ActionALERT

House Hears Afterschool and Summer Learning Bill

Thursday, March 5th the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee in the House of Representatives will hear HF 378, the bill providing funds for the Afterschool Community Learning Grant program beyond July 1, 2009.  The hearing begins at 4:30 pm in Room 200 of the State Office Building.  Mayor Chris Coleman, City of St. Paul, will testify along with grant recipients from Family Means in Landfall, MN and PRIMEtime in Northfield, MN. 

If you believe afterschool and summer learning opportunities are critical in your community, please consider contacting your own elected officials and members of the Early Education Committee in the House of Representatives.

You will find information about the benefits of afterschool and summer learning programs on our website: Afterschool Community Learning Act; The McKnight Challenge Grant; and general Talking Points. 

Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol

Thursday, March 5th is Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol.  Over 400 youth and more than 100 adults are coming to the State Capitol to Rally for Minnesota’s Youth.  The purpose of the rally is to energize support for Minnesota youth services programs at a time of critical need.

Minnesota’s youth services programs are at risk of losing vital state funding this year – at just the time when these programs serving at-risk youth are most in need of being fully funded and even expanded.

Please join us for the Rally in the Rotunda from 12:30-1:30 pm.  Speaker Kelliher, Mayors Coleman and Rybak as well as Representative Gunther will all speak in support of Minnesota’s youth.  The rally will include a banner drop that will form a giant American flag as 60 red, white, and blue banners are unfurled from the mezzanine level of the Capitol rotunda by youth participants from throughout the state.

Youth Community Connections is proud to co-sponsor this event as part of the Youth Policy Alliance. 

February Economic Forecast Indicates Economy is Worse Than Previously Predicted

The economic forecast released today indicates that the recession will last longer and go deeper than expected.  Growth in the economy is not expected until fall 2009.  The Federal Stimulus package is expected to help spark growth but only provides temporary relief to our long term budget issues. 

Minnesota is expected to face a budget deficit of $6.4 billion in FY 2010-2011.  This has increased $1.6 billion since the November Economic Forecast was release.  When the federal stimulus package is incorporated into Minnesota’s economic forecast the state faces a budget shortfall of $4.8 billion.

More details on the state’s economic forecast are available through the Minnesota Management and Budget Office.  Updated news, information and analysis on state and federal budgets are available through the Minnesota Budget Project.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321, Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org