Welcome to our first issue of The Voice of Social Justice, Community Shares' new e-newsletter.  Community Shares is a collaboration of 36 progressive organizations working for real change.  We provide an easy, effective way for people, through gifts at work, to support the social justice missions of our members.

Have you heard of Microgiving, the hot new fundraising trend? It's based on the concept that we can do more together than we can alone. Here at Community Shares, we call it Power in Participation.

 

What is it?  It's simple: incremental giving makes a monumental difference, and Community Shares is proof positive of this.  Last year, we raised over $1 million in pledges for organizations that are working locally and statewide to accomplish positive change.  All of this was done with an average donation of about $5 a paycheck, which really adds up when multiplied annually and combined with the gifts of friends, family and coworkers!  

Payroll deduction giving is microgiving at its best!  It allows you to give easily in tougher economic times and to give more than through a one-time gift.  But we all need to throw in.  Give up a latte a week and participate by giving! You can make a difference at a time when it's needed most.

are harnessing the power of participation to create real change in your neighborhoods, city and region.  

More than 500 Habitat for Humanity ReStore programs across the U.S. and Canada sell rescued, recycled and donated building materials at a fraction of standard retail costs.  The proceeds support Habitat's operations in the local community.  Habitat's homes are increasingly more energy efficient, more cost effective, safer, greener and built with more recycled material and less waste than ever before. 

The fact that Habitat affiliates can generate substantial dollars on sheer volume by using one mission-based activity to support another makes the ReStore one of the most sustainable and unique strategies in the nonprofit sector today.  Habitat for Humanity has established a growing market for low-cost, recycled construction materials throughout North America. 

In Cleveland, the local affiliate has seen sustained growth in weekly sales.  Please don't pay to throw it away!  Contact us at http://www.clevelandhabitat.org/Restore/ or call 216-429-3631.

Did you know that the average home is responsible for twice as much CO2 as a typical car? Energy efficiency in the home can help stop climate change.  Environmental Health Watch has launched the Affordable Green Housing Center, a new program to promote healthy, affordable green housing.  Green new construction and green retrofits of existing homes result in lower electrical, natural gas, water, sewer and home repair bills.

Positive impacts from green housing include reduced local air pollution, cleaner water, waste reduction, natural resource preservation and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. Durable buildings that last a long time conserve resources and make the most of the energy used during construction.  Visit http://ehw.org/AGHC/HGAH_home.htm for more information and tips for greening your own home!

On September 14, Ohio Citizen Action and the Ohio Citizen Action Education Fund presented Phil Donahue with their highest honor, the Howard M. Metzenbaum Award. Since 1995, they have presented the award to Ohioans who best reflect Senator Metzenbaum's example of principled tenacity.

Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, which included a screening of Donahue's riveting documentary, Body of War. For more about the event, visit http://www.ohiocitizen.org/about/metzaward/2008/2008.html.. For more information on the Ohio Citizen Action Education Fund visit http://www.ohiocitizen.org or call 216-861-1989. 

The Voice of Social Justice is published monthly by Community Shares.  For information about Community Shares, visit

http://www.communityshares.org/.

Please do not reply to this email.  Comments about this newsletter may be directed to frances@communityshares.org.