I have a few questions for you.

More than 2,000 men and women have served as Senators in the United States Senate, how many of them have been black?
Do you know what percentage of African Americans voted in the 2008 election?
Our nation’s election history is inspirational and remarkable. But today, we’re exploring some of the lesser-known facts from our more than 200-year history of elections and voting.
Test your knowledge of our electoral history. Take our This is My Vote Elections Quiz today:
http://action.naacp.org/take-our-quiz
We’ve compiled some interesting pieces of trivia about elections in America. Some answers are inspirational, others shocking, but all demonstrate the importance of exercising our right to cast a vote in every election.
We celebrate the electoral process because voting gives us a voice, and because generations of NAACP members and supporters have fought to allow those voices to be heard. Yet in recent months, we have seen aggressive attempts to silence our voices and suppress our votes.
So if you think you know what group of people got the right to vote when the 26th Amendment was passed, or the last time voter turnout for a Presidential election reached 60%, take our quiz and test your knowledge!
http://action.naacp.org/take-our-quiz
Thank you,
Jotaka Eaddy
Senior Director, Voting Rights Initiative

COMING SOON!

State Gang Prevention & Intervention Grant – Request for Proposals

The RFP will be release Friday morning, May 25th.

Governor Gregoire signed the 2012 Supplemental State Operating budget which includes a proviso for the State Gang Prevention & Intervention Grant Program.  As a result, the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (WA-PCJJ), Office of Juvenile Justice, DSHS will be releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP).

Funds will be used to offer services to prevent the expansion of criminal street gang membership or support criminal street gang membership intervention to a targeted population through:

·        one or more evidence-based or research-based programs, as defined in RCW 71.36.010

·        The use of one or more innovative culturally relevant practices.

ESTIMATED TIMELINE:
·        Release RFP by May 21, 2012

·        Applications due June 29, 2012

·        Recipients selected by July 13, 2012

·        Contracts begin August 1, 2012 for an 11 month period.

Eligible entities:  Coalitions composed of, at a minimum, one or more local governmental entities and one or more nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that have a documented history of creating and administering effective criminal street gang prevention and intervention programs may apply for funding.

Funding:  WA-PCJJ anticipates funding 2-4 projects: the maximum award amount is $105,000.

Applications must demonstrate:  a significant criminal street gang problem exists in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions.  Factors that may be considered in determining whether a significant criminal street gang problem exists include, but are not limited to:
·        Crime statistics that are coded as gang-related

·        Gang-related incidents-  including graffiti and gang-related criminal activity

·        Offenders residing in a jurisdiction that are under supervision of the department of corrections or DSHS and are known active gang members

·        School or community surveys indicative a substantial level of gang activity in schools or the community

·        Previous or ongoing gang intervention activities in the jurisdiction



Applicants must demonstrate that addressing the impact of criminal street gangs is a high priority in the jurisdiction seeking the grant.

Lisa Wolph
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Coordinator
Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice
Office of Juvenile Justice
Department of Social & Health Services
lisa.wolph@dshs.wa.gov
360-902-0874
Fax: 360-902-7527
Click here for more infromation www.juvenilejustice.dshs.wa.gov <http://www.juvenilejustice.dshs.wa.gov>

“Morris, Pamela (CAA)” PMorris@caa.wa.gov

Democracy Now: A daily independent global news hour

If privacy is of concern, you may be interested in the following interview: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/23/more_secrets_on_growing_state_surveillance

Thanks Ed