COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS TO NEW HAVEN GROUPS TO PROMOTE “COMMUNITY HEALING AND RACIAL JUSTICE”

NEW HAVEN – A new pilot grant program that aims to promote “community healing and racial justice” has provided funding to 16 local artists and arts projects, according to a statement.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, in partnership with the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, has awarded $ 583,000 in Racial Equity and Creative Healing (REACH) through grants for the arts, the statement said.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is funding the program through its Stepping Forward initiative, “a commitment of $ 26 million to combat the impact of COVID-19 and advance racial equity,” the statement said. The Arts Council of Greater New Haven oversees the grant application, selection, and award process.

“The goal of the REACH program is to support community and neighborhood art projects that create cultural experiences centered on racial justice, collective healing and youth development,” the statement said.

“This was a participatory grant process that helped identify artists in the community who can pave the way for healing from the ravages of COVID and racism,” Jackie Downing, Director of Grants and nonprofit support for the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the statement said.

The grants support a variety of projects in different artistic mediums, all led by non-white artists, added Daniel Fitzmaurice, executive director of the Arts Council.

“Focusing on black and brown creations and anything that will bring joy to the community through the arts is healing,” Fitzmaurice said in the statement.

The recipients of the grant are:

– Amplify the Arts Festival, $ 44,000, a two-day festival in Hamden with a program of performances and artist booths featuring local artists.

– Bars On I-95, $ 22,000, a platform to introduce local artists to the hip-hop industry and help local artists showcase their talent, as well as develop and maintain their base of fans.

– Black Haven, $ 44,000, to host the second Black Haven Film Festival in an effort to maintain itself as an ongoing annual event.

– Black Obsidian Men’s Group, $ 44,000, for a series of retreats for people who identify as men and as Blacks.

– Camp Folklorico, $ 44,000, a free and culturally exploratory dance class run by Junta for Progressive Action.

– The Community Connection Project, $ 22,000, for a weekly series of Saturday workshops focusing on jazz history and a holiday lights contest engaging Newhallville youth to decorate the neighborhood with festive decor.

– Global Youth Media Initiative, $ 44,000, for music and news delivery training, mentoring and technical education for high school students and young adults.

– 3 Little Kids (3LK), $ 44,000, for professional filmmakers to supervise young actors in the production of a film.

– Small free lending libraries “Hope & Healing”, $ 22,000, for three new free lending libraries in the public spaces of New Haven City, filled with BIPOC authors. The sites will host a series of readings, activities and book clubs.

– New Haven Chinatown, $ 11,000, for regular artistic and cultural programming for Chinese families and the creation of a mural.

– New Haven Pride Center, $ 44,000, for an expanded racial justice and advocacy program.

– One Village Healing, $ 44,000, for the well-being and resilience of BIPOC residents in the region.

– Orchid Blossom Mural Women’s Shelter, $ 22,000, for a three-story mural of lavender orchid flowers on the side of the Hillside Family Shelter. Children in the community will be engaged to work together to paint the background.

– Playmaking New Haven, $ 44,000, for theater creation workshops, performance opportunities and mentoring for young artists.

– Pod in New Haven, $ 44,000, in which New Haven high school students will receive training and advice on the art of podcasting with the goal of hosting podcasts every two weeks.

– Ubuntu Storytellers, $ 44,000, to support and pay storytellers who identify as black or brown to tell their personal narrative stories for storytelling concerts.