2007 enVision Youth Solutions Grant Cycle

2007 enVision Youth Solutions Grants Announced 

Manistee, Michigan – A tradition continued in Manistee County today when United Way of Manistee County and the Manistee County Community Foundation announced the recipients of the 2007 enVision Youth Solutions Grants. Nine Manistee County project initiatives were awarded grants totaling $29,778

In 2006 the Manistee County Community Foundation and United Way of Manistee County established a joint collaboration to fund projects that bring solutions to community needs identified in the enVision Manistee County needs assessment study. In the first grant year, $24,700 was awarded to four program recipients. 

“This year the emphasis was on youth development,” said Corey Van Fleet, Executive Director of United Way of Manistee County.“ Each project involves youth in the planning and implementation of a solution to a community need as defined in the enVision Manistee County final report.” 

The projects chosen for funding were (more detailed descriptions are provided below): 

·         Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan: Establish a Bigs and Littles Club to address youth needs.

·         CASMAN Academy: To plan and build a community fitness trail with exercise stations.

·         KND Schools: Establish an Academic Service Learning Camp.

·         Manistee County 4-H: Continue Magoon Creek Day with Nature program.

·         Manistee High School: Establish a Manistee Art Garden in downtown Manistee.

·         Manistee ISD: Conduct a teacher training program enabling implementation of an anti-bullying program in Manistee County schools.

·         Manistee ISD: Develop an art program for special education students.

·         Manistee Jaycees: Develop a mentoring program for at-risk youth in the world of work.

·         S.S. City of Milwaukee: Design and build exhibits to increase knowledge about the Great Lakes and local history. 

These successful projects were selected for funding by a panel of 10 following a three-month review process. The panel consisted of reviewers from the boards of directors of United Way of Manistee County and the Manistee County Community Foundation and youth from the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee. “We want to thank our reviewers who worked diligently to evaluate the grant applications, and finally, to make tough decisions and recommend the allocation of our limited resources,” said Karen Bruchan, Executive Director of the Manistee County Community Foundation. 

Funding sources for these grants were provided by United Way of Manistee County ($10,000), Manistee County Community Foundation (Unrestricted: $15,000; Healthy Youth, Healthy Seniors: $2,000; Youth Advisory Committee: $2,000; Environmental Fund: $800)  The Youth Advisory Committee  provided funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Manistee ISD Exploring Art project. 

“This collaboration between United Way and Community Foundations has been identified as a national best practice,” said Bruchan. “It is with inspired leadership that this best practice has happened here in Manistee County.”

---

2007 enVision Youth Solutions Grant Projects

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan
Project: Bigs and Littles Club -- $1,400

This project will involve 31 youth and 31 mentors who have been together for 2 months to 2 years in a series of meetings dealing with each of the enVision Manistee youth priority issues. Weekly during the summer youth will attend sessions dealing with each of the priority issues, which are bullying, drugs and alcohol abuse, career opportunities, health and fitness, arts/culture/education, and valuing youth  

CASMAN Academy
Project: Community Fitness Trail -- $6,600 in 2007, $6,000 in 2008, $6,000 in 2009

CASMAN will develop a community fitness trail complete with exercise stations at the 9^th Street location. This three-year project will be completed in phases with a total budget of $50,000. Included in this project are exercise opportunities for youngsters, adults and those in wheelchairs. The CASMAN Academy will provide the use of the land and will maintain the community fitness trail once it is completed. Funding is provided during each of the three years it is expected to take to complete the project. 

KND Schools
Project: Academic Service Learning Camp -- $8,000

Kaleva-Norman-Dickson Schools will operate a 6-week summer program providing elementary and middle school students an opportunity to develop art, science and math skills in hands-on projects with service learning. In addition to the teaching staff, high school students will work with the younger students as counselors. Morning sessions will be spent in the classroom, with afternoons devoted to fieldwork. 

 Manistee County 4-H
Project: Magoon Creek Day with Nature -- $700

Manistee County 4-H will continue the 23-year history of taking all Manistee County 4^th grade students to Magoon Creek for a day long nature program. During the 2-hour walk, guest speakers present materials on wildlife, birds, soil studies, Native American culture, tree planting, Lake Michigan, plant life, conservation and the history of the Magoon Creek site and trail. 

Manistee High School
Project: Manistee Art Garden -- $7,500 

Students will design and build an art garden which will transform a vacant lot into a beautiful educational destination on River Street in downtown Manistee. The project will employ art education, garden design, and horticultural understanding and skills. The project will be completed over the period of 2 school years. 

Manistee ISD
Project: Second Step Training (anti bullying) -- $1,378 

A 2006 enVision Grant funded a study of bullying as a problem in the Manistee County schools, grades K-5.^. This grant funds the necessary teacher training to implement the Second Step Curriculum for grades K-5. The Second Step Curriculum is currently being used throughout Manistee County in grades 6-8. 

Manistee ISD
Project: Exploring Art -- $1,200 

A professional artist will work with 15 special education students at the Brethren Middle School to create art projects that will be displayed throughout the Manistee County. Three general education students from the Brethren Middle School will assist and mentor the special education students as they complete their projects. 

Manistee Jaycees
Project: BRASS -- $2,000 in 2007, $1,000 in 2008 

The BRASS (Building Relationships Around Success) program will provide mentors who will bridge the gap between school and work throughout Manistee County. The program focuses on at-risk students who are also working part or full time while attending high school. Mentors will be recruited and trained throughout Manistee County, and students will be identified by teachers administrators, counselors or employers or may self enroll. This program is being funded aver a 2-year period 

S.S. City of Milwaukee
Project: Boxcar Museum- Student Exhibit -- $1,000 

This funding will assist students in the design and construction of exhibits within the boxcar located on the S.S. City of Milwaukee, docked in Manistee Lake. The exhibits will increase knowledge and awareness of the Great Lakes and local history.