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ARTICLES
 Diocese funds six groups with local CCHD grants
Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo has approved recommendations from the local advisory committee of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to give funding to six of the 16 organizations that applied for local grant funding in 2008.
The grants total $36,750.
A brief description of these six groups follows:
Total Action Against Poverty/Virginia CARES
Rights Restoration Mentoring Project in Roanoke.
The $7,500 grant award will allow graduates of the VA CARES program to serve as mentors and help organize ex-offenders to advocate for reform of Virginia’s disenfranchisement law.
Of the 50 United States, only Virginia and Kentucky deny the restoration of rights to ex-offenders.
For more information or to join this group, please call or write: Correlli Rasheed, 540–345–6781 or correlli.rasheed@tapintohope.org.
Giving Individuals Resources & Advocacy For a Fulfilling Education (G.I.R.A.F.F.E.)
This $7,000 grant is awarded to a group of Parent Advocates of children with special needs, who serve as resources for other parents of similar children in the remote, rural areas of Lee, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Bland and Washington Counties and the City of Norton in Southwest Virginia.
Through their brochures, learning packets and their willingness to host six regional workshops, and two bi-annual conferences, the parents, all volunteers, provide peer education, moral support, and motivation to present and future parent advocates of special needs children.
Although many of the parents are eligible for legal aid services and Medicaid to assist them with their children, the rural locations and regional economy, limited local educational services and funds, all create strong barriers to institutional change.
These parents work with each other and the teachers to bring needed attention to the special needs realities. For more information, contact: Laura Lawson 276–546–5557.
Quality Community Council (QCC) in Charlottesville
This program is receiving a $6,000 grant for their project, “Cease the Silence, Stop the Violence.”
In response to an increase in murders within the community, low income residents and youth are organizing to train young people to speak out against gun violence.
Participants will use community organizing techniques as well as resources. The grant will provide support for staff to work with youth on leadership and organizing skills. For more information or to join this group, please go to: www.cvilleqcc.com.
Appalachian Women’s Alliance — Clinchco Center in Floyd
This agency received a $6,000 grant for its work to end racism and poverty in an isolated black community in a defunct coal mining town with a large low income white community adjacent.
This work is a continuation of last year’s CCHD grant-funded project to build civic education and engagement work. To learn more about this group and to get involved, please see: www.appalachianwomen.org/clinchco.html.
IMPACT, Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together in Charlottesville
This grant of $5,250 is for their project “Latino Out Reach.” It focuses on transportation issues, dental care access and affordable housing that affect low income residents in Charlottesville.
With this grant they will hire a bilingual organizer to engage the Latino community in Charlottesville in the work of IMPACT. To learn more about this organization and become involved, please go to: http://impactcville.blogspot.com.
RePhrame — Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Eviction
This program’s local grant for $5,000 is for their project for “Public Housing Preservation.” It serves a group of public housing residents in Richmond who seek to empower other low income residents to work with Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority.
This grant will be applied to the salary of the community organizer aiding them in identified issues. To learn more about this group or to join them in their work, please call or write: Andrew Schoeneman, 804–643–1086, Andrew@justice4all.org.
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