Young Women’s Initiative Awards Four Mini-Grants
A group of Springfield young women participating in the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts’ Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) recently awarded four YWI mini-grants to nonprofits that serve the Springfield area. The project was in partnership with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.In the past year, the YWI participants were charged with identifying and researching issues that are barriers to young women and girls in Springfield. According to Program Officer Christine Monska, “the YWAC [Young Women’s Advisory Council] worked over the course of several months to conduct research on the specific needs of their community through interviews and surveys. Then they developed a request for proposal so nonprofit organizations could address their recommendations. This process, where youth — especially young women — are at the center of discussions is the future of community development.”