Staff report

The Raymond John Wean Foundation’s board of directors earlier this month approved $655,000 in grants to two organizations supporting educational and economic opportunity.

Inspiring Minds will receive $300,000 in general operating support over two years for its Warren and Youngstown chapters and the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Inc. will receive $355,000 to support for its workforce development program.

INSPIRING MINDS

Serving 400 Warren and Youngstown students annually, Inspiring Minds is a black-led organization that envisions a future where every student graduates from high school and completes college or vocational training. Inspiring Minds provides after-school and summer enrichment programming for youth in grades 3-12 and supports young adults ages 17-25 in securing paid internships and professional development.

Recognizing the multiple barriers that impact a student’s educational outcomes, IM provides wraparound support for its students and their families, including free meals, transportation, laundry and other support. Students who are chronically absent or suspended from school can still participate in IM’s after-school programming. The graduation rate of IM students consistently exceeds the rate for Warren and Youngstown city school districts and the state.

One hundred percent of IM’s board and staff have participated in a Race Equity and Inclusion workshop and all staff members are trained in trauma-informed care. Three quarters of its 34 staff members are former Inspiring Minds students.

“For the past 20 years of Inspiring Minds, the success of our students is a direct result of the relationships and partnerships we’ve built in our community,” said Deryck Toles, IM Founder and CEO. “Our goal has always been to complement and strengthen any efforts benefiting our young people. Collaborations with the local school districts, other organizations, families, and dedicated supporters like the Wean Foundation have made our impact possible.”

OCCHA

In operation for more than 50 years, OCCHA is a Youngstown-based organization serving Spanish-speaking communities in the Mahoning Valley. The organization strives to improve the quality of life for Hispanic, Latinx and multicultural residents by providing social, economic, health, cultural and educational programs.

Seventy-five percent of OCCHA’s clients come from Youngstown, where the median household income for Hispanic/Latinx individuals was $20,855 in 2023, significantly lower than the city’s ($34,934) and state’s ($69,680) median income.

OCCHA’s workforce development program assists Hispanic, Latinx and multicultural clients in overcoming barriers to employment, such as limited English reading and writing proficiency. Many workforce program participants also take advantage of the organization’s mental health navigator and pantry services.

“The barriers for our community in accessing employment are real,” said OCCHA Executive Director Angelica Diaz. “We are a trusted place where residents come to learn about what opportunities exist, meet with employers and get connected to jobs.”

Fallon Williams, senior director of programs and operations at the Wean Foundation, said, “These organizations have a long history of addressing our community’s educational and economic challenges, ensuring Mahoning Valley residents have an opportunity to thrive. We look forward to our continued partnership with them.”