3rd Annual NEPA Learning Conference Kicks Off in Scranton

The Scranton Area Community Foundation, through its Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence in partnership with Moses Taylor Foundation and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, will host its 3rd annual NEPA Learning Conference this Wednesday, August 18, through Friday, August 20, 2021. This event offers nonprofit organizations and nonprofit professionals across the region the opportunity to receive in-depth training from local and nationally-recognized presenters.

Keynote speakers will include Heather McGhee, author of New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together; Ann Mei Chang, author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good; and LaShunda Leslie-Smith, Executive Director of Connected Communities, an organization dedicated to building up neighborhoods in the Rochester, New York area by engaging residents, service providers, and community partners in a holistic approach.

Attendees of this three-day learning conference will have an opportunity to learn from local and national experts in a variety of fields, network with peers, and discover how they can create a learning culture within their organization. The conference will share strategies for adapting to a post-pandemic world, teach the importance of collaborative learning, and also will touch on important and relevant topics including racial equity, innovation, and donor relations. Attendees have the opportunity to attend in person at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center (100 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA) or entirely virtually online, via the conference platform app, Whova. A crowd of roughly 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations is expected to attend this hybrid event.

While attendance is geared toward nonprofit professionals, registration—which closed on Monday, August 16—is open to the public. Attendees can find additional information through the conference website at NEPALearningConference.com.

“At the Scranton Area Community Foundation, we prioritize the importance of enhancing organizational capacity building and view it as transformative to the region as a whole,” said Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “We are grateful for so many of our partnering foundations right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania supporting our efforts to bring this learning conference to the nonprofit community of our region.”

Sponsors of the event include Moses Taylor Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Lamar Advertising, The William C. McGowan Charitable Fund, Geisinger, Posture Interactive, The Hawk Family Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates, Children’s Service Center of NEPA, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Wayne County Community Foundation, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Knowles Insurance, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA,  Center City Print, Junior League of Scranton, and more. For more information on the 2021 NEPA Learning Conference, please visit NEPALearningConference.com or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203. 

NEPIRC’s Annual Manufacturing Day Event

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) announced the return of its regional National Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY) 2021 Manufacturing Best Practices Summit & Expo. This year’s event will be at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Convention Center on October 1st, 2021. The event, which attracted nearly 400 participants in 2019 and garnered over 500 virtual event attendees in 2020, is open to manufacturers, suppliers, and local businesses that serve industrial customers and job seekers.

NEPIRC’s 2021 MFG DAY expo will feature four (4) timely-topic breakout sessions, a keynote speaker luncheon, an afternoon industry panel discussion on automation (robotics) implementation, a post-event reception and plenty of networking time for exhibitors and attendees. David Beurle, futurist and founder of Future iQ, will provide the keynote address – The World Ahead: A Decade of Turbulence, Transformation & Triumph – as a follow-up to his 2019 presentation to a capacity audience at NEPIRC’s 2019 gathering.

In addition to highlighting the region’s manufacturers, providing networking opportunities and offering world-class content, this year’s MFG DAY event will encourage the creation of localized supply chains and regional business-to-business commerce. “Our manufacturers learned a great deal during the pandemic – including the risks associated with distant supply chains and, conversely, the benefit of localized supplier and vendor relationships,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, NEPIRC’s President & CEO. “In response, our manufacturers are entering the post-pandemic economy eager to create new networks and business relationships with companies within the region and conduct more business locally,” he added.

Following NEPIRC’s 2019 MFG DAY event, 83% of attendees indicated that the likelihood of doing business with vendors, suppliers and fellow manufacturers that they met at the event had increased significantly. More than 92% of attendees stated that they planned to attend NEPIRC’s next MFG DAY event.

The full agenda for the event, as well as sponsorship, exhibitor and attendee registration information can be found at www.NEPIRCMFGDAY.com or obtained by calling Chelsey Coslett, NEPIRC’s Manager of Marketing & Stakeholder Engagement, at 570.704.0018.

NET Credit Union to Host Cornhole & Carnival Fundraiser

NET Credit Union is hosting a charity event hosted by NEPA Cornhole, NET-A-Palooza: Family Carnival and Cornhole Tournament, to benefit Peggy’s Pathway for Women’s Cancer Care.  The event is Sunday, August 22nd at The Hilton in downtown Scranton beginning at noon.

