we will see how people help out with the storm

Explore grants for inclusion

Announcing the 2011 Sherlock Center AAA mini-grants!  This is for leisure and recreational businesses and organizations WHO SERVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC to increase or enhance the accessibility of their EXISTING programs to people with disabilities.  Please disseminate widely to leisure, cultural and recreational businesses and organizations who could benefit from this opporunity. 

Access for All Abilities Mini-Grants

Now soliciting applications for the 2011 grant cycle….  

Due Date: March 18, 2011

For complete details and to access the application, go to www.sherlockcenter.org.

The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College is soliciting applications from organizations and businesses offering social, recreational, leisure and cultural activities in Rhode Island communities for “Access for All Abilities” (AAA) Mini-Grants. The Sherlock Center will award up to four grants in 2011. Organizations may apply for up to $2,500.    

The purpose of this grant program is to:

• Support efforts of Rhode Island leisure businesses and organizations to include more people with disabilities in scheduled activities, alongside people without disabilities.
• Increase access (physical, financial, programmatic) for people with various disabilities to existing social, leisure, recreational and cultural activities in the community.

Eligibility – AAA Grant applicants must be businesses or organizations offering social, leisure, recreational, and/or cultural activities to the general public in Rhode Island.  Non-profit organizations, businesses, city or town government agencies are encouraged to apply.

Application - The AAA Mini-Grant application is available on the Sherlock Center website: www.sherlockcenter.org, click the link for AAA Mini-Grants. The application is available in electronic format. Call the Sherlock Center at (401) 456-8072  to access the application in an alternative format.

The mission of the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities is to promote membership of individuals with disabilities in school, work, and community.  Partners in this mini-grant initiative are Accessible Rhode Island and VSA Arts of Rhode Island.

The Sherlock Center, Rhode Island’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), receives funding for this initiative through the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

Access for All Abilities (AAA) mini-grant opportunities

The large scale collection and composting of food scrap.  Possibilities and financial viability  in RI

A conference for municipal officials, industry, entrepreneurs, the hospitality sector,  and institutions.

Tuesday March 22  1 to 4 PM    Metcalf Auditorium in the RISD Chace Center  20 North Main St Providence  
Registration and Exhibitors begin at 12:30.  

Sponsored by The Environment Council of Rhode Island Education Fund, the Southside Community Land Trust, ECORI.org, RISD

With the cooperation of community partners
The City of Providence, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, USEPA Region 1, Ecotope.

Confirmed speaker
Michael O’Connell  Executive Director Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation
Janet Coit  Director  Rhode Island Departartment of Environmental Management
Michael Merner  Earthcare Farm
Reese Howell  President Orbit Energy Inc.
Michael Bradlee  Vice President Ecotope

Invited speakers  
Angel Taveras  Mayor of Providence


Landfill space is getting scarce and many communities are beginning to realize that food scrap can become an asset for the community rather than an expensive  liability.  Around the country and the world communities are starting and expanding compost programs.  

Nearly all of Rhode Island’s food scrap is currently buried in the landfill creating large quantities of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.  If we collected and composted or digested our food scrap the benefits include:

Fewer Greenhouse Gas emissions
Jobs making and distributing compost
Compost to build the soil fertility for our local agricultural renaissance
Longer life for the Central Landfill
Clean energy


Every community faces slightly different challenges in moving towards the collection and composting of its organic scrap. At this conference there will be information on a variety of composting programs currently in use . You will also learn a variety of best practices from professionals and leaders in the field to help determine what can work well for your business or commmunity and how your elected and appointed officials can help.

To register click http://www.environmentcouncilri.org/compost2011.html

For more information, contact Greg Gerritt at environmentcouncil@earthlink.net or 401-621-8048

Have a good start