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Congress: Don’t throw our kids off the childcare cliff!For many parents, making ends meet each month is already a tremendous challenge. The end of crucial pandemic relief has resulted in a cascade of difficulties, including rising grocery and gas prices, the resumption of student loan payments, and unexpected Medicaid disenrollments. Losing access to affordable and reliable childcare is a burden too heavy to bear. We cannot afford to let our childcare system collapse. It's not just about providing a safe space for our children; it's about ensuring the well-being of families and our economy. Sign the petition to protect our children's future, support working parents, and strengthen our communities. Congress, the time to act is now.23,369 of 25,000 SignaturesCreated by Allison Johnson
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Changes to accommodate atypical childrenThis is very concerning for many reasons. First and foremost the center serves breakfast and lunch is all day schooling. If a child doesn't eat the first option "breakfast" can be alternated with eating at home. However, the lunch that is provided, although healthy option may not be appealing to some children. So, if that child doesn't eat any of the lunch provided they now go without eating until the child returns home. Some of the concern would be that if the child doesn't eat many issues can arise from behavioral to physical. It also raises concern that children may not have any meals after school (due to the rise in poverty) so, this may just be the only meals they get to have. It is also concerning that a child that is on the spectrum, will have sensory aversions. A lot of these atypical children will resist "new" foods and will not try anything "new", some will have postural issues as well as anxiety and meltdowns because of these "new" foods being presented. For an example my daughter is 4 years old, she attends the Luzerne County Head Start program, they do provide breakfast and lunch. Breakfast usually consists of a grain, fruit and dairy. Lunch consists of protein, starch, vegetable, grain and dairy. Now, my the problem with that is these meals are something that you would see in a nursing home not in a child's school. In explaining what I mean, Breakfast on Sept 13th will consist of mini bagel, pineapple tidbits, grape jelly and 6oz 1% milk. Lunch will consist of Beef Pot Pie (1 cup) carrot slices (1/4 cup) applesauce (1/4 cup) biscuits and 6oz 1% milk. My daughter will not foods that touch. So, beef pot pie is definitely out (I don't believe that any child will eat this) with carrot slices (try to visualize 1/4 cup- I will say maybe if they are lucky it might be 5 slices)my daughter won't even look at them, next up is applesauce (once again visualize 1/4 cup-I will say maybe 3/4 spoonful) my daughter will eat this. Biscuits now this is common with kiddos however someone who has aversion will not touch it if it the wrong texture. Lastly is 6 oz 1% milk. So, in seeing this menu my daughter will have eaten the applesauce also drank milk at breakfast and lunch. Do you see the problem being at school for almost 6 hours? There should be an alternate. This can be done in still following the my plate. A breakfast alternate can be something as simple as blueberry wheat pancake, sugar free syrup, yogurt and milk. An alternate lunch could be a peanut butter (alternate to keep it nut free) and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, carrot/green beans/corn, cheese sticks and milk. There can also be an alternate of potato and cheese pierogi, carrot sticks, yogurt and Milk. Even cauliflower pizza is a good option. They just need to have an alternate option for our younger children so they are not going without eating.187 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Jillian Hines
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Do your job! Don't shut the government down for right-wing demands.The right-wing Republicans driving the agenda of the House of Representatives are threatening to shut down the government. This means that essential services—from making sure our drinking water is clean to keeping our national parks open to ensuring Social Security checks go out on time—could be in jeopardy. There have been federal shutdowns in the past. They hurt the economy, they punish federal workers, and they take a toll on Americans across the country. Why would the so-called Freedom Caucus and the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene want this? To push their radical-right agenda with a wish list of demands they know there's no legislative mandate or popular support for. Their demands range from making our immigration system more abusive to stopping the government from holding Trump accountable for his attacks on our democracy to voting on an absurd impeachment of President Biden. Their goal is to prevent President Biden from being able to govern—and to demonstrate that they don't think the federal government should function. We know better. And we know how many services and programs we rely on. That's why we're asking all members of Congress to say no to a politicized, partisan, reckless agenda to shut down the government. Credit: CNS/Reuters33,395 of 35,000 Signatures
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Dress CodeI would like for you to join to help change these rules to at least have a compromise in what should be.395 of 400 SignaturesCreated by ilianna rangel
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Bring ClassDojo Back In Wakulla SchoolsClassDojo is important for classroom information and tracking behavior (if teacher chooses to use this feature.) From ClassDojo Website- We don’t share any of your information or students’ information with advertisers or marketers. We don’t own anything you add to ClassDojo: you do. Students’ portfolios are private to the classroom. We use the latest security best practices to protect you at all times. We are compliant with COPPA, FERPA, and GDPR in Europe. We will notify you if we make any changes to our practices.168 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Anon Anon
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Stop MN from Killing Training BusinessesIt starts with a handful of people and small businesses that the state government thinks it can cut out and run out of business, but where will it stop? They can not be allowed to get away with unfairly competing with small business in the state and causing more problems.114 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Timothy Smith
