Marian lands $500K grant for City Connects program in Muncie
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Marian University has received a $500,000 grant from the Indiana University Health Community Impact Investment Fund to expand the City Connects program at Muncie Community Schools.
The program is designed to provide K-12 students with a plan to address issues they may be facing outside of the classroom, such as housing instability, food insecurity, or lack of access to health care.
Marian piloted the Midwest expansion of the program, which was originally established at Boston College, in 2021 at 34 schools in South Bend, Gary, Muncie and Indianapolis. The program expanded last year to a total of 79 schools in cities including Anderson, Fort Wayne, Lafayette and North Judson.
The newly awarded grant is one of 14 awarded by the fund, which is administered by the IU Health Foundation.
“Since implementing City Connects in 2021, we have seen incredible results with our students,” Muncie Community Schools Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said in a news release. “We are very grateful for our partnership with Marian University and all the support they provide our students and teachers.”
In Muncie, City Connects is currently being implemented in East Washington Academy, Grissom Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Northside Middle School, Southside Middle School, and South View Elementary School.
Marian did not specify how many additional students would be served by the expanded created through the new grant.
“Students should be able to focus on learning at school,” said City Connects Midwest Director Jillian Lain. “Unfortunately, we know many are dealing with a lot outside the classroom. Whether they’re worried about their parent’s divorce, where their next meal will come from or something else entirely, City Connects supports students and their families by connecting them with resources.”
Officials from Marian and Muncie Community Schools spoke about the program in a 2021 interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, which you can watch here.