Arlington has awarded $2.4 million to nonprofits in a new equity-based grant program.
The county announced yesterday (Wednesday) that a total of 22 nonprofits received funding through the RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community grant, designed to “support historically marginalized communities, ensuring equitable access to resources, transparency and accountability.” The Arlington County Board approved the grants in a unanimous vote.
Funding went to a wide range of initiatives, with focuses including legal services, workforce development, afterschool programming, domestic violence intervention and comprehensive health care.
Two projects received the maximum grant of $225,000: a Northern Virginia Family Service program providing “intensive and comprehensive home visits” to 80 new and expectant parents, and an Edu-Futuro initiative offering bilingual family programming for parents and youth.
Other projects receiving substantial funding include outreach for people living with or at risk of HIV, a spay/neuter and pet vaccination program for underserved communities and employment services for day laborers.
“The spirit of this effort is truly commendable,” Board member Susan Cunningham said. “Trust, especially here in 2024, is one of our most crucial assets as a community and as a government.”
To determine how to allocate grants, the county worked with United Way of the National Capital Area and leaders from communities of color to develop an “equity-centered funding model.” Panels reviewed 38 proposals in total.
“Transitioning to an equity-based competitive funding structure is not easy, and this has been an excellent learning experience,” said Board Chair Libby Garvey. “The Board congratulates those organizations who received an award and thanks County staff, United Way, and community members for their hard work and dedication. I look forward to the feedback we receive and strengthening this process for next year.”
A complete list of grants and projects is below.
- AHC — $92,812.50 — “Reduce the waitlists for educational programming for residents of AHC properties, including afterschool help with homework, literacy, recreation, and social and emotional learning; teen tutoring and mentorship; and college and career readiness support.”
- Arlington Free Clinic — $150,000.00 — “Full range of comprehensive healthcare services within AFC’s patient-centered medical home, with particular emphasis on expanding Social Determinants of Health work to improve health equity, providing critical mental health care, and reducing barriers to low-cost and accessible care.”
- Arlington Neighborhood Village — $26,111.25 — “Support organizational capacity to provide financial aid, direct services, and social support to older adults in Arlington.”
- Arlington Thrive — $70,873.50 — “Support for the Community Resilience Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance, and Community Navigator Program, which provides bilingual case management for individuals in navigating community resources.”
- Aspire — $100,849.00 — “Daily afterschool programming and an all-day summer camp to support historically underserved students’ literacy, math, and social-emotional learning, including expanding to two new classrooms in Drew and Randolph Elementary Schools.”
- AWLA — $185,735.60 — “Expanded Pet Resource Centers and related outreach, providing vaccination services, pet food, dewormer, flea and tick treatment, and spay/neuter vouchers to pet owners in underserved communities.”
- Challenging Racism — $43,500.00 — “Advance DEI capacity building through workshops and 1:1 mentoring for 64 individuals from 16 of Arlington’s frontline human services nonprofit organizations.”
- Doorways — $44,868.23 — “Services for survivors of domestic violence, including assistance with navigating the legal system; safety planning; courtroom accompaniment, advocacy, and emotional support; language services; and referrals to relevant services.”
- Edu-Futuro — $225,000.00 — “Project LIFTS, which provides free, bilingual programming for families, including the Emerging Leaders Program for youth, Parent Empowerment Services, Workforce Development Services, and case management services.”
- ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia — $100,000.00 — “Outreach services at four South Arlington locations for Arlingtonians with both disabilities and other identities that often face inequities. Services will include community navigation, advocacy and support groups, small direct client expenses, and a community peer mentorship program.”
- English Empowerment Center — $45,000.00 — “Supports basic literacy and beginning English language instruction for individuals who cannot read, write, speak, or understand English beyond the sixth-grade level.”
- Ethiopian Community Development Council — $150,000.00 — “Services for immigrants and refugees, including employment support, legal immigration assistance, and equitable healthcare advocacy.”
- Friends of Guest House — $56,163.96 — “Comprehensive reentry services for women following incarceration, including a 6-month residential program, case management and aftercare services, outreach, and peer support services.”
- Kitchen of Purpose — $125,000.00 — “Culinary and small business incubator training, job placement, and small business grants for low-income individuals seeking to pursue economically sustainable careers in the food industry.”
- L’Arche — $48,000.00 — “Support higher, more livable wages for assistants/caregivers who provide core services and homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reducing turnover and vacancy rates.”
- Northern Virginia Family Service — $225,000.00 — “Healthy Families program, which will provide bilingual education and resources to 80 new and expectant parents through intensive and comprehensive home visits, promoting healthy childhood outcomes and reducing child abuse and neglect.”
- NovaSalud — $212,837.00 — “HIV program, reaching over 2,000 individuals who are living with or at risk for HIV with outreach, education, testing, linkage to care, and retention, targeting high-risk Latino, black/African American communities, MSM, transgender, substance user, teen, and incarcerated communities.”
- OAR — $38,775.00 — “Proactive work involving virtual learning cohort for 20 individuals on the impact of racism and legislative and individual advocacy; reactive work supporting over 800 people annually in a reentry program and providing financial assistance to 100 children of incarcerated parents.”
- Our Stomping Ground — $93,429.39 — “Assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independently in inclusive, affordable housing by connecting individuals to housing options, providing life and social skills training, providing resource education, and coordinating inclusive community-building events.”
- Restoration Immigration Legal Aid — $123,788.00 — “Legal services for immigrants with complex pathways to legal status and limited resources, including 100 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status youth and 75 individuals seeking asylum.”
- Restorative Arlington — $74,760.00 — “Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing Program for 10 cases.”
- Shirlington Employment and Education Center — $160,151.25 — “Employment services for up to 300-day laborers, such as job matching, translation and resume-building services, transportation, bagged lunches/snacks, and winter rental assistance.”