Wean foundation OKs nearly $200K in grants

Staff report

WARREN

The Raymond John Wean Foundation awarded nearly $200,000 in grants for local organizations at its June board of directors meeting.

The projects are awarded for demonstrating the foundation’s mission of leveraging a combination of support, alignment and partnerships with other organizations to advance community building in the Mahoning Valley, according to a news release.

The foundation will award Inspiring Minds for its Warren City School student participation in its six-week summer enrichment program in addition to the 2017-18 academic year component.

Eastern Ohio Education Partnership will use its award for its continued professional development for youth services program providers and educators.

The EOEP, based in Warren, is a network of community leaders representing education, business, faith-based, nonprofit, philanthropic and social sectors committed to providing every child in the Valley with a quality education, according to its website.

The foundation will also award the Ohio Transformation Fund for its work to address the impact of mass criminalization and incarceration in Ohio’s communities.

According to its website, the OTF focuses on transforming the justice system, supporting efforts to address the negative impact of the current system on youths, families and communities. It is based in Cleveland.

The Rockwood Leadership Institute will also receive a grant for a project to create an Ohio-based fellowship, Leadership Now, which will focus on building the capacity of social-change leaders.