The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
$6K in grants awarded at Shark Tank
Lorain County organizations who have projects aligned with the mission of the African American Community Fund received grant money April 22 through a first-ever Shark Tank event.
Edward R. Moore Jr., chairman of the African American Community Fund, explained the fund is a branch of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, which is the steward of more than 550 endowed funds that go toward the needs of people and programs in Lorain County.
“The mission of the Community Foundation has been connecting people with causes that matter,” Moore said. “The African American Community Fund follows with our mission by promoting and supporting initiatives in the African American community.”
The Shark Tank event was held at the Lorain County Transportation Center, 40 East Ave. in Elyria, and kept in line with that initiative, featuring presentations about three programs that focus on empowering the African American Community. Moore said five or six organizations submitted applications and those were then narrowed down to the top three, which were voted on following the presentations.
‘Ever Lifted Ministry of Education: Rites of Passage’ program, which was presented by Elyria resident Erica Lasion, received first place award of a $3,000 grant.
In her presentation, Lasion explained the fourphase program, which includes a village made of a
council of elders, mentors and support groups, aims to show youth what is expected of someone as an adult. Participants would learn about topics such as Lorain County history, African American history and adult responsibilities such as household management.
“A lot of youth are doing great things, but there’s a gap,” Lasion said.
Get with the Program, a nonprofit organization promoting and reinforcing literacy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM subjects, from preschool through 12th grade, received the second place $2,000 grant award. Founder and Executive Director Jason Williams gave the Shark Tank presentation, and has previously said he didn’t have access to high-quality STEM programs while growing up and wanted to make sure his children could learn the skills necessary to excel in a STEM related field.
The ‘Boys to Men Reading Program’, which is made possible through a collaboration between General Johnnie Wilson
Middle School in Lorain and the Lorain Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, received the third place $1,000 grant award. General Johnnie Wilson Principal Bryan Hilko, Lorain Club of the NANBPWC President Inez James and General Johnnie Wilson language arts teacher Jeanette Chappell-Nettles gave the presentation and explained national data shows only 14 percent of African American eighthgraders score at or above the proficient reading level.
Members from 100 Guys Who Care About Lorain County and members of the community are also joining the effort.
Community Foundation President and CEO Brian Frederick spoke briefly at the event and thanked the African American Community Fund for 19 years of commitment to the community. Frederick also thanked the community funds’ staff for putting together the Shark Tank event.
“This is a very unique way of getting to see behind the scenes,” he said.