Grants and Services

2010 Grants and Collaborations

When I Grow Up (Pending - approved by Board for preliminary grant of $20,000)

When I Grow Up is an innovative pilot program to promote self-knowledge as the base for making positive life and career choices for underserved children, ages 9-11. The arts, creative arts therapies and career-oriented games are combined to become a playful, interactive “Self-Exploration Fair” with the goal of furthering self-awareness in participating children. The fair and interviews with participating children and professionals will be filmed and edited to create video materials for educators and community programs interested in using When I Grow Up in the Washington DC area and beyond.

The team for When I Grow Up will include dance therapists, art therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, poetry therapists and career development professionals. When I Grow Up was created by and will be led by Anne C. Fisher, PhD ADTR, a clinical psychologist/dance therapist, dancer and award-winning filmmaker and Blanca Gruber, a visual artist and award-winning filmmaker.

Results of 2009 Application Process

Young Playwrights’ Theater

In 2010, Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) received a $25,000 grant and pro bono consulting services from the Schimel Lode to use the rich history of Woodlawn Cemetery to promote community dialogue and cohesion. This historic cemetery, located in Ward 7, is the final resting place of more than 36,000 souls, many of whom played an important role in the shaping of our city and nation.

As part of promoting a new network with partner nonprofits and community members east of the river for preservation and celebration of the meaning of the cemetery, participants are creating an original, community-generated play and documentary film about Woodlawn. To enrich the story, dozens of community arts workshops will include monologues, poetry, scenes and paintings generated during workshops. The project also brings together people of multiple generations throughout Ward 7 to connect, explore and celebrate their own history while rediscovering the history of their neighborhood. For more information, see www.yptdc.org, or contact David A. Snider, Producing Artistic Director and CEO, at dsnider@yptdc.org or 202.387.9173.

Suited for Change

Suited for Change (www.suitedforchange.org) received $5,000 from The Schimel Lode to engage consultants to develop a strategic/long term plan including clear, actionable strategies for programs. The program consultants from the Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion examined current programs, gathered information from constituents and proposed modifications designed to best use SFC resources to alleviate barriers to employment and economic self–reliance experienced by low-income and disadvantaged women in the DC area. A pro bono strategic planning facilitator from Booz Allen Hamilton guided the discussion at a mid-year planning session. Permission from the Lode to use the remaining $3,500 for further program-related matters is pending.

The key contact person for this grant is Ms. Barbara Camens, Suited for Change Board President. 202-293-9222.

Cheer (Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research)

The Schimel Lode provided a $5,000 grant to Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) to:

assist with developing and improving a new Web site
create a community blog with interactive features
support a year-end fundraising and visibility mailing
assist with event expenses showing a video of the community and interviews with local residents and housing experts
cover expenses related to incorporation

The Schimel Lode Board members provided access to their professional and academic networks to identify staff and public health professionals to participate in gathering and using information on the social determinants of public health.

Contact Information: Bruce Baker, Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER), 7724 Maple Avenue #13, Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-589-3633; bruce@communitycheer.org; www.communitycheer.org

See Archives for information about previous Lode contributions and efforts.