“The Delta Health Alliance announced it has awarded five grants to organizations in the Delta working to bring health and wellness to youth and their families,” explained a press release issued by DHA.
Community Bridge Builders Inc. in Cleveland and the Safari Learning Center in Rosedale both had programs that were awarded funding.
The Building Bridges for a Path to Success project, run by Community Bridge Builders Inc., received $40,050.
The My Sistah’s Keeper project run by the Safari Learning Center received $45,000.
Building Bridges for a Path to Success focuses on abstinence education for youth in grades 6-12.
“We're just excited to be able to partner with DHA on our Building Bridges program,” said Ed Pope, CEO of Community Bridge Builders.
The program will start mid-August and run for about eight weeks.
“This particular program is an abstinence program that will be held Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon,” said Pope. “We’re using Choosing the Best curriculum for grades 6-12.
“There is a parenting piece that goes along with it,” he continued. “We can have up to 50 young people and 25 parents participate for the 8 weeks.”
Community Bridge Builders Inc. has been working on abstinence programs for quite some time, though they have been small scale projects.
“We’ve done this on a small scale with our young men,” Pope explained. “It’s not a new program.”
The program is set to begin at 5 p.m. on Aug. 17 at the Community Bridge Builders Inc. building on South Street.
“On Aug. 21 we’re going to have a kick off that kind of gets kids in a mindset of what the abstinence program is going to be,” said Pope.
As of presstime, representatives from the My Sistah’s Keeper project were unavailable for comment.
According to the DHA press release, the project will implement Family Life and Sexual Health (F.L.A.S.H.) comprehensive curriculum.
One hundred and fifty females in the Rosedale area will have the opportunity to participate. The curriculum is designed for ages 14-25.
Additionally, the Ruleville Community Development Corporation in Sunflower county was awarded funding for one of its programs.
The Youth for Community Pride project targets young people, ages 5-18, and their parents. It focuses on reading skills and parental support for education.
The program received $45,200.
Two organizations in Washington County also received funding.
The Greenville Renaissance Scholar’s Camp Renaissance was awarded $31,500 and the Greenville Public School’s Diabetes Camp was awarded $2,250.
Camp Renaissance helps middle school students get on and stay on a college track curriculum. It’s a five week camp for 60, most of whom are considered “at risk” for not attaining a college degree.
The Diabetes Camp is actually held in Oxford. The $2,250 received by the Greenville School District will provide scholarships to three students to attend the camp.