Soulciety Non-Profit Organization ♥

Dental Hygiene Supplies Team

The dental hygiene supply team’s goal is to collect 6,000 toothbrushes and to teach oral hygiene workshops to children in the impoverished communities of the Philippines. We are working with local dentists from the Bay Area to collect oral hygiene supplies by August 31, 2013. These supplies include toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss.

So far, we have graciously received a donation confirmation of 600 oral hygiene items from Katrina’s co-worker, 60 items from Rowena’s client who is a dental hygienist, and 20 toothbrushes from Jeannette’s co-worker. We also have 2 more dentists to donate towards the Bridge Program by mid-summer 2013.

Introducing the DHS team: Our DHS team leads are Jeannette Duong and Charito Soriano. They will keep the team up-to-date and continue to reach out to various contacts connected to the dental community. They are also the cheerleaders to keep all members motivated. Katrina Dy is our documentation specialist, helping to keep all the paperwork organized and creating amazing documents and forms. She was also the first to confirm a donation from her dentist. Team blogger, Rowenalyn Conlu will help to promote the group’s progress through writing monthly blogs. She is connecting with a dental hygienist to put together a workshop that will educate our team about dental hygiene and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle with our teeth, our diet, and daily dental routines throughout our life that we will be sharing with the youth in the Philippines.

by Rowena Conlu

Computer Labs

Soulciety is creating a computer refurbishing program to coordinate the refurbishing of 100 computers that will be donated to schools in the Philippines. We will work with IT students from Oakland’s Stride Center on this project to impart valuable job skills, while at the same time teaching compassion and humanitarianism.

Once in the Philippines, we will train the teachers on computer literacy so they can, in turn, teach their students!

You and and/or your organization can adopt this project by raising or donating $5,000 to build a computer lab at a participating school. An existing classroom will be renovated and these renovations include:

· Tiling the floors

· Installing secure windows and doors

· Installing an A/C system

· Rewiring electricity and installing lights

· Installing internet access for at least 3 years

· Building computer tables and benches for students

· Hiring a Project Manager for the project

You will be recognized as an Official Sponsor and a plaque will be placed at the computer lab that you sponsor in honor of your support.

We are also looking for general contractors to work with the Philippines on this project. If you or anyone you know are interested in this unique opportunity, please contact ronnie@soulciety.org.

Our primary goal is to build a minimum of three computer learning centers at schools in impoverished communities in the Philippines!

In the Philippines, many kids do not have the privilege of having school supplies to use throughout the school year because they cannot afford them. One of the goals of “The Bridge Program” is to provide these individuals with school supplies that have been donated by other schools and organizations so that we can help improve their academics and education.

This year’s school supply drive is being carried out by mentors of the Bridge program; JayR deGuzman, Brian Rapaido, Chris Petallano, and Ruben Garcia. Together, we are striving to collect over 6000 school supplies! The schools that we are collaborating with include Orchard Middle School, Overfelt High School, Sherman Oaks Elementary School, and Mission College. These schools have contributed by making boxes and flyers to post up around campus, so that students may drop any spare school supplies that they would like to donate. Every week or so, a student who is in charge of the boxes that have been placed around the school would take them back to their group to count and organize all the supplies that have been donated. Every few weeks, one of the mentors will check-up on the schools to collect the supplies, see how the students are doing, and provide them with any help that will make the drives become more successful.

In just less than 2 months, these schools have been able to collect over 7000 school supplies! I’d like to include a special shout-out to Orchard Middle School for collecting close to 4000 supplies within only a few weeks! Even though we are well over our goal, we will continue to collect supplies to provide these kids with as much tools to enhance their lives as we can until we take our trip to the Philippines in January 2014 with all the other mentors to deliver all the resources.

Soulciety Video Auditions!!!

Soulciety is hosting video auditions for upcoming live performances that include “We Got Soul” Summer Concert Series in the park and new showcases in the Fall. We are looking for all types of talents - musicians, poets, dancers (hip-hop, modern, ballet, etc.), singers, beatboxers, emcees, and any other talent that is innovative and original. Join our cause of empowering youth and building our community by sharing your passions and skills. Please send a video link of your talent to Tony Louie at tony@soulciety.org by May 15th. Share the stage with Soulciety and our community!

Soulciety is looking for interns!

As an organization, we are growing exponentially and so there is a need to expand our staff. Soulciety is hiring interns for various job positions. The goal of this internship is for interns to work with professionals and to develop skills in their field of interest.

Job Descriptions:

- Administrative Assistant: to provide administrative support to programs, proposals and activities. Responsibilities include assisting in coordinating project activities, maintaining databases, filing/bookkeeping, community outreach, research of funding sources, and grant proposal preparation.

- Event Coordinator: to assist in coordinating performing arts events, fundraisers, and theatrical productions.

- Social Media: to help build our online presence by promoting our programs and events via social media.

- Videographer/Photographer: to document programs and activities for use in documentaries, marketing materials, website.

- Graphic Designer: to create marketing materials to promote programs, activities, and events.

- IT Technicians: to refurbish used computers that will be donated to schools overseas.

Expectations:

- 1 year commitment

- 2-3 days a week working out of the Soulciety Headquarters in Hayward, CA (4-8 hours each day)

Benefits:

- Training in non-profit administration

- Opportunity to help thousands of youth both locally and overseas

- Develop a network of professionals in music, dance, theater, non-profit, social work, youth development, and marketing

- Community service / work experience gained

- Potential opportunities for extended internship and/or future employment

To Apply:

Prior experience is recommended but not required. Please email your resume to info@soulciety.org (please put the position you are applying for in the header).

Here’s a chance to be a part of the Soulciety fam!

Soulciety’s Got Talent- Video Auditions

Hey Everyone! We have some amazing events coming up and are seeking some talented performers! Get ready to send in those videos of you doing what you do best during the month of April. We are looking to mix some new talent in to the list of dynamic performers we currently work with! Dancers, musicians, singers, poets and more, be on the lookout for our video audition flyer and if you have someone in mind please feel free to share! Help us to empower others through creativity, leadership and community!

For more information please contact our events coordinator, Tony Louie @ tony@soulciety.org .

The Bridge Program focuses on building Computer Learning Centers in the Philippines!

by Ron Cariño

Since 2009, Soulciety’s The Bridge Program has donated 110 fully-functioning Pentium III+ computers (and thousands of books, school materials, hygiene supplies, shoes) to schools in rural and impoverished communities throughout the Philippines. Many Bay Area companies such as First Republic Bank, University of Phoenix, and Vibrant Media have donated hundreds of used computers to our program. We work with students from The Stride Center, an IT training school in Oakland, who volunteer to fix our computers. These students gain valuable work experience and community service hours which they need to graduate.

From this experience, we have learned that computer literacy and technology is the best way to improve the education and economic status of impoverished communities and to create systemic change. Therefore, Soulciety will be establishing Computer Learning Centers (CLC) in the rural areas of the Philippines. We are partnering with organizations and companies in U.S. and Philippines to sponsor the building of these CLC’s. We are currently developing curriculums for computer literacy and job preparation that will be taught to teachers at these schools so that they can, in turn, teach to thousands of their students.

Only 7% of the population in the Philippines have regular access to internet and are computer literate. This program aims to improve the education of youth, increase their chances of getting out of poverty by developing the skills to get quality jobs, and to connect them with the world.

For more information to get involved, please email ronnie@soulciety.org or visit http://soulciety.org/programs/the-bridge-overseas-mission