The Community Fund for Women and Girls Talks Feminism and Activism; Awards $130,950 to Projects Advancing Gender Equity
National leaders Linda Sarsour and Rebecca Traister shared thoughts on issues at the core of feminism. Nine local nonprofits were awarded grants to support projectspromoting the social and economic advancement of women and girls.
New Haven, CT (June 14, 2017) – The Community Fund for Women & Girls, Greater New Haven's permanent charitable endowment dedicated solely to advancing women and girls, held its annual event June 14 entitled FEMINISM: The Common Denominator? featuring feminists Linda Sarsour (co-chair of The Women's March 2017 and lead plaintiff in the travel ban lawsuit Sarsour v Trump) and Rebecca Traister, author of All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation.
As national leaders, Sarsour and Traister shared their thoughts on feminism, activism and the issues at the core of feminism. Sarsour and Traister also shared thoughts on finding common ground with diverging views and moving beyond differences. The conversation was moderated by Kica Matos, Chair of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's Board of Directors. The event was held at the New Haven Lawn Club.
In addition to the event's speakers, the Community Fund for Women and Girls announced 2017 grant awards totaling $130,950 to nonprofits in Greater New Haven. Ten area nonprofits were awarded grants ranging from $50,000 to $2,250. The grants will be used to support a broad range of projects that promote the social and economic advancement of women and girls.
"This year's grantees reflect the breadth and diversity of women's and girls' experiences and strengths," says Board Chair Janna Wagner. "We are delighted to see so many organizations approaching their work through a gender justice lens and we know that their work will improve the wellbeing of our entire community."
2017 Grant Recipients in Alphabetical Order:
All Our Kin, Inc.
$50,000 to support the engagement of a business consultant who will provide training, coaching, and consultation to 40 women childcare providers and individualized coaching/consultation services and one-on-one support to 20 providers per year so that they an hone their skills as businesspeople and entreprenuers; earn more through their work in family childcare; and communicate more effeciently with the families they serve in order to increase the sustainability.
$10,000 to support the implementation of a gender responsive expressive healing program for a minimum of 48 women in recovery which will serve as an outlet to express thoughts and feelings that result from past traumas.
Christian Community Action, Raising a New Generation of Leaders$9,750 to support the continuation and expansion of Mothers for Justice's empowerment work with girls ages 14-19 that will increase their skills, confidence and knowledge about how to have their voices heard on issues that are important to them.
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, The Connecticut Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking$10,000 to support the Trafficking in Persons Council's replication study which seeks to develop sustainable anti-trafficking efforts with input of those working on the ground. The project consists of community-based participatory research and the creation of a Connecticut Action Plan to combat trafficking based on the results of the aforementioned research.
Connecticut Women's Education & Legal Fund, Bilingual Community$20,000 to support the continuation and enhancement of the Bilingual Community Advocacy project and Advocacy Fellowship program in the Greater New Haven area, particularly to 170-200 under-served Latina populations.
LEAP, Mentoring Girls Through Learning to Code and Making a Splash$10,000 to support the enhancement and deepening of the "Learning to Code" computer class and "Making a Splash" swim lessons programs as a means of increasing over 300 girls' self-confidence, self-esteem, and academic abilities within a supportive, girls-only environment.
New Haven Farms, Women's Community Health Ambassadors$4,250 to support the Women's Community Health Ambassador (CHA) program in training six women graduates of the New Haven Farms' farm-based wellness program, providing summer work positions, and cultivating a network of women in the Fair Haven community who are building a culture of advocacy around their health and wellness goals.
Spanish Community of Wallingford, Girl Employment Program $10,000 to support the hiring of 3 Hispanic teenage girls to assist in the planning and execution of two youth leadership and one STEM program with a total of 80 participants.
St. Martin de Porres Academy, Girls Leadership Program
$2,250 to support a newly established co-curricular program that centers around developing leadership skills and self-confidence in St. Martin de Porres' female students.
Women and Family Life Center, Financial Education for Women
$4,700 to support the provision of small workshops and one-on-one financial consultations to approximately 80 low-to-moderate-income women to empower them with the tools to achieve financial stability/sustainability.
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