The Sherlock Center is please to announce the recipients of mini grants for 2022. Grants are award for the purpose of increasing access for people with disabilities to social, leisure, recreational, and cultural activities. The Sherlock Center received proposals from 27 business or organizations in Rhode Island. Four grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Biomes Marine Biology Center
Biome is an educational facility and public aquarium specializing in local New England marine life and rescued animals, providing hands-on educational programs for local schools, daycare centers, and camps from grades pre-k to high school. Biome will use the grant funds to completely replace the 560 square foot play area with tight-lock rubber gym tiles that will provide safety while allowing access for everyone, including the handicap access.
RIOT RI
RIOT RI, previously called Girls Rock! RI is a volunteer-based non-profit that uses music creation, critical thinking, and collaborative relationships to foster collective empowerment and the development of healthy identities in girls, women, trans, and gender-expansive youth and adults. RIOT serves individuals primarily in the Providence Metro Area. The funds awarded will be used for rental of a temporary ramp for use at JamStage, this year's summer Youth Rock Camp program. Funds will also be used to purchase of a portable ramp for use at venues across Providence for all RIOT RI programs allowing any venue rented to be accessible for disabled concert-goers and performers moving forward.
The Steel Yard
Woonasquatucket Valley Community Build Inc., d/b/a The Steel Yard is a non-profit industrial arts center and shared studio located in the Industrial Valley neighborhood of Providence, RI. It’s the only publicly accessible industrial arts organization in the region. The awarded grant money will support educational scholarships for the disability community and an ADA-accessible water fountain in the studios, making it a welcoming experience for all participants while being environmentally responsible.
New for 2022, the Sherlock Center will prioritize applications submitted by eligible businesses or organizations (as defined above) that demonstrate a high degree of engagement with minority communities or diverse populations (e.g., veterans, refugees, L.G.B.T.Q.I.A+).
Overview
The purpose of the Access for All Abilities Mini-Grant initiative is to increase access to social, leisure, recreational and cultural activities for persons with disabilities in Rhode Island. The Sherlock Center has granted approximately $145,000 to 58 businesses and organizations since 2009. The Sherlock Center, Rhode Island’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), receives funding for this initiative administered by the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD).
Next Grant Cycle
The next grant cycle is planned for February 2023. Join our mailing list to receive announcement by email.
W3C approved.