GRANTS

This program focuses on the college retention of female graduates of the library’s English Learner Success program, all of whom immigrated to the United States during high school and are the first in their families to attend college in the United States. Funding will support 50 current and prospective college students from countries including Africa, Jamaica, Thailand, the Middle East, and Central and Latin America. Participants will receive one-on-one advising and coaching; assistance with financial aid applications; and connections to on-campus resources and peer mentoring groups with students from similar racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Grant Award: $20,000

The Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program provides a diverse group of 100+ female students with 50 leadership and professional development sessions annually. LEAD offers students practical life skills training, resilience and opportunity coaching, career readiness sessions, a network of mentors, and development workshops. The program provides academic and social supports to help students gain the confidence and acquire the tools they need to overcome challenges and successfully navigate the journey into and through college to life, careers, and community leadership.

GRANT AWARD: $15,000

The YWCW program provides individualized case management and barrier reduction to 40 women who are pursuing degrees at the Capital and Manchester campuses of CT State Community College.  Participants – most of whom are single mothers of color – receive wellness support, mentoring, and career coaching. The goal is for the women to graduate with an associate degree and to complete required licensing exams (if applicable); to secure a job within their field of study; and to hone their financial literacy to achieve long-term economic security.

GRANT AWARD: $22,500

Aurora’s funding will help to launch this brand-new program through the Manchester Community College Foundation at CT State Manchester that will initially target 30 student mothers and will build resources for an additional 300 student mothers on campus. In addition to offering guidance through the complex world of state, federal, and institutional financial aid, the program will create an online collaborative space for student mothers to share information, resources, and encouragement. The school will also increase communication about other important resources, such as on-site childcare, the Cougar Cub food pantry (which includes diapers, formula, baby food, period supplies, etc.) and a biannual career and baby clothes swap event.

GRANT AWARD: $20,000

This initiative focuses specifically on the college retention of female graduates of the English Learner Success program of Hartford Public Library. The program builds success for young immigrant women as they strive to overcome academic, financial, and social barriers and earn college degrees to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families. The program guides students as they navigate the unfamiliar and complex channels of U.S. higher education and connects them to campus personnel and resources. The program creates networks of support and peer mentoring relationships with students from similar racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Farmington Bank Community Foundation provided matching grant funding for this award—thank you!

Grant Award: $19,000

This partnership between UConn-Hartford and Latinas & Power aims to address barriers to college completion by empowering Latina students with confidence, academic supports, skill building, and financial resources. This program also seeks to eliminate isolating factors for Latinas at UConn-Hartford through the creation of a “learning community” with their peers and relationship building with leaders in the UConn Hartford community. LiLI instructors will aim to provide specialized, culturally relevant training in personal leadership development, empowering participants with the knowledge and tools needed to become future leaders.

GRANT AWARD: $20,000

The LEAD program provides students with practical life skills training, resilience and opportunity coaching, career readiness sessions, a network of mentors, and development workshops. The program provides academic and social supports to help students gain the confidence and acquire the tools they need to overcome challenges and successfully navigate the journey into and through college to life, careers, and community leadership. The goals of LEAD are for students who participate in the program to: feel empowered through experiential leadership training and problem-solving opportunities, to become connected to a supportive network, to learn essential life lessons, to say yes to opportunities that build their character and expand their comfort zone, and to gain practical skills that prepare them for successful futures.

GRANT AWARD: $15,000

The YWCW program is designed to address earning inequalities by eliminating multiple barriers program participants often face. The premise of the program is to help underrepresented students enrolled at Capital Community College (CCC) and Manchester Community College (MCC) to bridge education and career gaps through academic counseling, career services and financial coaching. YWCW makes it possible for low-income women to stay the course, graduate college and secure family sustaining wages. Our program serves single mothers, most of whom are women of color, struggling with the daily challenges of life: transportation, childcare, working full-time, all while completing their college education.

GRANT AWARD: $23,000

This initiative focuses specifically on the college retention of female graduates of the English Learner Success program of Hartford Public Library. The program builds success for young immigrant women as they strive to overcome academic, financial, and social barriers and earn college degrees to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families. The program guides students as they navigate the unfamiliar and complex channels of U.S. higher education and connects them to campus personnel and resources. The program creates networks of support and peer mentoring relationships with students from similar racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Farmington Bank Community Foundation provided matching grant funding for this award—thank you!

Grant Award: $14,000

She Works equips diverse young women with career-readiness skills and connects them with paid internships at companies that demonstrate female leadership. Students who have internship experiences are more likely to complete college. Career exploration helps to solidify goals and make connections between academics, career planning and economic security. Interns are assigned a professional mentor who checks in weekly during the internship. This program serves 75% women of color and has a mentor pool of 75% women of color. Almost all the internships are paid at least minimum wage, which makes internships an option for low-income students.

