Council Update: CSC continues support for grassroot nonprofits through Great Ideas Initiative

Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County’s board this month approved $1.465 million in funding for 27 local nonprofits through its Great Ideas Initiative (GII) and six past GII recipients for capacity-building. The GII is a unique funding opportunity for Palm Beach County nonprofits working closely with the community that have an operating budget of less than $1 million. The Council has supported the GII since 2016. This year, it received 54 applications, 50 percent more than last year. The goal of the GII is to extend CSC’s reach into the community by supporting grassroots, creative nonprofits that are doing great work to help youth grow up healthy, safe and strong. 

This year’s GII recipients are:

17 & ME, INC
Ascension 33, Inc
Chasin A Dream Foundation
Common Ground Community Development
Community Classroom Project
Florida Mentoring Network DBA Xcel Mentoring Network
Freeprenuers
Fresh Rx
Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches
Ladies of Futurity, Inc.
Latin Quarter of West Palm Beach
Little Cub'z Learning Center Inc
North Palm Youth Symphony
Palm Beach Rams Football and Cheerleading
Postpartum Peace of Mind
Rhonda's Promise, Inc.
Soul Movement Creative Arts Space
St. John Community Promise d/b/a The Community Promise
St. Johns Primitive Baptist Church
Synergy Camp, Inc.
T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society
THE FUND for West Palm Beach Police
The Journey Institute Inc.
The Pink Queen Foundation, Inc
Tomorrow's Rainbow
Trinity Counseling Center of Florida, Inc
Young Men of Distinction

This year’s GII Capacity Building Pipeline recipients will be announced in a few weeks.

In other business

Strategic Planning: Council members attended a workshop in which CSC staff presented the highlights of a draft strategic plan. The purpose of the workshop was to confirm that the strategic direction the Core Strategic Planning Team has started to outline is moving in the right direction prior to development of CSC’s final Strategic Plan. The presentation included the organization’s updated mission & vision, overarching goal, and high-altitude strategies. As part of the draft plan, CSC staff shared three areas of focus that will have budget implications over the next several years: basic needs, services to youth ages 6-18, and funding and support to strengthen smaller and grassroots nonprofits.  

Youth Mental Health: The Council approved $66,000 in funding to Emanuel Jackson Sr. Project for three mental health programs targeting youth. The programs include: EmpowerU, which offers monthly group sessions and one-on-one therapy to students and families; Teen Career Readiness Program, which prepares student for the workforce; and Project Hub, which offers a safe and supportive afterschool environment using Restorative Practices to foster respect, compassion, dignity and inclusivity. 

Pahokee Art Project: This summer, students from Pahokee explored their creative side as part of a community art project sponsored by CSC. This is the third time the Council has engaged Jose R. Mendez, a teaching artist and creative director of R. Dot Arts & Creative Agency, to launch this project. In the last two years, children in Lake Worth Beach and Belle Glade participated in the project, which culminated with them painting picnic tables after exploring valuable art lessons with local artists. This year, more than 30 children in Pahokee had the same opportunity. The children experimented with acrylic paints, spray paint, clay and watercolor, using art as a way to express themselves and celebrate their community. The picnic tables will be located throughout Pahokee for all to enjoy.

Food Bank: CSC staff joined the Palm Beach County Food Bank’s Amber Waves of Grain food drive, donating 322 pounds of shelf-stable items in July. This donation will contribute to 268 nutritious meals for Palm Beach County families. CSC staff also donated items to the Food Bank’s new family room, transforming it from a sterile space to a welcoming play area filled with games, toys, books, stuffed animals and more – a perfect waiting area for families with young children. 

EveryParent App Video: To announce the launch of the refreshed EveryParent app, CSC released a promotional video now airing across multiple digital channels and platforms as part of our Back to School with EveryParent campaign, running through early September. Click here to see the video on YouTube.