Grants and Services

Results of the 2012-2013 Application Process: Current Lode Partners through 2014

Collaboration with the Humanities Council of Washington, DC to promote the teaching of leadership to high school students through the humanities

To honor Abraham Lincoln Schimel and Beatrice Schimel, the ALSBS awards will go to up to 10 teachers. The individual grants will be used to stimulate, acknowledge, and share their work related to any combination of history, literature, language, and other humanities disciplines through a range of learning processes.

Grant money is for teacher awards, an educational consultant with interdisciplinary expertise, and a videographer to create an instructional video. Lode collaboration with the Humanities Council also includes:

pro bono consulting as members of the Advisory Board for choosing award recipients
clarification of the meaning of leadership specifically applicable to student development, including skills and behaviors that benefit their progress and contribute to the community
contributions related to the resource packet to be made publicly available on the Council’s Web site
assistance to encourage the teacher application process, leveraging community connections

The Humanities Council of Washington, DC (HCWDC) is a non-profit organization that provides programming and grant support for community projects that enrich the lives of DC residents through the humanities disciplines. As a far-reaching community catalyst, it builds bridges among multiple and diverse neighborhoods to affirm and enliven the human spirit, promote cross-cultural understanding, enrich the quality of life, and foster intellectual stimulation. The Council is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, but not a federal or local government agency.

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.