Washington, DC
Mayor Bowser Invites Community Members to Apply for Building Blocks DC Grants
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Linda Harllee Harper, Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, are inviting District residents and community-based organizations to apply for up to $5,000 in Building Blocks DC Grants, administered by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) to support activities and programs aimed at creating a safer DC. The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2022.
“A lot of people in our community want to be part of the solution. And when people want to help and they have a good plan for how they can help – we want to support them,” said Mayor Bowser. “These grants are about engaging our neighbors, helping people choose a better path forward, and healing our communities. If you’re passionate about building a safer DC, about saving lives, and about ending gun violence – and you have a big idea for how to do that, we want to hear from you.”
OGVP, in partnership with Progressive Life Center (PLC) and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), provides grants of up to $5,000 to implement innovative programming or activities to support reductions in gun violence. Individuals, community-based non-profit groups and organizations, clergy groups, or small businesses in the District are eligible to propose creative services related to community wealth, healing, and revitalization.
To date, Building Blocks has successfully awarded 137 grants totaling more than $1.5 million. The grants have funded activities related to leadership development, healing and mental wellness, neighborhood outreach, block cleaning, direct intervention, and more.
“Through this investment from the Mayor, we are able to support residents who want to make a difference in their communities,” said Director Harllee Harper. “This grant program is just one of the tools we use as we continue to identify solutions for making DC safer and stronger.”
A virtual technical assistance session will be held today, on Tuesday, November 15, from 6 to 7 pm. To register for the technical assistance session, send a request to [email protected] and include “Request to Attend Virtual Session” in the subject line. For more information about eligibility and to download the grant application, visit progressivelifecenter.org/fy23-building-blocks-dc-gun-prevention-grants/
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