Giving Tuesday

I'm part of a philanthropic family. Not the Bill-Gates-gazillionaire philanthropic family, but the do-what-you-can-for-those-who-can't sort of philanthropic family. Whether that means going to a soup kitchen and feeding the homeless, walking around a track for this/that/the other cause, buying cookie dough to supports my nieces and nephews, or -- in the absence of time or money -- using words to spread the word about things that are worthy causes.



I don't come from a monied family. It's unlikely that anyone in my family will ever be monied. And you know what? I'm okay with these things. Well. I'm not not okay with these things. I -- we -- wouldn't argue with not having to worry about money, but there's a lot more that enriches our lives that money could never buy. My nieces and nephews are more remarkable than anything I could then go out and buy at a store or dealer. My brothers and sisters? Equally so. Even when they're being brats. I could wax poetic about my parents and grandparents, my aunts and uncles, but I'll save all that for a time when you ask for it.



This is a post about how despite not having the money to give back big, we end up giving back in ways that we can. We give five bucks here, ten bucks there, an hour here, an hour there. I often write posts like this -- to spread word about a particularly worthy cause or two in the hopes that maybe thirty people will be able to donate $10 and suddenly the collective we is donating $300 that can go a long way to making a difference in someone's life. This is connected to a movement that I hope gains greater and greater traction -- Giving Tuesday.



I have no idea where or when this started. I got an email last week from Horny Toad promoting not just Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but this concept of Giving Tuesday. Horny Toad (HT) and the distribution center they use outside Chicago has partnered for almost twenty years with an organization called Search, Inc. Since 1997 Planet Access Company (PAC) and Search, Inc., have worked together to empower and enrich adults with developmental disabilities, a demographic far too often overlooked. These men and women work to pick and pack the warehouse's orders. They get paid. They are so enthusiastic, so excited, to be treated with dignity and respect. That shouldn't be so much to ask, right?



Par for the course, this is all a long lead-in.



This year Search, Inc., is a part of the Coleman Foundation's Giving Tuesday Matching Grants Program -- the philanthropic answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This Tuesday the Coleman Foundation is offering a dollar-for-dollar match of donations up to $15,000. That can make a difference in the lives of so many who deserve a difference made in their lives because they've had their families and the state give up on them.



I've also been posting about a friend's efforts to raise money for Southern Maine's Animal Refuge League. Both of these are efforts that can make a very real difference in the lives of a lot of people (in the case of the ARL, a difference in the lives of animals). As I've said in most of my entreaties, it's not always easy to find the money to give this time of year, but with the ARL and Search, Inc., these are opportunities where five dollars can make a huge difference.



Let's do what we can to make Giving Tuesday a thing. Whether it's a dollar, a word, a hug or a smile we all have something we can give and each of these things are capable of changing the world.



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Why Community College Students Are In Demand

This article comes to us courtesy of U.S. News & World Report, where it was originally published.



Graduates of community college programs are hard-working and driven, recruiters say.



Community college students juggle a lot of responsibilities. Most work at least part time, many have families to care for and homework doesn't do itself.



Successfully keeping all those balls in the air requires focus, determination and maturity – traits that hold a lot of weight with recruiters from businesses and four-year universities.



"If you can juggle family, working, homework, school, internships – I want you. It's just as simple as that," says Maureen Crawford Hentz, director of talent management for A.W. Chesterton Co., a global manufacturing corporation headquartered in Massachusetts.



[Discover four types of people who benefit from community college.]



In fact, when given the choice between two equally qualified applicants, Hentz leans toward the one with community college on his or her resume, she says, comparing that student to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.



"Both were great dancers, but Rogers did it backwards and in heels," she says, reciting a famous quote. "Community college students do it backwards and in heels."



That ability to multitask can’t be taught, she says, and is one of the reasons A.W. Chesterton forged a partnership​ with Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts.



Through the program, advanced manufacturing students​ at NECC take core classes such as machining, blueprint reading and geometric dimensioning. Once they have a foundation, they shadow employees at A.W. Chesterton and later intern with the company.



This gives students exposure to a field before committing to it, and gives employers an "internship-long interview," Hentz says.



While A.W. Chesterton’s partnership with NECC is new, it is already proving to be fruitful, Hentz says, adding that the company is "very interested" in hiring a few​ of the students who participated in the program.



[Learn how to find your career path at a community college.]



