Ms. Deren:
Thank you for taking the time and effort you put into writing this email. On behalf of the Board of the Children's Trust of Alachua County (CTAC), I know they value the input of concerned citizens such as you.
I want to assure you that the Cultural Arts Coalition (CAC) is a valued organization to the CTAC, and was not disqualified from any funding.
Our most recent solicitation was very targeted towards expanding the number of places for kids to go after school. From the RFP, Section 2, G. "g. Applicant must offer services 4 days a week, 1.5 hours per day, at a minimum". From our conversations with the CAC - and as your email notes - this is not exactly the type of programming the CAC does. We agree that the CAC has a fine program and CTAC staff encouraged the CAC to partner with other proposers to offer science clubs as a component of their services. For whatever reason, they chose not to.
CTAC has been proud to support the CAC on two occasions already. In our very first funding opportunity the CAC was awarded $22K for their programming. When the opportunity arose for them to purchase the Science Bus, CTAC authorized the use of $7,000 of CTAC funds to purchase and outfit the bus. CTAC was the primary funder of the Science Bus.
Second, CAC was a key partner in our most recent summer initiative. CAC spent $18,500 of CTAC funding for their five-week summer program, which concluded this August.
Lastly, the CTAC and the Board of County Commissioners are two, separate bodies. The BoCC had no part in any of CTAC's funding decisions. And while the CTAC had no part in any of the BoCC's funding decisions, I did want to make you aware of the fact that the BoCC recently awarded the CAC $16,012.99 of funding, beginning today (10/1/2021).
The CTAC will have other funding opportunities, both this year and in the years to come. As you can see, the CAC has been supported by the CTAC in the past, and it is hard to imagine that the CAC is not well positioned to take advantage of CTAC funding in the future.
Please feel free to share this information with anyone else who has similar concerns, and don't hesitate to reach out to me directly any time.
Sincerely,
Colin Murphy
Executive Director
Children’s Trust of Alachua County
Physical Address: 802 NW 5th Ave; Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32601
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5669, Gainesville, FL 32627
Main Phone: 352-374-1830
Fax: 352-374-1831
Direct Line: 352-374-1821
-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy deren <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 1, 2021 12:06 AM
To: BOCC (Only Commissioners) <[log in to unmask]>; Colin Murphy <[log in to unmask]>; Ashley Morgan-Daniel <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Please include Cultural Arts Coalition in funding consideration
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Commissioners and Children’s Trust members,
I just became aware that the Cultural Arts Coalition (CAC) after school science program was disqualified from your consideration.
I am deeply dismayed by this decision, and urge you to reconsider.
This is a remarkable, top quality program that has reached children in so many of our most challenged neighborhoods on a regular weekly basis at a number of sites — When I read through your list of guiding principles, CAC’s programming certainly exemplifies at least a majority of those principles in a robust and organic way.
Despite the disruptions of covid, they rallied and, utilizing the newly acquired Science Bus, were able to take science to children in an array of places, including in rural areas. A whole consortium came together, pitched in and collaborated to keep quality science programs going for the kids using the Science Bus and other ideas— Working Food, Greater Duval, and Friends of Little Orange Creek Environmental Ed joined together with CAC. Relationships were forged, and ideas shared to enrich science and learning for the kids going forward.
These powerful grassroots collaborations nurture, engage and inspire learning in deep and lasting ways that are so much fun— what is more powerful than to instill love of learning while having fun!
I have been a supporter of the science clubs, especially involving the unique garden science program that was developed to cover all the curriculum requirements for grade level.
To see the children’s excitement and fascination with learning to grow the garden understand living soil, (holding wiggly worms) , care for plants, cook and eat that food, has been so exciting. They kept journals, learned how to assess, measure, and understand principles of science with real life experiences. That is the kind of learning that will stick with them, since it engages all their senses and modes of learning. They are learning life skills as well, and take things they learned back to their families— so the families become more engaged as well.
The caliber of the programming, personal attention, hands on experiences and creativity should not be discounted, simply because this is a smaller program. Your funding support can be a catalyst to build the capacity to reach more children — and attract additional funders
The Science Bus has been a popular success, so being able expand the stations and the kinds of hands on science the kids get to do, plus being able to travel to more schools in East county would be so valuable. . Isn’t this the sort of web of caring, collaborative, integrated support we want to weave for our children? Look at your principle #7— also #2, #6 and #10. — CAC is exactly the kind of program that should earn your support.
I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision, and qualify the CAC after school science program for funding.
Thank you,
In community,
Nancy Deren
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the MARIHELEN-WHEELER list, click the following link:
http://listserv.alachuacounty.us/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MARIHELEN-WHEELER
|
