As Part of My LA2050, Grant Money Will Be Used To Support Innovative Projects That Use Technology to Solve Challenges in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — The Annenberg Foundation today announced the recipients of the Annenberg Challenge for Innovation in Technology, an initiative that provides additional funding to the Goldhirsh Foundation’s My LA2050 Grants Challenge. Applicants to the Annenberg Challenge submitted proposals with a special focus on technology and communications solutions to improve the lives of Angelenos by the year 2050. Grants have been awarded to the following organizations: mitú, Carpe LA, EveryoneOn, Children’s Action Network, and EnCorps.
The Annenberg Challenge for Innovation in Technology grants are among those offered as part of the Foundation’s new AnnenbergTech initiative. The winners include My LA2050 applicants whose organizations aim to transform L.A. for the better in ways ranging from content creation for social impact, to community development, digital literacy, and awareness building and education. The My LA2050 Grants Challenge, spearheaded by the Goldhirsh Foundation, offers $1 million in grants each year to make Los Angeles the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live by 2050.
“We’re proud to provide additional funding to My LA2050 applicants who are providing innovative solutions to improve L.A. communities through technology,” said Marsha Bonner, Annenberg’s Director of Programs, Community Grantmaking & Special Initiatives. “We’re always seeking creative ways to advance our grantmaking and we’re eager to provide much-needed funds to these organizations offering novel approaches to community engagement.”
With its long legacy in grantmaking, The Annenberg Foundation invests in visionary leaders of nonprofit organizations that provide impactful programs and services through collaborative models. In addition to access to community grants, nonprofits in the Greater Los Angeles region interested in enhancing technological capabilities are encouraged to learn more about Annenberg Alchemy Tech, the Foundation’s new program offering nonprofits guidance on best practices for building technology projects. Since 2006, the Alchemy Program has provided capacity building and leadership training programs for nonprofit organizations and their leaders located in the five-county region of Greater Los Angeles, with budgets up to $5 million.
“The Annenberg Challenge for Innovation in Technology offers an opportunity to transform how technology is used among L.A. nonprofits,” said Goldhirsh Foundation President Tara Roth. “As the LA region emerges as a leader in tech, we must all use the platforms available to use to spread awareness, reach more people, and build applications that improve the lives of Angelenos.”
Award recipients and initiatives include the following:
mitú Accelerate LA: Diversifying digital content creation for regional social impact
mitú Accelerate LA not only discovers aspiring Latino digital filmmakers, but connects them with key community organizations, educational institutions, and industry partners, with the goal of training them on how to successfully create digital content that speaks to the often overlooked, yet massive, Latino millennial audience. As leaders in this field, mitú is focused on giving back by teaching Latino filmmakers to authentically tell their own stories in a way that is authentic, direct, and effective.
CARPE LA: A collaborative augmented reality play experience for families of L.A.
CARPE LA is mobile experience a la Pokemon Go designed to get teams of kids and adults outside to play a story-driven, location-based game in parks throughout L.A. Through a series of summer events at which CARPE LA will be played, teams will collaborate to unlock the open spaces in their neighborhoods. CARPE LA is a project of NAMLE – the National Association for Media Literacy Education.
Everyone On: Providing Internet Connectivity & Devices to Families in Public Housing
EveryoneOn eliminates the digital divide by making high-speed, low-cost Internet, computers, and free digital literacy training accessible to all unconnected people in the U.S. In collaboration with AT&T, they will facilitate Internet connectivity and devices for families living in public housing within Los Angeles’ designated Promise Zones. EveryoneOn will track the number of low-income people in public housing who receive devices and get connected to the Internet at home, tracking outcomes in education post connectivity.
Children’s Action Network: FosterMore-Because No Child Makes It Alone
FosterMore is a coalition of nonprofits and foundations united to increase opportunities for foster youth. They are seeking to expand their successful digital campaigns that use micro-targeted digital messages and videos to potential foster parents and mentors.
STEMdustry In Motion: The EnCorps STEM Teachers Fellowship Program
The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program forges public-private partnerships to recruit and train STEM professionals to teach California’s low income, under-resourced, and minority students. This program seeks to increase the number of qualified STEM teachers and tutors who serve high need public and charter schools in Southern California, increase disadvantaged students’ access to a first-rate STEM education that shows the real-world application of math and technology, and increase underrepresented populations in STEM professions.
For more information on how the Annenberg Foundation awards grants , visit Annenberg.org/grantmaking.
Additional AnnenbergTech initiatives and new partnerships will be announced in the coming months. For additional information on AnnenbergTech visit http://www.annenberg.org/tech.
Contact:
Maria Gonima / Annenberg Foundation
213.403.3039
[email protected]
About the Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with innovative projects that further its mission of advancing a better tomorrow through visionary leadership today. Among them are Annenberg Alchemy, Annenberg Learner, Annenberg Space for Photography, explore, GRoW @ Annenberg and the Metabolic Studio. The Foundation encourages the development of effective ways to communicate by sharing ideas and knowledge.
About LA2050
LA2050 is an initiative of the Goldhirsh Foundation that seeks to drive and track progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. LA2050 is rooted in a vision of a successful Los Angeles—a region that is a healthy, thriving, and desirable place to live. LA2050’s goal is to work with Angelenos to develop a framework that harnesses the area’s untapped potential, lays out a roadmap for a region that supports the shared success of all Angelenos, and invest resources to support innovation that will make our dreams of LA a reality.
