HWS News
22 October 2021 New Grant Funds Geneva 2030's Racial Equity Work
A $150,000 grant from StriveTogether will support programs to improve racial equity in the Geneva community as well as the appointment of a fulltime Geneva 2030 director.
Geneva 2030 recently received a $150,000 grant that will fund work around racial equity in the Geneva City School District and the efforts of Geneva 2030’s six Action Teams, including the new Bilingual Education Action Team focused on connecting with Spanish-speaking community members.
The two-year grant also supports the appointment of Dr. Karen Fahy as Geneva 2030’s first fulltime director. Fahy, who consulted previously for Geneva 2030, most recently served as director of English Language Arts and Literacy K-12 for the Rochester School District. She is a long-time Geneva resident who was a teacher and program director in the Geneva City School District for more than 20 years.
This grant follows a $150,000 gift for Geneva 2030 from Dr. Philip Breitfeld, a Geneva native now living in North Carolina who is a member of Geneva 2030’s Executive Board.
StriveTogether is a national network of community-based education initiatives of which Geneva 2030 is a member. Funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, StriveTogether supports equal opportunities for all children with a focus on racial, economic and educational system.
Sage Gerling, Geneva City Manager and chair of Geneva 2030’s Executive Board, says, “We are most grateful for StriveTogether’s financial support and for the valuable resources they provide to help advance Geneva 2030’s vital work. Our partnership is indeed all about striving together.”
Jennifer Blatz, president and CEO of StriveTogether, adds, “We know that local communities can drive systemic change. It is more important than ever to invest into efforts like Geneva 2030 that center racial equity to truly ensure that a child’s potential isn’t dictated by race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance.”
Started by HWS in 2011, Geneva 2030 is a collective impact initiative that harnesses community resources and engagement to support the success of Geneva’s youth from cradle to career. Its work is focused on preparing children for kindergarten, improving literacy, supporting a bilingual curriculum (English & Spanish), STEAM engagement, increasing Geneva’s high school graduation rate, and building students’ preparedness for college and future careers. The Colleges serve as the anchor institution in partnership with the school district and numerous community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Geneva Reads and Success for Geneva’s Children.
