Although community service is not Baylor senior Isabella Moore’s official extracurricular activity (she dances 20 hours a week outside of school with the Chattanooga Ballet), Baylor’s community service grant program helps her allows you to share your passion.

“I love working with children, but I don’t usually have the opportunity to teach. I helped out in my studio, but I wanted to share with a group who otherwise wouldn’t be able to benefit from this training or see shows,” Isabella said.

She teaches an average of five students (girls and boys) at Westside and Carver in the fall and spring. The class alternates between ballet and modern dance games to learn technique. The grant covers a pair of ballet shoes for students during the session. “Very rarely have I seen a child more excited than when they received their shoes,” Isabella said. “And when they performed, it was really special. I want to share how much I love dancing. It’s great to see them enjoying it too.

Director of Community Services Takisha Haynie points out that arts grants have a significant impact. “Many of our academics are small people who don’t always know how to deal with very big feelings. Student writers use the arts to help them relax and get through difficult times.

Wanda Officer, founding CEO of Alpha and Omega Outreach, a ministry based at the Carver Community Center since 2000, echoed Ms. Haynie’s thoughts. “In February, I’m doing a Black Legacy program. Our children may not have the opportunity to do ballet, but Isabella taught a dance in the spring and fall that the children practiced for the community, parents and city council representatives,” said Ms. Officer. “The kids really enjoyed it and it made an impact on their lives.” The exhibition raises expectations.

Established in 1999, the Community Service Grant Writing Program allows Baylor students to design and seek funding for additional projects, services or items that would benefit scholars at Carver and Westside Community Centers.

Interested students complete a grant application that includes the project’s goals, plans, budget and anticipated impact. Students then present their final grant proposals to a panel consisting of a Parent Alliance representative, a community service board member (who also helps coordinate planning), and faculty members. The selected grants are then funded by the Parent Alliance and the amount of each grant varies. The grant may cover the cost of refreshments served as part of a special enrichment program or be used to purchase equipment or materials that enhance a learning environment. “Whether big or small, the goal is for grants to have a positive impact,” Ms Haynie said. It’s exciting to see our students imagine innovative ways to meet needs, fill gaps, and influence change.

These grants benefit researchers at Carver and Westside as well as academic partners at Baylor. “Students gain real-world practice in communication,” Ms. Haynie said. “They not only follow a proposal through the writing process, but also communicate with the panel and partners to get the grant accepted.”

Briana Brady ’17 has used her grant writing skills learned through Baylor’s community service program in previous nonprofit work and also in her current role as an educational consultant. “Everything about the way the Baylor grant program was structured was a lesson in leadership. This helped you develop your skills in presenting a case. The most important thing was to determine the desired outcome,” Briana said. “Accountability is essential in the professional and nonprofit world, as is collaboration. When writing a grant, you often worked with a peer or community partner. This relationship building and collaboration carries over into the professional world.

Current grant projects
Many established programs, such as the Anderson Awards Dinner and Reading Reward Trips, began as scholarships through the Community Service Program. “Music Love predates me,” Ms. Haynie said. “The scholarship was created by orchestra and band students who wanted to share their love of music with Carver Center students. When the original grant writer graduated, other students chose to continue. It has been renewed and appreciated for many years. Other grant-funded projects have included taking scholars on Walkabout field trips, building a butterfly garden, creating a competitive robotics team and renovating the Carver Center library.

In addition to the Isabella Dance Scholarship, the following scholarships are currently funded and managed by students:

Robotics day(s)
Focus on phonics
Love of music
STEM Days
Library Improvement
Coloring and mental health
Calligraphy
Carpet tiles
Community help
Holiday Arts and Crafts
Relaxation
Best reader
Outdoor learning space
Creating collages
Space Day