HCI Board Funds Four Mini-Grants in March to Benefit Area Youth

At their March 2012 board meeting, the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Board approved mini-grants to support four projects and activities designed to benefit Northfield youth. 

Funded projects included:

• After Prom Party.  This event is planned by parents of local juniors in high school.  It provides a safe, fun, and chemical-free place for all Northfield juniors and seniors to continue the celebration after the Prom ends on Saturday, April 21st.  Planned activities include bowling, casino games, prize drawings, and food.  The After Prom Party will be held at Jesse James Lanes (doors open at midnight and the event runs from 12:30 to 4:00 a.m.).

• Free Youth Soccer Camp.  The Northfield High School Boys Soccer team will lead soccer camp sessions for Latino and low-income children, ages 5-10.  The Northfield Soccer Association will assist with publicity to help recruit participants.  This Free Youth Soccer Camp will be held in April.  Each participating child will receive a free soccer ball so that he/she can continue to develop his/her love of the game.

• Writing Books!  The Bridgewater Elementary School PLUS Program is a free, after-school program that meets four days each week and offers students a variety of experiences, including homework assistance, daily skill-building workshops, one-on-one mentoring with caring adults, and more.  The PLUS Program is guiding all of the student participants as they each write and illustrate an adventure story.  The stories will then be bound and published for students to keep.

• Earth Day Celebration.  Transition Northfield and its youth group, YES, are organizing an Earth Day Celebration in Northfield to be held on Saturday, April 28th.  The students of YES are planning Earth-friendly activities and entertainment for the celebration, which is open to the public.  The community is invited to participate in the day’s activities, which will teach about recycling, farming, transition town, and other related topics.  There will also be craft activities and games for youth.  The Earth Day Celebration will take place outside of the First UCC Church on 300 Union Street, between 3rd and 4th Streets.

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HCI offers mini-grants to projects and activities that:

• provide the opportunity for young people to develop positive intergenerational relationships with caring adults and/or
• connect Northfield youth with their communities (ex. neighborhood, school, wider Northfield)

Applications are reviewed monthly and are due by the second Monday of the month.  Visit www.northfieldhci.org/mini-grants for more information and to access the easy-to-complete application.

Funding for the HCI mini-grants comes from the Northfield Area United Way, Women In Northfield Giving Support (WINGS), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.