More established partnerships, like those at City Colleges of Chicago, have led to job opportunities for dozens of students each year, says Cheryl Hyman, chancellor of the community college network.



Rush University Medical Center, for example, hired 20 City College students last year, Hyman says. And Aon, a global insurance company, hired nine students for internships, two of whom were promoted to full-time positions.



JMC Steel Group, a national pipe and tube manufacturer, has also hired students and alumni from City Colleges of Chicago—Richard J. Daley College.​ Emmanuel Oshodi-Glover, a student at the school, is one of the company’s recent hires.



Oshodi-Glover will complete his associate degree in May, but is already working full-time at JMC Steel. After work, he attends classes for three hours each night, and then starts his homework.



"Though it’s busy, I enjoy it," he says. "My time in the classroom has drastically increased my technical manufacturing skills."



Businesses are not the only ones interested in community college graduates. These students are also in high demand at four-year colleges.



Students with associate degrees have already proven they are not just ready for college, but committed to it, says Wray Blair, associate provost​ for enrollment management at Frostburg State University in Maryland.



"Community college graduates are often some of our strongest students," he says. "These students succeed and retain at a very high rate and are often positive campus role models."



[Make the leap from community college to a four-year university.]



The high quality of instruction at many two-year colleges is also an advantage, says Daniel Thompson, dean of enrollment management at St. Catherine University in Minnesota.



"Students who begin college in community colleges tend to be very well-prepared to continue and be successful on almost any four-year​ college or university campus," he said via email.



The University of Southern California accepted 824 community college transfer students in 2013, C.L. Max Nikias, the university’s president, noted in a recent op-ed in The Washington Post.



While USC has been recruiting community college students for decades, Nikias says the university has ramped up efforts over the last few years.



"The reality is that some students with the right combination of talent, creativity and personality will not begin their academic careers at a selective private university," he wrote. "Some of the most academically driven may hone their skills and prove themselves in a two-year program, emerging more motivated, more mature and hungrier than ever."



Trying to fund your education? Get tips, news and more in the U.S. News Paying for Community College center.



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Looking For The Perfect Gift For Your Politics-Obsessed Loved Ones? Here's Your Guide

December has arrived, so it's time to start thinking about what to get your politically-inclined friends and family members. The Huffington Post has gathered some gift ideas for progressives and conservatives alike. The only one who has to know if the gift is given ironically or genuinely is you!



Past And Future Presidential Merchandise



For your nostalgic GOP family members, the Republican National Committee is selling this "I Miss W" T-shirt...









Nov. 4, 2016 is only 704 days away…









So for that person eagerly anticipating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s as-yet unannounced presidential bid, the super PAC Ready for Hillary is offering champagne flutes and ornaments…











And for that friend or relative who hasn't stopped believing, there’s baby merchandise in case former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney gives it another go...









And a bag for that special someone who isn’t ashamed to tote around their fondness for Dr. Ben Carson (and enjoys elementary school-style fonts)...









Who cares that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has insisted she won’t run for president?







Might as well use your gift as a gentle reminder that the recipient needs to obtain government-issued photo identification (if they live in a state that will require photo ID to vote next cycle).







Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction We Wished Was Fiction, Cook Books And Coloring Books



Here are some bargain-bin political memoirs for the person you don’t want to spend too much on (and better memoirs for the literate friend or relative you care more about)...







There's even a coloring book dedicated to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)...







And you can find holiday recipe inspirations from Ann Romney in “The Romney Family Table"…







Political Television Swag



For the "Veep" fan...







And those who want to dress (and drink) like Kerry Washington in "Scandal"...







And imagine what it would really be like with Frank Underwood of "House of Cards" in control, in real life.







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Chicago's Archbishop Cupich Will Not Deny Pro-Choice Politicians Communion, Emphasizes Dialogue

Less than two weeks into his new job as the leader of Chicago’s 2.2 million Catholics, Blase Cupich sat down with CBS News to share his opinions on several hot-button issues.



Hailed as a “moderate voice” in American Catholicism who is seeking to tone down the rhetoric of the culture wars, Cupich weighed in on communion rights, immigration reform and gay marriage.



When asked by CBS’ Norah O’Donnell about whether he would deny communion to politicians who support abortion, Cupich emphasized dialogue and conversation instead of confrontation.



