Future Community Organizers (Nature For All)

Nature For All seeks to implement a training project for future community organizers, because we believe that it is never too late to change your career. Our Project seeks to provide a path to parents in our community with new employment opportunities. We propose to recruit 15 parents to participate in our Workforce Development Training. The objective of this program is to provide participants, through trainings, with the tools and skills needed to work as a Community Organizer. This program is divided into 2 parts, the professional capacity training and certification, and the 3-month internship. 1) Professional capacity - Trainings to be a Community Organizer, and Hiking Guide, with the required wilderness first aid certifications and computer & Technology training. 2) Internship - Graduates will have the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned by collaborating and assisting Nature For All staff in community presentations, community tabling events, support guiding hiking trips and event planning. Participants will receive $500 upon completion of the Capacity training stage and will receive another $500 upon completion of the 3-month internship period.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: Panorama City, North Hills and North of Van Nuys

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Tia Chucha’s Cultural Arts Series (Tia Chucha's)

Tia Chucha’s Cultural Arts Series provides free arts education classes to youth, adults, and elders living in the Northeast San Fernando Valley (NSFV). Aligned with our mission to transform community in the NSFV & beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement, our Cultural Arts Series provides a space for participants to explore a new skill, develop healthy relationships with peers in their community, and learn about their culture along the way. For 8-weeks, once a week, families can take classes in beginner’s guitar, Son Jarocho music (ie: playing jarana, dancing zapateado, composing and singing songs), visual arts (ie: painting, sculpture), writing, Ballet Folklorico, cooking, Danza Azteca, and more. Each class ends in a celebration, where participants showcase their work and projects to family and community. In addition to our 8-week classes, we are thrilled to bring back Lil’ Readers, a child development program focused on bilingual reading and sensory learning for families with toddlers ages 0-5.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore in Sylmar and offsite locations in Pacoima, San Fernando, and Mission Hills.

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Garden without Borders (Refugee Children Center)

We would use the grant funds to establish an edible community garden for participants of the Refugee Children Center, all of whom are children and their families who have made the difficult journey from Latin America to the United States seeking a safe place to live. Families come from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru to name a few countries. Many of our families identify as indigenous and have experience in farming and growing their own food. They carry knowledge that they have passed down in their cultures for generations. The community garden space will also be open to local North Hills stakeholders who have an interest in gardening, nature, and community building. We want to restore the connection to the earth for individuals that have been severed by being forced to leave their native lands. In addition to being a place to grow food, the garden would involve all ages by providing nature-based educational programming to youth from ages 0 to 17. Programming may include introduction to Mesoamerican gardening, composting, urban gardening, nature therapy, herbalism, biology and environmental science, cultural cuisine, culinary arts, outdoor art workshops, and physical activity in the garden.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: North Hills, CA 91343

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The Family Enrichment Community Group (Eyes Of a Mother)

The FAMILY ENRICHMENT COMMUNITY GROUP is thrilled to introduce a FREE community learning center catering to parents with young children aged 0-5. Our primary goal is to nurture early literacy skills in a supportive environment. We'll begin by recruiting dedicated community educators and teacher's aides to lead engaging workshops. A detailed operational plan will be crafted, covering logistics, stakeholder involvement, and resource allocation. The center will be thoughtfully equipped with essential areas including a Mini Library/Literacy Area, a Manipulative Area for fine motor skills, and an Outdoor Space for exploration. Transparent policies and procedures will be communicated through a comprehensive family handbook, and volunteers will undergo thorough background checks. Customized curricula, tailored to different age groups, will ensure meaningful two-hour sessions held twice a month starting July 2024, running annually for six months. Investment in software programs will optimize program management, with diligent documentation of all activities. Marketing efforts will target potential beneficiaries, while encouraging parental involvement to foster a supportive community. Complimentary snacks and essential items will be provided, alongside certificates of participation to recognize family commitment. By prioritizing both children's development and parental well-being, the FAMILY ENRICHMENT COMMUNITY GROUP seeks to make a positive impact in our low-income community.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: San Fernando Valley, Pacoima, Sylmar, San Fernando and Panorama City

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Let’s Go, You Can Do it! (Careers in Sports)

Careers in Sports presents Let’s Go, You Can Do It! Building long-term health, career, and financial wellness for the family. Let’s go, You Can Do It! is an inclusive youth and family program that will provide resources and information for parents and children to learn simple practices, to improve your family, health, career, and financial outlook. Youth will begin believing they can have successful careers and have the tools to plan their college and career pathways. In addition, the entire family will have the knowledge needed to work together to better understand health, career and financial goals. Providing support to each other. We want to help families build long-term health, career and financial wellness. Careers in Sports believes every family succeeds when working as a team! Join us to create a better community around the San Fernando Valley, one family at a time!
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: San Fernando Valley, San Fernando Park, & Valley Presbyterian Hospital

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818 Children Week (Insight Center for Community Economic Development)

818 Children Week, United in Action and Advocacy for Valley Children and Caregivers - “We are STRONGER when we are UNITED” is a community-led project to Establish 818 Children Week, a new Valley annual week-long set of festivities designed to celebrate children and their caregivers and those that support them and to advocate on their behalf to make their lives better. With your help, we will: 1) Build community-led Latino and Black parent power to influence systemic and policy changes that benefit children and parents of all ages and the agencies that support them. 2) Strengthen the relationships between parents and youth organizations, businesses, government, schools, faith community, law enforcement, healthcare institutions, and other support systems. 3) Provide gifts and gift cards to parents and youth volunteers. 4) Latino and Black caregivers will gain job skills and experience to prepare for employment. 5) Motivate elected officials to improve opportunities for Valley children and caregivers. 6) Promote and celebrate children and parents by using the media to change policies and systems. 7) Inspire more children and caregivers’ involvement in community change activities. 8) Host Press conference to honor medical staff that help deliver babies. 9) Host a celebration with agencies and employees that provide home services and healthy birthing services.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Van Nuys City Hall, Pacoima City Hall, Marvin Braude Building – Van Nuys, Zoom

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United in Movement (AWOKE - The GR818ERS)

AWOKE is proposing “United In Movement”, a project that bridges The GR818ERS Youth Internship Program and Parent Booster Club. AWOKE is a community organization with over 13 years of collective experience employing the arts, athletics and activism as vehicles for social change. The GR818ERS Youth Internship Program is a paid 30-week creative workforce development initiative aimed at supporting young people interested in growing their knowledge and skills in the fields of Media & Marketing, Youth Development Work, and Event Planning & Production. The Parent Booster Club initiative is designed to empower families and caregivers to drive change efforts in the community by fostering active participation and collaboration in program activities. Together, the Internship Program and Parent Booster Club will work year-round on planning and production efforts of two community arts festivals, “A Family Affair” and “Flava of the Year”. They will apply their newfound expertise and resources to coordinate event logistics, organize family-friendly activities, implement outreach strategies, and contribute to the overall success of the public events.
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Estimated Cost: $62,500

Location: West San Fernando Valley (UNITE Cultural Center) & Northeast San Fernando Valley (Sheldon Skate Park)

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