Council Begins $19.7M Investment Youth for in Safer Summer for Local Youth
Collaboration
with Ginther Administration to Advance City and Federal Grants to Area
Nonprofits
[COLUMBUS, OH] On Monday, June 14, 2021, Council passed the first collection of
legislation from more than $19.7 million in funding focused on the education,
employment and empowerment of teens and young adults in the City. The goal, to
keep them learning, earning and safe over the coming months.
“Columbus is in a defining moment as we slowly return to normal,
and our youth need our support now more than ever,” said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “The
American Rescue Plan dollars will directly invest in our youth by giving them
opportunities for enrichment, stability, and success this summer.”
Council’s action uses a portion of the American Rescue Plan
(ARP) initial allocation of $93 million in federal funding received by
Columbus. Council joined Mayor Andrew J. Ginther today in announcing a variety
of partnerships with area nonprofits and neighborhood groups working to reverse
the negative impacts of COVID-19 and prevent violence, especially among young
residents.
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s (CRPD) total
additional spending for summer programming is $4.8 million, with $4 million
coming from City sources outside of the ARP allocation. Approximately $4.2
million will be used by CRPD to support qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organizations that provide youth programming centered on addressing educational
disparities and/or promoting healthy childhood environments.
Requests for RFPs through CRPD have been posted on the City’s
Vendor Services portal since June
11, 2021. Proposals are due at noon on July 2, 2021. Questions can be submitted
via email to: [email protected].
The City is developing a process to determine how to best invest
ARP funding to meet the community’s near- and long-term needs, informed in part
by the work of the joint City-County Recovery and Resiliency Committee.
Community organizations seeking financial support for proposals utilizing
American Recovery Plan funding are encouraged to submit proposals online
utilizing a standard form that includes a budget and description of how the
funds will be used.
Examples of priority projects moving forward with partners:
We Can Bridge the COVID-19
Graduation Gap
In partnership with I Know I Can, ordinance 1390-2021 authorizes
$5,855,232 to provide summer credit recovery, post-secondary education
preparation, career readiness and youth employment programs for high school
students.
“Investing in our youth this summer is essential following an
extremely difficult year full of COVID-19 challenges and disruptions,” said
President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown. “The
investments we make now will pay dividends into the future of our kids and our
neighborhoods.”
COVID-19 caused significant disruptions to classroom
instruction. As a result, graduation rates across the country declined. I Know
I Can will create summer programming to give high school students another
opportunity to graduate. They will provide multiple pathways to engage in productive
educational activities in safe environments where students can renew the focus
on their futures.
Expanding Employment
Opportunities
Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy is
committed to rebuilding the community one step, one piece of trash at a
time.
The Cleaner Columbus initiative allocates $2,001,175 to provide
teens with employment, education and volunteer opportunities that help
reinforce neighborhood pride. Ordinance 1380-2021 enters into an agreement with
the YMCA of Central Ohio to fund the Youth Litter Pick-Up and Earth Service
Corps programs. During the summer and fall, these programs will employ 400
youth and young adults to collect litter and debris at various locations in the
Hilltop, Linden, Near East Side, Far East Side, South Side and Northland
neighborhoods.
“During my tenure on Columbus City Council, one consistent issue
residents have called, emailed and discussed is litter and debris on city
streets, especially throughout our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Remy. “We began to think
about how to take a more holistic approach to address litter and educate
residents about the role litter has on the environment and neighborhood safety.
This program has it all.”
Participants will earn above minimum wage and work an average of
20 hours per week during the inaugural 12-week session.
Making Summer Camp Accessible
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio will use ordinance
1397-2021, allocating up to $500,000 to create summer programming guided by its
strategic priorities: Opportunities to Lead and Be Heard; Pathways to P2
Success; Recovery & Redirection and Relax, Re-Create and Build
Relationships.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater need to serve
youth during this crucial time,” said Pro Tem Brown. “By providing
additional programming opportunities, we are extending safe options for families.”
Working to Stem the Tide of Community Violence
Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the violence seen in our
community over the last year, the City is eager to partner with organizations
that make life easier for residents. Ordinance 1585-2021 allocates $844,000 to
the Community of Caring Development Foundation, Mothers of Murdered Columbus
Children, National Center for Urban Solutions and the Urban Foundation Inc,
which will serve seniors, single-family households and youth to help ease the
challenges families are facing.
“Too many mothers in our community are mourning the untimely
loss of a child to violence,” said Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown. “I
am proud of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children as they continue to work to
address the trauma impacting those who have suffered such a terrible
loss.”Specifically, Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children will conduct events
and programming aimed at targeted areas of the City, utilizing their stories to
stem the tide of community violence.
Using Intervention to Reach Youth
Ordinance 1436-2021 allocates $105,000 to the Reaching Higher
Heights 4 Life and 22nd Street Cookies violence intervention programs.
Reaching Higher Heights 4 Life will offer academic programming
and urban gardening to students ages 6 through 17. The organization will
receive $85,000 to hire 8 employees from within the community to provide 12
teenage students with mentoring and facilitated community cleanups.
An organization called 22nd Street Cookies takes a multifaceted
approach to address the needs of teens, 14 or older, living in poverty. The
programs focus on teens who have failed at least one grade. This program will
utilize $20,000 to serve these students and work to get them back on
track.
“We’ve witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic result in an increased
need to support our City’s youth,” said Councilmember Rob Dorans. “I am
optimistic that dollars from the American Rescue Plan are going to promote
breaking down employment barriers, promote conflict resolution while developing
people-centered crime intervention, and reinforce peace for our young residents
this summer.”
Council will continue to focus its investments that create
stronger neighborhoods, build pathways out of poverty and work to ensure every
resident has equal access to personal growth. It starts with the children.
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