Title
Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Accept Grant Funds in the Amount of $5,500 from the California Humanities’ Library Innovation Lab (LIL) Grant to Fund Programming that Engages Youth Immigrant Communities Through Public Humanities Programs.
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Community Engagement and Outreach
• Race and Equity Initiatives
SUMMARY
California Humanities’ LIL program is a competitive, small-grant program that enables libraries to research, design, implement, and assess a public humanities project that is rooted in the community, while also learning from a cohort of other grantees. LIL grants are funded and awarded by California Humanities to eligible California libraries.
Under this LIL grant award ending December 2023, the Library would research, design, implement, and assess public humanities programming in collaboration with middle- and high school-aged youth in San Leandro. The research process involves conducting interviews, focus groups, and surveys to build relationships and learn what type of public humanities programming would best serve immigrant youth in our community. In the design, implementation, and assessment phases, Library staff will create and reflect on programming, using iterative design principles to create future programs. Program design, implementation, and assessment will leverage relationships with immigrant youth communities to center their voices, feedback, and needs. The Library will use the funding to conduct the research, programming, and translation services.
The result of the LIL grant will be a way for the Library to connect with the community and uplift, celebrate, and engage with our shared and diverse histories and cultures.
RECOMMENTATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution to accept the grant award totaling $5,500 from California Humanities and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents and appropriate the funds.
BACKGROUND
California Humanities is an independent nonprofit who partners with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Since 1975, they have promoted the humanities as a way of connecting Californians to one another and our histories; they produce humanities projects and programs, and award grants to schools, libraries, and community organizers, in support of public humanities projects.
The Library has received one previous LIL grant (March-December 2021, “(be)Longing: Woven into the Fabric of Our Community”), as well as two other humanities grants from California Humanities.
Analysis
For FY 2022-2023, the award agreement (Attachment B) provides $1,000 and for FY 2023-2024 provides $4,500. Funds are to be disbursed upon California Humanities approval of the project plan and budget. The Library is required to spend all the funds as outlined in the grant award by December 2023.
Grant funding must be spent according to the award agreement.
The grant award is earmarked and to be solely used for the LIL research and programs. All expenditures are tracked by the Teen Services Librarian and reported to California Humanities in quarterly and final report.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• GOAL CSF-3 Sustain and expand a public library system that provides a destination for exploration and discovery, knowledge and information, leisure and cultural enrichment, and life-long learning opportunities for persons of all ages.
o Policy CSF-3.4 Libraries as Neighborhood Centers. Promote programs and events that affirm the role of the City’s libraries as community and neighborhood gathering places and that reflect the City’s diverse population.
o Policy CSF-3.5 Resources for Self-Improvement. Ensure that San Leandro’s libraries and other community institutions provide a setting for the open exchange of ideas and information and provide an opportunity for residents of all backgrounds to improve their skills and knowledge.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
By the nature of this program, we will conduct outreach to the community to build collaborative relationships with immigrant teens, their families, and their school communities. We will leverage the existing strong relationships with the school district.
Legal Analysis
The City Attorney has reviewed these documents and agreements and approved them as to form.
Financial Impacts
While the LIL grant award will provide $5,500 over two fiscal years (in FY 2022-2023 the City will receive $1,000 and in FY 2023-2024 the City will receive $4,500), acceptance of this grant does not impact the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 or Fiscal Year 2023-2024 General Fund budget. Grant funding will be awarded upfront and deposited into the 150-3607 Revenue Account and expended as follows:
This award does not require matching funds from the City but will require in-kind staffing.
California Humanities funding will be deposited into the 150-3617 Revenue Account and expended as follows:
• Library Innovation Lab Grant Fund, Account 150-68-007: $5,500
• Total $5,500
This is not a reimbursement style grant.
ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment A: RESOLUTION GRANT FUNDS AWARDED BY THE CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES’ LIBRARY INNOVATION LAB GRANT
• Attachment B: California Humanities’ Library Innovation Lab Grant Agreement
Please note: a fully executed agreement will be attached to this legislative file following approval of this action.
PREPARED BY: Brian Simons, Library Director, Library Department; Kelly Keefer, Senior Librarian, Library Department; Portia Carryer, Teen Librarian, Library Department.