L+M is proud to support our 2020 Grantees who serve communities across New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and California. The diverse group of 58 nonprofits provide rich programming in communities L+M is active in. Collectively these grantees focus on three key areas – Health and Well-Being, Education and Youth Development, and Workforce Development. L+M has consistently supported local nonprofits in these priority areas since the beginning of our grant-making program.
Although some of their regular programming has been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these nonprofits are thinking outside the box to find alternative ways to meet the needs of their communities. Their prompt response in establishing intermediate solutions to provide outreach exemplifies their dedication and unwavering commitment to the communities they serve. Below are three of our new grantees this year:
Health and Well-Being
Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) offers nutrition counseling services and a monthly free fresh food market onsite at Georgia King Village and Zion Towers in Newark from June through September. Funding will also provide monthly fresh produce delivery to patrons of two local food pantries in Newark’s South and West Wards. MEND has already been instrumental in delivering groceries and fresh produce to our residents in Newark during the COVID-19 crisis.
Education and Youth Development
STEM From Dance: Girls Rise Up, is a STEM inspired summer program for underrepresented minority girls. The grant will help to expand the program to serve up to 25 young women in the South Bronx. Given the recent COVID 19 restrictions, the program will be delivered virtually this summer. Girls will choreograph an original dance, enhanced with a technological component (components include music created through computer programming, costumes with programmed LED lights and sensors to enhance their choreography, and motion capture animations that serve as a digital backdrop) that they build and learn to code.
Workforce Development
Rockaway Youth Task Force: Rockaway Roots, is a workforce development program that encompasses an Urban Farming Apprenticeship that will offer a nine-month paid positions to up to 25 low-income Rockaway youth at RYTF’s Farm. Youth participants will learn multiple transferable STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills, ranging from sustainable system engineering to renewable energy science. Participants will also engage in service-learning and volunteering projects.
We will continue to share success stories of our 2020 Grantees with you over the coming year.