Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Classes on wealth


What We Do


Our goal is simple. We want to educate and motivate Kansas City residents to increase the rate and amount of savings in order to build a sound financial future.

Currently, the national savings rate is a negative number. Most of us have forgotten how to save consistently and to use good saving strategies. Kansas City Saves believes that we can change that through our outreach efforts. We encourage residents to enroll as a Saver, and commit themselves to a savings goal. There is no fee to join, and we will provide the tools, education and publicity to keep our Savers motivated. Enroll today.

Learn more by clicking here>>>

Free Tax Assistance Options

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tax preparers can charge hundreds of dollars to file your taxes. But, there are free options.

KC Cash partners with the United Way each year to provide free tax assistance. There are sites throughout the community.

Click here to learn more>>>

Get a job that counts — with the U.S. Census Bureau

The nationwide people-counting maneuver known as the 2010 Census has begun, and that’s good news in the middle of this bleak, job-sucking recession.

Uncle Sam needs your help.

Even though the counting is a year away, the U.S. Census Bureau must verify millions of addresses before it mails out the questionnaires in March 2010.

So the census bureau is hiring census takers to do that job, for $10 to $18 an hour.

Click here to learn more>>>

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Tax coupon: $30.00 off

Use this coupon to get $30.00 off at participating H&R block locations.



Hit "print screen" or print to print off your coupon.
*Coupon accepted at participating locations

For more info contact a H&R block Representative.
http://hrblock.com/

Stacia Diaz
NOLAND ROAD RETAIL SHOPPES
3613 S NOLAND RD INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055
Phone: 816-461-6222

KC’s red-light cameras become operational starting Saturday Feb, 21

Kansas City is about to put the pedal to the metal on its first red-light camera.

Beginning Saturday, red-light runners at 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway can expect to receive a letter in the mail with instructions on where they can send their $100 fine plus $13.50 in court costs. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted.

By the end of March, city officials say, cameras will be operating at five more high-traffic intersections.

Read more, Click here >>

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Free Tax Filing for Low Income Families

Through April 10
Free Tax Filing for Low Income Families
Community Services League is pleased to announce a partnership with TRCB-VITA- Independence, MO Low Income Taxpayer Clinic who will have volunteers on hand for tax preparation.

This free service will be available at the 300 W. Maple location in Independence
Fridays, 9:30 to noon and 1 to 3 pm
Please call the VITA office at 816-796-6660 with questions.

Feb. 24 Minority Marrow Drives

Bone Marrow Drive
Feb. 24 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Anyone aged 18 to 60 can register for the National Marrow Donor Program.
Richard C. Green YMCA, 10301 E. Highway 350, Raytown, Mo.

Sponsored by Bria T. Chism Foundation
For more information call 816 645-3560 or visit www.briatchism.org.

Lean More Click Here>>

On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor like you.

Learn more about Donating Bone Marrow. Click Here>>

Fact: Racial and ethnic heritage are very important factors. Because tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity. Today, there simply aren't enough registered donors of diverse racial and ethnic heritage. Adding more diverse donors increases the likelihood that all patients will find a life-saving match.

Donors of these backgrounds are especially needed:

* Black or African American
* American Indian or Alaska Native
* Asian
* Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
* Hispanic or Latino
* Mixed heritage

Bright Future Employment Fair




The Fifth annual Bright Future Employment Fair
to be March 16

Kansas City, Mo., residents ages 15-22 who are interested in paid positions (full-time, part-time, seasonal, etc.) can apply for the City of Kansas City, Mo., Bright Future Employment Fair until March 1 at http://www.kcmo.org/brightfuture.

The fifth annual employment fair is March 16 from 7:45 a.m. until noon at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St.


Applicants will have the opportunity to be interviewed and immediately hired by the more than 90 companies and City departments. Nearly 3,000 young people have been employed in the four years of the program.

The employment fair is sponsored by the City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, JE Dunn Construction Co., the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Channel 9 and Walton Construction.

The Youth Advocacy office strategically uses resources to focus on innovative initiatives directed toward young people in all fifteen school districts that draw students from Kansas City, Mo. More than 60 projects, initiatives and programs were instituted in 2008 translating an investment of return of $13.69 for every $1 spent toward young people in Kansas City.

Young people and employers can register for the Bright Future Employment Fair at http://www.kcmo.org/brightfuture. The deadline for young people is March 1 and for employers it is March 12.

Media inquiries about these issues should be addressed to Thalia Cherry, youth advocate in the City Manager's Office, (816) 513-1378.

Personal Gardens: Grow Your Own! February 19

Thursday, February 19, 2009
Personal Gardens: Grow Your Own!

Presenters: Ben Sharda, KC Community Gardens & Tina Wurth, Lincoln
University

Health concerns & financial struggles have motivated people all over the
country to turn to their backyards for their food supply. Come hear how to
start your own backyard garden with the help of local experts.

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Blue Hills RESOURCE CENTER, 5309 Woodland, KCMO
Sponsored by: Blue Hills Community Services,
www.bhcsmo.org

Questions? Call Leigh at 816.333.7870 ext. 203 or E-mail: LTodt@bhcsmo.org

Refreshments & materials will be provided!


View older WGNA postings about gardening by clicking here >>>

Need Foreclosure Help?

Two special events this month will focus community attention on the growing issue of foreclosure in the Kansas City region.

• KCPT-TV will air a special half-hour program on foreclosure on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. (rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m.) LINC is an underwriter. Click here to learn more>>>

• On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2-8 p.m., the Hope Now Alliance will hold a major event at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo. Major loan servicers will contact area owners who are delinquent on their mortgages and provide an opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss options.

