PA R T N E R S in Progress Since November 2022, the following organizations were awarded grants totaling $1,110,000 from unrestricted and Field of Interest funds. AQUME Foundation, $10,000
This grant award supports AQUME Foundation’s work to establish and provide in-depth resources to communities of color to learn about and create intergenerational wealth. They do this through philanthropy, estate planning, hands-on educational workshops, networking, BIPOC leadership cultivation and more.
Coalition for Community Owned Safety, $10,000
Through educational events, the Coalition for Community Owned safety raises awareness about the City of Grand Rapids’ collective public safety problems, the community’s story and residents’ solutions for those problems.
Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, $150,000
This grant supports I Belong Strong, a new program from GRAAHI. It provides resources supporting culturally-competent mental health services to Black veterans in Kent County who are recovering from mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.
Has Heart Coffee Shop, $150,000
Has Heart Coffee Shop was awarded this grant to open and operate a coffee shop and creative studio for veterans at Veterans Memorial Park. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.
Hero’s Corner Grand Rapids, $175,000
Hero’s Corner Grand Rapids is a sober drop-in place where veterans feel at home. This grant provides HCGR with operating support to provide veterans with mental health services, resource navigation, social engagements and fellowship, addiction resources and sober self-help avenues. This partnership was made possible by the Cecilia Hoagland Fund for Local Veterans.
Justice for our Neighbors, $150,000
This grant partnership helps JFON provide pro bono immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Kent County Welcome Plan, $10,000
These funds will support the welcome plan coordinator position core functions and focus areas to improve new American’s education outcomes, maximize economic potential and engage communities.
PARTNERS in community | 6
Kent School Services Network, $300,000
This two-year grant award helps continue the community school model that benefits our Challenge Scholars cohorts in the Union High School pipeline. Its strategies are designed to increase student attendance and well-being.
Our Community’s Children, $40,000
This grant award supports OCC’s To College/Through College team as they pilot activities to support post-secondary decisionmaking and enrollment among graduating seniors in the 2023 Challenge Scholars cohort.
Puertas Abiertas, $65,000
Puertas Abiertas provides culturally specific mental health support for Latinx community members and their families, who are survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and/or sexual abuse.
Young Money Finances, $50,000
This grant award supports Young Money Finances as they empower youth and families with financial literacy through culturally responsive education.
A Clie nt- Ce nte red
A P P R OAC H TO T R A N S FO R M AT I V E CHANGE Puertas Abiertas is a local nonprofit creating transformative change in Kent County by offering culturally-specific mental health support for Latinx women, men and their families, who are survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and/or sexual abuse. Puertas Abiertas, which means “open doors,” started in 2019 and now has more than 540 clients. It offers support groups for women, men, adolescents and LGBTQ+ specific groups. Three separate volunteer grantmaking committees at Grand Rapids Community Foundation have approved this organization for grant awards in the past five months. Fund for Community Good, Somos Comunidad and Our LGBTQ funds’ advisory committees were inspired by its critical, intersectional work. We interviewed Andrea Inostroza, Puertas Abiertas’ executive director, to explore its client-centered approach. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN THIS WORK IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES SECTOR? AI: I found a need and I created a solution for it. There is a huge need of the Latino community to be able to be incorporated into the society and to be able to use the resources the community has in general. At the beginning, I thought it was like a lack of resources, but that wasn’t what it was. It was a need for an organization to be able to connect all the other organizations. So that’s what we are doing— advocacy.