Vermont Business Magazine Changing Perspectives is pleased to announce it has received the 2017-2018 Organizational Capacity Grant from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. These funds will support programming, staffing, professional development opportunities and the organization’s ability to expand its reach.
Changing Perspectives facilitates proactive strategies to promote social justice by providing schools with disability awareness programming through a combination of curriculum materials and educator coaching. The Changing Perspectives programs aim to reduce bullying and social isolation in schools by teaching about differences and supporting an educator’s work to build inclusive communities within their classrooms.
In its first two years, the Changing Perspectives K-8 curriculum has been implemented in more than 30 elementary and middle schools, reaching more than 3,000 students and dozens of educators in seven Vermont counties, as well as some communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Changing Perspectives is currently piloting a high school curricula and is developing preK one as well.
“This grant is monumental in our ability to grow the capacity of Changing Perspectives. Although we are a young organization, we have seen much momentum in just the first couple of years. This grant will allow us to harness that momentum and provide us with the necessary resources to expand our programming options and reach,” says Sam Drazin, Executive Director of Changing Perspectives.
Each year, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation offers one multi-year organizational capacity grant to a Vermont-based, statewide non-profit organization that has both a vision and a strategic plan to extend it’s influence and achieve defined goals. The grant is for a maximum of $30,000 per year, for up to three years, to significantly enhance the capacity of the organization. Organizations must have a statewide impact and be working toward broad, systemic change for the betterment of Vermont and Vermonters.
“The Ben & Jerry's Foundation Grantmaking Committee thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the staff and partners of Changing Perspectives, and were impressed by the vision and organizational potential expressed in their proposal. The passion and effectiveness of Sam and the team were very evident during our site visit. We are very pleased to award Changing Perspectives with the 2017 Capacity Building grant of $90,000 over three years. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation are greatly looking forward to establishing a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Changing Perspectives and are excited to be working with them,” says Becca Golden, Director of Programs, Ben and Jerry’s Foundation.
Changing Perspectives is a not-for-profit organization based in Vermont that provides disability awareness programs in schools through a combination of curriculum materials and educator training opportunities. Its mission is to engage students in open dialogue and real-world experiences to promote disability awareness and foster inclusive communities. For more information, visitcpne.org
Source:(November 2017). Changing Perspectives 11.8.2017