Limited FREE parking provided by Kansas City at Auditorium Plaza Garage, across from Bartle Hall. Additional parking for $3 is at Standard Parking's Wyandotte Garage, 1020 Baltimore.

Foreclosure counselors, job counselors and other organizations will also be available to help families.
Click here to learn more >>>

February Meeting

We will not be having the WGNA Meeting in February.

The next meeting will be held on March 19th at 6:30
We hope to see you there!


DATE: 3rd Thursday of the Month
TIME: 6:30 PM
PLACE: Laborers Local Union 663
7820 Prospect Ave
Kansas City 64132

Trash pick-up delayed, City offices closed Feb. 16

Trash pick-up delayed, City offices closed Feb. 16

In observance of the President’s Day holiday Feb. 16, curbside trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day and City of Kansas City, Mo., offices will be closed. The 3-1-1 Action Center, a division of the City Manager's Office, will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents who usually have Monday collection will receive this service Tuesday, Feb. 17. Residents who usually have Friday collection will receive this service Saturday, Feb. 21.

BE 1! at the Library


This Saturday, people that have already made the choice to BE 1! -- mentors,
volunteers, advocates, teachers and parents of KCMSD scholars -- will be
stationed at branches of the Kansas City Public Library from 10am-3pm sharing
information about the BE 1! campaign and inviting Kansas Citians to take a stand
for our scholars by choosing to BE 1!

If you are interested in volunteering at a Library this Saturday, please
contact one of our organizers: http://www.be1kc.org

Please invite your friends to join this group as it will continue to be a
central point of communication
for the BE 1! campaign.

use stickers, not dollars

Kansas City residents should use stickers,
not dollars, for extra trash bags, officials say


Just in case there’s any doubt: Do not attach a dollar bill to your extra trash bags.

Kansas City officials spent much of last week talking about new fines for extra trash bags. Some had suggested that residents in a pinch might tape a dollar bill to a bag if they didn’t have the required sticker.

But by the end of the week, officials made it clear that Kansas City residents should stick to the official stickers.

The city’s policy is that after two free bags, a $1 sticker is required for each extra bag. The stickers are obtained from participating grocery and hardware stores.

Click here for more>>

Monday, February 16, 2009

Public budget meeting schedule

The City is hosting a series of public hearings to present information to residents and solicit feedback on the 2009-10 budget. A total of six hearings are being held, one in each of the City’s council districts.

5th District
Saturday, Feb. 21
Southeast Community Center
4201 E. 63rd St.
10 a.m. – noon



Click on image to enlarge.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Film series celebrates Black History Month

Film series celebrates Black History Month

Films about African-Americans are featured in the free film series “Our Heroes” in the Film Vault at the KC Central Library, 14 W. 10th. Programmed by area movie critic Shawn Edwards, the series screens at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays throughout February, Black History Month.

The schedule:

•“The Jackie Robinson Story” (Monday and Feb. 7): The man who broke baseball’s color barrier starred in his own movie biography.

•“Cornbread, Earl and Me” (Feb. 9 and 14): A 12-year-old Laurence Fishburne stars in this tale of a black community traumatized by the death of a local hero.

•“Greased Lightning” (Feb. 16 and 21): Richard Pryor stars as Wendell Scott, America’s first black race car driver.

•“The Great White Hope” (Feb. 23 and 28): James Earl Jones is Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ.

In addition, Edwards will talk about “The Manifestation of the Black Hero on Screen” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the library.
Edwards’ new documentary, “Our Heroes: The 25 Best Black Sports Movies (Ever),” screens Feb. 28 at the Gem Theater.
Visit www.iloveblack movies.com for more information.

The Paint Program provides

The Paint Program provides free paint and supplies to eligible Kansas City, Mo., homeowners.

All labor is to be accomplished or provided by the homeowner. The house must prepared for painting before a voucher can be issued. City staff will perform an on site inspection of the property.

Click here to learn more >>

Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Low Income Home Energy Assistance

The Missouri Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has two components: Energy Assistance/Regular Heating (EA) and Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECIP). EA is designed to provide financial assistance to help pay heating bills for Missourians during the months of October, November, December, January, February, and March.

Eligibility requirements for EA are based on income, family size, available resources and responsibility for payment of home heating costs. Eligibility for EA may also qualify individuals for additional financial assistance through ECIP and/or weatherization services funded by LIHEAP.
Click here to lean more >>

Employment Fair. March 16

Bright Future Employment Fair to be March 16

Kansas City, Mo., residents ages 15-22 who are interested in paid positions (full-time, part-time, seasonal, etc.) can apply for the City of Kansas City, Mo., Bright Future Employment Fair until March 1 at http://www.kcmo.org/brightfuture.

The fifth annual employment fair is:
March 16 from 7:45 a.m. until noon
at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St.


Click here to learn more >>

Trash pick-up delayed Feb 16th


Thursday, February 5, 2009

DTV: extended to June 12th.


DTV Transition Delay All But Official; New Date is June 12

Meet the Author" series and book signing!!!

THURSDAY, February 5, 7:00pm

Black America Series
Kansas City (Arcadia Publishing)
by Dr. Delia C. Gillis
University of Central Missouri
Click here to learn more>>


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Coupons: 2 for 1 addmissions



Kansas City is getting easier on your pocketbook. Some of Kansas City's premier attractions are offering

2-for-1 specials. These discount offers are only available for a limited time — through March 15. You'll want to print a copy of the online coupon and present it at the attraction box office or ticket counter.

Click Here to print your coupons>>>

Feb 6th: Get Ready for Wear Red Day


Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.

Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives.

Click here to learn more>>