There are still cornhole team opportunities available. Join us for a day full of:

  • Competitive & Social Cornhole Tournaments
  • Cash & Game Prizes
  • Carnival Games
  • Food & Drinks

There is no entrance fee for the carnival. If you would like to participate in the cornhole tournament, registration is required prior to the event. Register Here: https://www.netcreditunion.com/net-a-palooza/  

Please contact marketing@netcreditunion.com with any event questions.

Scranton Cultural Center to Host Third Free Outdoor Summer Concert

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will host its third free outdoor summer concert with The Dishonest Fiddlers on August 13.  The show will take place outside the Scranton Cultural Center at 420 N. Washington Avenue.

“The weather didn’t keep us down last month, even though we had to move our concert indoors.  It was a pleasure to host Erin Malloy & Friends on our stage as the first entertainment event in our theatre since last year,” said Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director.  “We’re thrilled to feature The Dishonest Fiddlers next month.”

Dave Brown and The Dishonest Fiddlers are an up and coming Folk/Americana group based in NEPA. Since 2013, they have been performing original music, honing their craft, and developing a nice fan base along the way.  Their newest studio album, “Based on a True Story” was recorded in 2019-2020 and includes 10 original hand crafted tunes.  Band members include Dave Brown (guitar/harmonica/vocals), Brendan Gosson (fiddle), Shawn Caden (mandolin/banjo), Stephen Kurtz (bass) and Jami Novak (percussion).

All current CDC Guidelines will be followed at each performance with any updates being shared via social media.  Patrons are requested to wear face coverings while inside the building.  All performances will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM; a cash bar with light fare will open at 6:00 PM prior to each show.  In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors.

The final concert in the series will feature Blind Choice on September 10.  To learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center and its upcoming events, visit SCCMT.org.

The free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by LT Verrastro, Truly Hard Seltzer, UGI Utilities Inc., WBRE/WYOU and Fidelity Bank.  It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Free Online Invention-Con 2021

If you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, or independent inventor, your creative work is among your most valuable assets. Don’t miss your chance to learn how different types of intellectual property (IP), such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights, are critical to your business strategy. Learn more and register early for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) free online Invention-Con 2021: Capitalizing on your intellectual property, coming August 18-20.

Note this year’s special student programing: If you know a young inventor or entrepreneur, the August 18 agenda will feature informative workshops and young innovators who will share their experiences and insights. Please feel free to share the event link: www.uspto.gov/inventioncon

Take this opportunity to hear from business and government experts about turning ideas into innovations, protecting your work, and accessing valuable resources that can help you succeed in the marketplace. Keynote speakers Gitanjali Rao, inventor and TIME magazine’s 2020 Kid of the Year; Serene Almomen, CEO of Senseware; and recording artist Ansel Brown will share their insights on science, technological innovation, music, and business.

Presentations and workshops will cover:

  • Putting your creativity to work
  • How to safeguard your work with different types of IP protection: Patents, trademarks, and copyrights
  • How creativity and IP apply in fields as varied as artificial intelligence, robotics, fashion, music, and literature
  • Marketing, manufacturing, and how you can build a competitive advantage around your ideas
  • Fun free educational resources for kids and teens
  • Insights from the USPTO experts who examine patent applications
  • Innovation and the fight against COVID-19
  • And much more

Invention-Con 2021 will also include a wide range of virtual resource booths from the USPTO and other federal government agencies.

This event is offered by the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach. For questions or assistance, please contact Inventioncon@uspto.gov. 

Don’t forget: The USPTO offers many informative presentations, panels, and chats year-round. Find one that interests you on the events page of our website.

Lackawanna College Towanda Center Invites Transfer Students to Special Event

The Lackawanna College Towanda Center will host its Transfer Week from Aug. 9-13 to welcome students looking to transfer college credits to Lackawanna. The event takes place at the center, 1024 S. Main St., Towanda, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Students will meet one-on-one with an enrollment specialist and receive help with their financial aid and registering for classes. A cookout will also be provided by the College.  

Perks of enrolling at the Lackawanna College Towanda Center include affordable tuition, a location close to home, and easily transferrable credits. “Students especially enjoy the small class sizes, which rarely exceed eight students per section,” Center Director Brad Reid said. “It is significantly less overwhelming than some of the larger state school class sizes, and instructors can get to know the students and provide more individualized attention. The low tuition combined with finances saved on room and board gives students a better opportunity to save money for the next step in their career or education.” 

The Towanda Center offers the most affordable Clinical Medical Assistant certificate program in Northeastern Pennsylvania along with certificate programs for Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, and Medical Billing & Coding.  

