Gordie Howe project team advances CBA initiatives
The Gordie Howe International Bridge project team has advanced a series of community benefits initiatives.
On November 12, it announced it would donate $40,000 in support of the Ujima initiative of United Way Windsor-Essex County. The initiative, which is set to launch this winter, aims to support Black youth enrolled in United Way’s On Track to Success program.
“We heard from residents in Sandwich that partnerships with local agencies would be a key priority for a successful Community Benefits Plan tailored to the region,” said Bryce Phillips, CEO, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “We’re proud to assist United Way as they launch a program that will positively affect the future of local youth, and celebrates and supports the many cultures that make up Sandwich.”
The initiative will provide cultural support and programs for Black youth, including
- community mentoring to build positive character development,
- mental wellness support to provide a safe and positive environment where students will learn about the importance of self-care and effective coping strategies,
- cultural exploration to educate students about the elements that bind the Black community together, and
- social events to provide a safe space where students can socialize and get to know each other.
The donation is part of a larger $160,000 to be provided to United Way between 2021 and 2024 with annual investments of $40,000. Funding will go directly into supporting programs for Sandwich-area youth.
“Racially-marginalized youth face additional cultural and racial barriers navigating through school and in life. The Ujima initiative aims to provide a more culturally relevant program students in our On Track to Success program,” said Lorraine Goddard, CEO, United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County. “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation through the Community Benefits Plan from the Gordie Howe International Bridge project team.”
On November 16, the bridge team announced that it had opened applications for the 2022 Community Organization Investment initiative as part of the Community Benefits Plan.
The Community Organization Investment initiative will provide funding of $50,000 in Canada and the US to community organizations serving Sandwich/west Windsor or Delray/Southwest Detroit residents. Through this initiative, the project team will invest a total of $500,000 in the two communities through 2024.
Eligible organizations can submit funding applications for proposed initiatives ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 for events, programming and infrastructure improvements that will benefit the Sandwich/west Windsor or Delray/Southwest Detroit neighbourhoods.
Applications will be accepted until January 26, and recipients will be announced in spring 2022.