The CIEA staff would like to send our readers strength, resiliency, prayers, and good health particularly during COVID-19.

The CIEA office is physically closed until May 3rd as part of the ‘shelter in place’ directive but we are working remotely, which means we are checking emails and will be checking our phone messages and returning calls.

We do want to take the time to continue to love, protect, cherish, and care for one another, especially our elders and folxs who are immunocompromised.

Again, we are so happy to be able to provide folxs with monthly announcements about training, capacity building, Tribal Self-Advocacy and funding opportunities, as well as water related news. Readers are more than welcome to send information about upcoming events, training, or news that you think would be beneficial for other Tribal members in other regions to know to our Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, Joel Sedano at [log in to unmask]

The Rural Community Assistance Corporation would like to announce a free ONLINE drinking waters workshop from April to May. Workshops topics vary from Wells and Hydrology to Water Quality Sampling to Improving Drinking Water Resilience through Hazard Mitigation Planning Symposium. For more information on the workshops or registration, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to a virtual form of the listed workshops where register here links and RCAC contact info is available.

CIEA would like to provide information to ONLINE workshop resources. For more information on Quickbooks workshops or registration, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the Quickbooks website or please utilise the links below for more sites that provide online resources.


https://sanfrancisco.newhorizons.com/training-and-certifications/course-outline/id/1035991092/c/get-going-with-quickbooks

https://central.xero.com/s/

Tribal Community (Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake County) | Needs Assessment

The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (CIMCC) would like to support our local tribal community members' needs while we face the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that these are difficult times and there are various diverse needs within our community. Please share with us what needs you and your family has so that we can work towards gathering resources to meet those needs.

Even though our physical location is currently closed due to the shelter in place order our county issued, our staff is working remotely to continue to deliver programs. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns regarding resources. At the moment we only have information regarding resource providing agencies to share with community members.

We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. The information you provide is confidential and will assist us in connecting you to aid. For questions please contact Christina T. Inong at: [log in to unmask]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CalEPA has extended the application deadline for the 2020 EJ Small Grants to Friday, May 1, 2020. Please visit our website for more information and updates.

Also to support the Governor’s orders on social distancing, CalEPA will now also be accepting electronic submission of applications. Electronic submitted applications must be sent to the CalEPA EJ Program mailbox and must comply with other electronic formatting details. For more the EJ Program mailbox and project examples updates information, please visit our website at https://calepa.ca.gov/EnvJustice/Funding/

At least $1 million will be available during this funding cycle to eligible community-based nonprofit groups and federally recognized tribal governments, to support environmental justice-related projects across California. The maximum grant amount is $50,000 and the grant term is 12 months.

Questions: Malinda Dumisani, EJ Small Grants Program Manager, [log in to unmask] Please do no email applications to the Program Manager, they will not be accepted at this email address. For the email box to send electronic submitted of applications, please visit our website. Thanks.

Funds for this program are provided by the boards, departments and office within CalEPA. The CalEPA EJ Small Grants Program was established by Assembly Bill 2312 (Chu, Chapter 994, Statutes of 2002) to provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments. Since its inception, the program has awarded 180 grants totaling $5.3 million.

The California Fish and Game Commission drafted an emergency Action to
Add Section 8.02, Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Re: Special Measures for Sport Fishing to Protect Public Health from the Immediate
Threat Posed by COVID-19, which we have placed in the read more button below, where our readers can be redirected to the draft measure.

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal Nations.

Their COVID-19 Response Flicker Fund is designed to respond to Indigenous Communities in Times of Crisis.

Rapid Response to Indigenous Communities in Times of Crisis - $5,000 in grant support to Indigenous community generated and led initiatives, supporting:

Basic and urgent health and wellness needs of the most vulnerable with a focus on elders and multi-generational households and families with children under the age of 5 years old

Traditional healing practices and remedies, food systems, and immune support

Historic and cultural teachings, stories, and lifeways that advance traditional
knowledge systems that inform community members on health, healing, and moving
forward

To apply or find more information, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the Seventh Generation Fund website where the Flicker Grant info is housed.

Dear Peace First community,

As you know, the WHO has declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and has recommended communities take social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Globally, COVID-19 is more than a public health challenge — it has laid bare the consequences of persistent systemic inequality for all to see, and is threatening our social fabric, mental health, trust in institutions, and the economic security of billions of people.

This is a critical time for all of us to support each other. In this moment of obligation, we have a responsibility to act with care and caution, both towards ourselves and each other. And as a global community, we know that this is a key moment to take action.

That’s why Peace First is launching a rapid response grant process to help young people around the world lead projects that address community impacts of COVID-19, from providing meals to elderly neighbors to launching digital mental health campaigns to support youth feeling isolated. Rapid response grants are open to young people between the ages of 13-25, anywhere in the world, starting today. Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/JjxcPdUHMTpCcttR7

Find out how to get involved, and join in by sharing our campaign on social media and within your community using our sample social media posts in our call to action and social media toolkit: https://bit.ly/3977Pf2

Here’s what Peace First is doing to respond to the changing needs of our communities due to response to COVID-19:

We’re convening a global group of youth leaders to design a meaningful, youth-centered campaign in response to COVID-19.
We’re offering mini-grants of up to $250, mentorship, and project support to young people leading initiatives to address secondary effects of COVID-19 in their communities.
Next week, we’re kicking off a series of video calls and webinars to help young people who are feeling isolated connect with youth leaders around the world, share best practices in digital organizing, and co-create projects to respond to COVID-19. Want to get involved? Sign up here to receive updates on call dates and additional opportunities: https://forms.gle/VPFuYC7cWU7hcudU9
Our team is creating a resource list for young people seeking project-planning support, public health information, tips on building community digitally, and ideas to care for mental health while practicing social distancing.
We’re reaching out to parents and educators around the world to provide our digital curriculum to students experiencing disruption in their education.
We’re offering optional extensions of up to 1 month for youth leaders who need to put their projects on hold due to social distancing guidelines. If the crisis continues or worsens, we will offer additional extensions as needed. Our team is in contact with project leaders and working with them closely.
In order to put rapid response funding resources into the hands of young people globally, we need financial support to do so. If you are able, please make a gift at www.peacefirst.org/donate. Please share this information on your social media and to others who can support this important work.

