OWATONNA, MN., JANUARY 13, 2021 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), in partnership with Region Nine Development Commission (RNDC) and SE MN Together, recently approved 10 grants through its new Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grant program totaling $160,000.
This special grant opportunity will support 10 organizations as they develop or expand initiatives which increase equity and inclusion within communities or support entrepreneurs in communities of diverse backgrounds.
The Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grant award recipients are:
• $12,250 to Cultural Diversity Network of Owatonna to support a Racial Equity Education series for the community and a mentorship program for students of color. Funding will also support the addition of inclusive and culturally diverse elements to community events.
• $15,000 to Diversity Council (Rochester) to provide cultural aptitude training opportunities to government agencies throughout 11 counties of southeastern Minnesota.
• $15,000 to Engage Winona to expand and sustain an immersive leadership program for a diverse cohort of community members which will create a more systemic pathway to equitable engagement.
• $19,500 to Hispanic Community and Empowerment through Research (HACER) to expand their entrepreneurial training program throughout the Region Nine counties. The project will be Latino-culturally driven and will help to foster the incorporation of new Latino-owned businesses in the region.
• $15,000 to Minnesota Council of Churches – Mankato Area Refugee Services to provide education and opportunities for refugees and immigrants to develop and start businesses and foster community equity and inclusion.
• $15,000 to Rice County Neighbors United to create a business association which will empower existing and new minority-owned businesses in Rice County.
• $20,000 to Somali American Social Service Association (Rochester) to train a cohort of students in overcoming barriers to future economic success and support parents in learning where to receive support for their children in an unfamiliar culture.
• $13,250 to StoryArk to facilitate a youth creative arts initiative in the Mankato Area Public Schools, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton schools and Saint Peter high school. Students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses and geographic settings will engage in skills training and participate in creative arts teams to produce podcasts, short films and creative writing reflective of students’ interests and life experiences.
• $20,000 to The Village Community Garden & Learning Center (Rochester) to increase capacity, knowledge and support for immigrant farmers in the Rochester area who grow culturally relevant food.
• $15,000 to Winona Area Public Schools Community Education to improve educational outcomes for refugee and immigrant students, create opportunities for engagement with their families, increase cultural competency of staff members and identify ways in which the schools can make systemic changes to build a more welcoming, affirming and richer learning environment for all students.
“We were overwhelmed by the positive response to this special grant opportunity,” said Pam Bishop, vice president of Economic Development at SMIF. “We are pleased to be able to support these organizations as they work toward a more inclusive and equitable southern Minnesota. We also appreciated the partnership with SE MN Together and RNDC. This was a true collaborative effort.”
“Region Nine Development Commission is excited to see such a positive response from this initiative, not only in Region Nine, but across southern Minnesota,” said Nicole Griensewic, executive director at RNDC. We look forward to supporting these forward-thinking organizations as they work to develop and expand initiatives that build diversity, equity and inclusion in their communities.”
“SE MN Together has been very pleased with the strong and broad response to this initiative from organizations throughout southern Minnesota,” said Sheila Kiscaden, co-chair of SE MN Together. “We look forward to working with these grantees, our partners and others to build connections, learn from one another, and collaborate to build our region’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and entrepreneurship.”