Dominican Center Awarded Neighborhood Grant to Support Racial Equity

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 16, 2020 — The Dominican Center (DC) has received a generous $2,500 grant from The Starbucks Foundation for work supporting racial equity and creating a more inclusive community in the Amani neighborhood of Milwaukee.

The systematic inequities in communities of color have been highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic, and DC strives to support residents in the Amani neighborhood during these hardships. The need in Amani is great and DC is thankful for the support. “The Starbucks Foundation grant comes at a time when many Amani residents have lost jobs, homes and food security,” said Dominican Center Executive Director Sr. Patricia Rogers, OP. “This grant will help provide coats, socks, gloves and hats for children in the Amani neighborhood.”

The most recent round of Neighborhood Grants is focused on supporting organizations that are Black-led or Black-serving, and are dedicated to promoting economic mobility and opportunity, health and social services, and youth. With that criteria in mind, thousands of partner employees nominated an organization advancing racial equity in their community or voted on nonprofits suggested by others. Based on the volume of partner engagement, The Starbucks Foundation has awarded $1.5 million in Neighborhood Grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations across the U.S.

“We know that a more inclusive environment will create a flywheel that leads to greater diversity, and thereby greater equity and opportunity for all,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson in a letter to partners. “(We’re) prioritizing grassroots and community-based nonprofit organizations focused on local impact. These grants aim to uplift organizations led by and that serve Black communities.”

About the Dominican Center

Dominican Center is located at 2470 W. Locust Street, in the Amani neighborhood. It works with Amani residents and partners to build a better future. Dominican Center served as the community anchor for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Building Neighborhood Capacity Program and is the lead community partner for the US Department of Justice’s Innovations of Community Based Crime Reduction grant for Amani.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.