Winter 2007

$5,000.00 to South Bend Area Links to hold GospelFest2008, a community-wide celebration of one of the oldest forms of American music. It encourages local choirs and groups to cultivate and showcase their talent. All segments of the community are invited to a beautiful, natural setting. There are two parts to the fest - Gospel Showcase is a forum for local and regional groups to perform and vie for the chance to perform at GospelFest. GospelFest is a major evening event, featuring a major gospel artist and including performances by the finalists from the Gospel Showcase. The fest is a family-oriented event.

$5,000.00 to African American Arts Association (fiscal sponsorship by South Bend Heritage Foundation) to provide ongoing, weekly, private, piano lessons for four students on a weekly basis. Funds will also be used to support signature arts events. The population served through this proposal includes underserved youth from neighborhoods surrounding the Colfax Campus and ethnic artists from the entire Michiana area.

$4,700.00 to IMANI and UNIDAD to provide intensive, individualized client-centered counseling to HIV-positive and HIV-negative African American males who are at high risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV and STDs and struggle with issues such as substance use and abuse, physical and mental health, and social and cultural factors that affect HIV risk. This project will provide sessions on living well with HIV, services and resouces available and work to remove individual barriers to care.

Spring 2007

$15,000 to Gethsemane Church of God for the On Angels Wings pre-employment training program. Since inception 47 of 51 participants have graduated and sought employment assisting them to become economically empowered.  The training has evolved from a one week, one certification training to a two week, four certification training.  Specifically the students become certified in CPR/1st Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens, forklift driving, ISO 9001 and measurement tools i.e., micrometers, indicator, calipers and measuring tapes.  These added certifications help create a more marketable individual.  Program coordinators spend a significant amount of time to building relationships with participants and working with them individually as they seek employment.