By: Talisha Ramsaroop
The York U-TD Community Engagement Centre is happy to announce that we will be offering Community Engagement Catalyst Grants to support creative and innovative collaborations between community partners and York University. Catalyst Grants are intended to provide start-up funding for innovative collaborations between York University and the community. Projects should be centered in the Black Creek community and this year we are asking for proposals that have a specific lens on the current Covid-19 pandemic. Projects should have a focus on the current Covid-19 pandemic and its relation to the Jane Finch community in some capacity. This includes but is not limited to projects which look at the impacts of COVID-19 and projects focused on recovery/rebuilding. The project should also create partnership between York University and the Jane Finch Community.
The Community Engagement Catalyst Grant is designed to support a project that involves at least one community (Black Creek) partner working together with one York University partner. Partnership, for purposes of this grant, is expected to be more developed than just signing off in support of the grant. It should involve shared planning, implementation and reporting of the project.
Any organization or organized resident group in the Black Creek community, or any faculty member or unit of York University is eligible to apply as the lead applicant for a Catalyst Grant. The CEC can assist in identification of appropriate partners if you have an idea but are unsure of a partner. Please speak with us.
Pilot projects are welcome but for those projects that plan to continue, alternate sources of ongoing funding will need to be identified. Successful projects will be provided with some initial partnership development and project coordination support from the CEC.
As mentioned above, for this calendar year we are looking to support projects which have a focus on the current Covid-19 pandemic and its relation to the Jane Finch community in some capacity. This includes but not limited to projects which look at the impacts of COVID-19 and projects focused on recover/rebuilding. Grants are intended to provide one-time, project start-up funding usually in the $5,000 range.
The grants can cover a broad range of ideas that respond to community need and align with CEC priorities. Successful grant applicants will demonstrate potential for positive impact on community wellbeing in the Black Creek community and ability of applicants to successfully complete the project.
Process
Completed applications will be reviewed by the York-TD Community Engagement Centre Advisory Committee. This advisory committee is made up of university and community members who provide guidance to the over-all work of the CEC. For more information about the Advisory Committee please see www.yorku.ca/cec. Advisory Committee members will not respond to any inquiries regarding the application process.
Applications will be accepted until Monday July 27th, 2020. Please note that projects must be completed by March 31, 2021.
The Last Community information Webinars will be held on:
Monday June 29th at 6pm EST https://yorku.zoom.us/j/91346461458?pwd=QUxaWTQzYkdySE1FSkdSVjVCTUIzZz09
Meeting ID: 913 4646 1458 Password: 708644
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