By ANDY GRAY

Staff writer

Three organizations will receive a combined $64,500 from the Raymond John Wean Foundation from grants announced this week.

The foundation awarded $25,000 to the Trumbull County Historical Society to purchase and maintain black, Hispanic and Latino artifacts for its planned Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts in Warren.

Other recipients are Communities in Schools in Ohio and Honesty for Ohio Education, two statewide organizations.

Communities in Ohio will use the grant to help fund a site coordinator at Stambaugh Charter Academy, a charter school serving nearly 480 K-8 students living in the city of Youngstown.

Honesty for Ohio Education will use the money to support the planning and development of a Mahoning Valley organizing campaign.

Jennifer Roller, president of the Wean Foundation said, “All three grants reflect the core values of the Wean Foundation. From advancing racial equity so that race no longer predicts or determines socioeconomic outcomes — as demonstrated by the work of Communities in Schools of Ohio and Honesty for Ohio Education — to fostering collaboration, as Trumbull County Historical Society is modeling through the planning and creation of a shared space to exchange knowledge and leverage community resources, each organization reflects our mission in action. By partnering with these organizations, which are new or relatively new to our grant making, the Wean Foundation continues to expand both the scope and impact of its community investments.”

Meghan Reed, executive director of the TCHS, said the Wean Foundation has been a strong supporter of the sci-fi museum project.

“They have been really thoughtful in terms of their support and approach to how they can make the museum stronger (through) multiple conversations and really trying to think through what the best avenue for this would be,” Reed said.

With the grant, TCHS plans to purchase props and items from science fiction and fantasy works that feature representation of minority communities.

“We’re just extremely thrilled to have additional funds at this stage to be able to grow the collection, and before we really get started and make firm decisions on exhibit design, to be able to diversify what we have and provide a broader representation of the sci-fi and fantasy genres,” Reed said.

Piet van Lier, deputy director for Honest for Ohio Education, said, “Honesty’s work funded by the Wean Foundation will tap into existing community organizations and local leaders to build connections and partnerships with people who are passionate about their public school systems.”