We know that this is a challenging time for many members of our global community, especially young people. Here at Peace First, we are thankful for each of you — for the work that you do to make our communities safer and kinder, for coming together in times of crisis, and for speaking out when you see injustice. If you want to help, and you’re ready to take action, our team is here to support you.

Best,
Peace First Team


P.S. The form for the grant can be found in the read more button below.

We’ll be using Emergent Fund’s already well-honed rapid response funding infrastructure to support the work of current and prospective grantees as they meet the needs of their communities to address the myriad of needs related to COVID-19. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be gathering resources and quickly moving money to organizations, collectives, and mutual aid projects across the country – the ones that need bailing out the most. We are focusing our grantmaking on organizations that (1) are mobilizing to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities; (2) are utilizing power-building strategies including but not limited to digital organizing, membership development and outreach, narrative development, direct action; and (3) are led by communities of color. Check back here in the coming months to see revisions and updates to our processes as the pandemic evolves.

Emergent Fund continues to prioritize grassroots organizing and power building in Indigenous communities and communities of color who are facing injustice based on racial, ethnic, religious, and other forms of discrimination.

Our priority is funding the movement-building that will ensure we come out on the other side of this crisis closer to justice — we will not go back. We’re seeing people freed from jail and detention, and we’re expanding conversations about healing and disability justice; affordable childcare; universal sick leave; healthcare for all; living wages for childcare workers; eviction, utility and foreclosure moratoriums; universal emergency shelter; increased resources to Indian Health Services; extensions and expansion of census data collection; and voter protections.

Our focus is funding grantees whose organizing will hold and expand these wins for the long term and lead us toward a powerful vision of what comes next.

If you are applying for COVID-19 specific funding, please indicate that in your proposal. Aside from this addition, our rapid-response application process remains the same.

For more about our criteria and instructions on how to apply, please click the read more button below to be redirected to the Emergent Fund website.

A free webinar taught by Nikki Naiser on Tuesday, April 14 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Zoom is an easy-to-use, versatile way for us to connect our communities in these times of lockdown, self-quarantining and social distancing. Participants in Zoom meetings don’t need technical know-how, and they can join by computer, smart phone, tablet—or even just a regular voice phone. A Basic level Zoom account is free and can accommodate up to 100 participants for up to 40 minutes, with more time and features available at low cost. In this session, you will learn the basics of hosting a Zoom meeting including small group breakouts, other useful features, and best practices for a smooth experience.

To register for any of these free-of-charge sessions, please email [log in to unmask]

a free webinar taught by Tina Begay on Thursday, April 16 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

This session will introduce you to the Unified Chart of Accounts for nonprofits organizations. The charts of accounts are the backbone of a good accounting system. In this webinar, we will take an assessment of your financial management practices and design a plan to ensure your organization starts off on the right track. The basics of nonprofit financial statements and grant reporting will be covered.

To register for any of these free-of-charge sessions, please email [log in to unmask]

The recent CARES Act stimulus program has made nearly $400 billion in forgivable loans available to small non-profits to help fund payroll and select other expenses for two months. This is referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Relief funding options include:

Paycheck Protection Program: A forgiveable loan program for small businesses with less than 500 employees, private nonprofit organizations, and 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for 8 weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance: A loan advance of up to $10,000 that will not need to be repaid. This advance will provide economic relief to small businesses, private nonprofit organizations, and 501(c)(19) veterans organizations that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue

For more information on the CARES Act, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the Independent Sector website where they have answers to any questions readers' might have.

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a webinar for tribal water systems on the recently released Pandemic Incident Action Checklist (IAC) and activities taken by federal, tribal and nonprofit organizations to support tribal utilities.

The webinar will include:

· An overview of the recently released Pandemic Incident Action Checklist (IAC);

· Discussion and presentations from the Indian Health Service, United South and Eastern Tribes, Inter Tribal Council or Arizona, and the Southwest Environmental Finance Center

The webinar will be recorded so if you are not able to make the scheduled time, you will be able to view the webinar at a later date.

To register for the webinar, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the webinar form.

Grants are available to support essential services and relief efforts.
NDN Collective stands in solidarity and in deep relationship with Indigenous communities who are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic — health crisis and other disaster-related events by providing rapid response funding to established, Indigenous-led, community-based organizations and tribes. The NDN COVID-19 Response Project is designed to provide rapid response resources to Indigenous communities bracing from economic impacts, stresses to public services and combating the spread of misinformation; reaching affected communities through organizations and tribal programs delivering urgent, frontline services including immediate relief, resources and gap services. The Grant Request process is designed for ease of use and rapid response. Basic organization and project information is requested.

GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND RELIEF EFFORTS

- Medical supplies
- Food delivery
- Youth and / or Elder care
- Educational Access
- Shelter and Housing
- Economic Relief
- Social - Emotional Support
- Cultural, Ceremonial, Spirit-Aligned Support
- Information and Communications — Access to accurate information; Radio/T.V., Internet