Sparkplug Foundation

PURPOSE: WE WILL USE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DISSENTERS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THESE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS: OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, OUR COACHING PROGRAM, TOOL DEVELOPMENT, THE INTRODUCTION OF A DETAILED LADDER OF ENGAGEMENT, AND EVALUATION MECHANISMS AS WE SCALE.

PURPOSE: IN 2020, STUDENTS ACROSS SOUTHERN MAINE CAME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR ANTI-RACISM IN SCHOOLS. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PARTNERS (YEPS), A PROGRAM OF PORTLAND EMPOWERED (PE), RESPONDED TO STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND BEGAN BUILDING A PLAN TO CREATE AN ANTIRACIST SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IN PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS). IN 2021-2022, YEPS YOUTH LEADERS BEGAN A CAMPAIGN TO ENGAGE EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND STUDENTS TO REIMAGINE HARMFUL SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICIES AND PRACTICES. YEPS WORKED TO REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND HEAL WITH SCHOOL-BASED CONVERSATIONS THAT CREATED SPACE FOR DIALOGUE AND TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN THESE AREAS. ADDITIONALLY, PE SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF INTERGENERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN YEPS AND ADULT EDUCATORS WHO ARE RESPONSIVE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND WILL ACT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUTH LEADERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURE YOUTH ARE SUPPORTED BY ADULTS WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE EQUITABLE PASSION, DRIVE, AND DEDICATION TO ANTI-RACIST STRUCTURES IN SCHOOLS.

PURPOSE: THROUGH THE USE OF INNOVATIVE, POPULAR EDUCATION TOOLS, BALADNAS HAWIYA PROJECT AIMS TO COMBAT THE SYSTEMATIC DEPOLITICIZATION OF YOUTH IN THE PALESTINIAN SOCIETY IN ISRAEL BY ENABLING THEM TO EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITY, HISTORY, AND THE POLITICAL FORCES DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RIGHTS. THE TOOLSWHICH INCLUDE BOARD GAMES, VIDEOS, AND HIKING TOURSFACILITATE CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS DEVELOPMENT WHILE APPEALING TO THE INTERESTS OF YOUTH. BALADNA WILL PROMOTE THE APPLICATION OF THESE TOOLS BY HOLDING BOARD GAME WORKSHOPS WITH 450 HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH; TRAINING EDUCATORS TO LEAD DISCUSSIONS ON VIDEOS THAT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE HEGEMONIC COLONIAL HISTORY IN THE ISRAELI CURRICULUM; AND MOBILIZING 10 YOUTH LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN ARCHEOLOGY, POPULAR HISTORY, INDIGENOUS PLANTS, AND PALESTINIAN HISTORY TO BUILD AND LEAD TOURS OF PALESTINIAN LOCATIONS FOR 220 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, BALADNA WILL DEVELOP A NEW BOARD GAME, TWO NEW EDUCATIONAL

PURPOSE: AROUND 800 EVICTIONS ARE FILED AGAINST TENANTS EVERY WEEK IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA. IN RESPONSE TO THIS EVICTION CRISIS, THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT OUR EVICTION DEFENSE PROGRAMMING. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON OUR TENANT BILL OF RIGHTS, CANVASSING IN HIGH-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MASS DIRECT MAILING CAMPAIGNS

PURPOSE: THE PROJECT SEEKS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL TRAININGS WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND WOMEN IN THE SOUTH HEBRON HILLS. WE WILL:CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGE THE HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITYENHANCE THE SPIRIT OF INITIATIVE AND INNOVATION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING A CHANGE, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS/HER LOCATION, WITH FOCUS ON RESTORING THE ENVIRONMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLEEDUCATE AND TRAIN ABOUT WASTE EXPLOITATION, RECYCLING AND UPCYCLING (CONVERTING WASTE INTO USEFUL TOOLS)INSTILL THE IMPORTANCE OF ??AGRICULTURE BECAUSE OF ITS POSITIVE IMPACT IN PROMOTING THE SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THE LAND AND THE HOMELAND.INCREASE COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION, AND LEARNING WITH LOCAL INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTMAKE AN IMPACT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SPACES TO DRAW EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.

Cazenovia, NY

PURPOSE: SPARKPLUG FOUNDATION FUNDING WILL SUPPORT THE COLLABORATIVE COMPOSITION AND PERFORMANCE OF ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR QUEENDOM. WRITTEN BY ARTIST-SCHOLAR DR. JUHANNA ROGERS, QUEENDOM IS AN INTERACTIVE OUTDOOR PERFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLORES THE DREAM AND POSSIBILITY OF REPARATIONS FOR BLACK AMERICANS. DR. JUHANNA ROGERS IS WRITING AND DEVELOPING QUEENDOM AS A 2021-2022 VISITING ARTIST AT STONE QUARRY HILL ART PARK. GRANT FUNDING WILL SUPPORT BLACK ARTISTS COMPOSING AND PERFORMING ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR THIS SEMINAL WORK. YOUNG COMPOSER, EBUN OGUNTOLA WILL WRITE THREE ORIGINAL SONGS. THE PREMIER OF QUEENDOM WILL UNFOLD ACROSS 40 ACRES AT STONE QUARRY IN THE FALL OF 2022 WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION AND FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE HISTORICAL TRAUMAS AND THE REALITIES OF RACE, GENDER, AND OPPORTUNITY. FINAL PERFORMANCE DATES ARE DEPENDENT ON THE STATUS OF COVID-19 AND PUBLIC GATHERING RESTRICTIONS.