Updated 09/21/2010 09:31 PM
U.S. Education Dept. Gives "Promise Neighborhood" Grants To Two Local Groups
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Two local organizations were awarded federal funding Tuesday to provide support services for children living in distressed neighborhoods.
Abyssinian Development Corporation in Harlem and the Lutheran Family Health Centers in Brooklyn are among the 21 organizations across the nation to receive grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
It is all part of a plan to create what the DOE calls "Promise Neighborhoods," an idea based on the work done at another local organization.
"Inspired by fantastic programs like the Harlem Children's Zone, these projects we are announcing today will provide cradle-to-career services for children," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "It will set the goal of insuring that children graduate high school and go on to college and do other work. With these planning grants, they will design ways to provide high-quality urban learning opportunities, health and safety programs, and other services."
Reverend Calvin Butts, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, says his organization will use the money for comprehensive community development including after school programs and services provided by Harlem Hospital.
"It's not just about education, but its greatest impact will be on education because if we don't help these young men and women that are currently in our public schools, all the work that we are doing now in other areas will be for naught because they're coming up and they are the ones who have to take the leadership," Butts said.
The 21 "Promise Neighborhoods" will get one-year grants of around $500,000 to start programs for a fraction of the Harlem Children's Zone's $84 million budget.
More than 300 communities applied for the grants.