Partners in Health and Wholeness is teaming up with the NC Alliance of YMCAs to identify organizations, like churches, with active youth groups who seek to improve the health of their local community. This opportunity, called the Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities Teen Advocacy Mini-Grants program, supports the YMCA’s mission to strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Grant Purpose
The purpose of this mini-grant program is to engage our state’s teens in advocacy for healthy food and physical activity access for all members of a given community, to reduce health inequity (i.e., differences in the health of individuals and groups of people because of where they live or their social position – race, socio-economic status, etc.) and to improve the health of the state’s citizens. The work may lead to local government or organizational policy, systems or environmental changes. The teens may also have opportunities to advocate for state level public policy change as it relates to these two specific areas: 1) funding of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, such as bike lanes or paths, greenways, sidewalks, etc. and 2) healthy food financing and corner store initiatives.
Awards will include funding of up to $3,000 to support grassroots advocacy and project implementation. To ensure each team is equipped with the knowledge and skills to be successful, Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!) — a non-profit organization that empowers youth, in partnership with adults, to create community change — will provide Advocacy and Action Planning Training and technical assistance.
Grant Application Process
Letter of Intent: A letter of intent is required and should be submitted to the Executive Director of the NC Alliance of YMCAs via email at sheree.vodicka@ymcatriangle.org by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18th. A simple letter stating intentions to apply and the name of the organization and applicant will suffice.
Application: One to two team representatives (one adult leader and one teen is ideal) should complete the application and submit it to the Executive Director of the NC Alliance of YMCAs via email at sheree.vodicka@ymcatriangle.org by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Please email Sheree to request a copy of the application.
-Willona Stallings, PHW Program Coordinator
Partners in Health and Wholeness is an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches. PHW aims to connect health as a faith issue. Please visit our website to sign your personal pledge to be healthier, and to find out about grant opportunities for places of worship in NC.
