John Deere Community CU Awards Diversity Alliance Grants

WATERLOO, Iowa – John Deere Community Credit Union (JDCCU) has just announced the November recipients of the 2005 Diversity Alliance Grant, which provides up to $25,000 to organizations supporting diversity efforts in communities. The Diversity Alliance Grant was established in 1999 to fund programs that fulfill the grant’s mission, “building bridges within our community to embrace, promote, and celebrate diversity.” Five non-profit organizations were selected in November to receive funding.The African American Historical Museum in Cedar Rapids received funding for their “200 Years of Pop Culture” exhibit, which will explore historical representations of African- Americans in popular culture. Family Service League of Waterloo received Diversity Alliance funding for the Bright Moves Network which assists newly arrived refugee and immigrant populations in adjusting to a new and vastly different Midwestern American culture. The Bright Moves Network serves as a cultural bridge between newcomers and community residents and organizations. Johnson Elementary School of the Arts in Cedar Rapids provides an innovative, respectful educational environment, which focuses on academic achievement through an arts-infused curriculum, according to a JDCCCU press release. Johnson Elementary received funding for their Visiting/Workshop Artist program, which involves artists from around the world. The artists are invited to perform and teach as part of Johnson Elementary School of the Arts’ unique curriculum. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Black Hawk County helps to improve the quality of life of persons with mental illness and their families. They received Diversity Alliance funding for “Breaking the Silence: Teaching the Next Generation About Mental Illness,” which provides teachers with workshop training and tools to be used in the classroom to educate students about mental illness. St Paul’s Lutheran School in Waverly received Diversity Alliance Funding for their Calle Sur program, which exposes students and adults to the rich tradition of Latin America. The program involves educators and storytellers of Latin American traditions.