heartprints inc. is a community driven, positive impact 501(c)(3) approved non-profit that improves the lives of youth, families, and our communities by diminishing educational poverty through mentoring, jobs, and outreach to help people live a significant, respectful, and successful life. Copyright © 2007-2011 by heartprints inc.™ . All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Vote for heartprints inc. TODAY!!!




Vote for heartprints inc. TODAY to help diminish educational poverty through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach!

Link to cast your vote >> http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/

__________________________________________________

DIMINISHING EDUCATIONAL POVERTY

heartprints inc. is honored to announce we’ve been named a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program.


The next step is for you to vote for us TODAY only on Toyota’s Facebook page, http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
, as we compete for a new Toyota vehicle that will be utilized to amplify our capacity to improve the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach.


*Direct link >> http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
*Check out heartprints video via >>
http://youtu.be/SPFyvTsSa6k
http://vimeo.com/23438871
*Blog >> http://heartprintsinc.blogspot.com/20...
*Website >> www.heartprints.org
*Email >> hello@heartprints.org


With appreciation,
heartprints inc.


"We're as great as we help others become!"


ps Please share with others! This is the only day to vote for us. We thank you for your generous support.

http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/

Monday, May 2, 2011

Vote for heartprints inc. on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 in the Toyota 100...




Vote for heartprints inc. on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program

heartprints inc. is honored to announce we've been named a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program.

The next step is for you to vote for us Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 on Toyota's Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota, as we compete for a new Toyota vehicle that will be utilized to amplify our capacity to improve the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach.

Thank you for scheduling a moment 5/11/11 to vote for us via www.facebook.com/Toyota, and your time. Your support means we can increase our positive impact reach to the youth and families we serve. Feel free to share this 'event' with your network as well!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: heartprints inc. NAMED FINALIST IN TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM

PRESS RELEASE


For Immediate Release


heartprints inc. NAMED FINALIST IN TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD PROGRAM

Toyota to Donate Vehicle to Local Nonprofit Organizations Based on Public Votes

Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 – Cincinnati - based organization, heartprints inc. is one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public beginning May 9, 2011.

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page, facebook.com/toyota. Visitors to the page can vote once a day for the organization that they feel is most deserving of a new Toyota vehicle. heartprints inc. will be one of the five organizations highlighted for voting on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011.

Local residents are encouraged to support heartprints inc. and their quest for a new Toyota Tundra. If heartprints inc. receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be utilized to amplify our ability and capacity to diminish educational poverty, improving the lives of youth and families through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas.

heartprints inc.
heartprints inc. is a community driven positive impact 501(c)(3) approved non-profit organization that improves the lives of youth and families by diminishing educational poverty through Mentoring, Jobs, and Outreach focus areas so that people may life a significant, respectful, and successful life.

Learn more about heartprints by visiting:
www.heartprints.org
www.facebook.com/heartprintsinc

About Toyota.
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.

For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.


Media Contact:
Brian Siegel
heartprints inc.
(513) 295.3533
hello@heartprints.org


# # #

Monday, March 21, 2011

ONE Award

Announcing ONE Award V 2011-12:
A Brand New ONE

The 2011-12 ONE Award offers nonprofit organizations fewer criteria, shorter application, longer lead time, and the opportunity for greater support for Applicants who want to improve their mission impact with an emphasis on process improvement.

ONE Award V 2011-12 is brand new and inviting you to a preview session to learn more about how ONE can benefit you and your nonprofit organization! At this two-hour preview, you will learn more about the ONE Award V process, and how improvements you asked for can help you complete and submit your ONE Application and receive customized feedback on your Application at no charge.

If you are connected to a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sign up for a ONE Preview Session to find out more about the 2011-12 program. Past applicants are welcome to attend along with anyone interested in seeing how ONE can help focus their organization on improvement of their critical value-creation and value-support processes. Veteran and prospective examiners are also invited to attend to learn more about the examination and site visit aspects of ONE Award V.

The Organizations of Noteworthy Excellence (ONE) Award program took a year off to self-assess and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement (OFIs). The result is a "brand new ONE" with fewer criteria, simpler and shorter format, longer lead time for developing your Application.

Sign up for a Preview Session to get more information on how the improvements in the ONE process can benefit you.

Register for a Preview Session

-Monday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Bank in

Florence KY.
http://onepreview328.eventbrite.com/
Click here

-Tuesday, March 29, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Miami University, Voice of America Center in West Chester.
http://onepreview329.eventbrite.com/
Click here

Wednesday, March 30, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Columbia Center/Junior League Columbia Parkway in Cincinnati.
http://onepreview330.eventbrite.com/
Click here

NEW!! A five-session series of free Workshops offers nonprofits coaching through the Application Process.

