Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization Awarded BRAVE/R Together 76104 Community Grant
Funds earmarked for Summer Enrichment Program
Left to Right – Whitnee Boyd, ShaVonne Davis, Shelby Johnson, and Shawn Lassiter
They’ve done it again! For their work impacting the lives of Fort Worthians in the 76104 zip code, Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization has been awarded the BRAVE/R Together 76104 Community Grant. In 2019, a study by UT Southwestern determined that residents in the 76104 zip code have the lowest life expectancy in the state of Texas so Maroon 9 has taken charge with community efforts and educational programs to combat the dubious distinction. BRAVE/R Together awards grants to support their pathways of education, healthcare, housing and business/economic development in an effort to build health equity in 76104 and extend life expectancy for residents.
Maroon 9 was one of 44 grant applicants and one of 14 grant awardees. Each recipient received a sum ranging from $5,000-$20,000 and Maroon 9 was the only applicant awarded the max grant sum. Grant proceeds aid the continuation of the Maroon 9 Summer Enrichment Program which provides teens with unmatched learning opportunities.
Each summer, ShaVonne Davis, Maroon 9 President & Executive Director facilitates a free two-week summer program for local youth. The program provides access to workshops in Fine Arts, STEM, Life Skills, college readiness and career choices. Workshops are hosted by various local community organizations including Acting With Mrs. Davis, Plant the Seed Financial Literacy, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and The Prep Factory College Planning.
Over the course of two weeks, students engage local professionals and community leaders. Other program perks include a daily catered lunch. Higher education is a major aspiration for many attendees, so Maroon 9 became intentional about making college readiness an integral part of its summer programming. The 2023 summer camp will expand to include an Atlanta, GA HBCU college tour for select participants.
Many historic colleges and universities are within walking distance of each other, and the students have the opportunity to walk the campuses where history makers gained their world-changing education. A history maker in her own right, ShaVonne Davis is a proud alum of the prestigious Clark Atlanta University, also located in Atlanta and part of the Maroon 9 HBCU College Tour. Any student or parent with interest in the Maroon 9 Summer Enrichment Program should contact Mrs. Davis at: [email protected].
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization is grateful for the grant award that furthers its mission to provide programs and opportunities to keep teenage youth away from juvenile crime and aware of the many options for life after high school. Maroon 9 has expressed immense gratitude to BRAVE/R Together and United Way for this grant. We are braver, bolder, and better together and with this grant, Maroon 9 is assured of great success in its programs this year and the years to come.
About Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization
Maroon 9 was founded in 2015 as the “Maroon 9 Sickle Cell Support Organization” producing Sickle Cell awareness events and providing financial support to patients. Maroon is the official color for the Sickle Cell awareness ribbon. The number “9” represents the month of September which is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. As the organization grew, it began hosting youth programs and community events targeting the entire family unit. Maroon 9 amended its name to the “Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization”, to fulfill a need for more positive community engagement and enriching youth programs.
About BRAVE/R Together
BRAVE/R Together engages and collaborates with stakeholders to strategically align resources to achieve Health Equity in neighborhoods in 76104, to the east of I-35W, by eradicating racial disparities in education, healthcare, housing and business/economic development. The foundation of the BRAVE/R Together initiative is a group of community-based ambassadors who work alongside community leaders and leverage grassroots organizations, corporate partners, public officials and area residents to envision and fund innovative solutions. The ambassadors are at the forefront of addressing inequities in 76104. The 76104 Ambassadors have committed to focus on the four core inequities by convening other community leaders.
Maroon 9 was one of 44 grant applicants and one of 14 grant awardees. Each recipient received a sum ranging from $5,000-$20,000 and Maroon 9 was the only applicant awarded the max grant sum. Grant proceeds aid the continuation of the Maroon 9 Summer Enrichment Program which provides teens with unmatched learning opportunities.
Each summer, ShaVonne Davis, Maroon 9 President & Executive Director facilitates a free two-week summer program for local youth. The program provides access to workshops in Fine Arts, STEM, Life Skills, college readiness and career choices. Workshops are hosted by various local community organizations including Acting With Mrs. Davis, Plant the Seed Financial Literacy, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and The Prep Factory College Planning.
Over the course of two weeks, students engage local professionals and community leaders. Other program perks include a daily catered lunch. Higher education is a major aspiration for many attendees, so Maroon 9 became intentional about making college readiness an integral part of its summer programming. The 2023 summer camp will expand to include an Atlanta, GA HBCU college tour for select participants.
Many historic colleges and universities are within walking distance of each other, and the students have the opportunity to walk the campuses where history makers gained their world-changing education. A history maker in her own right, ShaVonne Davis is a proud alum of the prestigious Clark Atlanta University, also located in Atlanta and part of the Maroon 9 HBCU College Tour. Any student or parent with interest in the Maroon 9 Summer Enrichment Program should contact Mrs. Davis at: [email protected].
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization is grateful for the grant award that furthers its mission to provide programs and opportunities to keep teenage youth away from juvenile crime and aware of the many options for life after high school. Maroon 9 has expressed immense gratitude to BRAVE/R Together and United Way for this grant. We are braver, bolder, and better together and with this grant, Maroon 9 is assured of great success in its programs this year and the years to come.
About Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization
Maroon 9 was founded in 2015 as the “Maroon 9 Sickle Cell Support Organization” producing Sickle Cell awareness events and providing financial support to patients. Maroon is the official color for the Sickle Cell awareness ribbon. The number “9” represents the month of September which is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. As the organization grew, it began hosting youth programs and community events targeting the entire family unit. Maroon 9 amended its name to the “Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization”, to fulfill a need for more positive community engagement and enriching youth programs.
About BRAVE/R Together
BRAVE/R Together engages and collaborates with stakeholders to strategically align resources to achieve Health Equity in neighborhoods in 76104, to the east of I-35W, by eradicating racial disparities in education, healthcare, housing and business/economic development. The foundation of the BRAVE/R Together initiative is a group of community-based ambassadors who work alongside community leaders and leverage grassroots organizations, corporate partners, public officials and area residents to envision and fund innovative solutions. The ambassadors are at the forefront of addressing inequities in 76104. The 76104 Ambassadors have committed to focus on the four core inequities by convening other community leaders.
