We select our grant partners based on many criteria, but one key factor is how well their programs create true social change. How do we measure social change? We believe the evidence comes in the form of a shift. Five shifts, actually.
A Shift in Definition. The issue is defined differently in the community or larger society.
A Shift in Behavior. People behave differently in the community.
A Shift in Critical Mass or Engagement. People in the community are more engaged in the issue.
A Shift in Policy. Specific organizational, local, regional, state or national policy has changed.
And sometimes a Shift can simply mean holding the line. Earlier progress made on the issue has been maintained in the face of opposition.
Fall 2009 Grant Partners
The Center for Healthy Families: Healthy Families Connection Collaborative
A Shift in Community Behavior – Through the implementation of a service coordination network that makes access to critical services for pregnant teens less confusing and more readily available, we see a shift in community behavior through greater utilization of community resources.
Central Community House: The Angel in You
A Shift in Engagement – The Angel in You program is designed to empower girls to value their own inner-voice. By giving girls the tools to build confidence and assertiveness, they begin to see themselves as an active force within the community and value their ability take on leadership roles in school and in their community.
Communities in Schools: Sister to Sister
A Shift in Individual Behavior and Community Engagement – When girls in grades 3-12 take responsibility for other girls in their community, they will see themselves as mentors and develop stronger peer relationships. Girl-led leadership and community members openly talk about issues affecting girls in their community, and as a whole begin to take the responsibility of meeting the needs of girls. Girls create a shift in engagement with the schools and initiate change in practices and policies impacting girls in the Whitehall community.
Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS): Providing Knowledge, Pointing the Way
A Shift in Individual and Community Behavior – Often, immigrant women in violent relationships are isolated and remain in abusive relationships due to a language barrier, fear of deportation, and the loss of their children. Sadly, law enforcement and social service agencies may also be under miss-information which can exacerbate the abuse. CRIS uses a grassroots approach to informing immigrant women and the larger community of the rights of immigrant women under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Through education, outreach, and an awareness campaign, immigrant women can leave the violent relationship and the community can provide the appropriate support.
Community Properties Impact Corporation: Circles
A Shift in Definition or Reframing of Issues – The Circles model uses an investigative approach to address the reasons behind poverty, encouraging those who live in poverty to share the realities of their experience with community members and decision makers. Bringing together women in poverty and social service providers, government, and the business community, the Circles model arms entire communities with concrete information that allows the issues and impact of poverty to be addressed at individual, community, and policy levels.
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland: Bonds Beyond Bars
A Shift in Individual Behavior – Research shows that when an incarcerated mother maintains a bond with her children, she is less likely to recidivate when released into the community. Conversely, when the daughter of an incarcerated mother is given the chance to build a relationship with her parent, she is less likely to engage in risky behavior. The incarcerated mother facilitates the Girl Scout troop, building confidence in her leadership and parenting. Bonds Beyond Bars actively breaks the cycle of incarceration by helping daughters and mothers make positive choices and build the life skills necessary to stay out of the criminal justice system.
Homes on the Hill-CDC: Homeownership Counseling for Women
A Shift in Holding the Line and a Shift in Policy – Holding the line can sometimes mean not slipping back or losing progress. Homeownership provides women a stable life and less mobility for the children in the home. The foreclosure crisis has left a disproportionate number of women in mortgages provided by predatory lenders. Female heads of households can renegotiate their loan and maintain financially stable homes for their children. Homes on the Hill also advocates protection for consumers during the foreclosure crisis at the local and federal policy levels.
The John Glenn School of Public Affairs: New Leadership Ohio
A Shift in Reframing of Issues and A Shift in Policy – Through New Leadership Ohio, college women work to support female political candidates, actively run campaigns, and become proactive political agents within their communities. Encouraging more college women to run for public office also reshapes the legislative agenda by adding more women’s voices. As more women hold public offices, the development and design of programs and services that meet the needs of women and girls increase and women obtain influence in political decision making.
*New Leadership Ohio is now accepting applications for 2010. Please click here to submit an application by March 31, 2010 .
Mental Health America of Licking County: Bridges out of Poverty Community Project
A Shift in Definition and Policy – Stereotypes about poverty prevent communities from creating systems that permanently move women out of poverty. By placing women who are living in poverty “at the table” to develop solutions, we reframe the definition of poverty by investigating the systems in which poverty is promoted. When women in poverty are placed in leadership roles within courts, schools, government, and social services, there is more representation within decision making at the community and government levels. As a result, issues regarding poverty are brought to the forefront of political agendas.
New Directions Career Center: Bridging the Digital and Professional Divide: Technology and Communication Keys for Seniors in Today’s Workplace
A Shift in Reframing of Issues – Older women represent one of the hardest hit groups during the economic downturn. For seasoned women, it can sometimes prove difficult to enter or re-enter today’s technologically driven workforce. By building up the workforce development tools for the modern workplace and advocating for employment of these women, New Directions challenges the previous perception of retired or older women entering the workforce as experienced, resourceful, and multi-talented assets to organizations.
Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, Inc: Peer Education Project Pilot
A Shift in Engagement and Policy – Using teenage women as responsible sex education instructors’ results in heightened community awareness; as teens begin to prompt community members to become more involved in healthcare issues, women’s rights, and the repercussions of early teen sexual behavior. Additionally, this program will give teenage women the oppourtunity to advocate for changes in government and school policy on behalf of comprehensive sexual education.
The Interprofessional Commission of Ohio: Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)
A Shift in Reframing Issues and a Shift in Individual Behavior – Through exposure to female community leaders, confidence building activities, and an exploration of sensitive topics in a safe space, girls who participate in ROX re-examine traditional gender expectations regarding body image and women’s leadership. Girls who participate in ROX learn to identify potentially harmful or harassing situations and utilize the skills necessary to protect themselves. Through ROX, girls are empowered in their ability to defend against violence and report a greater sense of self-awareness.
University Area Enrichment Association: Gidget Pipeline Project
A Shift in Individual Behavior – Women are underrepresented in the high-paying Information Technology field. When teenage women have access to technology in a space where they are encouraged to speak up and learn hands-on about computer programming and language, the digital gap decreases while participation in technology coursework increases. Through this program, teenage women increase the likelihood of continuing on in the IT field and gain an economic advantage with access to higher paying entry level careers based on their technological expertise.
To read the full list of our grant partners, please click here.