The RFP for the new Commonwealth Corps has been released, and there will be information sessions about the program next week. The mission of the Commonwealth Corps is to engage Massachusetts residents of all ages and backgrounds in direct service to rebuild communities and address unmet community needs. The Corps will provide opportunities for skill building and leadership development and will encourage and enhance a lifelong civic vocation for Corps members. Corps members will provide direct service, build capacity, and recruit, organize and mobilize additional volunteers, thus building a grassroots movement of volunteers dedicated to service. Nonprofit organizations and public entities are encouraged to apply to become Corps sponsors and host a team of 3 to 15 Corps members. For more information, visit the Commonwealth Corps pages at mass.gov.

Turn off the TV! Bring your kids to The Woburn CoffeeHouse Pajama Jam, Wednesday May 14th at 7:00 p.m.

Parents and kids are welcome to come sing and play along as Woburn resident Donna Nagle leads us in an evening of folk songs, popular songs, and other fun stuff. Better than a bedtime story, it is sure to be great fun for all!

This Woburn CoffeeHouse will take place on May 14th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m at the North Suburban YMCA. For more information, please click here.

Coffee for the Woburn CoffeeHouse is donated by the Starbuck's Coffee at 200 West Cummings Park.

If you would like to stay informed about upcoming Woburn Arts & Culture Today events click here, enter your email address, and from the list choose "Woburn Arts & Culture Today"!

The Woburn CoffeeHouse is made possible by the Woburn Arts/Culture Initiative with Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds from Lahey Clinic.

The Governor's Statewide Youth Council is one part of Governor Patrick's commitment to engaging all citizens of the Commonwealth in their communities and their government. The Youth Council initiative will encourage and motivate young people to be involved in their communities and to participate in problem solving through assuming leadership and planning roles. Once established, the Youth Council will focus on the Governor's priorities of education, economic development, civic engagement, and community outreach, advising the Governor as representatives of all Massachusetts young people.

Selection of the council will be by application, which is available at www.mass.gov/governor/youthcouncil. The deadline is May 30, 2008. A selection committee will review the applications and select the 28 members, who will then be notified via mail.

Hear the acoustic sounds of local teen musical artists at the Intrepid Keystone Club’s Coffee House. For $5, teens can hang out, drink coffee and listen to live music in the Club’s Black Box Theatre and Cadillac Café this Friday, May 2, 2008, 7:00-10:00 pm.