Innovation may be the best word to describe the multiple projects benefiting from the United Way of the Flint Hills newest grant program.
Recently, KVOE announced the agency had selected the first recipients of the new Racial Equity Grant program. The grant was established with the goal of strengthening racial equality within the Flint Hills region by supporting enhanced community engagement and civic action.
United Way Executive Director Mickey Edwards, a recent guest of KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Friday, says the program help’s the United Way accomplish its goal of being a beacon of inclusion and diversity within the local community.
One of the projects to benefit from the funding comes from the mind of Emporia State University professor A’Kena LongBenton a “transplant” from Detroit who came to Emporia and found that there was more to be done in highlighting successful people of color. With that in mind, LongBenton, also a guest of Friday’s Talk of Emporia, created “Teaching for Lifelong Change” which seeks to highlight American authors of color.
The program will be hosting its first event in the Emporia community Thursday night at Union Street Social and will focus on the works of Langston Hughes.
SOS was another recipient of funding through the grant program and in keeping with the idea of innovation will be using those dollars to update their promotional materials to include more Spanish content. Kathy (KAH-Tee) Peraza of SOS says this effort will help to remove barriers for Latin X residents who may be suffering from domestic or sexual abuse so they may receive the services they need.
Other organizations to receive funding include Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow. President Rebeca Herrera says the grant funding will support the organization’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration later this year.
The Emporia Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held in downtown Emporia on May 6. Those interested in being a vendor for the event will need to contact Emporia Main Street.
Janet Miranda of LEAP! says the event will include information on both nutrition and the importance of education for Latin X residents.
Fiesta Primavera de LEAP! will take place from 2 pm to 4 pm Apr. 30 at the Grace United Methodist Church parking lot. Another event aimed at the local Latin X population will be a Hispanic Leadership Conference through Emporia Community Action.
Emily Velasquez discussed the format of the conference as it currently stands.
The conference is tentatively scheduled to be held Sept. 30 with the location still to be determined.
Friday’s Talk of Emporia followed the conclusion of the United Way of the Flint Hills United by Community Strength – KVOE Live Morning Drive Auction. Edwards says the auction was a great success that generated a preliminary total of $3,000 for the organization’s annual fundraising campaign.
For more information on the United Way and the Racial Equity Grant program visit UnitedWayoftheFlinthills.org.