Associate degrees are offered in majors including Accounting, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Business Studies, Criminal Justice, Cyber Security, Human Services, Pre-Allied Health, Professional Studies, and Sports Management. Human Service majors, who can obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree at Lackawanna, may find job placements close to home with Northern Tier Counseling. One of the center’s largest programs, Pre-Allied Health, offers many readily transferrable credits that open an umbrella of career opportunities in the medical field.  

Students may also spend two semesters at the Towanda Center to start their coursework in Hospitality Management or Petroleum and Natural Gas Business Administration before finishing their degree at the Scranton Campus or the brand-new Tunkhannock Center. Students who begin their major coursework at the Towanda Center can also finish their bachelor’s degrees online in Business, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Restaurant & Foodservice Management, and RN-to-BSN. 

The Transfer Week event welcomes walk-in or pre-registered students. For more information, please visit www.lackawanna.edu/towandatransfer, call (570) 265-3449, or email towanda@lackawanna.edu.

NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative to Host 2nd Mobile Spay/Neuter Event

The NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative, an initiative of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, will sponsor its second mobile spay/neuter event in partnership with Eastern PA Animal Alliance (EPAA), on Thursday, July 29, 2021, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in Luzerne County at 588 Hazel Street in Wilkes Barre.

This is the second of three mobile spay/neuter events to take place this year based on overwhelming need, sponsored by the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. During the first event, which took place on July 22, 2021, in Lackawanna County, 51 pre-registered applicants brought their domestic or feral cats to receive spay/neuter services at a low cost ($5 for feral cats and $10 for domestic cats). Cats also received rabies and distemper vaccines as needed.

This event aims to provide assistance to pet owners who may be facing economic challenges to help control the pet population across the region.

“This is the second of three spay/ neuter events sponsored by the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative, the first of which resulted in over 50 cats being spayed, neutered and vaccinated in one day,” stated Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO, Laura Ducceschi. “These mobile events are so important because they help to reduce the numbers of homeless animals and give people a very affordable option.  We’re grateful to EPAA for making these services available.”

Due to the high demand and the maximum capacity reached for this event, the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative is unable to take any additional applications for appointments for the scheduled mobile spay/neuter events at this time.

Reporters and members of the media are invited to attend to cover the event.

A project of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative works on initiatives aimed at ensuring animals in Northeastern Pennsylvania can achieve a happy and healthy life, free from abuse and neglect. The Collaborative is composed of over 40 individuals and organizations in the animal shelter, rescue, sanctuary, and welfare community including Griffin Pond, In Pursuit of Grace, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, and others.

To learn more about the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative or to become involved, please visit the Collaborative’s website, nepaawc.org, or follow the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative on Facebook.

For more information about these mobile spay/neuter events, please contact Brittany Pagnotti, Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Communications Manager at 570-347-6203.

Donations to the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative are accepted online at safdn.org or by check made payable to the Scranton Area Foundation indicating “NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative Fund” in the memo mailed to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, 615 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 102, Scranton, PA 18510.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart Hosts Camp Healing Hearts

Hospice of the Sacred Heart holds Camp Healing Hearts made possible by a $20,000 Community Impact Grant given by New York Life’s Northeastern Pennsylvania General Office.

This event is a five-day camp experience to provide grief education to children ages 8 to 14 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Children work with trained bereavement counselors and members of the regional arts community to help them progress towards acceptance of the loss and use the arts as a means of self-expression. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Camp Healing Hearts will be conducted safely via Zoom Video Conferencing. Jennifer Seechock, Hospice of the Sacred Heart Director of Counseling Services, will be available throughout the week for media interviews.

The five-day camp is free and is made up of two back to back 60-minute instructional sessions each day to provide a sense of routine, consistency and ultimately closure for the entire process. Each session utilizes a different theme explored through the arts. Bereavement counselors will be available throughout the week if any campers or family members require individual support.

Community volunteers lend their time to campers with artistic projects in painting, writing, yoga, dance, singing and cooking/baking. Friday’s session will be held in person at Montage Mountain Waterpark. Social distancing will be observed.

A video retrospective of Camp Healing Hearts will be presented before the feature film at the Circle Drive-In, 1911 Scranton Carbondale Highway, Dickson City, on a date to be determined in late August.

WHEN: Monday through Friday, August 9 through 13
9:30 – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Monday through Thursday via Zoom Video Conferencing
Friday in person at Montage Mountain Waterpark
1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18507