Grantmaking- CFMC Stories of Impact
Community Impact grants make a meaningful difference for many people and communities throughout Monterey County. Field of interest and unrestricted funds, created by generous donors through their estates, fuel the CFMC’s competitive grantmaking programs. In 2017 the Community Foundation for Monterey County granted more than $2.5 million through the foundation’s competitive programs and leadership initiatives.
Here we highlight four grantees in Children & Youth, Health & Human Services, Community Development and Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation. See all community impact grantees or learn how to apply for a 2018 Community Impact grant.
Children & Youth – Restorative Justice Partners
$20,000 for alternative discipline program
Learning from mistakes is a key concept for students to learn so they can make better decisions when confronted with conflict.
Restorative Justice Partners (RJP), based in Marina, is working in area schools to keep young people out of the over-burdened criminal justice system and help change school culture by improving ways of dealing with discipline. RJP brings offenders and victims together to open communications for healing and to encourage responsibility. “Restorative Justice focuses on building relationships, so that when a harm has occurred, participants are ready to make agreements based on behavioral expectations and respect, which builds safer schools for future leaders—our students,” says Jennie Burciaga, RJP Executive Director.
Health & Human Services – RotaCare Bay Area
$15,000 for free medical services in Seaside
RotaCare Bay Area, Inc. provides free medical care for those who have the greatest need and the least access. A $15,000 grant helped provide free medical services at the Seaside Family Health Center. Last year, the RotaCare clinic saw more than 1,500 uninsured, low-income Monterey County residents.
“Our all-volunteer medical staff provides high-quality services, which have historically focused on acute care for minor illnesses.”
“However, RotaCare’s goals have evolved to meet the needs of our community, and now include chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension management, prevention, and health education programs,” said Clinic Operations Manager, Debbie Gill. More than 20 volunteer medical staff serve patients with chronic conditions and promote prevention and health education programs.
Art, Culture & Historic Preservation – Middlebury Institute of International Studies
$30,000 for preservation of Lara-Soto Adobe
The adobes that dot the streets of downtown Monterey remind us of our past, and their significance endures. “Visitors to the adobe often remark on the charm, intimacy and historic significance of the Lara-Soto Adobe,” said Meghan Rasmussen, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) Director of Foundation Relations and Institutional Grants.
“This project is a rare opportunity to preserve a building with such a rich history in the community.” A $30,000 Community Impact grant was used for a seismic retrofit and ADA improvements for the adobe, located at 460 Pierce Street. The project, which involved lifting and reinforcing the roof, began in April 2016 and was completed in November 2017.
Molly Laughlin of MIIS noted that since reopening, the adobe has been used for campus meetings and events with alumni, guest speakers and visitors. It is expected to be open to a range of events with public benefit, vastly increasing the number of people who will experience its historic charm.
Community Development – Radio Bilingüe
$22,500 for a radio talk show reaching Triqui-speaking communities
Monterey County is home to an overlooked and culturally isolated indigenous group from Oaxaca, Mexico known as Triqui. They are a hard-to-reach population of immigrant farmworkers living primarily in Greenfield, King City and the Pajaro Valley. Many speak little or no Spanish or English. Their language is a spoken one, not written, so reaching them is a challenge.
A grant to Radio Bilingüe supports a weekly radio program, “La Hora Triqui” (The Triqui Hour) on local station KHDC 90.9 FM.
Radio Bilingüe is the only media outlet in the nation with well-established Triqui native-language programming.”
“With immigration issues, there’s a lot of fraud and worry. This is a group that needs to know where to get legal help, whatever their need is,” said Delia Saldivar, KHDC station manager. “By broadcasting in their native tongue, including appealing music and cultural topics, the show helps fill the information void, and clarify misinformation and mitigate unwarranted fears.”
“La Hora Triqui” has been airing since 2003 and the station also broadcasts information from immigrant rights forums. “Support from the CFMC comes at a critically important time,” Saldivar added.
More Grantee Stories
Visit www.cfmco.org for a list of our most recent Community Impact grants. Our 2016 Annual Report also details important work grantees are doing in Monterey County.