PARTNERS in progress

Since December, Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved $1,680,000 in grant partnerships from our Fund for Community Good and Field of Interest funds. These partnerships would not be possible without donor partners who generously renew their investments and strong, adaptable nonprofit partners who serve Kent County.

AFRICAN RESOURCE CENTER, $10,000

African Resource Center works to inform, connect and equip recent African immigrants in West Michigan so that they can prosper spiritually, economically and socially. This grant partnership supports FutureNow!, a youth support program that helps participants achieve academic excellence and flourish in community.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION PARTNERS, $140,000

This grant partnership supports community organizations that provide in-person, academic support of K-12 students and families doing virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Baxter Community Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth, Bridge Street Ministries, Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities, New City Kids, The Other Way Ministries and YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids are working collaboratively to implement best practices.

DIATRIBE, $100,000

Project 49507 will provide programming for students to learn and write about gentrification, redlining and housing discrimination. After conducting community listening sessions, the students will be paired with artists of color who will create murals reflecting the ideas expressed. This grant partnership is rooted in collaboration and located in 49507 neighborhoods. This partnership was made possible by the Leonard and Eileen Newman Fund for the Arts.

JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, $150,000

JFON provides free or low-cost immigration legal services to vulnerable immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Increasing staff capacity in the Grand Rapids office is crucial because of expected presidential policy changes related to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and refugee applications. This grant partnership will help JFON provide quality legal representation to more clients as they navigate the complex legal system.

MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND, $150,000

MJF formed to build a sustainable network of funders informed and engaged to support justice within Michigan communities. It will make investments related to criminal justice reform and help those returning home after incarceration to receive support to flourish. Through this grant partnership, the Community Foundation will join local, state and national funders in advancing equitable justice policy, practice and funding in the state of Michigan.

SEEDS OF PROMISE, $5,000

This grant partnership supports development of a Community Health Information Hub. This hub on wheels will go out to residents, addressing health related questions and providing answers. Seeds of Promise is a resident-led organization committed to well-being and successful, sustainable health outcomes in the Southtown Community, especially for communities of color.

URBAN CORE COLLECTIVE, $750,000

UCC is dedicated to learning how to reimagine centering community voice in decision making. This grant partnership supports a threepronged approach to their continued development. It will help UCC anchor organizations develop and implement economies of scale. It provides for capacity-building resources for UCC’s emerging leaders and leadership development initiatives. It also supports UCC’s community-building capacity to incubate and sponsor communitydriven solutions to advance equity and belonging.

WEST MICHIGAN CENTER FOR ARTS + TECHNOLOGY, $200,000

WMCAT’s adult career training programs are tuition free and help students build paths to income security through training and certifications in healthcare support careers, such as medical billing, medical coding and pharmacy technician. This grant partnership supports meaningful data collection and evaluation of those adult workforce development programs. It also supports the Community Catalysts program, which trains diverse cohorts of community members on using equity-centered design to solve complex community problems.

WEST MICHIGAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUM, $25,000

WMSBF’s Roosevelt Park Environmental Justice Business Engagement project grant partnership will engage and educate neighborhood businesses to improve environmental justice and safety on Grandville Avenue, which has especially heavy truck traffic. This grant partnership was made possible by the Charles Evenson Fund for the Environment.

WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, $150,000

Women’s Resource Center services are in high demand as the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally affects women in the workforce, especially women of color. WRC seeks to expand its services, in part by relocating, so it can help more women overcome barriers to employment and economic independence. This partnership was made possible by the George M. Ames Fund and Fund for Community Good.