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Prioritize the Safety of San Diego ChildrenAdjacent to the Malcolm X Library is the Elementary Institute of Science. Both locations serve hundreds of school age youth throughout the week and on Saturdays. During the school year, EIS programs serve all 4th and 5th grade students from the surrounding 11 Lincoln Cluster community schools and after-school and summer programs serve children 2nd through 8th grades. In short, EIS is open year-round for young students in the community. The proposed site at the Malcolm X Library is set to be activated as an overnight Safe Parking site with 120 spaces available. This is more than other safe parking sites that have 60-84 parking spots, thus creating a site almost twice the size of any other in San Diego. Combined with the newly built Live Well Center across the street, traffic will greatly increase. This will include people seeking County benefits and the influx of new employees along with library traffic, and student drop off and pick up at EIS. Thus, creating major congestion issues at the intersection of Euclid and Market. The southeast community is sympathetic to the enormous housing crisis in San Diego and all the people and entities impacted by it. EIS works very hard to provide a safe learning environment for the students. Illegal dumping, human waste, needles, trespassing, and vandalism are already common occurrences in the area and it costs EIS thousands of dollars annually to clean the surrounding area. We know from experience that parents value their children's safety first and foremost, more than literacy and science enrichment. If the corner where the library and Live Well Center sits turns into a hub of unhoused people, they will not bring their children to the library or to EIS for educational opportunities. Please encourage the City of San Diego to be part of the solution to the problem of homelessness...not a problem to the community.52 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Elementary Institute of Science
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ABV Mentors Deserve CU's from the Clark County School DistrictBlack teachers have been shown to have a positive impact on all student academic and social outcomes. Having just one Black teacher increases students chances of going to college and reduces the numbers of suspension & expulsions. In Clark County only 7% of teachers are Black creating an ongoing crisis that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations. SNBEI has declared the lack of Black teachers a state of emergency and has created the ABV Critical Mentorship Program to help retain Black teachers in Clark County School District. Among the program's standout achievements are the 15 ABV mentees who have successfully completed their mentorship journey and subsequently embraced licensed teaching positions within the Clark County School District. This accomplishment not only speaks to the effectiveness of the program but also underscores its pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of educators. The ABV Mentors program has also been established as a valuable mechanism for retaining both new licensed educators who serve as ABV mentees and veteran educators who serve as ABV mentors. This dual approach not only supports the growth and development of new educators but also leverages the experience and expertise of seasoned mentors However ABV Mentors are currently unable to earn CU's for their time and effort, while similar programs are able to earn credits. These credits translate to higher pay for mentors, which can increase retention and participation in the program. SNBEI is petitioning the district to allow ABV Mentors to earn credits equal to what other mentorship programs allow. Denial of credit is an equity issue that is discriminatory towards Black teachers.294 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Jordan Hankins
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UK NEEDS PARKING AVAILABILITYAllowing students to park on campus offers a myriad of benefits that enhance their overall college experience. First and foremost, convenient parking facilities alleviate the stress and time constraints that commuting students often face, or even UK's classified 'residential students' due to how large our campus is. By providing ample parking spaces, educational institutions create a more accessible and inclusive environment, enabling students to attend classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and engage with campus resources without the hassle of off-campus parking. Moreover, on-campus parking fosters a stronger sense of belonging and community, as students can easily connect with peers and engage in impromptu discussions or collaborative projects. It also contributes to campus safety, as students don't need to walk long distances in potentially unsafe areas or during unfavorable weather conditions. Allowing students to park on campus ultimately promotes student well-being, academic success, and campus vibrancy by facilitating seamless navigation and engagement within the university environment. Further, not all apartments, houses, townhouses, etc. around Lexington offer parking for their residents, let alone visitor parking. Lex park is no longer available around UK South campus, only closer to downtown. If students need to work, drive to class, go to the store, and other basic living necessities, where are they able to park their cars overnight without being towed, or ticketed by UK? Furthermore, what about our out-of-state student population that makes the commitment of high tuition but has no parking accommodation? What about our working students that need vehicle accessibility to pay towards their tuition and/or rent? How do these students efficiently commute to their place of work in order to sustain income for their education and living? Why are these students forced to struggle as UK transportation refuses to accommodate with any type of local parking availability on campus? Why is student parking not prioritized? Why are the STUDENTS that need to park NOT prioritized?23 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Cheryl Spellman
