The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Ensuring people thrive in inclusive community
MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex United Way believes that to achieve racial equity, we must unite and take meaningful action.
We are excited to announce our first-ever racial equity and inclusion grants program. We acknowledge the historic underinvestment in organizations and efforts led by Black leaders, Indigenous leaders, and communities of color and will prioritize funding to address this issue.
If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a fiscal sponsor with this documentation and serve residents of Middlesex County, you can apply for the grant.
We are hosting several information sessions on Zoom to answer questions and help with the application. Attendance is not required in order to apply.
Register in advance by emailing Christina at christina.heckart@middlesexunitedway.org. Available sessions include Oct. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m., Oct. 28 from 5 to 6 p.m., and Nov. 2 from 9 to 10 a.m.
“My service on the REI Impact team provides the opportunity for me to shape history on a local level,” volunteer Alan Marshall said. “Each nonprofit funded through our work has the potential to revitalize communities that have been socially and economically disadvantaged.
“As a child, I matriculated through a school system that invested little in my future,” he said. “Subsequently, I lost interest in my studies until mentors encouraged me to exhaust myself educationally, and showed me my value as a Black man in America.
“I have heard others say that it takes a village to raise a child. As a volunteer, I am privileged to be part of that village by inspiring children and communities to thrive and prosper,” Marshall added.
He serves on United Way’s Racial Equity and Inclusion Impact Team.
At Middlesex United Way, we want to be part of the solution and have begun taking steps to achieve our vision. We have established a racial equity and inclusion vision statement to guide our work, and curated a resources page on our website to equip better individuals on topics related to race and equity.
We have started collaborating with a local consulting firm to assess where we are as an organization, create a strategic framework, and establish a threeyear plan as we advance.
We have conducted an initial equity and inclusion assessment of our 38 existing partners and are expanding our community. During the height of the pandemic, we directed COVID-19 financial relief to communities of color due to the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on people of color.
If you have any questions about this grant or to apply, please reach out to Christina Heckart, community impact director, at christina.heckart@middlesexunitedway.org or call 860-3468695, Ext. 17.
We look forward to expanding our partnerships and ensuring individuals and families can thrive in an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive community.