CFO issues $120K in DEI grants

Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. awarded $120,000 in grants on Wednesday.

The funding, presented at The Fairbanks community center, goes toward seven nonprofits engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion work, according to a news release.

The top award of $25,000 went to Imagine Technical Institute.

The grant recipients, in order of amount received, are:
• Imagine Technical Institute, $25,000 to support a vocational training program for individuals with disabilities in the Springfield and Branson areas.
• Ujima Language and Literacy, $24,000 for a joint parental and community advocacy training initiative with the Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center.
• American Indian Center of Springfield, $21,000 to support a full-time staff position and development of Native American-friendly curriculum.
• Missouri State University, $20,000 to support refugees and other newcomers to Springfield via English language instruction and advocacy for language and cultural diversity.
• Lincoln School Project, $16,000 to renovate the historic, segregation-era Lincoln School in West Plains.
• Unity of Springfield, $8,000 for its inclusive crisis cold weather shelter.
• Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, $6,000 to support DEI education for its staff, board, volunteers and community partners.

“These projects illustrate and celebrate the diversity of central and southern Missouri,” said Bridget Dierks, vice president of programs at CFO, in the release. “We’re grateful that these agencies are developing innovative solutions to include more people in our communities.”