(NACTE) Project CVE Grant Program Goal 1
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New American and Community Trust and Engagement (NACTE) Project CVE Grant Program Goal 1: Build and Foster Community Resilience to Violent Extremist Recruitment and Radicalization Focus Area 1: Developing Resilience Submitted to: Office for Community Partnerships U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Submitted by: Cynthia Shabb, Ph.D. Executive Director Global Friends Coalition Grand Forks, ND 58201 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Global Friends Coalition (GFC) proposes a comprehensive plan to build resilience in Grand Forks (GF), North Dakota and East Grand Forks (EGF), Minnesota. This plan involves two paths: engaging and empowering New Americans in their new community and reducing social exclusion through outreach efforts directed at the broader population of the area. The New American and Community Trust and Engagement Project addresses both youth and adults. Youth would be matched with volunteer mentors, participate in field trips and enroll in youth activities to connect to their peers, and attend a civic engagement day camp. Adults would participate in a series of classes, from civic orientation a year after their arrival to citizenship preparation as they approach their eligibility date. They would also connect with city and state level representatives, as well as receive advisory support, leadership training, and office space as they build capacity in their own community organizations. As social exclusion is identified as a risk factor for violent extremism, we also propose a series of outreach activities to better inform the broader community about New Americans. These activities include a series of community events, including large group events such as speakers and panel discussions to better inform the public, and smaller relationship-building events such as a community picnic, Communi-Teas socials, and soccer games to allow for more personal interaction between New Americans and long-term residents. GFC is requesting $324,982 to implement this program, including $112,089 for New American Youth Engagement programming, $105,631 for New American Adult Engagement programming, and $107,262 for programming for the broader community. Over the two years of the grant, our program would serve 200 separate New Americans, including 130 youth and 70 adults, as well as five immigrant organizations. In addition, the outreach efforts would reach approximately 800 separate residents. GFC has successfully implemented some elements of the proposed programs previously, and has close, positive working relationships with the many community organizations needed to successfully implement the plan. The expansion of these programs with innovative new elements under a cohesive mission to build resilience through increasing civic engagement and reducing social exclusion will set up Grand Forks to be a model community in the civic empowerment of New Americans. TECHNICAL MERIT Global Friends Coalition proposes the New American and Community Trust and Engagement Project (NACTE) to build community resilience against violent extremism for the Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN area. We aim to accomplish this goal through the following objectives: 1. Development of New American Youth Engagement Programs 2. Development of New American Adult Engagement Programs 3. Expanded Opportunities for Education and Interaction in Broader Community This approach allows us to teach New Americans about their community and give them the tools and opportunities to be engaged, while also reducing barriers to their involvement by increasing awareness amongst the broader public and opportunities for individuals to interact. The result is a more engaged, connected community less likely to experience violent extremism. New American & Community Trust & Engagement Project Broader New Americans Community Interaction: Youth Adults "Communi- Education: Teas" small "Let's Talk" group large group discussions, series picnics, Civics Civic Resilient Youth Activities Orientation/ Support for soccer Engagement Civic Forums Mentoring Program Citizenship Organizations Camp games Training Figure 1. Overview of NACTE programming OBJECTIVE 1: Development of New American Youth Engagement Programs Grand Forks and East Grand Forks Public Schools currently serve over 400 English Language Learner (ELL) students speaking 35 different languages. The largest groups are from Bhutan, Somalia, and the Middle East. In addition to the issues all adolescents struggle with, New Americans face additional challenges for their sense of identity, language struggles, family structure, and financial well-being. As a result, ELL teachers report to us academic struggles, substance abuse, pregnancies, and general disengagement among some of their students. The GFC Resilient Youth Mentoring (RYM) Program has been matching a young adult mentor, including Occupational Therapy students from the University Dakota, with the most vulnerable middle and high school students for the past four years, without the resources to meet the challenges. These mentors tutor the students in their schools two to three hours per week, and in some cases provide additional support in the home. Youth in the program also participate in three field trips per year with their mentors for both recreation and education, including touring area colleges. The RYM program, through a strong partnership with GF Public Schools, serves approximately 15 students per year. Priority for mentors is given to students identified by their teachers to be most at-risk academically and personally. Both middle and high school teachers have requested many more mentors, and the waiting list is long. We would like to expand this program to reach more students and also to introduce a significant service-learning element which will help New American youth have a greater sense of efficacy in their new community. Part of a sense of connection for youth is participating in activities with their long-term resident peers. Currently, we have been able to provide financial support for 80 students per year to participate in soccer clubs, art camps, acting workshops, and swimming lessons. These activities have been instrumental in opening up new worlds to students, and helping them to connect with peers. In fact, this summer a fifth-grade Bhutanese girl who pulled her drowning friend out of an apartment swimming pool attributed her knowledge to the swim class she had participated in through GFC. With over 400 ELL students in the community, the needs are far beyond our small budget. To further connect and empower students, youth will also have a chance to enroll in a new civic engagement summer day camp. These classes will be offered at different levels (Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12), all working to introduce students to their community and local government, volunteer with local organizations, carry out a civic project, develop leadership skills, set goals, and connect them with opportunities for involvement in school organizations and government for the upcoming year. OBJECTIVE 2: Development of New American Adult Engagement Programs Adult New Americans face significant challenges to become successful, connected members of their communities. When refugees are resettled, they are provided with a basic orientation. However, their acculturation needs to understand their rights and responsibilities and to develop a sense of connectedness and efficacy in their new community go far beyond. NACTE adult programs will begin within New Americans’ first year in the country and continue through citizenship and beyond. Initially, New Americans will participate in a Civics Orientation. The class will meet for 8 weeks and introduce New Americans to city agencies, connect them with local government officials, and allow them to tour City Hall. This class was offered in 2011 and 2012 through a model designed by the National League of Cities, but was discontinued due to lack of funding. Reviving this course and making it part of an extended, sequenced curriculum would allow New Americans to engage with their community earlier and more fully. The next stage of civic programming for adults involves greater connection to local government. Our staff will coordinate a series of civic forums to allow New Americans to learn about issues affecting them and share their input with local and state representatives. Years into their residence in the U.S., New Americans can participate in citizenship courses to help them prepare for their exam. Volunteers have been providing these classes through GFC for the past two years, with around 17 people successfully reaching citizenship. In fact, some students have even continued with the class after passing their exam because the courses have been so engaging. We propose an expansion of these courses to serve more people. We also propose a new element for which we have seen a significant need. Once New Americans have been in the community a few years, they have begun to form organizations of their own, including the Bhutanese Society of GF, Somali Community of GF, New American Youth Development of GF, the Liberian Community, and United African Community. These groups are critical to allow them to organize events, connect with newcomers, and have a greater voice in the community. However, they often struggle due to lack of support. Many seek out GFC for assistance, including sorting out logistics of event planning, seeking nonprofit status, writing grants, and providing office space. Unfortunately, we do not have the means to provide