BRATTLEBORO — Three nonprofit organizations in Windham County received a total of $9,000 in Spark! Connecting Community grants from the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) for local projects this spring.
One of the competitive grant programs at VCF, Spark! Connecting Community puts building and nurturing community front and center. VCF aims to support the work happening throughout Vermont's 251 towns that builds social capital. These grants - where a small amount can make a big difference - are intended to light the spark that keeps Vermonters healthy and happy.
The Community Foundation awarded a total of $37,720.39 in Spark! Connecting Community grants to 15 nonprofit organizations for local projects in communities across the state, including some nonprofits that serve residents in multiple counties.
The Spring 2018 Spark! Connecting Community Grants in Windham County are:
• The town of Brattleboro received $3,000 to support the design and construct an outdoor skatepark in Brattleboro with a focus on strengthening community by providing a healthy, out-of-school activity for children and adults.
• The Root Social Justice Center received $3,000 for The Root Feeder Project, a multilingual and multimedia distribution of local and regional stories created and led by people of color that creates connection, healing, opportunity, and change through storytelling.
• The Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro received $3,000 that will connect teens with employment and college preparatory resources such as assistance with writing college applications and essays, financial aid applications, and job training that will include the development of interpersonal skills.