11-2B Friends of Alvah Kittredge Park
Grant Round:
2011 Fall
Grant Program:
Boston Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
10,000.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
(1) WE PROPOSE: The implementation a comprehensive litter prevention program. As a community we recognize the need to address the underlying factors that cause littering if we can ever hope to improve the cleanliness and quality of our streets and public places. We propose both creative (Scholarship Challenge) and time-tested (Keep America Beautiful) methods to raise peoples awareness about the cost of littering to our community, our well being, and the environment itself. The Scholarship Challenge will engage local school children and their families in the creation of artwork (i.e, logo) that supports our Keep Highland Park Beautiful (KAB) affiliate goals. The winning logo (created by and for this community) will appear on street signage at intersections throughout Highland Park. We will award a $500 scholarship to the child whose logo is selected by the community. We are seeking BGI funds to underwrite signage fabrication and installation costs. We will seek additional funding, as necessary, to complete the project. The second element of our program forms a Keep America Beautiful (KAB) affiliate in Highland Park with a one-time certification fee of $1,000. The KAB affiliation will help us to accomplish the following:
* Education: Inform and encourage positive behaviors toward community improvement.
* Individual Responsibility: Promote individuals becoming more engaged citizens and stewards of the environment.
* Public-Private Partnerships: Build community alliances to achieve sustainable community improvement.
* Volunteer Action: Engage and enroll volunteers to extend the reach of our education.
(2) WHY NOW and (3) HOW WE GOT INVOLVED: The Boston Shines event in April brought a core group of like-minded residents together to participate in this annual volunteer cleanup. The idea of a comprehensive litter prevention program took shape as we planned our participation in this year's event.
(4) TIMELINE_1 SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE: 3Q 2011: Announce to the community our schedule for the Scholarship Challenge design workshops. Explain that the purpose of the workshop is for children to create artwork that supports community litter prevention goals. Clarify that the artwork of the winning entrant will appear on signage throughout our community and he/she will receive a $500 scholarship. 4Q 2011: Conduct design workshops that begin with a teaching unit on the impacts and costs of littering followed by a period where children create supporting art for signage. 1Q 2112: Community selects winning entry and awards the $500 scholarship.
TIMELINE_2 KAB Affiliation: Jan 2012 through June 2012.
Primary Issue Area:
Environmental Health
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep Highland Park Beautiful one-time certification fee | $1,000.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Scholarship Challenge award to winning entrant | $500.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Materials supporting Scholarship Challenge design workshops | $250.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Fabrication and installation of litter prevention and community pride street signage | $8,250.00 | Yes | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
We intend to schedule community meetings to introduce residents of all ages to the elements comprising our comprehensive litter prevention program (i.e., Scholarship Challenge and Keep Highland Park Beautiful affiliate program). Our experience tells us that holding community interest and generating commitment to change is a challenging goal to achieve. Our Scholarship Challenge is designed to involve residents in a fun and rewarding creative challenge. Our Keep Highland Park Beautiful affiliate program is designed to be an ongoing grass roots community effort where residents will experience directly the benefit (cleaner streets, improved services) of our efforts. Using fun and creative PSAs, we will aim to expand the number of residents who volunteer to support our KAB affiliate program goals. During the course of our community outreach meetings we will also seek to identify and support emerging leaders who demonstrate an inclination and ability to collaborate with others. We will announce that childcare will be provided onsite and that children are welcome at all related community meetings and design workshops.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $10,000.00 | Potential BGI Grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | Youth coordinators and educators |
| $1,000.00 | Artists and art teachers |
| $750.00 | Event space: Edward L. Cooper Center |
| $2,500.00 | Grant writing and fundraising |
| $720.00 | KAB pre-certification training |
| $1,000.00 | KAB create organizational structure and administration |
| $750.00 | KAB conduct Community Litter Index |
| $750.00 | KAB complete Focus Area Survey |
| $1,500.00 | Broad-based bi-annual clean-ups |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
We aspire to accomplish the following changes:
1) Individual residents or teams of residents will take a personal responsibility (Adopt-a-Block) for the cleanliness of the streets and sidewalks that abut their properties.
2) Local schools and businesses will participate in public-private partnerships with our community as part of our KAB affiliate program.
3) An interactive learning module will be presented to residents to raise awareness about littering as an environmental issue. Attendees will better understand that this problem impacts the quality of all our lives and will hopefully promote this understanding with family and friends.
4) Local volunteers will partner with the City of Boston to ensure that existing street cleaning efforts are effective. 4) Local volunteers will partner with the City of Boston to promote innovative changes to existing services to expand and improve services while at limited to no additional costs.
5) The creative element of our Scholarship Challenge should help to foster a greater an sense of community pride and identity around our clean streets goals and successes.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
200
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
In addition to the skills provided by members of our immediate team, the Highland Park community is comprised of willing and available residents who offer all the required skills to make this project successful.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Willie Brown contributes his long-term commitment to fostering achievement for at-risk youth and violence prevention. Willie is also committed to community gardening, community building, and clean streets.
Karen L. Mapp contributes her extensive knowledge and non-profit professional experience in the field of education.
Matt Mulder contributes his health and youth education and community services expertise.
Chris McCarthy brings his knowledge and experience in the areas of project management and fundraising.
Nick Russo contributes his knowledge and experience in the areas of history, historic preservation, and community gardening.
Dan Sherman contributes his knowledge and professional non-profit experience in the areas of employment, at-risk youth services, and finance/budgeting.
Sara Smith brings her knowledge and non-profit professional experience in the areas of public policy, education, women's health and youth services.
Note: Please see submitted bios for more details.