03/26/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/26/2024 13:39
Community Empowerment grants aimed at building stronger network across Boston to support and connect Black men and boys to programming and resources
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Black Male Advancement today announced the awardees for the 2024 Community Empowerment Grants. These grants are a $500,000 investment aimed at supporting community-based organizations that are focused on empowering and improving outcomes for Black men and boys in Boston. These grants will help organizations scale up their work and deepen their impact throughout the city's neighborhoods. The program is sustained by Black Male Advancement's operating budget.
"We're committed to supporting community organizations that are focused on empowering and improving outcomes for Black men and boys in Boston," saidMayor Michelle Wu. "These grants will support critical organizations in scaling up their programming and deepening the impact across all of Boston's neighborhoods. I'm grateful to the Office of Black Male Advancement for their work to build a stronger network for Black men and boys in our city."
"Investing in the empowerment of Black men and boys across Boston means Mayor Wu stands firm on her commitment on building a truly inclusive and thriving community," saidMariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. "These Community Empowerment Grants move the needle closer to a future where every Black man and boy has access to the resources and support they need to flourish."
The BMA Community Empowerment Grants prioritized organizations that expand one of the following seven focus areas:
"The Community Empowerment grants will provide additional financial support for Boston community-based organizations to continue their invaluable efforts within our neighborhoods day in and day out," said Frank Farrow, Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Advancement, "I'm excited to collaborate with local community based organizations and can't wait to see the continued positive impact they will be able bring to our Black men and boys across the city."
"Funding supports Young Man with a Plan with holistic mentoring growth as we expand enrollment, staff, space, and programming, including new wellness programming," saidJaykyri Simpson, Executive Director of Young Man With A Plan."Our entire organization appreciates the funding from the Office of Black Male Advancement and the uplift!"
"Thank you to the Office of Black Male Advancement for gracing the Center with funds to help make a difference-generationally-in men's lives" said LaWaun Curry, Fathers Nurturing Program Specialist, Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts. "While we do the work for men directly, we also want to impact their children and their children's children."
Building on the office's work to strengthen Black male serving community organizations, Black Male Advancement is partnering with Resilia on the office's Capacity Building and Impact Institute. The Institute will provide critical capacity building support and on-demand technical assistance to equip proven or promising Black male serving organizations with long-term capacity needs and to drive impact efforts. The Institute will also support a cohort of Community Empowerment grantees to deepen their impact and bring their work to scale.
For more information on the Office of Black Male Advancement's Community Empowerment Small Grants program, please visit this link.