NEWBURYPORT — The Commission for Diversity and Tolerance awarded several mini-grants last week that will help support local programs that promote diversity and peace in the city of Newburyport.
The recipients received their checks in a small ceremony at City Hall as part of May being declared Peace, Diversity and Tolerance Month in the city. Nine grants, totaling $15,000, were awarded through funding provided by the annual Friends for Peace Wet Paint auction.
Recipients are selected by the commission through a series of weighted categories, ranging from the uniqueness of the projects to what they believe the community should support. Grant recipients have to use the bulk of their money received to benefit Newburyport residents.
The mission of the commission is to "promote and support a sense of welcome, inclusion and worth for all and the elimination of prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and acts of hate in our community."
"It's really to celebrate diversity," said commission member Kathleen Shaw. "There is diversity in this town, the biggest issue is class."
The issue of class will be tackled with a grant the commission gave to the Hugh Doyle Center, Shaw said. That grant will provide camp scholarships and enrichment money to underprivileged children in the area.
"There are kids in the school system in town who if a field trip costs $10 may not have the money available," Shaw said. "They don't want it made known to the school administration that they are in need and this provides anonymous confidential support to families who don't want to come forth to the school."
Several organizations reapplied for grants this year after being awarded mini-grants last year, something that has Shaw excited.
"We have been able to continue support for the United in Poetry people," Shaw said. "What I'm most thrilled about is the P.R.O.J.E.C.T. club that Alyson Lindquist started last year as adviser. The kids have done phenomenal. They started a ground swell of providing education and awareness around all kinds of issues."
The mini-grant recipients for 2008 are:
Chaplaincy Institute, the Rev. Joel Grossman, $770 for its Learning about Faith Traditions
YWCA Greater Newburyport, Ellie Davis, $1,500 for its MLK Jr. Breakfast and racial justice activities
Peacing Workshops, Maria Zappala-Stewart, $550
River Valley Charter School, Open Circle Curriculum Program, $1,750
Newburyport Public Schools, grades K-3, $5,336 for its literacy support inclusion program
Newburyport High School, Alyson Lindquist, $1,000 for the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. club
Newburyport High School, Deborah Szabo, $1,000 for the United in Poetry Exchange Program
Annunciation Greek Church, $1,650 for exploring Greek culture through dance
Hugh Doyle Center, $1,000 for camp and enrichment scholarships
