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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
STARTING BLOCK GRANTS - 2023
WHEREAS, in November 2021, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed Resolution No. 21-5542 creating a special purpose fund for Equity and Inclusion ("Equity Fund") dedicated to addressing historical disparities and disinvestment communities that are marginalized or have experienced other social and economic disparities; and
WHEREAS, through the Equity Fund, intentional investments from government resources are allocated to address historical and continued disparities and disinvestment, (as defined in the Equity Report) and to bring advocates, service providers, and other partners to the table as thought partners and decision-makers; and
WHEREAS, in May 2022, in conjunction with the release of the inaugural Equity Fund Report, Cook County brought forth and approved a resolution detailing the Equity Fund's first installment spending plan for the initial $50M which was allocated to the fund as part of the FY22 budget; and
WHEREAS, Equity in Grantmaking/Capacity Building was established as a priority area and confirmed by the board via Resolution #22-2779 “Program Allocation for Budgeted FY 2022 Equity and Inclusion Special Purpose Funds”; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Economic Development and Office of the President were designated as program leads for Equity in Grantmaking/Capacity Building Grant Resolution #22-2779; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the President convened Cook County agencies including, but not limited to, the Justice Advisory Council, Bureau of Economic Development, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Transportation and Highways, Cook County Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Department of Environment and Sustainability as the Equity in Grantmaking Workgroup; and
WHEREAS, the Equity in Grantmaking Workgroup recommended $5 million of first round funding for a Cook County Starting Block Grant initiative, consisting of $4 million from the Equity Fund and $1 million from the Justice Advisory Council Violence Prevention Capacity Building portfolio; and
WHEREAS, the Justice Advisory Council, given their existing grant infrastructure and expertise in grant-making, was designated as the lead agency for administration of the Starting Block Grants; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the Starting Block Grants is to support capacity building for small to medium sized community-based organizations looking to develop their infrastructure to promote organizational health, growth and stability; and
WHEREAS, the Starting Block Grants further the work of the Equity Fund by partnering with, funding, and building the capacity of community organizations working to promote the health, safety, and success of residents in high vulnerability communities; and
WHEREAS, the capacity building efforts are structured by seven key themes of non-profit capacity described in Learning for Action’s Point the Way report; and
WHEREAS, the seven key themes for non-profit capacity are:
1) Vision and Impact Models, for which the organization will be working to build a clear and detailed description of the impact the organization is trying to create, mapped to organizational activities (e.g., Theory of Change);
2) Governance and Leadership, for which the organization will be working to ensure board staff and leadership have the skills needed to work effectively together in service of the organization’s mission;
3) Program Delivery, for which the organization will be working to build capacity for staff, technology, facilities, and other capabilities needed to deliver programs;
4) Resource Generation, for which the organization will work to build a strong funding model and the capability to secure resources over time,
5) Internal Operations and Management, for which the organization will work to build capacity for technical functions, including IT, financial management. Communications, human resources management, and strategic planning;
6) Evaluation and Learning, for which the organization will acquire, develop, or enhance existing tools, processes and culture that support continuous improvement; and
7) Strategic Relationships, for which the organization will build their ability to nurture and maintain the external relationships necessary for success; and
WHEREAS, Starting Block Grant applicants identified areas within their organization in need of capacity building, as aligned with at least one of these seven key themes; and
WHEREAS, the JAC received 365 applications organizations headquartered across 16 of 17 Cook County commissioner districts, across more than 10 service sectors; and
WHEREAS, 326 applications passed technical review, 148 of which went on to be unanimously for funding; and
WHEREAS, 51 top-scoring applicants were selected to be awarded no more than $100,000 over two years; and
WHEREAS, the selected awardees serve 153 geographic areas across Cook County, representing all 17 Cook County Districts and 17 different service sectors; and
WHEREAS, the primary service sectors for the selected awardees include the following: Violence Prevention (Including Youth development and community-based violence intervention strategies), Human Services, Human Rights, Housing, Health, Education, Community and Economic Development, Arts and Culture, Social and Community Context, Workers Rights, Social Justice Activism and Awareness, Mentorship, Workforce Development, Legal Assistance, Reentry, Youth Development, and Family Support Services; and
WHEREAS, the total amount awarded through the first round of the Cook County Starting Block Grants shall be $4,983,029.13; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Justice Advisory Council to make the following Starting Block Grant awards, to be funded in part, through the previously approved Equity in Grantmaking funding allocation of $15M:
1. GSJ Family Life Center is a community and economic development, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, internal operations and management, and vision and impact model.
2. Community Television Network is an arts and culture, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Roseland, and West Town. Community Television Network is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, internal operations and management, and vision and impact model.
