AnonymousSource: County of Santa Barbara
The First 5 Santa Barbara County Commission for Children and Families (First 5 SBC) is offering grants to nonprofits, schools and institutes of higher learning that serve children birth to five, their families and those who care for them. Currently, three categories for funding are available.
“Systems often are the holders of inequities,” said Wendy Sims Moten, Executive Director of First 5 Santa Barbara County. “We must do more than close gaps and point to disparities. We must look critically at all facets of our organizations as we strive in all of our work to achieve social and race equity, a state in which all children have the same opportunity to reach the potential we know they have.”
Innovation grants in the amount of $1,500 each provide opportunity for organizations to reflect back and share their innovative COVID-19 strategies developed over the past 18 months focused on social and racial equity. The Commission will also award up to three Look Ahead Innovation grants ranging from $2,500 – $3,750 to support “think tank” opportunities to investigate equity and social justice issues that may have potential to create a change in practice or an operational procedure within an organization or community.
First 5 SBC set aside $45,000 for Capacity Building grants that are intended to support short-term organizational-wide change efforts. Grants of up to $15,000 are intended to build the leadership or staff capacity of an organization via professional or leadership development activity including trainings, conferences or certifications. These activities must be in the areas of equity and/or social justice, and align with the Commission’s Strategic Plan and First 5 SBC Social Justice and Racial Equity Statement.
Express grants are available for one-time projects or material that help community-based organizations maintain, expand or improve their ability to serve children and families birth through age five. Grant applications must align with the indicators outlined in the First 5 SBC strategic plan. Applications may be submitted once a year for up to $10,000.
Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis through February 15, 2022. For more information or to download an application form, go to the website at first5santabarbaracounty.org.
First 5 Santa Barbara County Delivers Messages About Dual Language Via Bilingual Radio Programming
Radio Bilingüe Series on Importance and Benefits of Being Bilingual
First 5 Santa Barbara County funded Radio Bilingüe to produce and broadcast a series of interviews and short radio messages through June 2022 around the benefits of being bilingual and the importance of maintaining the family home language.
Radio Bilingüe is a community radio network that offers LatinX programming with a special focus for California’s Oaxacan community. This radio series includes key messaging relevant to the Mixteco indigenous community in North Santa Barbara County and is broadcast in Spanish and Mixteco.
Radio Bilingüe previously aired interviews with Dr. Carlos Pagan, Santa Barbara County Education Office, Director Language and Literacy Support and Mari Ortega Garcia, Director of Early Education and Support at Guadalupe Union School District.
“All children have the capacity to learn more than one language and balanced bilingualism brings enormous benefits that include strengthened cognitive and memory processes, improved communication abilities, increased confidence, and an advantage in the job market,” said Ortega Garcia. “Our dual language immersion program’s intent is to develop and maintain Spanish-English biliteracy, regardless of the learners’ primary language.”
A series of 30-minute interviews with Carola Oliva-Olson, Ph.D., Executive Director of Professional Development and Multilingual Education at the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence, are scheduled to air on 98.7 FM as follows:
- Benefits of being bilingual-BENEFICIOS DEL BILINGUISMO
(AIRED Wednesday, January 12) - Wednesday, January 26, 2022- 10:30-11 a.m.
Language Development- DESARROLLO DEL LENGUAJE (cómo evolucionan los niños) - Wednesday, February 09, 2022- 10:30-11 a.m.
Balanced Bilingual Model and Dual Immersion-MODELO BILINGUE BALANCEADO E IMMERSION DUAL. - Wednesday, February 23, 2022- 10:30-11 a.m.
How to encourage children’s curiosity-COMO FOMENTAR LA CURIOSIDAD DE LOS NIÑOS
“Our accent is not a weakness, but pure sophistication,” said Dr. Olivia-Olson. “Family, vernacular, and community languages are the universal languages of love.”
About First 5 Santa Barbara County
First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission, funded by Proposition 10, works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county to support the health, early learning and well-being of children prenatal to age 5 and their families. For more information, go to first5santabarbaracounty.org/, FaceBook at “F5SBC” or call (805) 560-1039.
