7 - Hayworth still has money
Feb 7 - Hayworth probably won't run for U.S. House again
Feb 1 - Mitchell not intimidated, embraces workload
Jan 27 - Mitchell tells what it's like on the Hill
Jan 27 - Rep Mitchell returns from the Hill
Jan 11 - Mitchell votes with Dems to raise minimum wage
Jan 11 - Mitchell opposes war escalation
Jan 10 - Mitchell stands up for veterans
Jan 10 - Mitchell co-sponsors 9/11 Commission bill
Jan 9 - Flake and Mitchell disagree on the Dems' fast-tracking legislation in their first 100 hours
Dec 22 - Dems move to protect Mitchell's Congressional seat
Dec 12 - Mitchell gets seat on House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
A. Communty service, this web site and my to-do list.
I've received a few emails in the past couple of weeks asking if I've given up on blogging. Just to let you folks know that no, I'm just swamped with other things right now. Namely, obligations related to work and community service. Aside from my regular paying job, here's what I'm involved in right now in the political and community sphere:
1. SPAC. I'm currently serving as a member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Council (SPAC) for Maricopa Community College District (MCCD). This involved a fair amount of initial research once I was named to the Council a few weeks ago. We then met a couple of weeks ago to develop strategies for improving service to students in our community college. One of the things we discussed was how to improve referrals from one community college to another, should a student's class not be available at their college of matriculation. It's encouraging to see how the district's culture change and technological infrastructure can be developed to enhance service to students. We'll have a follow-up session in March.
2. SPPF. As I've noted before, I'm also serving on the Student Public Policy Forum for the MCCD, representing Chandler-Gilbert Community College. We've been meeting regularly since just after the Nov 06 elections to research and develop our skills as lobbyists (yes, the "L" word). This coming week, our group is going to Washington D.C. to lobby for increased funding for grants and tax credits for higher education.
My area of specialty is the expansion of the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, which has needy students in their first two years of college as its focus. Given Bush's recent proposed budget - which raises Pell Grants a little but completely eliminates SEOG grants - it's all the more imperative that we lobby strong to keep access to higher education available to all. I'll be meeting with Congressman Flake and hopefully Congressman Mitchell while there.
3. CPL. Participation in the CPL Fellowship is proceeding apace, as well. I'm learning a lot about how to influence public policy and promote development efforts through fundraising and electoral efforts. Our taskforce is currently working on developing a fundraising plan for a local non-profit that focuses on electoral justice and increased civic participation. More about that as it develops.
4. Church. This weekend, I'm helping coordinate a simulation at my church for people who are considering going into faith-based service. My team of seven will be staging one part of the simulation which imitates the sometimes chaotic experience of going through a Customs and Immigration checkpoint overseas. I've led this simulation twice in the past and it has always been a lot of fun for the folks going through it (we're expecting about 200 participants this time). I get to be the pickpocket...
5. The Democratic Party. In the January district meeting of the D20 Democrats, I was extraordinarily pleased and encouraged to see the direction and energy of the newly elected District 20 leadership. I have great confidence in them and am encouraged at how they are already setting plans and strategies for 2008. I was asked if I would be willing to be appointed as a PC for precinct 134, but declined. I won't have the time to attend meetings in the coming semester due to other obligations that conflict. I'll share more about this in a future post, though.
6. The Precinct 134 Blog. I've always considered this blog to be, first and foremost, a community service to my neighbors in the East Valley. I hope to complete the transcription of the excellent interview with Councilwoman Donovan within the next two weeks, following my trip to D.C. and once the frenzy of all of my mid-February obligations dies down a bit. Thanks to all, and especially Councilwoman Donovan, for your patience as I transcribe the interview for posting. I hope to be blogging more regularly soon.
***
B. A review of Harry Mitchell's first month in Congress.
I'm encouraged to see Congressman Mitchell is wasting no time as a member of the new Congress. Some relevant links from AZCentral about Mitchell's work (and a couple about his former opponent, Hayworth):
Feb 9 - Mitchell urges action on global warming
Feb 7 - Hayworth still has money
Feb 7 - Hayworth probably won't run for U.S. House again
Feb 1 - Mitchell not intimidated, embraces workload
Jan 27 - Mitchell tells what it's like on the Hill
Jan 27 - Rep Mitchell returns from the Hill
Jan 11 - Mitchell votes with Dems to raise minimum wage
Jan 11 - Mitchell opposes war escalation
Jan 10 - Mitchell stands up for veterans
Jan 10 - Mitchell co-sponsors 9/11 Commission bill
Jan 9 - Flake and Mitchell disagree on the Dems' fast-tracking legislation in their first 100 hours
Dec 22 - Dems move to protect Mitchell's Congressional seat
Dec 12 - Mitchell gets seat on House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Labels: CPL, Democrats, Donovan, Hayworth, MCCD, Mitchell, SPAC, SPPF
posted by Geo at 10:53 AM
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