3. Healing to Action is a human rights and violence prevention organization providing services in Albany Park, Archer Heights, Belmont Cragin, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Douglas, East Garfield Park, Edgewater, Gage Park, Glenview, Hegewisch, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Irving Park, Jefferson Park, Lake View, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Montclare, New City, North Lawndale, O'Hare, Riverside, South Chicago, South Deering, Uptown, West Lawn, and West Ridge. Healing to Action is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
4. Snow City Arts is a health, arts and culture, and education, organization providing services across Chicago and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, internal operations and management, and evaluation and learning infrastructure.
5. Chicago Jazz Philharmonic is an arts and culture, and education organization providing services in Austin, Avondale, Bridgeport, Greater Grand Crossing, Hermosa, Irving Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), New City, North Lawndale, and West Town. Chicago Jazz Philharmonic is being awarded $66,000 to develop and strengthen governance and leadership, internal operations and management, evaluation and learning infrastructure, and vision and impact model.
6. A House in Austin is an education, violence prevention, and family support services organization providing services in Austin, Belmont Cragin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park, and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership internal operations and management, and resource generation.
7. Jehovah Jireh #1 Ministry Outreach is a human services and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, Humboldt Park, and West Garfield Park, and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
8. Focus Fairies Mentoring is a community and economic development, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Auburn Gresham, Bridgeport, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Fuller Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Morgan Park, Near North Side, North Lawndale, Riverdale (Chicago neighborhood), and Washington Park. Focus Fairies Mentoring is being awarded $98, 956.82 to develop and strengthen their evaluation and learning infrastructure, governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
9. Rainbows for All Children is a human services organization providing services in Albany Park, Arlington Heights, Austin, Barrington, Belmont Cragin, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Buffalo Grove, Burr Ridge, Cicero, Country Club Hills, Deer Park, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Edgewater, Edison Park, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Englewood, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Flossmoor, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Glenview, Hinsdale, Hoffman Estates, Homewood, Humboldt Park, Irving Park, Jefferson Park, Lake View, Lemont, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Maywood, Mount Prospect, Near North Side, Near South Side, Near West Side, Niles, North Lawndale, North Park, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Oak Forest, Oak Park, Palatine, Palos Heights, Park Ridge, Rogers Park, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Tinley Park, West Edison, West Ridge, and Wheeling. Rainbows for All Children is being awarded $80,574 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
10. Chicago Blues Revival is an arts and culture, community and economic development, and education organization providing services in Douglas, East Garfield Park, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Oakland, and West Garfield Park. Chicago Blues Revival is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, internal operations and management, evaluation and learning infrastructure, and resource generation.
11. BandWith Music Ltd. (dba BandWith Chicago) is an arts and culture, community and economic development, and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, East Garfield Park, Near West Side, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership and evaluation and learning infrastructure.
12. Chicago Learning Exchange is an education organization providing services in all Chicago neighborhoods and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership.
13. Holistic Birth Collective is an education, health and human rights organization providing services in Alsip, Archer Heights, Armour Square, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Avalon Park, Bedford Park, Beverly, Blue Island, Bridgeport, Bridgeview, Brighton Park, Burbank, Burnham, Burnside, Calumet City, Calumet Heights, Chatham, Chicago Heights, Chicago Lawn, Clearing, Dixmoor, Dolton, Douglas, East Hazel Crest, East Side, Englewood, Evergreen Park, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Fuller Park, Gage Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Hegewisch, Hometown, Homewood, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Lansing, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Lynwood, Markham, Matteson, McKinley Park, Morgan Park, Near South Side, Near West Side, New City, Oakland, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Pullman, Riverdale, Roseland, Sauk Village, South Chicago, South Deering, South Holland, South Shore, Thornton, Washington Heights, Washington Park, West Englewood, West Pullman, and Woodlawn. Holistic Birth Collective is being awarded $99,600 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, vision and impact model, strategic relationships, and internal operations and management.
14. The Firehouse Dream is a youth development organization providing services in Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Forest Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Stone Park, and Westchester. The Firehouse Dream is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their strategic relationships.
15. Light of Loving Kindness is a health and violence prevention organization providing services in Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Austin, Chicago Heights, Englewood, Lower West Side (Pilsen), and South Lawndale, and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
16. Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center is an arts and culture, human rights, and social justice activism and awareness organization providing services to North Lawndale and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
17. Parenting for Non-Violence and is a violence prevention organization providing services in Chicago Lawn, Englewood, North Lawndale, and Roseland, and is being awarded $68,775 to develop and strengthen their evaluation and learning infrastructure.
