Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE–Friday, November 1 , 2019 Revere CARES Coalition Offers Money For Healthy Ideas Up to $20,000 Dollars are Available R EVERE — You got ideas, and we’re funding them. The mini-grant program, hosted by the Revere CARES coalition, is now accepting applications until January 5th for innovative ideas that promote a healthier community for all. Since its creation in 2012, the mini-grant program has provided over $100,000 dollars to fund community ideas that make Revere a healthy environment to live, work, and play. The mini-grant program is a collaboration between the MGH Revere CARES coalition and Revere on the Move. This year, $20,000 dollars are available for individuals, organizations, or groups interested in receiving funds to promote healthy eating, active living, prevent substance use disorders, improve mental wellbeing, and engage young people in positive activities. “Our ultimate goal for these mini-grants is to put money in the hands of our community members to do things we may not have thought of or been able to do. Community problems require community solutions. The community knows best how to improve the health of the city, and what would work or not work,” said Sylvia Chiang, Director of Revere CARES. Examples of previously funded projects include: Seacoast High School–Awarded $1,000 to expand an aquaponics lab for their Botany and Urban Growers class. The expansion coincided with their existing community garden, herb garden, and hydroponics lab, providing students with a comprehensive urban farming toolkit. (System and environmental change) Half Day Hoops ProgramAwarded $1,605 to the Revere Police Department to offer free mini basketball clinics for middle and high school students. These miniclinics will increase physical activity among youth and will help address substance abuse issues. (Active living, prevention, and positive youth engagement) Sidewalk Butlers for Cigarette Butts- Awarded $852 to the Revere Community Committee (through The Neighborhood Developers) to install five cigarette butlers in the Shirley Ave. business district. This environmental strategy is meant to promote cleanliness and increase mental health due to an environmental change in the Shirley Ave. neighborhood. (Environmental change) Educational Theater–Awarded $3,210 to the Seacoast High school for Deana’s Educational Theater to conduct performances and discussion that will address the issues associated with relationship violence, bystander intervention, and cyberbullying. The project will also include professional development for teachers by the Improbable Players, a theater group lead by actors in recovery from Substance Use Disorders. (Prevention activity encouraging positive decisions among youth) Girls Empowerment Club– Awarded $770 dollars to Kamilla Calle and Rebecca Villatoro, students at Revere High School, to create a Girls Empowerment Club to help empower and build relationships among elementary and middle school girls. (Positive youth engagement led by a young person) “It’s important that mini-grant ideas outlast the funding. They should be sustainable with a lasting impact for years to come. PolCARES | SEE PAGE 14
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