"We heard so many organization leaders say 'If we only had the time' and 'Our team could do this if we had some structured help along the way'. And in that vein of feedback, the concept of ONE Award Workshops was born," according to Jim Lay, co-founder of the ONE Award.

For this cycle of the ONE Award, Jim Lay and ONE co-founder Marie Gemelli-Carroll will conduct a series of five Workshops between April and June, free of charge to nonprofit organization teams willing to commit five half-days to digging deeper into the ONE criteria, and identifying the process descriptions and performance data called for in the ONE Award Criteria Application.

http://www.one-center.com/applicants/register.php
Click here to sign up for the Workshop Series. Workshop Series begins April 26 and continues bi-weekly through June. As always, you can e-mail a question about the Workshop Series in particular, or ONE Award in general, by e-mailing Jim Lay
mailto:jim@one-center.com
jim@one-center.com or Marie Gemelli-Carroll
mailto:marie@one-center.com
marie@one-center.com

ONE Award changes improve criteria, shorten application, extend lead time and promotion opportunity

What's new about ONE? Plenty

-Three categories (People, Program, Process) with performance criteria included in each category

-Organizational Profile requires only two pages, instead of four

-Criteria topic areas reduced to include only key questions in each category

-Criteria response limited to six pages instead of 12

-Later deadline for applicant submission-July 15

-Longer period for Site Visits-Sept. 12 through Sept. 30

-Honorees announced early November

-Recognition ceremony late January 2012 for bestowing honors and to allow full year of promotion by honoree organizations

http://www.one-center.com/

Resources for youth to expand knowledge economy >>

· Ohio Department of Education

o http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1

o http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=251

o testing http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/

o practice tests (choose ‘take a test without logging in) http://ohio3-8.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/Profile/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fPracticeTest%2ftestworkbook.aspx%3fnav%3dstudent&nav=student (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing)

· Study Jams http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm

· Study Island http://www.studyisland.com/

· BizKids.com http://www.bizkids.com/

· Ourcourts.org http://www.icivics.org/

· Accelerated Reader http://www.renlearn.com/ar/

· Progress Book https://parentaccess.ocps.net/General/District.aspx?From=Global

· Walter Dean Myers http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

· Sharon Draper (Tears of a Tiger) http://sharondraper.com/

· Parents for Public Schools http://www.ppsgc.org/pages/

· Strive http://www.strivetogether.org/education-results-resource/data-and-information-resources/

· Family Education http://www.familyeducation.com/home/

· Cincinnati Youth Collaborative http://www.cycyouth.org/?pgID=10

· College Mentors for Kids http://www.collegementors.org/inspire

· Children Inc. http://www.childreninc.org/

· Community Action Agency (Cincinnati) http://www.cincy-caa.org/

· CPS Tutoring http://www.cps-k12.org/community/tutoring/tutoring.htm

· Whiz Kids http://www.citygospelmission.org/whizkids.html

· Mankind Project http://www.citygospelmission.org/whizkids.html

· City of Cincinnati (Council Teams) http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-6249-/

· CPS Community Involvement http://www.cps-k12.org/community/community.htm

· YMCA of Greater Cincinnati http://www.cincinnatiymca.org/

· heartprints inc. http://www.heartprints.org/

· ECOnsciously Living http://www.econsciouslyliving.com/

· Stand for Kids http://standforkidscincy.org/

· CincyAfterSchool http://www.cincyafterschool.org/

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Interviewing Guidance (Q&A for 15 Tough Questions)

15 Toughest Interview Questions (& Answers!)
by Tania Khadder | Excelle
May 28, 2009
http://excelle.monster.com/benefits/articles/3388-15-toughest-interview-questions-and-answers


1. Why do you want to work in this industry?
Bad answer:
―I love to shop. Even as a kid, I spent hours flipping through catalogs.‖
Don‘t just say you like it. Anyone can do that. Focus instead on your history with that particular industry, and if you can, tell a success story.

