Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit – The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan awarded grants totaling more than $125,000 from the Senior Engagement Program.
The Senior Engagement Program (SEP) is a project of the Community Foundation that aims to forge new connections between non-traditional senior service providers, local leaders and organizations with expertise in aging. The goal is to provide resources that will help address fundamental issues of aging by creating a more vibrant and healthy region – one that better engages, respects and supports our older population and multigenerational issues.
The Community Foundation announced five $25,000 Senior Engagement Innovation Grants to the following organizations and their partners:
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, Michigan Alliance of TimeBanks and Bridging Communities for support for senior engagement in the Chadsey/Condon community TimeBank.
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation for support for a regional interdisciplinary coalition on mature employment, training and volunteerism.
TechTown and Operation ABLE for support for an entrepreneurial program for mature adults.
Transportation Riders United and SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation)
East Michigan Environmental Action Council and Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation, Building Movement Detroit, Michigan Welfare Rights Association, and Barbara Jordan Elementary for support for engagement of Detroit seniors and youth in addressing food security, environmental justice and healthy, sustainable living in four Detroit schools.
As part of the Senior Engagement Program, these partners will form a Learning Community to develop and share new learnings and knowledge about addressing the issues of aging, mobilizing strategies and collaborative techniques, and culture change. The Learning Community will provide a forum for participating organizations to learn from and build upon one another’s experiences in order to leverage opportunities for maximum impact in the community.
These grants are another in a series of steps that the Community Foundation has taken over the last several years to help strengthen the region to be more welcoming, inclusive and supportive of older adults — the largest growing demographic group in our region. With the support of the Imani Fund, the Community Foundation is pleased to support these diverse and innovative projects and partnerships.
