MAYOR’S YOUTH INITIATIVE AWARDS $150,000 TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
(8/29/2007) 14 New Haven Organizations Receive Grants for Youth Programming
NEW HAVEN- Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. announced today that 14 community-based organizations in New Haven would collectively receive $150,000 in grants for youth programming. Together, the 14 programs will be able to serve nearly 917 additional young people throughout the City with the help of the Mayor’s Youth Initiative Capacity Building Grants.
Today’s announcement represents the second cycle of the program. In May of this year, $100,000 were awarded to 13 community based organizations assisting them in increasing their capacity to serve 400 more students than they would have been able to reach without the funding. In sum, Youth Capacity Building Grants to date have helped non-profit groups increase their reach to 1,317 more young people than they would have been able to serve without this assistance.
The New Haven Boys and Girls Club, one of the 14 awardees, played host to today’s event where DeStefano congratulated recipients and thanked them for their dedication to the City’s young people. “We are working diligently in City Hall to implement strategies that support our youth, contribute toward their academic and social development and help to provide safe, healthy and enriching opportunities that will help them maximize their potential,” said DeStefano.
“These grants are just one piece of the puzzle. Through open schools, summer jobs, outreach to our most at-risk youth and a number of other initiatives we are working on, we are making a difference in the lives New Haven families. Together, as a community we can make major inroads in decreasing youth crime, increasing academic excellence and achieving safer and more welcoming neighborhoods. Our partnership with these 14 organizations and so many other groups in the City that do great work for our children is essential in fulfilling our goals.”
DeStefano also announced that the next round of grants would be made available to community groups for summer 2008 programming. The request for proposals for the next cycle will be made available in April of 2008.
Che Dawson, Director of Youth Services, led the selection committee for the Mayor’s Youth Initiative grants. “The committee is pleased that such a plethora of programming is available for our youth in New Haven,” said Dawson. “While we regret that we couldn’t fund all applications received, we’re confident that with the selections we made, the lives of our young people will be enhanced through their participation in these programs. As a City department, we are grateful for the partnerships we’ve established with community based organizations and look forward to working with them to open doors of opportunity for our youth.”
The list of Award Recipients, award amounts and intended use of funds is as follows:
Agency Award Use of Funds
Casa Otonal 14,950 Academic enrichment and fine arts classes for youth and their parents
St Francis Home for Children 10,000 Recreational and therapeutic activities for children of DCF involved families
Higher Heights 6,963 College prep and parent empowerment workshops
Solar Youth 10,000 After school and Saturdays - homework help, service learning projects, hiking, job & organizing training
Boys & Girls Club 15,000 Weekend, drop-in program
Youth development and recreational programming
Logos Foundation Alpha Achievement Programs 9,450 Academic and character development
Farnam Neighborhood House 15,000 Basketball league for disengaged youth
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority 10,000 Development, Educational & Life Training for Adolescents
The Color of Words 12,000 Digital Media
Community Meditation 10,000 Conflict mediation training
Jeremiah Project 4,000 Year-round athletic leagues provided by college student mentors
Entrepreneurs NOW 10,000 After-school entrepreneurial and business character education
Easter Seals Goodwill Industries 11,500 Academic and Leadership Development
USAMF Learning Center 10,000 Resume & Cover Letter Writing, GED Prep and Word Processing for youth in after-school program
Youth Capacity Building Grants is only one of the programs offered through the Mayor’s Youth Initiative. The Mayor’s commitment to offering positive choices and opportunities to New Haven youth involves a variety of initiatives that target different cohorts of the City’s young people to serve their various needs:
• Street Outreach Workers are telling us that their first month on the street has been a great success. They’ve reached out to more than 100 young people in the city who are at risk of hurting others or hurting themselves. Each of the 9 outreach workers now has a case load of approximately 30 at-risk youth who they are working with very closely. Outreach workers connect “clients” with resources to improve their lives such as jobs, education, training programs, health care and social services.
• Open Schools- for the first time, open schools will be extended throughout the school year. After a successful summer serving nearly 1000 new haven young people, the program plans to involve more young people by offering after-school recreational and educational opportunities beginning this fall.
• Youth At Work- surpassing its goal of employing 1200 new haven teens this summer, this program has made a difference in the lives of the city’s young people teaching them skills, professionalism and connecting them to new mentors and career opportunities
• Mentor New Haven matches New Haven Public School students with caring and responsible adults who offer guidance and serve as accessible role models to children. Mentors are carefully selected, screened and trained to work with participating children.
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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga
Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net
Contact Phone: 203-946-7660
