$28,300 awarded to support University-community collaborations

The Stephen David Ross University and Community Projects Fund has awarded $28,300 in grants to support initiatives carried out through collaborations between local nonprofit organizations and University partners. Ross, distinguished research professor emeritus of philosophy, interpretation and culture (PIC) and comparative literature, established the fund in 1998 to advance working partnerships between the University and the community. Grants were awarded to four projects:

• AccELerate through VTS: Science, Language and Living Environments – The Roberson Museum and Science Center, Union-Endicott High School and Binghamton University’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership received $5,838 for a project that will promote language development related to science for high-school English learners (EL) through visual thinking strategies (VTS) — thoughtfully facilitated discussions of visual stimuli, such as photographs, graphs and diagrams.
• CHOW Bus – The Broome County Council of Churches and the Food Justice Working Group — a project under the Binghamton University Human Rights Institute — received $14,462 for a project to support the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) Bus Mobile Grocery Store. This partnership will assist in evaluating the needs of the community and developing innovative programming to help support those who struggle with food insecurity in Broome County.
• Kids Cultural Kaleidoscope – The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier and Binghamton University’s Multicultural Resource Center received $5,000 for the development of a day-long event that will showcase the many and varied cultures represented throughout the Southern Tier and at Binghamton University in a child-friendly manner with performances, displays, craft demonstrations and food sampling.
• Reproductive Justice Project – The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton and Binghamton University’s Theatre Department received $3,000 for a project called Everyone Knows Someone, a theatrical performance designed to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of having an abortion.

Ross Fund grants are awarded based on the following priorities: promotion of collaboration and cooperation between University and community groups; innovative use of the talents and resources of project partners; demonstrated commitment to the use of existing funds or to obtaining matching funds; and significant, enduring and positive difference in the quality of life of the community.

Further information can be found on the Center for Civic Engagement website. Details for the 2024 grant cycle will be announced in February 2024.