Month: October 2012

— District 5950 website

One of the world’s most prestigious scholarships is the Rotary Peace Fellowship, an international 15-to-24-month scholarship program to earn a master’s degree in international studies and peace and conflict resolution. District 5950 has had many successful applicants over the years, people who are now working at the United Nations and other global organizations, in governments around the world, and in business and nongovernmental settings that advance peace.

It’s time to find our next Rotary Peace Scholar–and you can help! Suggest candidacy to anyone and everyone you know.

Candidates must have earned an undergraduate degree, have 3-5 years of work or volunteer experience and a demonstrated commitment to peace and service, and be proficient in a second language if appropriate. For
more information, visit www.rotary.org and click on “Students and Youth” or contact Ellen Kennedy at 952-693-5206, kennedy@worldwithoutgenocide.org.

Application is a three-step process. Candidates first submit applications, available online, to their local Rotary Clubs by April 1, 2013. Next, endorsements by local clubs are due to our district committee by May 1, 2013.
Finally, required in-person interviews for district finalists will be held in Minneapolis in late May, and nominees’ names are then forwarded to the international office. Awards will be announced by Rotary International in fall 2013 for studies to begin in fall 2014.

Minneapolis Recreation Development (MRD) is dedicated to serving the homeless community, vulnerable individuals, disadvantaged youth, and
their families in the Twin Cities through our three programs. Enabled by the generous support of our donor community, from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. every night Founder Allan Law drives throughout the Twin Cities serving people in urgent need in homeless shelters and on the street. Making as many as 50 stops a night, he distributes donated sandwiches, basic necessities, and encouragement to the homeless from the back of the MRD minivan. He volunteers overnight because that’s when shelters are closed and homeless people living on the street are most vulnerable. He also responds to several calls a day 24/7 from people in crisis, with requests ranging from critical
immediate needs, to others like help finding a job or temporary housing.

On any given night there are an estimated 7,000 homeless people in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area; 2,200 of them are children under 17. The goal of MRD is to feed, and provide emergency assistance to as many of them every day as possible. In 2012, MRD will serve over 100,000 people in urgent need. This is made
possible by the incredible outpouring of both the time and resources of our donor community, and a handful of dedicated volunteers.