All Entries Tagged With: "UMSL"
UMSL students help make tax season less taxing
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
Tax season is in full swing, and for some people the cost of preparing the annual returns can be taxing. Students from the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis want to ease the burden by offering free tax preparation services to low-income taxpayers and senior citizens Feb. 10 through April 14.
The service is part of the award-winning Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA has been offered by UMSL for 40 years. Business students and faculty prepare tax returns at four locations throughout the St. Louis area.
Combined household incomes that did not exceed $50,000 in 2011 can qualify for the free service. In North County, help is available Fridays 1-6pm and Saturdays 9am-3pm at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library, 35 N. Florissant Road in Ferguson, 314-521-4820.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at UMSL has received four Internal Revenue Service VITA awards over the last three years for number of returns prepared, outstanding community service and sustained superior performance.
Each year, students undergo several weeks of tax preparation training, testing and certification. They are informed of new and updated tax laws, as well as advancements to the software, Tax Wise, which is used for the VITA program.
More than 1,700 business students, alumni and faculty have offered free tax preparation services to low-income taxpayers and senior citizens at several locations throughout the St. Louis area since 1973. VITA is the largest university-based personal income tax service in the region.
VITA is sponsored by the Gamma Psi Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, UMSL’s Department of Accounting, GECC Tax Coalition and the IRS. For more information on the program, call 314-516-7188 or visit umsl.edu/~vita.
International Poster Exhibition debuts at UMSL
During the Chicago International Poster Biennial, opening this week at UMSL's Gallery FAB, 92 award-winning posters from 21 countries will make their very first traveling debut. This poster is called “C’est L’été,” or "This is Summertime."
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
For the first time in its history, the Chicago International Poster Biennial show will be on display outside of Chicago.
Gallery FAB on the campus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis is serving as host for the Second Chicago International Poster Biennial Finalists Exhibition. The exhibit will run through April 12 and feature 92 of the 175 finalist posters created by award-winning international poster artists from 21 countries around the world.
Jennifer McKnight, associate professor of art at UMSL, organized this special exhibition with Lance Rutter, director of the Chicago International Poster Biennial.
“If you came out last year to see the CIPB Juror’s show, you are going to love this collection of winning posters from the 2010 Chicago Poster Biennial Finalists show even more,” McKnight said.
Gallery FAB hosted the CIPB Juror’s show in fall of 2011.
The exhibit’s opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Lance Rutter, CIPB director, will attend the reception, and CIPB2 posters by acclaimed New York graphic artist Paula Scher and CIPB2 catalogues will be available for purchase. CIPB2 was the Second Chicago International Poster Biennial, held in 2010.
Gallery FAB is at 201 Fine Arts Building at Rosedale Drive and Florissant Road, 63121. All exhibits at the gallery are free and open to the public. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 314-516-6967 or visit umsl.edu/~art
UMSL composer teams with the London Philharmonic
You can add this to the list of things people don’t know about North County….. One of the preeminent American composers of classical music works right here in NoCo. UMSL professor Barbara Harbach, who tours the world as a concert organist and harpsichordist, is also a prolific composer with a large catalog of works.
She has written music for symphonies, operas, chamber ensembles, musicals, film scores, and modern ballets. And now, her latest project – a CD recorded by the esteemed London Philharmonic Orchestra – is set to be released just in time for the holidays.
“Music for Strings” is her seventh CD for the independent label MSR, and if it’s anything like her lovely “Chamber Music 3,” it would make a great gift! To learn more about Harbach, visit her website. Or jump over to MSR, where you can listen to samples and purchase CDs.
Want to make a difference in your community?
Here's what it looked like when several Pagedale residents came together to improve their neighborhood. What can you achieve in your own corner of NoCo?
In 2003, when my husband and I were going door to door in the August heat, asking our neighbors if they wanted to help start a neighborhood association, we really had no clue what we were doing. Neither of us had experience in community organizing or starting a nonprofit, so we just kind of bumbled along until things fell into place. Looking back now, I can’t imagine how much easier it would’ve been had we only known about the Neighborhood Leadership Academy.
Launched by UMSL in 2002, this intensive continuing education program teaches people how to be proactive leaders in their community, covering topics like project planning, goal setting, communication, and of course fundraising. Spanning ten sessions from February to May, the NLA draws civic-minded folks from all across the region and has produced dozens of graduates who have gone on to make a real impact.
My awesome neighbor Heather Robinett went through the program, and she and her husband, Larry, ended up founding the Old Ferguson West Community Garden. I was also honored to be a speaker during last year’s NLA classes, and I heard about countless community projects and neighborhood initiatives that really knocked my socks off.
No doubt about it, if you want to be a successful community leader, this is the way to make it happen.
The next Neighborhood Leadership Academy starts in February, so you still have plenty of time to sign up. But in the mean time, check out this upcoming workshop sponsored by the NLA team. Called “Funding Your Neighborhood Project,” it takes place this Saturday, December 3, from 9am to 1pm. The cost is only $40, and you must register by December 1. If you’re interested, here’s the detailed info…
Join us to learn the tools and techniques to secure funding for your neighborhood project. Learn how to seek out a variety of funding opportunities and sources specific to your project. Become skilled in the art of persuasive writing as a tool for making your funding request successful.
This hands-on workshop is being offered in partnership with the Community Partnership Project’s Neighborhood Leadership Academy. It will provide you with real-world examples and take-aways that will help you get your neighborhood project started or expand an existing one. Whether you’re new to grant writing or fundraising, or a seasoned professional, this workshop is for you.
Grant writing consultant Wendy Dyer is once again sharing her expertise in grant prospecting and grant writing for this one day workshop. To read more about the workshop or Wendy, please visit this website. Light snacks will be provided.
If you have any questions, please call Kara at 314.516.6392 or email at lubischerk@umsl.edu. To register, please call Jennifer at 314.516.5994 or by email at clementecrarenj@umsl.edu.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K