Eleven grants awarded to support K-12 civics education in Appalachian Ohio

More than $35,000 in funding awarded across 32-county region

NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), in partnership with the Longaberger Family Foundation, has awarded 11 grants, totaling more than $35,000, to support K-12 civics education opportunities throughout the region.

“We have long shared FAO’s commitment to the children of Appalachia and to ensuring the well-being of our communities,” said Matt Kaido, Longaberger Family Foundation representative. “With this funding, we are not only equipping the youth of Appalachian Ohio with educational opportunities that often go unfunded but also empowering them to grow their community engagement, both today and in the future.”

The Civics Education in Appalachian Ohio program provides funding for projects and programs that support civics education for K-12 public school students, with a goal of providing the children of Appalachia the knowledge and skills to become informed and engaged community members. Grant applications were open to K-12 public schools, educators, students and public and nonprofit organizations serving K-12 students across Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties.

Grants were awarded to:

• The Academy for Urban Scholars Youngstown, serving Mahoning and Trumbull counties, to purchase equipment to launch a student-led, civics-based podcast featuring civic leaders.
• The Boys & Girls Club of Washington County to expand its Summer Brain Gain program to include social studies and civics, with an emphasis on American civics and democracy.
• Caldwell Exempted Village School District in Noble County to support student participation in the Ohio Model United Nations Conference, a three-day education simulation that allows youth to learn about the United Nations.
• Lawrence County to support the Lawrence County Civic Scholars Fellowship, which places students in local government offices to learn about public service.
• Majestic Galleries in Athens County to support a visual arts contest through which K-12 classrooms throughout Appalachian Ohio will create paper quilts based on a civics prompt that will be exhibited in conjunction with accompanying events.
• Maysville Local Schools in Muskingum County to support high school students’ participation in National History Day competitions.
• Morgan Junior High School to support experiential learning in Marietta connected to the Northwest Territory, as well as participation in a service-learning project and opportunities to learn how civic engagement can positively impact quality of life.
• Rural Action to support its Youth Climate Action Teams for teens in Athens, Jackson and Ross counties. Team members will develop peer relationships and engage in civic projects informed by local needs and data.
• Southeast Ohio History Center to develop a social studies program for fourth- and eighth-graders in Athens County commemorating the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Fort Gower Resolves.
• Warren Local Schools in Washington County to fund Mock Trial expenses for students.
• Wellston High School in Jackson County to support student participation in the Ohio Youth in Government Conference at the Ohio Statehouse.

“These grants will teach children throughout Appalachian Ohio how to become informed and engaged community members,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “We’re incredible grateful for our continued partnership with the Longaberger Family Foundation, who shares our goal of ensuring our children and our communities flourish.”

Since launching its Civics Education in Appalachian Ohio program in partnership with the Longaberger Family Foundation in 2019, FAO has awarded more than $95,000 through grants that have provided K-12 students with opportunities to study, participate in and experience what it means to be engaged in their communities.

For more information about the Civics Education in Appalachian Ohio program and how you can support it and other opportunities through FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org, email info@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.