Staff report

The Raymond John Wean Foundation has approved more than $41,000 to support resident-led initiatives in Warren and Youngstown, bringing the total amount of Resident Engagement Grants awarded in 2025 to nearly $115,000.

“These grants are about keeping our community safe, clean and a vibrant place to live and work, and the efforts they support are driven by residents — those who know best what it takes for their neighborhoods to thrive,” said Fallon Williams, senior director of programs and operations.

The Wean Foundation provides grants of up to $5,000 to small nonprofits and grassroots groups to activate and sustain critical neighborhood solutions. Each recipient participates in one of the Wean Foundation’s Resident Engagement Grant workshops, a prerequisite to apply for such a grant, where they have an opportunity to refine their narrative and budget before applying.

More than 265 unique grassroots organizations have received more than $2 million in funding since 2008.

The grants, ranging from $1,500-$5,000, went to:

• 6th Ward Community Impact to support the 6th Ward Trash Buster program (Warren).

• Boulevard Park Block Watch for Pleasant Grove Peace Park and Community Blueberry Grove maintenance (Youngstown).

• Honeycomb Arts & Wellness Collective for the continuation of its Pollinator Garden Project (Youngstown).

• Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Association for its Senior Safety program (Youngstown).

• RCF Family Life Center in Warren to support music therapy for justice-involved youth.

• STEM Is Us 2.0 for the Warren City School District’s middle school medical camp.

• The Center for Community Solutions to support the dissemination of the Greater Mahoning Valley LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment.

• The Persayus Way Project’s Safe at Home program (Youngstown).

• Youngstown Skatepark Association to support the Youngstown Portable Skatepark project.