Spark seeks funding to bolster the technology infrastructure of our organization, ensuring we can continue making a meaningful impact. In today’s digital age, an efficient and secure technological backbone is imperative for effective operations and outreach. Recent events have identified a need for crucial, critical and immediate upgrades. Technology underpins all of Spark’s operations from back-end business operations to the guest experiences through which visitors are inspired and engaged.
The Canadian Zalmi Society will utilize this grant to bolster an improved program that integrates increased levels of financial literacy since both digital and financial literacy consistently pose barriers for individuals. The first component will encompass fundamental concepts and skills essential for job searching with a free desktop computer being provided to each successful participant. The second component will address basic financial concepts and guide effective budgeting strategies.
Community Cruisers is looking to ensure our services reflect our value of inclusivity and are welcoming to all regardless of gender orientation or presentation. The goal of this work is for Community Cruisers to become a member of the Bow Valley Pride Network by working towards meeting their guidelines to create safe spaces for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This grant will go towards the cost of a diversity equity and inclusion consultant and a communications consultant.
The Financial Empowerment Initiative (TFEI) seeks funding for culturally inclusive financial literacy programs benefiting underserved communities BIPOC immigrants and financial abuse survivors. The grant will fund relevant materials, facilitate educational programs, and operate a low-income tax clinic during tax season. TFEI aims to empower these individuals with the knowledge and skills for financial independence and stability.
At Hands Lifting Hearts, we seek funding to support pregnant immigrant women of African descent from East and West Africa. Our project offers culturally tailored evidence-based pregnancy support through in-person and online workshops to combat negative pregnancy outcomes. The grant will fund content development, staffing, professional engagement, venues refreshments and materials for effective workshop delivery.
CUPS is transforming the Child Development Centre, CDC, from an early childhood education program to a year-round childcare program offering services for CUPS parents returning to school or work and drop-in child minding for parents attending appointments or programs at CUPS. CUPS will build on over 20 years in early childhood development while engaging consultants potential long-term funders, community partners, and families accessing services at CUPS to inform the redevelopment strategy.
Our new Cultural Liaison will facilitate knowledge-sharing between the Indigenous and Immigrant-serving and domestic violence sectors. They will also facilitate culturally sensitive healing programming for the diverse families that Discovery House supports. This grant will extend the tenure of the Cultural Liaison role for one year beyond the initial funding already secured ensuring the best candidate can be hired and giving stability to the families who will benefit from this work.
The project will build upon a previous grant to evaluate creating a street accessible and visible LGBTQ2S+ community centre which found LGBTQ2S+ residents were highly supportive of the idea. The project will develop a concrete plan to create the centre. It will work with LGBTQ2S+ residents to determine functional services investigate possible locations have designers to determine possible space options and work with possible funders and partners forward the project to an opening phase.
Epilepsy Calgary is expanding its Frontline Counselling program due to increased demand from those living with epilepsy and their families. This is necessary because a diagnosis of epilepsy or a change in seizure activity can create a significant shift in the individual and how they see themselves and their relationships. This grant will be used to fund the expansion of frontline counselling services in response to demand.
The project will broaden Ethiocare’s current mental health programming focus from youth and women to families and expand Ethiocare’s reach to include all African communities in the Calgary and Bow Valley, Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise areas. This project will bring African families together for education and awareness, support and resources on mental health issues, including exploration of community needs and support/resource connection for those experiencing post-partum depression.