18. Bridge to Freedom is a housing and reentry organization providing services in Austin, Avalon Park, Berwyn, Beverly, Bridgeport, Bridgeview, Chatham, Kenwood, Lincoln Park, Morgan Park, North Lawndale, Oak Lawn, Pullman, West Englewood, West Garfield Park, West Pullman, and Woodlawn. Bridge to Freedom is being awarded $92,800 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
19. New Eclipse Community Alliance is a community and economic development, human services, and violence prevention organization providing services in Englewood, New City, and West Englewood, and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
20. Free Root Operation is a community and economic development, health, and violence prevention organization providing services in Auburn Gresham, Austin, Chatham, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Near South Side, North Lawndale, Pullman, South Chicago, South Shore, Washington Park, West Englewood, West Lawn, West Pullman, and Woodlawn. Free Root Operation is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
21. GoSTEM Guild of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics is an education and violence prevention organization providing services in Humboldt Park, Uptown, and Rogers Park, and is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management.
22. Definition Theatre Company is an arts and culture, community and economic development, and education organization providing services in Hyde Park, Washington Park, and Woodlawn. Definition Theatre Company is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and resource generation.
23. Mentoring Youth Through Technology is an education and violence prevention organization providing services in Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, Hazel Crest, Matteson, Park Forest, Richton Park, Sauk Village, and University Park. Mentoring Youth Through Technology is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management and strategic relationships.
24. Territory NFP is an arts and culture, community and economic development, and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, Belmont Cragin, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park. Territory NFP is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership.
25. M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment is an education, health and violence prevention organization providing services in Auburn Gresham, Blue Island, Calumet City, Calumet Heights, Calumet Park, Chatham, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, East Side, Englewood, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Lansing, Lynwood, Markham, Matteson, Midlothian, Morgan Park, Pullman, Riverdale, Riverdale (Chicago neighborhood), Riverside, Robbins, Roseland, South Chicago, South Holland, South Shore, Thornton, Washington Park, and Woodlawn. M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their program delivery and strategic relationships.
26. Changing Oasis Inc. is a community and economic development, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, Bellwood, Berwyn, Cicero, and Maywood. Changing Oasis Inc. is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and strategic relationships.
27. John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA) is a human rights organization providing services across Cook County. JHA is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their strategic relationships.
28. Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA) is a housing and human rights organization providing services in Chicago and suburban Cook County. CAFHA is being awarded $87,935.34 to develop and strengthen their internal operations and management, resource generation, Evaluation and learning infrastructure, and vision and impact model
29. Science & Entrepreneurship Exchange (dba SparkShop) is an education organization providing services in Austin, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Calumet Heights, Englewood, Fuller Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Hegewisch, Hermosa, Kenwood, Lake View, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Rogers Park, South Shore, Uptown, West Pullman, Bronzeville and Palmer Square. SparkShop is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their program delivery and internal operations and management.
30. Annie B. Jones Civic Arts Center is an arts and culture, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Douglas, Englewood, and Greater Grand Crossing. Annie B. Jones Civic Center is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their program delivery.
31. En Nuevo Despertar - A New Awakening NFP is a health, human rights, and violence prevention organization providing services in Archer Heights, Berwyn, Brighton Park, Cicero, Lower West Side (Pilsen), McKinley Park, and South Lawndale. En Nuevo Despertar - A New Awakening NFP is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their program delivery and resource generation.
32. Center for Companies That Care is an education organization providing services in Albany Park, Auburn Gresham, Austin, Belmont Cragin, Brighton Park, Chatham, East Garfield Park, Gage Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Matteson, Near West Side, North Lawndale, Portage Park, and West Englewood. Center for Companies That Care is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance & leadership, program delivery, resource generation, and strategic relationships.
33. Pro Bono Network is a human rights and human services organization providing services in Austin, Bellwood, Berwyn, Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, LaGrange, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Maywood, Melrose Park, North Riverside, Oak Park, Palos Heights, River Forest, and across Cook County. Pro Bono Network is being awarded $99,013.80 to develop and strengthen their resource generation, and internal operations and management.
34. New Life KNEW Solutions is a human services organization providing services in Austin, East Garfield Park, East Hazel Crest, Englewood, Hazel Crest, Humboldt Park, McKinley Park, North Lawndale, Oak Park, South Lawndale, and West Garfield Park. New Life KNEW Solutions is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their vision and impact model, and strategic relationships.
35. Urban Male Network is a community and economic development, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Austin, Calumet City, Dolton, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Harvey, Lansing, Morgan Park, Near West Side, New City, Roseland, South Chicago, South Holland, West Englewood, and West Garfield Park. Urban Male Network is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their resource generation, internal operations and management, and program delivery.
36. A&L Youth and Family Services is a community and economic development and violence prevention organization providing services in Austin, East Garfield Park, and North Lawndale. A&L Youth and Family Services is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their program delivery, evaluation and learning, and strategic relationships.
