‘Next Generation’ Grants Support New
Efforts in National Service
(Washington, D.C.) -- The Corporation for National and Community
Service today announced $4.9 million in grant awards to 16 organizations
that are implementing new service strategies with the potential
to become national in scope. The agency’s “Next Generation”
grants foster the expansion of national services by providing seed
money to help organizations plan and implement new service programs.
More than 1,150 organizations applied for the two-year program,
a record number of applications for any Corporation grant competition.
The applicants requested a total of approximately $280 million in
funds.
“This unique grant round is like venture capital; it allows
us to support some amazing social entrepreneurs and to test new
ideas about providing service in new areas,” said David Eisner,
CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “We’re
going to learn a lot from these programs and, as we do, a lot of
communities are going to benefit immeasurably from their work.”
The projects proposed by the 16 finalists address a variety of
community problems, including disadvantaged youth, prisoner re-entry,
homelessness, capacity building, youth service to inner city and
rural areas, education reform, civic engagement, and literacy. Each
project focuses on at least one of three services areas: programs
that engage individuals in an intensive commitment to service in
communities (approximately 40 hours per week); volunteer programs
for those 55 years of age and older; and programs that connect service
with education. The grantees represent a strong mix between urban
and rural programs, and many are faith-based organizations.
A complete list of grantees is attached.
The grantees include:
- Eimago, Inc., formerly the Union Rescue Mission Foundation,
of Los Angeles, Calif., received a $424,032 grant to fund Dignity
through Service, a program that will provide intensive service
opportunities to individuals in recovery from drug abuse and homelessness.
Members of the program will be recruited from homelessness and
drug abuse recovery programs and will initially enroll in a month-long
civic education and vocational training academy. Each member will
then receive skill-specific training from local organizations
and community volunteers and will be placed in short- and long-term
service projects for a year. The program is designed to reintroduce
members into the community through healthy pro-social networks,
provide needed services to the community and local organizations,
and reduce the stigma of the homeless and those in recovery.
- Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church received a
$328,198 grant for its Children Youth and Family Collaboration
(CYFC), which focuses on preventing homelessness, unemployment
and other negative outcomes for youth leaving the foster care
system in Los Angeles County. Primarily using volunteers, CYFC
provides mentoring, tutoring, employment preparedness, and college
support to at-risk youth ages 13 to 21. CYFC will use it grant
to create collaboration between faith-based organizations, school
district in economically disadvantaged areas, the foster care
system, and university service-learning programs to raise the
academic achievement of foster and other at-risk youth.
- Through its local affiliates, the National Alliance of Vietnamese
American Services Agencies promotes economic self-sufficiency
and active citizenship for Vietnamese-Americans through full participation
in the political system. With its $415,400 grant, NAVASA will
develop a year-long national fellowship program that will recruit
college graduates and community volunteers to serve local communities,
developing the next generation of nonprofit volunteer managers
to meet the needs of local community organizations working in
Vietnamese-American and other immigrant communities.
- The New Urban High School in Milwaukei, Ore., an umbrella organization
for three public charter schools, will use its $245,882 grant
to establish Youth Take Action. Charter school students and students
from Clackamas Web Academy, an online outrach program for home-schooled
students, will be required to take a service-learning course through
the program. Other students across the state will be able to participate
as well. The service-learning curriculum will include civic education
as well as career preparation and character education. Students
will have the opportunity to define their service-learning experience
and will participate in all phases of the planning process.
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities
for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities
and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and
Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the
Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service,
and responsibility in America. For more information, visit
www.nationalservice.org.
Organization |
City |
State |
Site Locations |
Recommended Grant Amount |
California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church |
Los Angeles |
CA |
Los Angeles, CA |
$328,198 |
Eimago (Union Rescue Mission) |
Los Angeles |
CA |
Los Angeles, CA |
$424,032 |
Christian Communities Group Homes, Inc. |
Washington |
DC |
Washington, DC |
$220,000 |
Washington Scholarship Fund |
Washington |
DC |
Washington, DC Metro Area |
$230,002 |
Alzheimer's Association |
Sioux City |
IA |
Northern Iowa |
$95,448 |
Logan Square Neighborhood Association |
Chicago |
IL |
Chicago, IL |
$406,916 |
One Church One School |
Chicago |
IL |
Chicago, Il; Kansas City, MO |
$195,000 |
Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute |
Rockville |
MD |
DC Metro Area |
$169,000 |
NAVASA, Inc |
Silver Spring |
MD |
Nationwide |
$415,400 |
St. Gregory Community Center |
Detroit |
MI |
Detroit, MI |
$420,160 |
FIRST |
Manchester |
NH |
Nationwide |
$391,500 |
Chimayo Crime Prevention Organization |
Chimayo |
NM |
Santa Fe & Rio Arriba Counties, NM |
$407,041 |
Youth Opportunities Unlimited |
Cleveland |
OH |
Cuyahoga County, OH |
$294,204 |
New Urban High School |
Milwaukie |
OR |
Oregon |
$245,882 |
University of Texas- Pan American |
Hidalgo |
TX |
Southwest Texas |
$388,848 |
Rural Schools and Community Trust |
Reston |
VA |
Louisiana; Mississippi; Maine |
$283,769 |
Total |
|
|
|
$4,915,400 |
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