Not to “piss in your Corn Flakes” but… -Ed.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has announced a five-year, $75 million dollar program called America Healing aimed at promoting racial equality and eliminating opportunity barriers for children.
“We must shine a light on racism so that we can put its effects on children and communities behind us,” says Gail Christopher, the foundation’s vice president of programs.
The National Center for Children in Poverty says that more than half of all African American, Latino, and Native American children live in low-income families. In comparison, just 26 percent of white children live in these conditions.
The foundation says that more than 1,000 organizations applied for grants for the first phase of the program.
In total, 119 organizations across 29 states and the District of Columbia will receive grants of more than $14 million to support community-based efforts among racial and ethnic groups.
Those efforts will focus on increasing opportunities for children in health, education and economic areas.
Sterling Speirn, the foundation’s president and CEO says, “Our goal is to breathe life back into the effort to abolish structural racism, and to help America achieve strength and prosperity through racial equity.”
Among those organizations receiving grants is the Saint Paul Foundation in Minnesota. It has created programs such as Facing Race, a campaign giving people the opportunity to voice their concerns about racial issues.
The National Indian Child Welfare Organization will also receive funding to help Native American families and their children.
Other phases of the program will work to stop racist inequalities in the media, as well as the housing, education and criminal justice systems.
Since it was established in 1930, the Kellogg Foundation – based in Battle Creek, Michigan – has donated more than $3 billion dollars to various programs supporting vulnerable children around the world.
http://www.thedailytell.com/2010/05/kellogg-foundation-pledges-75-million-to-fight-racism/