37. One Solution Foundation Inc. is an education and violence prevention organization providing services in Burnside, South Chicago, and South Shore. One Solution Foundation Inc. is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their vision and impact model, and governance and leadership.
38. SitStayRead is an education organization providing services in Archer Heights, Auburn Gresham, Austin, Fuller Park, Gage Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), and Near West Side. SitStayRead is being awarded $92,000.00 to develop and strengthen their resource generation, strategic relationships, and internal operations and management.
39. The Monroe Foundation is a reentry, community and economic development, and human services organization providing services in Austin, Bellwood, Broadview, Englewood, Hillside, Maywood, North Lawndale, and Roseland. The Monroe Foundation is being awarded $99,146.56 to develop and strengthen their evaluation and learning infrastructure, resource generation, and internal operations and management.
40. Bridging the Gap Communal Living is a community and economic development, human services, and violence prevention organization providing services in Englewood. Bridging the Gap Communal Living is being awarded $99,984.00 to develop and strengthen their vision and impact model, internal operations and management, resource generation, and evaluation and learning infrastructure.
41. Floating Museum is an arts and culture and community and economic development organization providing services in Auburn Gresham, Austin, Calumet Heights, Chatham, East Garfield Park, East Side, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Hyde Park, North Lawndale, Oakland, South Chicago, South Shore, Washington Park, West Englewood, and West Garfield Park. Floating Museum is being awarded $99,950.11 to develop and strengthen their vision and impact model, internal operations and management, and program delivery.
42. Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights (CCWR) is a community and economic development and workers’ rights organization providing services in Albany Park, Archer Heights, Bedford Park, Berwyn, Blue Island, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Chicago Ridge, Cicero, East Garfield Park, Gage Park, Glenview, Harvey, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), McKinley Park, North Lawndale, and South Lawndale. CCWR is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their internal operations management and resource generation.
43. GirlForward is an education, human services, and violence prevention organization providing services in Albany Park, Edgewater, Evanston, Rogers Park, Skokie, Uptown, and West Ridge. GirlForward is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and professional development for staff.
44. College Mentoring Experience is an education, workforce development, violence prevention, and mentorship organization providing services in Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Beverly, Chicago Lawn, Evergreen Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Harvey, Morgan Park, South Chicago, West Englewood, West Garfield Park, Auburn Gresham, Auburn, Englewood, Wentworth Gardens, Dearborn Homes, Woodlawn, and Greater Grand Crossing. College Mentoring Experience is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
45. Strengthening A Nation is an arts and culture and education organization providing services in Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Beverly, Chicago Lawn, Evergreen Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Harvey, Morgan Park, South Chicago, West Englewood, West Garfield Park, Auburn Gresham, Auburn, Englewood, Wentworth Gardens, Dearborn Homes, Woodlawn, and Greater Grand Crossing. Strengthening A Nation is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their governance and leadership, and internal operations and management.
46. Corazon Community Services is an arts and culture, health, and violence prevention organization providing services in Berwyn and Cicero. Corazon Community Services is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their resource generation and internal operations and management.
47. LEAP is an education organization providing services in Auburn Gresham, Austin, Belmont Cragin, Berwyn, Chatham, Chicago Lawn, Cicero, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Maywood, Olympia Fields, South Lawndale, South Shore, West Ridge, and West Town. LEAP is being awarded $99,285.00 to develop and strengthen their evaluation and learning infrastructure.
48. Latino Union of Chicago is a human rights and community and economic development organization providing services in Albany Park, Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Berwyn, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Cicero, Edgewater, Evanston, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Melrose Park, North Center, North Park, Rogers Park, and Uptown. Latino Union of Chicago is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their vision and impact model.
49. Otherworld Theatre Company is an arts and culture organization providing services in Lakeview and Uptown. Otherworld Theatre Company is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their resource generation and governance and leadership.
50. R.A.G.E. Foundation Inc. is a community and economic development, education, and violence prevention organization providing services in Alsip, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Blue Island, Burnham, Burnside, Calumet City, Calumet Heights, Calumet Park, Chatham, Chicago Heights, Dixmoor, Dolton, Englewood, Harvey, Markham, Near South Side, Near West Side, Phoenix, Posen, Riverdale, Riverdale (Chicago neighborhood), Robbins, Roseland, West Englewood, and West Pullman. R.A.G.E. Foundation Inc. is being awarded $99,008.50 to develop and strengthen their strategic relationships.
51. Kitchen Possible Inc. is an education, violence prevention, and social and community context organization providing services in Bridgeport, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Lower West Side (Pilsen), Near South Side, Near West Side, North Lawndale, Washington Park, West Garfield Park, West Town, and Woodlawn. Kitchen Possible Inc. is being awarded $100,000 to develop and strengthen their resource generation.
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