Congratulations to the 13 clubs in the District who applied and executed a mini-grant this spring. Grants were available in three categories: Public Image, Membership and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Marblehead Harbor and Danvers clubs did grants in the Membership Area. They updated and published a new tri-fold brochure for one club and produced flyers, invitations and business cards in the other.
Two clubs, Gloucester and Peabody, chose to do grants in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Area. In Gloucester the $200 District Seed Grant will be used so that they may contribute to the equity initiative underway in the Gloucester School system. Mila Barry, a Gloucester HS student received a grant from Gloucester Educational Foundation this year for seed funding towards her Art for Equity project. Art for equity is totally youth-driven, and works to diversify bookshelves in the Gloucester Public School libraries by raising funds and purchasing books that empower people of color and celebrate the narratives of diverse voices. Gloucester Rotary will speak with Mila about her book wish list and then purchase books for her endeavor with the $200. So that each member of Rotary is involved in the process and not just giving money aka lip service, we will ask each contributor to buy a book whether in their name or in Gloucester Rotary name. This effort will match the seed money and give us the purchase power to make a difference in our schools libraries. When the Interact Club restarts, our next phase will be to continue this work through the Interact population.
The Peabody Club sponsored a Virtual Event for our Greater Peabody Community on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with Guest Speaker Todd Bowtie Jenkins.
Nine clubs chose to do their grant in the Public Image Area to keep their clubs in their community’s focus. Cambridge, Arlington and Beverly Rotary made custom tee shirts to be worn at their service projects and for the Arlington Polar Dunk. Club banners, club signage for a fall fair, and custom tablecloths were made by Reading, Burlington Breakfast, Ipswich and Parkway Rotary clubs. The Belle Isle Club used their grant in the sponsorship of busses for the Salesian Boys and Girls Club with the Belle Isle Rotary Club Logo. And the Amesbury Club used their grant for materials to paint Rotary Wheel and put words "Donated by the Rotary Club of Amesbury, MA" and "Donated by Rotary International" on rain barrels which will be donated to schools, parks and public municipalities.
Maybe these projects will inspire your club to do a mini grant in the next Rotary year. For more information on how these projects were accomplished contact the club.