Woodmore Matters | Woodmore PTA

Have you ever heard of Woodmore Elementary School? It's a little school with a big heart right here in Brainerd. It's 98% black and working class and bursting with life. This isn't your average school—it's a "little engine that could," filled with amazing teachers and dedicated leadership.

But here's the deal: Woodmore's been overcrowded and under-resourced for way too long. Their faculty lounge is anything but loungy; the stage is overflowing with supplies, and basic comforts like a decent bathroom fan are missing. This isn't fair to the incredible educators who dedicate their days to these bright young minds. Enter

The $3,000 UNFoundation grant to the newly formed Woodmore PTA is aimed at supporting leaders as they recruit parents and ultimately serve students. Here’s where the money will go:

• (More) Cozy Faculty Lounge: Imagine a comfy couch, calming lamps, and a fresh coat of paint – a haven for teachers to recharge and refocus. ️

• Organized Stage Space: We'll clear the clutter with metal shelving units, freeing up the stage for its true purpose – inspiring performances and presentations! Possible a tune up for the piano, too.

• Learning Environment Boost: Two new tables and chairs will create an enrichment area for even more learning magic!

• Seed Money for the new PTA: After all, inclusion is everything. This will allow them to recruit members that can decide what else the funds should go toward.

Together, let's show Woodmore Elementary the love and support they deserve!

Male Teachers of Color | Hamilton County Schools Foundation

The Hamilton County Schools Foundation (HCSF) is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in education, aligning with the Tennessee State Board of Education's policy on Diversity and Inclusion.

To be clear, HCSF is the nonprofit foundation supporting the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE), which operates our school system.

Back to our grant. Male Teachers of Color (MTOC) is an inaugural cohort in Hamilton County Schools with ten dedicated participants. They are both new and veteran teachers from all grade bands (elementary, middle, and high) and all five learning communities. MTOC aims to support, develop, and retain current male teachers here in Hamilton County Schools. Hamilton County Schools aims to make the teaching population as diverse as the student population it serves by attracting, cultivating, developing, and retaining a talented and diverse workforce.

So how do we retain them? Our $3,000 grant will be used to fund professional development opportunities for the MTOC participants. They will engage in a book study and assist the Talent Acquisition team in recruiting additional male teachers of color to the district by paying for recruitment materials, such as business cards, marketing videos, uniforms, etc., that participants will use during the recruitment events. The funds will also be used to fund the meals for MTOC professional development gatherings.

Research consistently underscores the significant advantages of having teachers of color in classrooms. Their presence positively influences student achievement, post-secondary aspirations, gifted program enrollment, reduced suspension rates for students of color, and overall student attitudes and motivations. This goes beyond representation; it's about delivering all students the best possible educational experience.

Child and Family Enrichment | Chattanooga Room in the Inn

We proudly announce our $3,000 October grant to Chattanooga Room in the Inn (CRITI), a vital organization providing temporary shelter and support services to women and children experiencing homelessness. Our grant will directly impact the lives of shelter residents by supporting them through education, health, and well-being initiatives. How, exactly? We’ll tell ya.

• Therapeutic Activities: Art supplies, sensory and mindfulness toys, as well as workbooks $515

• Local Adventures: Creative Discovery Museum, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Rock City $500

• Tutoring Supplies $245

• Outside Talent: yoga instructors, ceramists, dance instructors $500

• Extracurricular activities: sports, dance, gymnastics, and spring, fall, and summer camps. $1,240

CRITI invests in the family as a whole. More healthy, confident, self-sufficient families in Chattanooga benefit local schools and workplaces and hopefully inspire families to spend more time together healing. As CRITI families in transition begin to engage in these programs, results should follow quickly.

Healing from trauma takes a village. We’re proud to support CRITI and families experiencing homelessness here in Chattanooga.

Empower Youth Initiative | Be The Change

Get ready for a story splashed with vibrant colors and empowered teens! Be The Change, a nonprofit in Red Bank, Tennessee, is on a mission to empower youth through art and mental health advocacy, and the UNFoundation is proud to be their paintbrush partner.