"I would not use the Eucharist, or as they call it 'the communion rail,' as a place to have those discussions or a way in which people would be either excluded from the life of the church," he said on “Face The Nation.” "The Eucharist is an opportunity of grace and conversion. It's also a time of forgiveness of sins, so my hope would be that grace would be instrumental in bringing people to the truth."



The Huffington Post reached out to the Archdiocese for clarification, but did not hear back.



Cupich’s softened approach stands in stark contrast to the position held by Cardinal Raymond Burke, a prominent conservative Catholic archbishop who has led campaigns to ban Catholic politicians who support abortions from receiving communion. He has been an outspoken campaigner against both abortion and same-sex marriage. He was also one of five cardinals who challenged Pope Francis’ welcoming attitude towards nontraditional and divorced couples.



Francis has re-appointed Burke twice -- removing him from the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops last year as well as transferring him from the Vatican’s supreme court to a ceremonial post in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta last month.



On the other hand, Cupich's focus on social justice issues may reflect Francis’ vision for a more welcoming church. In September, the pontiff married 20 couples at the Vatican, some of whom had co-habited or had children before marriage, signaling a shift toward forgiveness and inclusion.



According to Crux, Cupich has also tried to emphasize a “conciliatory approach” to these divisive issues.



During his interview, Cupich pointed to his desire to follow Francis' example.



"People do have a sense that the church is listening to them and also that [the pope] is speaking to their deepest desires and if I can in some way emulate that example then I think I am probably on the right track," Cupich said.



Also on Huffington Post Religion:



LISTEN: WHAT DOES POPE FRANCIS REALLY WANT









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These 'Neighbors From Hell' Texts Show Home Is Where The Hate Is

Illinois restaurants: Differing minimum wages throughout the state would hurt our business

The race is on to raise the minimum wage in Illinois. The question this week appears to be whether lawmakers in Springfield will act first and prevent the Chicago City Council from creating an eventual $13 minimum wage that would be significantly higher than the statewide wage.



Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia says restaurants in Illinois need a consistent wage statewide and favors the Springfield approach.

Due to this broad experience, we support a reasonable, fair increase in the minimum wage. Senator Kimberly Lightford of Maywood introduced legislation earlier this year to raise the wage to $10.65 and hour. Although this would cost our members money, we voiced our support.



What we believe will be harmful to Illinois' economy is a patchwork approach that could lead to potentially three different wages in the 28 suburban communities that border Chicago's outer 17 wards.

See how Toia thinks different minimum wages throughout the state could hurt Illinois restaurants, one of the biggest industries in the state.



Other changes may in store for the state when Rauner takes office in January. Travis Akin of the Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch says Rauner needs to get to work to "shake up" the state's lawsuit climate. Akin explains that a high amount of lawsuits stagnates job growth and that the way lawsuits are dealt with in Illinois is "notoriously unfair." He says that Madison County and St. Clair County are ranked among the nation's top five "Judicial Hellholes" by the American Tort Reform Association. Read more of Akin's thoughts at Reboot Illinois.







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Where to Fill Up Your Tank in Illinois for Low Gas Prices This Holiday Weekend

More Americans travel around the Thanksgiving holiday than during any other time of the year. According to the United States Department of Transportation, long-distance travel during the six-day Thanksgiving holiday period increases 54 percent. That's more even than the Christmas travel period, when long-distance travel increases only 23 percent.



The USDOT reminds us that it's not only public transportation hubs that see an influx of users-individual travel also shoots up during that time. Ninety-one percent of travel during this period happens in personal cars.

And although heavy media attention focuses on crowded airports and bus and train stations on the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving, when personal vehicle trips are added to the mix the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) reveals that Thanksgiving Day is actually a heavier long-distance travel day than Wednesday.

All that driving around eats up a lot of gasoline, which eats up a lot of money. But there are ways to save money on gas, like figuring out which areas along your travel route might have the lowest prices, or even making a pit stop a few miles out of the way to save on the green.



AAA Insurance says that the 2014 Thanksgiving weekend will see the lowest gas prices in four years. The current national average price of a gallon of gas is $3.24, says AreaVibes.com. Illinoisgasprices.com says the current average price of a gallon of gas in Illinois is $2.90.



Check out which areas in Illinois have the highest gas prices as of the afternoon of Nov. 24 according to Illinoisgasprices.com. The prices may change as the holiday approaches.







See the complete infographic showing which parts of Illinois have the lowest gas prices leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday at Reboot Illinois:







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