The purpose of the Community Action! Fund is to provide Partners in Human Rights Education Project teams and their students with the financial resources necessary to create effective Community Action! Projects. Community Action! Projects provide a unique means of integrating classroom learning about human rights with hands-on activities in the community. Through Community Action! Projects, students can more deeply understand the meaning of human rights in their own lives and the lives of others in their community.
In past years, Partners Project participants have funded their own projects, which limited the kinds of Community Action! Projects students could plan. Through the Community Action! Fund, teams and students can plan and execute creative Community Action! Projects that will benefit their local communities without being unduly hampered by financial considerations.
Each Partners Project team is eligible for one $50 to $400 grant per semester or half of the school year. Grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis at the beginning of each month. $2,500 is available for allocation per semester and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
1. Design a community action plan with your fellow team members and
students based on the human rights issues your class has chosen to
address.
2. Complete the project description sheet included in this packet.
This sheet will be used to evaluate the distribution of funds, so
take the time to fill out the sheets carefully.
3. All grant proposals must be received by the Partners Project
before the end of the
month prior to the month during which you want your proposal
reviewed. For example, if you want your proposal reviewed and funds
awarded in November, you must submit your proposal by the end of
October.
4. Mail entries to:
Partners in Human Rights Education
Attention: CAP Fund
University of Minnesota
229 19th Avenue South
439 Law Center
Minneapolis, MN 55455
1. The Partners in Human Rights Education office staff will compile and evaluate all submitted proposals during the first week of each month.
2. The Partners Project office staff representative will then make a recommendation regarding each proposal to the Partners Project Executive Committee at the Executive Committee's monthly meeting held on the second Monday of each month. The Executive Committee will discuss and vote on each proposal. Notification of grant acceptance or denial will be made during the business week in which the Executive Committee meeting occurs.
As you begin planning, think about the difference you can make in your own school and community. Write down the goals you want to reach. To make the job easier, make a list of those areas you know best and feel most comfortable working with in the project. If you need to find out more information, utilize your resources - call a community organization that is doing work in the area, talk with other Partners Project teams or Partners office staff, meet with your school administrators, and find out about the facts involved in the issue.
Next, think about the action steps you need to take in order to complete the project. Write down all the things that need to happen for you to reach your goal. Identify the resources and connections you will need to utilize. Make a calendar and assign duties and dates by which activities must be completed. Brainstorm strategies for overcoming any obstacles or impediments that you foresee.
To avoid burnout or frustration, start with smaller steps. Keep your goals in mind and stick with the actions that will help you reach them. Don't forget to ask for help if you need it. You may find that many people in your community will want to help.
All recipients of Community Action! Fund monies are required to fill out and submit to the Partners Project a Community Action! Project Planner. The Partners Project publishes Community Action! Projects in The Explorer so that all team participants may appreciate and get ideas from the work of other Partners Project members. The Partners Project also uses Community Action! Projects to write grant proposals and to supplement the Community Action! Project Manual.
Contact the Partners Project office staff at (612) 626-0041.
Please fill in the following information and attach additional
pages as needed.
Project Title:
_______________________________________________
Total Grant Request:
_______________________________________________
Background Information
Team Members:
Teacher: _____________________________________________
Lawyer: _____________________________________________
Community Representative: ______________________________
Principal Contact Member: _____________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________
Fax: _____________________________________
School: ____________________________________________________
Grade Level of students: _______________________________________
Number of students participating:
________________________________
Community Action! Project
1. Briefly describe your project: (Please include how it
will incorporate a human rights message and how many people will be
involved in and affected by the project.)
