The proposed Aquatics Safety Initiative for Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education will address systemic inequities, cultural barriers and program access specifically around water safety for underserved populations. Our population focus includes East African and Muslim women and girls as well as underserved elementary aged youth within the City of St.Paul. The primary project goals are to create a safe space for East African women and girls and underserved youth populations to have access to basic water safety tools, swim lessons and culturally specific equipment.
This program was designed to service children in the school district ages 8-18. Families participate with the student in the first hour of the swim class. During this first hour they participate in a nutrition class. Participants learned Nutrition based on the curricula Choose Health, Food, Fun and Fitness. The kids enjoyed learning these lessons: Drink Low-Fat Milk and Water Instead of Sweetened Drinks, Color Your Plate: Eat More Vegetables and Fruits, Read It Before You Eat It! The Nutrition Facts Label, Make Half Your Grains Whole! Eat More Whole Grains and Healthier Foods ?
According to the 2021 American Community Survey, Pine City has a poverty rate of 13.4% -about 1.5 times the rate in Minnesota as a whole {9.2%). The poverty rate for children under 18 is even higher at 25%. Within the Pine City School District, an estimated 28.4% of the 1,538 students are considered economically disadvantaged (https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/minnesota/districts/pine-city-public?school-district-102930), and 43.9% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Pine City has a strong need for low-cost and free recreation and educational opportunities for our youth.
Desire to use grant funds must primarily be used to provide water safety and beginning swimming instruction to students from historically underserved populations psecifically our new to country students and those verified as Homelss and Highly Mobile.
The proposed project aims to address a pressing need within the St. Louis Park Public Schools community, focusing on increased enrollment of students of color in swim safety classes. The primary beneficiaries of this initiative will be students from the East and West African communities residing in St. Louis Park, who often face barriers to accessing swim education due to cultural, financial, and social reasons. To achieve this goal, we are seeking a grant of $24,000 to cover the costs of safety swim equipment and facilitate free swim classes.
Bemidji Parks & Recreation in partnership with Bemidji State University (BSU) will increase access to water safety instruction for youth ages 5-14 within in Beltrami County. The overall goal is to provide swim lessons and to increase the knowledge of water safety skills to at-risk youth. The swim lessons will be based on the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program as well as provide Lifeguard/Water safety instructor courses.
Connecting Kids is organized out of school time youth development and enrichment opportunities. Youth scholarships include K-12 youth that reside in Blue Earth, Nicollet, Waseca and Le Sueur Counties. From the help of previous funding from MDE, we have increased scholarships from swimming lessons from 80 to 200. Program partners include Lifeguard Training and Water Safety Instructors training. Additional partners include Mankato Community Education, Mankato Family YMCA, Lake Crystal Area Recreation Cetner, City of St.
Over the last two years, Three Rivers Park District staff have heard a resounding and persistent request from communities currently underrepresented in outdoor spaces to have access to family-focused, culturally responsive, and low-barrier water safety instruction. This proposal builds-upon that community feedback, gathered in partnership with trusted Community Liaisons, to further pilot and expand family-focused, 3-hour water safety workshops in partnership with V3 Sports, Inc, and connect communities back to water-based activities within a natural resources-based park system and beyond.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop architectural drawings for Bridge L3275 (Waterford Bridge), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To expand children's arts programming at the Watonwan Count Fair by providing hands-on learning opportunities and demonstrations. The fair will also welcome Latin, Norwegian, Swedish, and German Dancers to the stage, enhance the fair’s creative arts exhibits, host a historic horse pull, and purchase a portable PA system to ensure that all cultural activities can be heard by fairgoers.
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare construction documents for the preservation of Wayzata Section House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Improved the safety and the environment for historical artifacts by separating an exhibit fabrication area.
An old coal room was retrofitted with a compatible reuse where the intake has been reversed to exhale. This special facility will enable the Winona County Historical Society to be more intentional and responsive with its exhibits, which before the addition were fairly static. Their stated intention in the final report is to have exhibits that change more often and therefore prompt the Society’s building to be used a more frequent gathering space.
To broaden and improve public access to Itasca County history, a website was developed and designed using ICHS criteria. Staff and volunteers have been trained in its use.
The DMF has completely redesigned its website to broaden and improve public experience and increase accessibility to Boundary Waters history by illustrating the life of Dorothy Molter. The updated website provides searchable internet access to its archives, collects and shares memories of Dorothy Molter, has enabled news updates and improved the ease of online membership renewals and product sales.
The Carver County Historical Society website (www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org) was completely redesigned to reflect the community expressed need for the ability to research local history. This included, newspaper indexing, photo research, plat maps/GIS, historic properties, National Register information, and local resources.
The surveys sent to member reinforced their desire to be able to research online. More than 90% of respondents asked for access to research photos. Another 80% asked for plat map access.
MNHS continues to focus on broadening access to many of its Legacy-funded programs through the Internet. This funding supports the web development professionals who plan, build, and implement digital components that are part of many Legacy-funded history projects and helps pay for Web hosting to make these projects accessible to people in Minnesota and beyond. MNHS also uses the web to report on its use of Legacy funds at legacy.mnhs.org and for the public to apply for Legacy grant funds at legacy.mnhs.org/grants.
MNHS continues to focus on broadening access to many of its Legacy-funded programs through the Internet. This funding supports the web development professionals who plan, build and implement digital components that are part of many Legacy-funded history projects. MNHS also uses the web to report on its use of Legacy funds at legacy.mnhs.org and for the public to apply for Legacy grant funds at legacy.mnhs.org/grants.
To hire a qualified historian to complete an evaluation to determine eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for the 1925 Wesley Hospital Building, Wadena, MN.
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare planning documents that will help preserve West Bridge, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Soccer is important to Somali culture and the most popular sport in Somalia. The proposed activity is our 11th annual Thanksgiving tournament. In order to make the popular tournament a more holistic community event, we will incorporate Somali singers and poets into the soccer tournament program.
West Bank Athletic Club (WBAC) will expand its popular, ten-year running Somali youth soccer tournament into a comprehensive cultural heritage festival that includes Somali-specific sports, arts, and cultural activities. The 2021 WBAC Summer Festival will include a soccer tournament, live Somali music, interactive workshops, speakers, and a variety of arts and cultural activities led by youth.