GRANT AWARD: $10,000

This partnership between UConn-Hartford and Latinas & Power aims to address barriers to college completion by empowering Latina students with confidence, academic supports, skill building, and financial resources. This program also seeks to eliminate isolating factors for Latinas at UConn-Hartford through the creation of a “learning community” with their peers and relationship building with leaders in the UConn Hartford community. LiLI instructors will aim to provide specialized, culturally relevant training in personal leadership development, empowering participants with the knowledge and tools needed to become future leaders.

GRANT AWARD: $20,000

The LEAD program provides students with practical life skills training, resilience and opportunity coaching, career readiness sessions, a network of mentors, and development workshops. The program provides academic and social supports to help students gain the confidence and acquire the tools they need to overcome challenges and successfully navigate the journey into and through college to life, careers, and community leadership. The goals of LEAD are for students who participate in the program to: feel empowered through experiential leadership training and problem-solving opportunities, to become connected to a supportive network, to learn essential life lessons, to say yes to opportunities that build their character and expand their comfort zone, and to gain practical skills that prepare them for successful futures.

GRANT AWARD: $12,000

The YWCW program is designed to address earning inequalities by eliminating multiple barriers program participants often face. The premise of the program is to help underrepresented students enrolled at Capital Community College (CCC) and Manchester Community College (MCC) to bridge education and career gaps through academic counseling, career services and financial coaching. YWCW makes it possible for low-income women to stay the course, graduate college and secure family sustaining wages. Our program serves single mothers, most of whom are women of color, struggling with the daily challenges of life: transportation, childcare, working full-time, all while completing their college education.

GRANT AWARD: $22,000

Women's Leadership Institute, "Launch Your Leadership Journey" program is designed to build and enhance leadership skills for female students enrolled in community college, who may otherwise not have the opportunity or the means to develop these skills. The goal of the program is to provide students with tools to become effective problem solvers and leaders and assertive in addressing conflict with courage. Topics are taught by professional facilitators who serve as role models for the students. There are also mentors who work with students to complete social action projects to practice the skills they learn in the program.

GRANT AWARD: $10,000

The Women in Transition (WIT) program was established in 2000 to break the cycle of poverty by helping underserved and low-income single mothers earn a college degree with zero to minimal debt, at Charter Oak State College. The WIT program is designed with a holistic approach in mind, with the understanding that working single mothers have unique struggles. The program is designed to offer academic support and coaching. while eliminating barriers such as: the cost of tuition, fees & books; necessary technology & access; and childcare & transportation challenges.

GRANT AWARD: $28,000

The LEAD program provides students with practical life skills training, resilience and opportunity coaching, career readiness sessions, a network of mentors, and development workshops. The program provides academic and social supports to help students gain the confidence and acquire the tools they need to overcome challenges and successfully navigate the journey into and through college to life, careers, and community leadership. The goals of LEAD are for students who participate in the program to: feel empowered through experiential leadership training and problem-solving opportunities, to become connected to a supportive network, to learn essential life lessons, to say yes to opportunities that build their character and expand their comfort zone, and to gain practical skills that prepare them for successful futures.

GRANT AWARD: $12,000

The YWCW program is designed to address earning inequalities by eliminating multiple barriers program participants often face. The premise of the program is to help underrepresented students enrolled at Capital Community College (CCC) and Manchester Community College (MCC) to bridge education and career gaps through academic counseling, career services and financial coaching. YWCW makes it possible for low-income women to stay the course, graduate college and secure family sustaining wages. Our program serves single mothers, most of whom are women of color, struggling with the daily challenges of life: transportation, childcare, working full-time, all while completing their college education.

GRANT AWARD: $20,000

WiSTEM is a program serving young women who are interested in pursuing STEM degrees and careers. More than half of incoming MCC students are not ready to take college-level stem courses, which leaves them at risk for not meeting their educational and career goals. The WiSTEM program helps these young women prepare for the rigors of college-level science and set them on the path to long-term success.

The YW Career Women program provides comprehensive services to assist women attending Capital Community College with obtaining a college degree and a career in the field of healthcare. The program serves students who are at risk of suspending their studies due to economic or family circumstances. Through a comprehensive system of case management and other support services, participants will have the tools they need to complete their degree and obtain employment in a variety of upwardly mobile health careers.

A tuition-free leadership development program for ACC female students which empowers participants and leads them on a path to becoming future leaders.  Grant funding will allow for the expansion of the program to Tunxis Community College.

This college success program will support Grace Academy graduates enrolling in college.  The program will specifically address key predictors of college success including attendance, academic achievement, social emotional health, financial literacy, networking, summer jobs and internships.