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Defend the Freedom to ReadThe attacks on books and on the freedom to learn are calculated to render our histories, our communities, and our families invisible. Through book challenges and bans, the far right is attempting to erase LGBTQ+ people and people of color—and we will not let them succeed. Together, we can make a difference. Will you join us and add your name to the petition? Here is the list of the celebrities and activists who have signed onto the letter so far: https://d1tdltywu8qogs.cloudfront.net/images/09-27-23-Name_List_Petition_Image-05.jpg58,305 of 75,000 SignaturesCreated by LeVar Burton
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Yonkers Music Hall of Fame/ Earl D.M.X. Simmons Performing Arts CenterThe city of Yonkers has a rich musical history with many talented musicians, producers, and industry professionals having called this city their home. The Yonkers Music Hall of Fame would be an excellent way to celebrate the achievements of these individuals and honor their contributions to the community. Additionally, creating a Yonkers Music Hall of Fame and Earl "D.M.X." Simmons Performing Arts Center would be a way to showcase the city's unique culture and heritage, and it would be a fantastic tourist attraction that would draw visitors from all over the country. It would also provide opportunities for future generations to appreciate and learn about music in Yonkers. As a resident of Yonkers, you can play a significant role in making this project a success by joining the campaign to create the Yonkers Music Hall of Fame, and and Earl "D.M.X." Simmons Performing Arts Center support will be instrumental in creating a space that honors the city's illustrious musical heritage and ensures that it is accessible to all. By joining the campaign and signing the petition, you are showing your commitment to preserving Yonkers' cultural identity and helping to make it an even better place to live, work, and visit.707 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Shonta BURTON-Peay
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Reinstate the fairness doctrineUnder the fairness doctrine, any news organization was required to provide content on political issues from both parties (or if there was a third party, their viewpoint as well). If you are a Gen Xer, you remember the show Point, Counterpoint on PBS. Instead of making a blanket statement or series of statements on a buzzword issue, evidence was required to back your position, and more importantly, all news organizations were required to allow the opposing viewpoint an equal amount of time - hence the word "fairness" - on their news segment. The Fairness Doctrine also required that news media report errors in their reporting, and to provide corrections to anything that was potentially misleading whether in print or on the air. The Fairness Doctrine was enacted shortly after WWII and it was designed to combat three things. The prevalence of "yellow journalism" where papers would print wild and crazy stories only to incite emotions off of half truths, or frankly just falsehoods with the altruistic goal of simply selling more importantly sell newspapers. These newspapers were printed on cheap paper, that yellowed, which is where we get the term "yellow journalism". The second was to combat the monopoly newly formed television and radio networks had on the news, and their potential to abuse that monopoly to skew information that was provided to the masses to a narrative that the media companies wanted to present to the masses. This law was designed to ensure the media could not use their power to persuade their audience to behave the way they wanted. The third was that in the wake of WWII, we realized the power of news media when we looked at what happened to the German people prior to and during WWII. The Germans were nationalized by Hitler’s media machine that spewed hate, lies and propaganda that allowed the Third Reich to exist and thrive; the people of Germany, because of the propaganda allowed the atrocities of the Third Reich to happen. We passed the Fairness Doctrine to ensure that the news media in this country would not be able to do the same to our people. We wanted our people to make informed decisions, not decisions based upon emotion, or fear about issues that were insignificant, or easily rebuked. The Fairness Doctrine was repealed by President Reagan, and the once mundane news networks became exciting. The first household name that benefited from the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine was a man named Rush Limbaugh. Using the removal of this law, he was able to present news, and information in a one-sided and biased format, without providing information about why his viewpoint may be biased, or even completely incorrect. He used this to his advantage and amassed a massive following and a fortune spreading his one-sided viewpoints. Some of his stories were credible, others were completely misleading. I use Limbaugh only because he was a household name. Both parties benefited from the repeal of this legislation. Likewise, even though Reagan's administration repealed the Fairness Doctrine, it was not party based, and both parties benefited from this law's repeal, as they could use the media to push their own agendas. Think about watching Fox News for a day and then watching MSBNC. They push stories and commentary that is one sided, a lot of which would completely fall apart if they had to present a counterpoint. The media companies, and this is perhaps the real reason the Fairness Doctrine was repealed wanted this as well. They could sell fear on stories and issues that again sounded very scary when you presented one side, but when the other side was presented, the story would fall flat. They could sensationalize the news, and well, make more money. Reagan’s repeal of the Fairness Doctrine likely had more to do with his former acting career and his Hollywood influence more than anything to do with political parties. The Fairness Doctrine prevented misinformation from being spread by actual news organizations. It prevented the spread of nationalistic ideology, and more importantly it required that the news media accurately report on stories that they covered, present facts that were verifiable, and provide an opportunity to discuss an alternative viewpoint. We need to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine to hold our news media accountable. This will stop sensationalizing the news and give the common voter in this country access to honest, reliable information.146 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Derek Haake