Good answer:
―I‘ve always loved shopping, but my interest in retail marketing really started when I worked at a neighborhood boutique. I knew our clothes were amazing, but that we weren‘t marketing them properly. So I worked with management to come up with a marketing strategy that increased our sales by 25% in a year. It was great to be able to contribute positively to an industry I feel so passionate about, and to help promote a product I really believed in.‖


2. Tell us about yourself.
Bad answer:
―I graduated four years ago from the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor‘s in Biology — but I decided that wasn‘t the right path for me. So I switched gears and got my first job, working in sales for a startup. Then I went on to work in marketing for a law firm. After that, I took a few months off to travel. Finally, I came back and worked in marketing again. And now, here I am, looking for a more challenging marketing role.‖
Instead of giving a chronological work history, focus on your strengths and how they pertain to the role. If possible, illustrate with examples.

Good answer:
―I‘m really energetic, and a great communicator. Working in sales for two years helped me build confidence, and taught me the importance of customer loyalty. I‘ve also got a track record of success. In my last role, I launched a company newsletter, which helped us build on our existing relationships and create new ones. Because of this, we ended up seeing a revenue increase of 10% over two years. I‘m also really interested in how companies can use web tools to better market themselves, and would be committed to building on your existing platform.‖



3. What do you think of your previous boss?
Bad answer:
―He was completely incompetent, and a nightmare to work with, which is why I‘ve moved on.‖
Remember: if you get the job, the person interviewing you will some day be your previous boss. The last thing they want is to hire someone who they know is going to badmouth them some day. Instead of trashing your former employer, stay positive, and focus on what you learned from him (no matter how awful he really was).

Good answer:
―My last boss taught me the importance of time management, he didn‘t pull any punches, and was extremely deadline-driven. His no-nonsense attitude pushed me to work harder, and to meet deadlines I never even thought were possible.‖



4. Why are you leaving your current role?
Bad answer:
―I can‘t stand my boss, or the work I‘m doing.‖
Again, stay away from badmouthing your job or employer. Focus on the positive.

Good answer:
―I‘ve learned a lot from my current role, but now I‘m looking for a new challenge, to broaden my horizons and to gain a new skill-set all of which, I see the potential for in this job.‖



5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Bad answer:
―Relaxing on a beach in Maui,‖ or "Doing your job.‘
There‘s really no right answer to this question, but the interviewer wants to know that you‘re ambitious, career-oriented, and committed to a future with the company. So instead of sharing your dream for early retirement, or trying to be funny, give them an answer that illustrates your drive and commitment.

Good answer:
―In five years I‘d like to have an even better understanding of this industry. Also, I really love working with people. Ultimately, I‘d like to be in some type of managerial role at this company, where I can use my people skills and industry knowledge to benefit the people working for me, and the company as a whole.‖



6. What’s your greatest weakness?
Bad answer:
―I work too hard,‖ or for the comedian, ―Blonds.‖
This question is a great opportunity to put a positive spin on something negative, but you don‘t want your answer to be cliche — joking or not. Instead, try to use a real example of a weakness you have learned to overcome.

Good answer:
―I‘ve never been very comfortable with public speaking — which, as you know, can be a hindrance in the workplace. Realizing this was a problem, I asked my previous employer if I could enroll in a speech workshop. He said ―yes.‖ I took the class, and was able to overcome my lifelong fear. Since then, I‘ve given lots of presentations to audiences of over a 100 high level executives — I still don‘t love it, but no one else can tell!"



7. What salary are you looking for?
Bad answer:
―In my last job I earned $35,000 — so, now I‘m looking for $40,000.‖
―If you can avoid it, don‘t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give a broad range based on research you‘ve conducted on that particular role, in your particular city.‖

Good answer:
―I‘m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I‘d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here in New York City.‖



8. Why should I hire you?
Bad answer:
―I‘m the best candidate for the role.‖
A good answer will reiterate your qualifications, and will highlight what makes you unique.

Good answer:
―I‘ve been an Executive Assistant for the past ten years — my boss has said time and time again that without me, the organization would fall apart. I‘ve also taken the time to educate myself on some of the software I regularly use (but didn‘t really understand the ins and outs of). I‘m an Excel whiz now, which means I can work faster, and take over some of what my boss would traditionally have had to do himself. What‘s good enough for most people is never really good enough for me.‖



9. What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
Bad answer:
―I never finished law school — and everything that‘s happened since has taught me that giving up, just because the going gets tough, is a huge mistake.‖
You don‘t want to actually highlight a major regret ñ especially one that exposes an overall dissatisfaction with your life. Instead, focus on a smaller, but significant, mishap, and how it has made you a better professional.

