COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLBEING PRIORITY #1: Address disproportionate racialized outcomes in health, housing, and economic equity to improve the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age in the greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area. The Wege Foundation encourages community collaborative approaches that foster long-term solutions.
Example grants: Legal services, advocacy, education, and outreach services for refugees; Support for survivors of human trafficking; Preventative health programs that address chronic diseases & food injustice by; Creating a self-sustaining life & fostering a sense of belonging for new Americans by bringing people together to build connections; “Cure Violence” youth support and prevention program that takes a public health approach; Temporary housing and financial literacy for underemployed and individuals experiencing homelessness; Foreclosure intervention services and support for homeowners; Support for affordable rental housing for under resourced senior citizens & expansion of child development center; Free therapeutic services for women, children, immigrants, domestic abuse survivors and LGBTQIA community; Building civic engagement capacity for organizations run by people of color; Advocacy & education work on child care, community safety, mental health, immigrant & refugee wellbeing; Free legal services for various barriers that new Americans encounter; Affordable rental program for women ageing out of foster care.
COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLBEING PRIORITY #2: Ensure a pipeline of diverse and culturally competent talent to create racial justice and equity within greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area.
Example grants; Scholarships, mentoring, and academic support for Black student nurses; Pilot internship program for African high school seniors & college freshmen; Empowering Latinx businesses through education with a focus on equitable growth and development of Latino talent; Support for education of underrepresented populations on new redistricting process and census; Technical support for historically excluded entrepreneurs; Repurposing and upcycling manufacturing materials to create diverse workforce & equitable circular economy for textiles.
COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLBEING PRIORITY #3: Strengthen and sustain equitable access to a network of quality healthcare, mental wellbeing, housing stability, and/or food security services that positively impact the greater Grand Rapids area.