January 22, 2021
The Racial Equity Fund, established in December 2020, announces its first grant in the amount of $6,500 to the Grinnell-Newburg School District’s Re-Imagining Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Grinnell (REDI) Committee. The REDI Committee will use the grant award to perform a curriculum review and audit. Dr. Janet Stutz, Grinnell-Newburg Community Schools Superintendent notes that the “audit and training will lead to re-designed lessons and a better understanding of bias, racial inequities, and history that people of color have experienced in their lifetime.” Stutz goes on to say “Curriculum review is currently underway in the area of social studies beginning at the High School. Other REDI committee members are focused on policy development, social engagement with our community, communication, training, and collaborating with our community partners.”
Grinnell College and the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation established the Racial Equity Fund at Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation to advance anti-racism activities locally.
“The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation is pleased to partner with Grinnell College to support organizations and projects dedicated to the fight for a more just and equitable society,” said Julie Gosselink, CDAF president and CEO. “Together, Grinnell College and the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation will match gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000 for this effort with the goal of building the fund to $60,000 in 2021.”
In response to this challenge, Grinnell Mutual recently contributed $10,000 toward the matching funds pledged. Jeff Menary, president and CEO at Grinnell Mutual explains, “We are committed to equity and inclusion efforts and it feels appropriate for us to support this important work across our community.” “Working together, we can respond to the challenges of the moment and become a more knowing and inclusive community” adds Anne Harris, President of Grinnell College. Additional gifts of any size may be directed to the Racial Equity Fund at https://greaterpcf.org/donate/.
Understanding that racial inequity affects many locally as well as more broadly, the fund provides grants to community organizations actively advancing racial equity by changing policies, institutions, or systems to address individual and/or institutional racism. Applicants can access the online grant application at the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation website: https://forms.gle/KUw9bGPKCuHxiGK2A .
There is a rolling deadline for the Racial Equity Grant and applicants must be a 501c3 nonprofit or public entity such as a school district, city or county. The Racial Equity Fund Grant Committee includes Barb Baker, Monica Chavez-Silva, Jordan Esbrook, Julie Gosselink, Daniel Ramos, and Karen Richards. The Racial Equity Fund will typically support grants ranging from $250 to $2,500.
