Chris Treadway: Richmond groups benefit from grants
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 08/16/2011 12:14:16 PM PDT
Updated: 08/16/2011 05:50:15 PM PDT
The efforts of several local organizations are being bolstered by recently announced grants and donations.
A transitional employment program focused on downtown Richmond is the recipient of a $40,000 contribution from financial institution Citi.
The money was awarded to Rubicon Programs (www.rubiconprograms.org) for its Neighborhood Ambassador Transitional Employment initiative that is operated in collaboration with the Richmond Main Street Initiative as a way to better the district while providing employment to residents and improving the commercial area.
Ambassadors are employed to provide a positive presence around the Macdonald corridor from Eighth to 19th streets, reporting issues they observe, removing graffiti and other blight, helping direct visitors and keeping authorities aware of issues in the area.
Also directed to downtown Richmond is a $150,000 grant from the inaugural round of “Our Town” funding that the National Endowment for the Arts is awarding to the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, the major cultural facility in downtown Richmond.
The grant will “support the commissioning of an interactive art installation by new media artist Scott Snibbe” that will use video to reflect the community’s diversity and the variety of dance, rhythm and performance programs taught and performed at the center.
Richmond was one of 51 communities
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in 34 states to receive a grant from the NEA program.
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL AWARDS: Two Richmond organizations benefitted from this year’s grants made by the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council.
Urban Tilth (www.urbantilth.org) was awarded $35,000 toward its Homegrown Experts initiative that provides 30 low-income, urban teenagers with a six-week summer apprenticeship and 100 hours of paid experience with agriculture education, vocational training, community service, and employment.
Participants also spend camp and work for two weekends on local organic farms owned by farmers of color.
Richmond-based Youth Enrichment Strategies (www.yesfamilies.org) was presented a $20,000 Stewardship Council grant for its Camp-to-Community program that puts young people in touch with nature and emphasizes developing leadership skills through work with local green agencies and at YES overnight summer camps, family camps and day outings.
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