Think about it: local artists sharing their stories and skills with high schoolers at Red Bank High and Soddy Daisy Middle School? It's happening! These students are discovering how art can heal, inspire, and even build businesses. Soon, Be The Change will be fueling student entrepreneurship by helping them set up shop. Imagine a youth-powered art gallery at The Meeting House, a buzzing coffee spot in Red Bank. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

But it's not all about masterpieces. These projects have a deeper purpose: 75% of the art sales will go directly to the artists and instructors, budding entrepreneurs themselves. The remaining 25% becomes a scholarship fund, launching a Red Bank senior's artistic dreams into the real world.

We believe in the power of art to heal, inspire, and empower. That's why we're thrilled to support Be The Change with a $1,500 grant, fueling their workbook printing and that stunning gallery wall at The Meeting House.

Neurodiversity & Networking Happy Hour | The Enterprise Center

We're cranking the awesome meter to eleven by supporting The Enterprise Center’s Neurodiversity & Networking Happy Hour. Our $1,500 (this month we had two winners and the funds were split between them) funded items like a Neurodiversity Resource Guide for participants, accessibility accommodations, as well as refreshments and marketing.

Imagine this: Neurodiverse folks (think autism, ADHD, dyslexia – just to name a few) shining like supernovae, showcasing their unique talents and perspectives to future-thinking employers who get that diversity fuels innovation. But beyond the career boost, this Happy Hour is about building a stronger community. Sharing stories, tips, and resources will transform the local neurodiversity scene into a powerhouse of support and confidence.

So, get ready to raise a glass (or a fidget spinner, no judgment) to talent, inclusivity, and the awesomeness that neurodiversity brings! Together, we'll build a Chattanooga where every brain thrives, no matter how it's wired. And keep an eye out for future quarterly events!

#NeurodiversityChattanooga #TalentExplosion #InclusiveChattanooga #BrainstormParty

12th & Peeples Camp Bicycle Repair Shop | White Oak Bicycle Cooperative

The White Oak Bicycle Cooperative (WOBC) has been awarded our $3,000 grant to build a bicycle repair shop at the 12th & Peeples Camp! It will provide much-needed transportation services to residents of the camp, who often lack access to reliable transportation.

Typically, one crucial and frequently neglected requirement of unhoused persons is transportation. The availability of dependable mobility, such as a bicycle, is vital for this vulnerable population to secure shelter, locate community resources, find employment, access medical services, and maintain connections with loved ones.

Our grant will be used to purchase a wind-resistant storage shed and stock it with new bicycle repair tools and supplies. Additionally, we will purchase u-bolt locks and safety vests.

P.S. If you would like to learn more about WOBC or their work, please visit their website linked above.

Camp Wakawalu | Downside Up

Congratulations to the now 2X UNF grant winner, Downside Up!

Downside Up is a nonprofit that envisions a world where all people with special needs and their loved ones have access to the environments and experiences they need to grow and thrive. They provide creative activities, fun and educational events, and family experiences for all ages and all abilities.

Our $3,000 will go to support families who have children with disabilities to experience an overnight weekend camp. But not just any camp.

Camp Wakawalu isn’t another conference or retreat. There are no sessions, no seminars, no keynote speakers. Camp Wakawalu is simply a camp, with a single purpose: to bring together children who have disabilities, and their families, for a weekend of away-ness.

Do you want to help, too? Donate, volunteer, or buy them something on their Amazon Wish List on their website. You can read about the grant they won for the 2018 Camp Wakawalu here.

Baby Care Closet | Office of Early Learning

The City of Chattanooga’s Office of Early Learning (OEL) exists to assist families, children, and childcare providers with resources to push students closer to the start line. Think about entering kindergarten prepared in the realm of language and cognition ability. OEL also provides parents with the appropriate education and experiences for families with young children that they may not have access to otherwise.

OEL firmly believes that you can not support the child without supporting the entire family. We feel ya, OEL.

With over 32% of our region's children living in poverty, its hard to ignore that our neighbors are living without basic necessities.

Our $3,000 will allow the OEL, a division under Chattanooga Department of Early Learning, to create a young children's care closet that will support families of small children. By providing items such as diapers, wipes, clothing, personal hygiene, formula, laundry detergent, and other expensive, yet mandatory items to families in need, we can alleviate some economic barriers that may allow families to engage in other brain-building experiences.