Heinz Endowments awards $12 million in grants to address equity issues in Pittsburgh region
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Heinz Endowments announced Thursday that it has approved over $12.1 million in grants to support its ongoing emphasis on equity issues in the Pittsburgh region.
These grants address an array of equity issues and provide increased strategic investment in response to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, according to to a statement from the non-profit. Black-led nonprofit organizations that address systemic injustice and racism received additional support.
“If we are to advance our vision of creating a community that is fair and welcoming for all, we need to address deep-rooted issues of injustice and inequity that afflict our region,” said Grant Oliphant, president of the Endowments. “This is an especially important moment to invest in programs that focus on the health, well-being and success of Black families and individuals who experience injustice and disproportionate hardship that has been further exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic.”
This funding includes over $9.2 million allocated to targeting systemic issues and barriers affecting Black communities and strengthening nonprofits that support Black families in the Pittsburgh region.
That includes $7.2 million awarded to nonprofits funding arts organizations, media programs and community and economic development initiatives.
It also includes $2 million earmarked for addressing issues impacting Black families and children — with particular emphasis on reducing racial disparities in infant mortality rates.
Another $1.6 million will aim to support diversity and equity practices at the Sarah Heinz House Association on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The Sarah Heinz House Association will use the grant money to support a multi-year diversity, equity and inclusion initiative aimed at providing programming and enrichment activities for children and families of diverse backgrounds.
Heinz Endowments also awarded $1.3 million to help fund ongoing criminal justice reform initiatives as part of the Endowment’s three-year, $10 million reform initiative, dubbed the Restoration Project. The funding continues the Heinz Endowments’ work to confront “the challenges of those whose lives have been upended by contact with law enforcement and to advocate for improvements in policy and practice within both the adult and juvenile system,” said Endowments Chief Equity Officer Carmen Anderson.
Heinz Endowments said it funded arts initiatives and media programs that elevate Black voices. These include Advancing Black Artists in Pittsburgh, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and Homewood-Brushton YMCA. Funds directed to the YMCAs will support the Lighthouse Project, an after-school media arts program held at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA.
These grants will also fund a project spearheaded by 1Hood Media to launch BlackPGH.com, an online media platform that will share news relevant to Black residents.
The Endowments have also offered operating support grants to ACH Clear Pathways, Hill Dance Academy Theatre and the Afro-American Music Institute.
Plus, the Endowments are supporting African American businesses, offering grants to Bible Center Church to help with revitalization efforts in the main commercial strip of Homewood and the Northside Industrial Development Corp. to support their work to grow Black business enterprises in the region.
The Heinz Endowments also provided grants for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Venture for America, the POISE Foundation, Pittsburgh United, Take Action Mon Valley, Ujamaa Collective, Operation Better Block in Homewood and Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg.
Funds directed toward issues affecting Black families and children include grants offered to Healthy Start, Partner4Work, the University of Pittsburgh’s Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (PRIDE) program and the Readiness Institute at Pennsylvania State University.
Among criminal justice reform grants are funds directed to the University of Pittsburgh’s Just Discipline Regional Impact Model and an extension of Woodland Hills School District’s school discipline program.
The Endowments also awarded grants supporting Three Rivers Youth for diversion programs in the McKeesport and Sto-Rox school districts, the Foundation of Hope for a Hill District pilot youth diversion program, and Duquesne University, which is providing holistic legal representation for youths in Allegheny County with its newly established Youth Advocacy Clinic.
These most recent grants follow $7 million worth of grants approved by Heinz Endowments in May.
“Because the impact of inequity and injustice permeates so many areas of our region and country, this equity agenda addresses a broad range of important issues,” Anderson said. “Moving forward we intend to work with community partners and other stakeholders to reimagine what’s necessary for an equitable Pittsburgh and the role of philanthropy in supporting the Black community and other marginalized citizens.”