RISE Fund recipients deliver a diverse set of community projects

A City of Kitchener grant will support a community group using dance to help refugees with disabilities settle into our community.

Levant Canada is one of six groups receiving grants from the City’s Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Equity (RISE) Fund during its latest funding round.

The RISE Fund provides support for community-led organizations, programs, initiatives or events meant to decrease inequities and increase opportunities and well-being for Black, Indigenous and racialized communities in Kitchener.

With the grant funding, Levant intends to create a Steps Dance Club to offer newcomers with disabilities professional instruction and guidance in a variety of styles of dance, with the purpose of providing a social space and helping them engage in physical exercise.

“In this round of applications, the City received 23 applications from Black, Indigenous and racialized organizations for the $46,789 in funding that’s available,” said Rea Parchment, Senior Anti-Racism Advisor in the Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Initiatives division.

"These organizations understand best the needs of their communities,” Parchment said. “The intent of the RISE Fund is to provide funding when and where it’s needed with fewer of the systemic barriers and challenges that these groups face when applying to, and receiving, grant monies.”

In addition to granting funds to Levant Canada, the City of Kitchener's Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee awarded grants to the following organizations:

ForUsGirls for their accelerator program that provides Black, Indigenous and racialized young women and diverse people aged 18-24 an opportunity to learn how to effectively create a social impact initiative or business to solve one of the 17 UN Global Goals.

African Community Wellness Initiative (ACWI) to support the continuation of mental wellness circle facilitations with the aim to dedicate a staff member to this role.

Association of Liberian Immigrants in Kitchener Environs (ALIKE) to support the sustainability and expansion of ALIKE’s hybrid afterschool program.

BeBlended to help create a software platform to provide Black freelance hairstylists with the technology and resources they need to automatically handle appointment bookings, payment transactions, financial reporting, and client management.

Rohingya Centre of Canada toward the maintenance and sustainability of Rohingya Centre of Canada’s core programming that provides employment support for newcomer youth up to the age of 24.

For more details and information on how to apply during the next round of funding, visit www.kitchener.ca/RISE.

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For more information

Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca