Support Available to Nonprofit Organizations in the San Joaquin Valley for Adaptive Capacity Technical Assistance and Peer Learning Project

Los Angeles, CA (January 29, 2010) – Families In Schools (FIS) is pleased to announce
the launching of the Adaptive Capacity Technical Assistance and Peer Learning Project -
a three-year capacity building project targeting nonprofit organizations in the San Joaquin
Valley that work in the areas of education, children, youth, and family development.

Through workshops, peer networking events, and individual assistance, selected
organizations will take part in an innovative program designed to build and strengthen
adaptive capacity - the ability to be responsive, innovative, and adaptive to internal and
external forces that impact an organizations ability to fulfill its mission. Ultimately, this
project seeks to help nonprofits achieve their mission and better address the needs and
concerns of people of color and low income communities in the San Joaquin Valley.

Maria Casillas, President of Families In Schools, spoke about the urgency of this project,
“With most nonprofit organizations struggling to keep their head above water in the
current economic climate, knowledge and skills on how to become more effective and
efficient will greatly benefit participating organizations.”

With funding from the Community Leadership Project, FIS will engage up to forty-five
organizations and ninety staff members (fifteen organizations and thirty staff members
per year). The selection of the participating organizations for the 2010 program year will
begin in March and the deadline to submit applications is February 24, 2010. For more
information about the project, please contact Oscar E. Cruz at (213) 484-2870 or by email
at ocruz@familiesinschools.org.

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The mission of Families In Schools is to involve parents
and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success.

Phone: 213.484.2870 • Fax: 213.484.3845
1545 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite #811
Los Angeles, CA 90017 • www.familiesinschools.org

The Adaptive Capacity Technical Assistance and Peer Learning Project is supported by a grant
from The Community Leadership Project, a joint effort funded by The David and Lucile Packard,
James Irvine, and William and Flora Hewlett foundations