The due date to apply for Love Your Block, a program in its second year designed to bring Evanston residents’ visions to life by awarding mini-grants, has just passed. Each grant offers up to $2,000 towards a resident-led proposal that focuses on strengthening vibrancy and sustainability in the community. Applications were due on March 18.
Evanston is one of 16 cities across the country selected to receive $100,000 in grant money from Johns Hopkins University, making programs like Love Your Block possible. According to the City of Evanston’s website, the grants are available for “small home exterior improvements and neighborhood events, safety and beautification in the target area of the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th wards.”
The program has already made a visible impact on the community over the past year. So far, mini-grants have supported a Toddler Adventure Camp that provides community-based programming to families of color, a Greenwood Street block party, and efforts to improve the area around a Geometry in Construction house, among many others.
“One really cool project I’ve seen was roundabout improvement,” said sophomore Bella Henderson. “Someone decided to beautify some roundabouts, which turned out really pretty.”
Students interested in the initiative have the chance to join the Love Your Block student committee at ETHS, a club that spreads awareness by distributing fliers and informing residents.
“I joined the committee because a teacher came to my class and showed me how much I enjoy the beauty and diversity of the community, and how much of that has been made possible by Love Your Block,” said Henderson. “I wanted to be a part of making someone’s life better.”
The club has met once so far and will continue meeting throughout the year.
“The goal is that everyone in Evanston feels heard and their wants, needs, and ideas come to life,” said Henderson.
Grant applicants should expect to be notified in April about whether their applications received funding, kicking off a new year of resident-driven projects.
