Revitalization of Graham County thru Community Involvement | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Outreach - This project is to develop and coordinate an understanding of the overall Community Development efforts of the newly-formed Graham County Community Development organization through the distribution and reading of “13 Ways to Kill your Community” book. Elected officials of all three of the incorporated cities of the county and Nicodemus will participate. The development organization will receive ideas inspired by the book club to help inform its actions. The Lead Applicant on the project is Graham County. The grant award amount is $5,000.

 

To Infinity  & Beyond | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Outreach - The “To Infinity & Beyond” project will launch the public grand opening of the STEM Harvest Space by having a pre-event survey, a STEM event for 40 children ages eight and up and accompanying adults, and a post-event survey. The project aims to inspire kids to want more while introducing them to careers and skill sets. The Lead Applicant on the project is STEM Harvest. The grant award amount is $10,000.

 

Topeka Social Entrepreneurship Engagement Project | Project Impact Area: Entrepreneurship Support | Project Type: Community Outreach- The Topeka Social Entrepreneurship Engagement Project will consist of several parts: (a) a talk by a national-level speaker to inspire attendees to start social entrepreneurship companies; (b) introduction to entrepreneurship support resources; (c) an educational tour of Topeka neighborhoods for Washburn University students, faculty, and staff who are interested in social entrepreneurship to help them learn about the diverse communities and needs in the Capital City; (d) training on how to pitch a social entrepreneurship company. The Lead Applicant on the project is Growth Organization of Topeka/Shawnee County, Inc. (GO Topeka) - part of the Greater Topeka Partnership. The grant award amount is $10,000.

 

Mobile Robotics | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Outreach - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is often a struggle for rural schools. Many times, they simply lack the budget and staffing to offer STEM-related classes and activities. K State McPherson County Research and Extension plans to create a mobile robotics program for youth in grades 1, 3, and 6-8. Extension staff will travel to schools in the county, bringing all supplies and equipment to lead age-appropriate robotics lessons within the schools across multiple school districts. The Lead Applicant on the project is the McPherson Community Foundation. The grant award amount is $10,000.

 

One Voice:  Creating more equitable and accessible services in Rice County for Spanish-Speaking Neighbors  | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Service - The Rice County Community Foundation, Rice County Economic Development and AB&C Bilingual Resources will work to create systematic change in Rice County to offer trainings in English and Spanish that will encourage engagement between the Hispanic community in Rice County and its businesses, municipalities, tax-supported entities, and non-profits. The Lead Applicant on the project is the Rice County Community Foundation. The grant award is $10,000.

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Coffeyville Innovation Labs Maker Space Youth Kickoff | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Outreach - This project will create a pop-up innovation lab in Downtown Coffeyville, Kansas, which will host a series of hands-on events for youth. This event series will serve to bring people together in an emerging economic redevelopment area (Coffeyville’s Reawakening space), to introduce a new community to the maker space concept, and to inspire innovation and build interest for a permanent space for STEAM activities in downtown Coffeyville (Coffeyville Innovation Labs). The Lead Applicant on the project is the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation. The grant award is $10,000.

 

Empowering Community Engagement Program Pilot | Project Impact Area: Community Development | Project Type: Community Outreach - Small communities want to thrive, and engaged volunteers are essential to initiating and completing projects that will enable sustainability. This project will create opportunities to recruit and engage volunteers in communities in Allen County. The assets created through this project (videos, stills, etc.) will be used to further inspire a culture of volunteerism in communities across the state, leveraging the investment in this grant for greater impact. The Lead Applicant on the project is Thrive Allen County. The grant award is $10,000.