SCI Woburn Awarded Two Grants from CHNA 15 Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2007
Contact: Mike Sances
781.935.5820 or mike [at] socialcapitalinc [dot] org

Local nonprofit SCI Woburn announced today that it has been awarded grants from the Community Health Network Alliance (CHNA 15)/Lahey Clinic totaling $31,000.

According to SCI President David Crowley, the funds include a $6,000 mini-grant for youth programming, including the Woburn Youth Council, as well as a $25,000 Healthy Communities implementation grant to fund a brand new arts and culture initiative.

“We are very pleased to receive these grants from CHNA 15,” said Crowley. “The mini-grant will not only allow us to not only continue our youth programming in Woburn, but also strengthen and expand programming through the addition of a consultant who will advise SCI on the refinement and documentation of our Youth Council curriculum, as well as developing systems for tracking youth civic leadership outcomes.”

In addition to the mini-grant, SCI will receive a $25,000 implementation grant to support a collaborative arts and culture initiative in Woburn.

Over the past year, SCI Woburn conducted an extensive planning process, titled Impact Woburn, to assess needs and assets in Woburn based on community input. Also funded by CHNA, the Impact Woburn initiative revealed a broad consensus on the need for more arts programs and cultural opportunities in Woburn. The new yet unnamed program will include regular coffee houses, the creation of an arts calendar and directory of artists and performers in Woburn, and resources for cultural events.

A meeting will be held on September 6th at 3:30 pm, location to be determined, for residents to get involved with the new arts and culture initiative. Those interested can e-mail arts@sciwoburn.org or call 781-935-2244 to get involved or for more information.

Applications for Woburn Youth Council will be available beginning in September. The Council is open to all youth ages 12-17 .For more information, visit the SCI Woburn website at www.sciwoburn.org and click on “programs”, or call 781-935-2244.

Founded in Woburn in 2002, the mission of SCI is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. We envision a nation where individuals are strongly connected to their neighbors and play an active role in shaping the destiny of their communities. This increase in ‘social capital’ will result in communities that are safer, healthier and more vital.