Brooklyn Community Foundation (located in 1000 Dean) announces a $100k RFP for Crown Heights

whynot_31 · August 2015

quote:

"Brooklyn Community Foundation wants to invest $100,000 in Crown Heights—and local residents are deciding where the funds will go.

On Friday, the Foundation and its Crown Heights Advisory Council announced a request for proposals from nonprofits, residents, and community groups for advocacy projects that address top neighborhoods concerns, including housing rights, cross-cultural relationships, youth opportunities, and policing. View complete grant guidelines and application here.

The funds will be distributed through the Crown Heights Grants Program of the Foundation’s Neighborhood Strength initiative. The importance of neighborhood cohesion to Brooklyn residents—stability, leadership, and connectedness within communities—emerged as a key finding in the Foundation’s 2014 boroughwide community engagement project, Brooklyn Insights, which surveyed over 1,000 people. As part of its new core program strategy focused on Youth, Neighborhoods, and Nonprofits, the Foundation has committed to developing a resident-led grantmaking model to support Brooklyn’s under-served neighborhoods, starting in its new home of Crown Heights and informed by the experience of local stakeholders.

“We moved our headquarters here last year to be part of a vibrant community with a strong civic infrastructure, where residents have built dynamic local institutions and a rich cultural legacy,” said Brooklyn Community Foundation President Cecilia Clarke. “Today, Crown Heights is confronting dramatic changes—led by rapid development and gentrification—while continuing to wrestle with issues around poverty, race, and criminal justice. We want to help build the community’s enduring strength and empower residents to direct resources where they’re needed most right now."

http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/news/in-the-news/brooklyn-community-foundation-launches-resident-led-grantmaking-program-crown

whynot_31 · August 2015

So, what should we propose?

pheightsresident · August 2015

While the $100,000 could be used for food and a feel good (but do nothing) conference on police relations/feelings, I recommend that it be used to support a beautification project in the area (trees, flowers, tree guards, etc.). I envision the money being used to purchase trees and other relevant materials (note, this wouldn't be all that much given that there are a few non-profits that donate trees for such purposes) and then hiring neighborhood youths (the unemployment rate among neighborhood youth is really, really high) to set the project up and oversee planting. As part of this process, I'd hope that the youth could get some kind of landscaping certificate (or some other marketable, relevant certificate that could benefit them in obtaining future employment). Note, as part of the process, the youth would work with the NYPD and other relevant agencies to plot things out, thereby working to improve NYPD-community relations through collaboration, etc.

wax · August 2015

Looks like they want to make a lot of small ($5-10K) grants. Does Brooklynian need an intern?

whynot_31 · August 2015

hmmm. They do seem to be partial to lots of micro grants.

Also:

"To be eligible to apply, an organization or a group must:

•Be incorporated as a nonprofit organization
•Be working under the auspices of an authorized fiscal agent if not incorporated
•Serve or benefit Crown Heights residents
•Have an office or a regular physical presence in or near (within 10 blocks of) Crown Heights

To be eligible to apply, a community resident must:
•Be working on an advocacy or organizing project benefiting Crown Heights residents
•Be a resident of Crown Heights for more than three (3) years
•Have an affiliation with an organization that can serve as their fiscal sponsor"

http://brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/crown-heights-grant-program

Brooklynian could likely pull off those criteria if it wanted to, but I don't know how it would use an intern.

I wonder if I could do housing workshops that varied from those being given by the politicians and tenants rights groups. At present, these groups have the laudable goals of helping (mostly low income, long term) residents understand their obligations and rights as a renter.

A few of the workshops even talk about what landlords are allowed to do, and are prohibited from doing, in order to have a unit be freed from rent stabilization.

While laudable, these goals do not help tenants who have decided that they do not want to fight the forces aligned against them and/or have decided that they no longer enjoy living in neighborhood because of how much it has changed.

My series of workshops and legal assistance would help such people:
1. Find a new job in a more affordable area of the country
2. Get the highest buyout from their landlord for their apartment.
3. Find a new apartment within their means in the new location.

For obvious reasons, none of the politicians or advocacy groups seem to touch these topics.....

jacquelicious · August 2015

Skill sharing programs

Beautify streets (plants, murals)

A 24 hour dim sum restaurant

saraxx · August 2015

I would really love for the Shuttle stop at Park Pl to get cleaned up. The gated "grassy" area is full of garbage. It's not so visible now with all of the weeds growing, but it's even more depressing looking in the winter.

capt. planet · August 2015

I've been dreaming of a bioshelter at Imani Garden where we could grow tropical plants year around. No more bananas from Honduras or papayas from Hawaii or turmeric from Jamaica. We can grow it here and if designed right, we can do it with almost no additional energy inputs. Climate batteries, passive solar design and double walled roof are all a part of the plan. Find out the progress we've made already at

http://www.green-phoenix.org/easyblog/entry/climate-battery-completed-at-imani-ii

What a great place for a class field trip for a middle school in Crown Heights in January!

dac545 · August 2015

I would really love for the Shuttle stop at Park Pl to get cleaned up. The gated "grassy" area is full of garbage. It's not so visible now with all of the weeds growing, but it's even more depressing looking in the winter.

What will I look at while waiting for the train? Birds and leaves? Overrated....

cm4r · August 2015

How about a the funds go for security guards by all public and private schools

whynot_31 · August 2015

@jacquelicious -

Instead of creating our own 24 hour dim sum restaurant, I think we should use the money to just eat at one of the existing places in Chinatown. Brooklynian could host the outings every Saturday.

People would have to live in Crown Heights to attend. I think it would best fit under the definition of "organizing".

Brooklyneya · August 2015

I agree with beautification! SOS could get their students to work on it perhaps? Pay them a small stipend and cost of supplies with the grant.

Brooklyneya · August 2015

Also, a free tutoring program for Crown Heights youth if there's an organization that can support it.

whynot_31 · August 2015

The students of the SOS program have the benefit of being part of the Center for Court Innovation, which has a proposal writer on staff.

She is likely pursuing this opportunity on their behalf.

whynot_31 · September 2015

Attn underpaid proposal writers-
About 2 weeks left.

CMX9sFUUsAQMJWQ

mugofmead111 · September 2015

I would really love for the Shuttle stop at Park Pl to get cleaned up. The gated "grassy" area is full of garbage. It's not so visible now with all of the weeds growing, but it's even more depressing looking in the winter.

Actually the entire Franklin Avenue shuttle corridor needs to be cleaned up. All this trash is visible on the banks that surround the tracks.

whynot_31 · December 2015

here is a list of the winners

Brooklyn Community Foundation (located in 1000 Dean) announces a $100k RFP for Crown Heights

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