Foundation 65 announced the funding of multiple grants for the 2024-2025 school year. These grants aim to support and enhance educational experiences for students in District 65. The selected projects focus on leadership, academic support, family engagement, dignity-building and perspective-taking. Below are the details of the funded grants:
- Chute Wolfpack (Chute Middle School): This leadership group for female students of color at Chute Middle School focuses on life skills such as journaling, meditation and yoga. It includes a book club and community-building activities to create a supportive network among students and their families.
- Math Fact Support in Books and Breakfast (Dewey): This program targets second and third graders, providing math fact fluency training to boost confidence and engagement in math. Training sessions will equip tutors with strategies to support striving students.
- Outdoor STEAM Classroom (JEH): This grant creates an outdoor STEAM classroom at JEH to promote inquiry-based STEAM education, encourage hands-on learning and foster a connection with nature. This project aims to enhance cognitive and socio-emotional skills through real-world exploration.
- Making Space for Us Math and Reading Mentorship (Kingsley Elementary School): Focused on BIPOC students, this mentorship program pairs middle school students with fifth graders to develop their skills in math and reading, fostering a community of learners and building cultural awareness.
- MESA Affinity Club (Lincolnwood Elementary School): The Middle Eastern, East Asian, and South Asian Affinity Club provides a safe space for students to explore their identities and empower their voices within the school community.
- Co-creating Welcoming Spaces (Orrington Elementary School): This project involves students in designing and creating art projects for the school garden and entrance, enhancing the sense of community and belonging.
- Black SonRISE (all schools): A program for Black male students, providing weekly sessions focused on literacy, STEM, sports and financial literacy to nurture a love for learning and connection to the African diaspora.
- Las Comadres & Friends (Bessie Rhodes): Monthly meetings for Latino/a students and their families to read culturally relevant books, participate in literacy activities, and build a positive racial identity.
- Kindergarten ELA Integrated Experiential Learning (Kingsley Elementary School): This project brings learning to life through sensory activities and field trips, making abstract concepts tangible and engaging for young students.
- Math Accelerated After School Program (Dawes Elementary School): Using the iReady diagnostic tool, this program provides targeted math interventions and skills development for students.
- Perspectives Author Visit – Karla Valenti (all schools): This district-wide project invites author Karla Valenti to engage students with her craft, aligning with the District 65 library department’s social justice curriculum.
- Black Girl Magic Book Club (seven schools across District 65): Open to K-8 students, this book club features Black girl-identifying protagonists, fostering positive racial and gender identity through literature and reflective activities.
- JEH ECC Family Engagement (JEH): Hosting multicultural family events at the Joseph E. Hill Center for Early Childhood Education, this initiative aims to build community connections and provide cultural experiences for families.
- Kuumba Evanston – Camp Kuumba & School Year Support (all schools): Camp Kuumba offers a free summer program for Black boys and girls, focusing on self-discovery through various activities. The Future Wildkit Academy provides academic and enrichment programs during the school year.
Foundation 65 announces funding for 2024-25 school year grants is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.