Good answer:
―When I was in college, I took an art class to supplement my curriculum. I didn‘t take it very seriously, and assumed that, compared to my Engineering classes, it would be a walk in the park. My failing grades at midterm showed me otherwise. I‘d even jeopardized my scholarship status. I knew I had to get my act together. I spent the rest of the semester making up for it, ended up getting a decent grade in the class. I learned that no matter what I‘m doing, I should strive to do it to the best of my ability. Otherwise, it‘s not worth doing at all.‖



10. How do you explain your gap in employment?
Bad answer:
―I was so tired of working, and I needed a break,‖ or ―I just can‘t find a job.‖
Employment gaps are always tough to explain. You don‘t want to come across as lazy or unhireable. Find a way to make your extended unemployment seem like a choice you made, based on the right reasons.

Good answer:
―My work is important to me, so I won‘t be satisfied with any old job. Instead of rushing to accept the first thing that comes my way, I‘m taking my time and being selective to make sure my next role is the right one.‖



11. When were you most satisfied in your job?
Bad answer:
―I was most satisfied when I did well, and got praised for my work.‖
Don‘t give vague answers. Instead, think about something you did well and enjoyed that will be relevant at this new job. This is an opportunity for you to share your interests, prove that you‘re a great fit for the job and showcase your enthusiasm.

Good answer:
I‘m a people person. I was always happiest — and most satisfied — when I was interacting with customers, making sure I was able to meet their needs and giving them the best possible customer experience. It was my favorite part of the job, and it showed – I was rated as ―Good or Excellent‖ 95% of the time. Part of the reason I‘m interested in this job is that I know I‘d have even more interaction with customers, on an even more critical level."



12. What did you like least about your last job?
Bad answer:
―A lack of stability. I felt like the place could collapse around me at any time.‖
Try and stay away from anything that draws on the politics, culture or financial health of your previous employer. No matter how true it might be, comments like these will be construed as too negative. Also, you don‘t want to focus on a function that might be your responsibility in the next role. So think of something you disliked in your last job, but that you know for sure won‘t be part of this new role.

Good answer:
―There was nothing about my last job that I hated, but I guess there were some things I liked less than others. My previous role involved traveling at least twice a month. While I do love to travel, twice a month was a little exhausting — I didn‘t like spending quite so much time out of the office. I‘m happy to see that this role involves a lot less travel.‖



13. Describe a time when you did not get along with a co-worker.
Bad answer:
―I‘m easy to get along with, so I‘ve never had any kind of discord with another coworker.‖
Interviewers don‘t like these types of ‗easy out‘ answers. And besides, they know you are probably not telling the truth. Think of a relatively benign (but significant) instance, and spin it to be a positive learning experience.

Good answer:
―I used to lock heads with a fellow nurse in the INCU ward. We disagreed over a lot of things — from the care of patients to who got what shifts to how to speak with a child‘s family. Our personalities just didn‘t mesh. After three months of arguing, I pulled her aside and asked her to lunch. At lunch, we talked about our differences and why we weren‘t getting along. It turns out, it was all about communication. We communicated differently and once we knew that, we began to work well together. I really believe that talking a problem through with someone can help solve any issue.‖



14. What motivates you?
Bad answer:
―Doing a good job and being rewarded for it.‖
It‘s not that this answer is wrong — it‘s just that it wastes an opportunity. This question is practically begging you to highlight your positive attributes. So don‘t give a vague, generic response — it tells them very little about you. Instead, try and use this question as an opportunity to give the interviewer some insight into your character, and use examples where possible.

Good answer:
―I‘ve always been motivated by the challenge of meeting a tough deadline — in my last role, I was responsible for a 100% success rate in terms of delivering our products on time and within budget. I know that this job is very fast-paced, and deadline-driven — I‘m more than up for the challenge. In fact, I thrive on it.‖



15. How would your friends describe you?
Bad answer:
―I‘m a really good listener.‖
While being a good listener is a great personality trait, your employer probably doesn‘t care all that much. It‘s unlikely that they‘re hiring you to be a shoulder to cry on. You‘ll want to keep your answer relevant to the job you‘re interviewing for — and as specific as possible. If you can, insert an example.

Good answer:
―My friends would probably say that I‘m extremely persistent — I‘ve never been afraid to keep going back until I get what I want. When I worked as a program developer, recruiting keynote speakers for a major tech conference, I got one rejection after another – this was just the nature of the job.But I really wanted the big players — so I wouldn‘t take no for an answer. I kept going back to them every time there was a new company on board, or some new value proposition. Eventually, many of them actually said ―yes‖ — the program turned out to be so great that we doubled our attendees from the year before. A lot of people might have given up after the first rejection, but it‘s just not in my nature. If I know something is possible, I have to keep trying until I get it."