Diocese of Maryland reparations grants awardees and reparations committee gather to sing a blessing at today’s awards celebration.
The Reparations Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is thrilled to announce the second year of funding for their reparations grant process. Five outstanding organizations have been selected to receive a total of $230,000 in grants. These organizations have demonstrated exceptional dedication and effectiveness in restoring and uplifting Black communities within the diocese’s geographical area.
After careful evaluation of a diverse pool of applicants, these five organizations stood out for their unwavering commitment and remarkable impact. We congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition and extend our gratitude for the transformative work they do.
As we continue this important grant process, we reaffirm our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and reparations. The funding provided will serve as a catalyst for further positive change and support these organizations in their mission to bring about social equality.
We express our deepest appreciation to the awardees for their tireless dedication. We are confident that the funds will empower them to continue their vital work with renewed strength and resources.
Together, let us unite in our pursuit of justice, equality, and restoration. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the Reparations Committee eagerly anticipate the significant and lasting impact these exceptional organizations will undoubtedly achieve through their continued efforts.
For more information about our reparations grants process and for updates and notice of the next granting cycle, please visit our reparations grants page.
Moving History – Baltimore $50,000
Moving History teaches the story of African-American people through immersive Arts programs including instrumental and vocal music, culinary arts and dance. Community classes, professional team training, and a project-based set of courses available to primary, secondary and university students are our trifold strategy for achieving a more just society which promotes respect of self and others.
Funding Goal: Provide funding for a six-week summer STEM program In partnership with Harford Heights Elementary which will feature mornings focused on classroom academics and afternoons dedicated to a deep dive into cultural heritage through Arts activities with STEM impact. These reparations funds will support the afternoon programs. By the end of the program, students will more clearly understand their position in world history, and the contributions their ancestors have made to that story.
PIVOT, Inc. – Baltimore $50,000
PIVOT Baltimore is a non-profit that connects women released from the corrections system with critical services needed to reclaim their lives, rejoin their families and reinvigorate their communities. The organization creates an ecosystem of opportunity including access to housing, transportation, mental health care, addiction treatment, family services, job training, job placement, and community connections.
Funding Goal: To use this funding to provide a basic income of $500 per month to some of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community – Black women returning from incarceration. We honor the work that the Episcopal Diocese is doing to make reparations, and we believe that by providing direct financial support to those who need it most, we have the opportunity to not only repair lives financially, but to restore dignity and hope where it has been most deeply lost and broken.
Hagerstown Area Religious Council – Washington County $30,000
The Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) is a coalition of faith community partners in Washington County, Maryland. Formally registered as Washington County Council of Churches, HARC has been active in the community since 1946 and has been recognized as a 501c3 non-profit organization since 2001. While HARC’s partner congregations can differ greatly on theology, all agree on the strength of working together to build a better community, help those in need, and support one another.
Funding Goal: If we are blessed to receive funds from this grant, they will be used to help und two major programs of the HARC Racial Justice Team: 1) Equity In Education Scholarships. Scholarships of $1500-$7000 are awarded annually to racially minoritized students who reside in Washington Co. MD. Of the $30,000 requested, $15,000 will be used for this program, with 90% of funds awarded used directly for scholarships. 10% will be used for administrative costs of coordinating this new program.
Child First Authority – Baltimore $50,000
Child First is dedicated to helping youth and strengthening families by providing high-quality community schools, after-school and summer learning programs that promote academic achievement, social and emotional well-being, and parent leadership.
Funding Goal: Funding will be used to expand the food pantry program in nine of our community schools. The tenth school does not have a food pantry and funding would allow for the creation of a small food pantry.
While we have an existing relationship with Maryland Food Bank, in order to fully meet the needs of our students, their families, and the communities we serve we will also partner with local organizations like Food Rescue Baltimore through Baltimore Free Farm and Strength to Love II Farm. Funding will be used to cover the cost of providing more produce to families.
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. – Frederick County $50,000
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society commemorates, studies, and preserves the rich history of the industrial village, including the architecture, cultural landscapes, lifeways, and foodways of the diverse workers. Bringing to light the long-neglected contributions of the enslaved workers who were the furnace’s first laborers is a central aspect of our mission, as is endeavoring to repair the economic wreckage wrought by the brutal institution of race-based slavery in the US.
Funding Goal: Providing opportunities for at-risk students to gain valuable skills through hands-on training in historic preservation building trades. Funding from this grant will allow us to support restarting our cooperative innovative Program. Specifically, funds will be used to hire a Trades Instructor who will provide mentorship and hands-on training to students, provide stipends for the student apprentices, purchase building materials and assist with transportation needs.