Ohio Latino Affairs Awards Grants To Further Education Opportunities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lilleana Cavanaugh
Community Liaison, OCHLA
(614) 466-8333

Part of efforts outlined in agency’s Grassroots Capacity Building Initiative

Columbus, OH - The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission will be visiting five different cities next month to announce the award of eight grants to Latino serving organizations across Ohio. The grants are designed to build the capacity of community organizations to better assist Hispanic Ohioans, especially in the areas of education and integration of American norms and customs.

After conducting workshops in eight cities across Ohio and providing over 70 organizations and 100 individuals training opportunities through the Capacity Building Initiative, the Office of Latino Affairs completed the second stage of this important initiative with the adjudication of $80,000 in community grants.

The recipients of the 2008 Grassroots Initiative Mini-Grants are:

• Central State University for $10,000 to support the Hispanic Student Support Services Program. This venture will expose, encourage and educate Hispanic high school students and their families about the importance of higher education, and the process for applying and staying in college. (Wiilberforce)
• East End Community Center for $ 9,448.00 to support the Latino Youth Initiative Program. This project will provide a space for Latino youth to explore their culturally enriched identity and how to make meaning of their presence within the larger American Society. (Dayton)
• Youngstown State University for $10,000 for a B2B Program: A Bridge to Building Capacity for Hispanics in Computer Science. The program will offer educational path foundations for Hispanic Ohioans to succeed in higher education through the exploration of the computer science field. (Youngstown)
• Casa Amiga at Tecumseh, YMCA for $10,000 in support of a Bilingual Information and Referral Center. The program’s emphasis is cultural awareness, inclusion, and integration of Hispanic Ohioans to the Clark County area, with emphasis on the important role they play as residents and contributors to the well-being of the community. (New Carlisle)
• Terra State Community College for $10,000 to increase outreach efforts to reach Latino youth and increase their participation in higher education. The program involves grassroots efforts and collaboration among communities to attract, retain and graduate Hispanic Ohioans in the communities served by the College. (Fremont)
• Servicio a la Familia [Family Service] for $10,000 to increase the capacity of the Family Counseling program serving the Latino population of SW Ohio. The plan will aid citizens to improve their quality of life and integration to the community. (Cincinnati)
• Hispanic Business Association for $10,000 to create and implement procedures to make required certifications available to Hispanic businesses. This plan is part of the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio economic development program promoted by the Hispanic Business Association, which seeks to enhance economic development through strategic partnerships, technical assistance, and business educational training opportunities. (Cleveland)
• The Salvation Army, Hispanic Soccer League for $9638.00 to implement an indoor soccer league for Hispanic males, ages 14 years to adult. The program will offer youth and spectators a place to meet, learn about each other in a safe environment. (Cincinnati)

“We have worked hard to ensure the selected programs align as closely as possible to Governor Strickland’s priorities in the areas of education, workforce and economic development, community participation and integration of all Ohioans into the fabric of our state. These programs will open the door for greater cooperation and partnerships between grassroots organizations, communities, educational institutions and community stakeholders,” stated Ezra Escudero, Executive Director of Latino Affairs.

The selection process for the awards was accomplished in cooperation with community foundations from different regions. Expert evaluators reviewed close to thirty grant proposals outlining programs in education, workforce development, job creation, business growth, services, and community capacity building. Awardee organizations will be publicly acknowledged in their respective communities during a public event, which will be attended by Members of the Office of Latino Affairs and its Commissioners, government officials and community leaders. For details regarding specific events, please see attached sheet.

The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission is a state government agency with a statutory mandate to advise policy makers and elected officials on issues affecting Hispanic Ohioans, to connect the diverse Latino communities across the state, and to build the capacity of community organizations so they may better serve the fast growing Latino population of Ohio.

EVENT LOCATIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION