By Shireen Zaineb | Communications and Advocacy Fellow
Throughout the past two months, Libraries Without Borders US (LWB US) has made exciting progress on many of our programs across the country. Firstly, we are grateful to have been awarded multiple grants in the past month. To improve broadband infrastructure and health literacy in public housing developments in Hibbing, MN, we received grants from the Blandin Foundation and the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). With the help of this grant, beginning in November 2021 and continuing into March 2022, LWB US is collaborating on a new health literacy project with the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Hibbing, Minnesota and the Hibbing Public Library. This project is supported by funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health under cooperative agreement number UG4LM013729 at the University of Iowa, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
For our programming in Baltimore, MD, we also received a two-year grant from the Hirschhorn Foundation, which will continue to fund our work in the city. In recent months, LWB US has been collaborating with Dewmore Baltimore to present poetry workshops and open mics in the Highlandtown neighborhood of East Baltimore. LWB US has also partnered with the Westside Youth Opportunity Center of the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) in Baltimore to provide Chromebooks to youth participating in adjudication programs. The provision of this technology is intended to help these youth complete their mandated GED training. Lastly, the Wash and Learn Initiative (WALI) pop-up sessions in both the Belair Edison and Highlandtown neighborhoods have increased to two days a week.
Alongside the expansion of Baltimore WALI pop-up sessions, WALI in San Antonio, Texas is also expanding. Last month, LWB US and its partners designated three laundromats across the city as new WALI locations; two of these locations are already under construction. The expected launch date for these WALI locations is Spring 2022, with the help of a recent grant from the Ford Foundation to expand programming across Texas and Puerto Rico.
After months of planning, LWB US also successfully launched the “De Puente a Puente” project, in which we re-opened the Sector La 23 y Las Gardenias’ community center in Loíza, Puerto Rico with an incredible event on October 20th, 2021. The renovated community space provides neighborhood residents with access to A/C, internet, technology devices, and critical health information. During the project launch, the entire LWB US team paid a visit to our staff members and community partners in Puerto Rico.
Regarding internal updates, LWB US is participating in TechSoup’s Digital Resilience Program in efforts to explore best practices for internal and external technology. We are also in the midst of testing a new Placemaking Rubric to guide the design and implementation of our programs. On December 1st, 2021 from 2:15-3pm, we will be hosting a virtual panel discussion at the Creative Placemaking Summit. The panel will focus on Participatory Design and Placemaking in Manufactured Housing Communities.
As our End of Year (EOY) campaign approaches, we are holding many exciting events including an event held by local artists in our program areas and fundraising teach-in. We are also in the process of hiring a Communications Consultant, a South Texas Project Coordinator, and a Director of Programs. As of November 17th, 2021 we will also have a new Executive Director, Aaron Greenberg. Other staff additions include Tania Quintana, our new Oakland Community Organizer, and Alex Aldarondo, Project Manager for our programming in Puerto Rico.
This report is our last with GlobalGiving, and we are thankful for the support we have received in growing and changing our organization. To stay involved in our work, please check out our website at www.librarieswithoutborders.us and subscribe to our listserv at https://librarieswithoutborders.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=dc64808e761c4b5813190d16a&id=c01ba9870f.
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By Victoria Becker | Communications Associate
By Victoria Becker | Communications Associate
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