Funding will help young people become civically engaged through nonpartisan peer-to-peer education
INDIANAPOLIS – The League of Women Voters of Indianapolis has received a $25,000 grant from the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), a charitable initiative of Glick Philanthropies. The grant will support LWV Indy volunteers in empowering youth across Marion County to become more civically engaged through nonpartisan peer-to-peer education.
The initiative aims to help young people better understand how their government works and how they can make a difference in their communities. By connecting youth with peers, the program delivers civic education in a relatable, accessible way, while also helping participants strengthen leadership, public speaking and organizational skills.
Recent research from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University underscores the power of this approach: 74% of youth say they trust their peers and neighbors, the highest percentage of any institution or group surveyed. By putting youth in a position to educate and inspire each other, the program builds on existing trust to spark greater civic participation.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to reach more young people and help them see the role they can play in shaping their communities,” said Barb Tully, LWV Indy board member. “We’re deeply grateful for Glick Philanthropies’ support in expanding this important work.”
This is LWV Indy’s first sizable foundation grant — a milestone that speaks to the dedication of its volunteers, including mentors and youth programming participants, across Marion County.
Glick Philanthropies – a family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential – recently announced more than $3.16 million in grants to 52 nonprofit organizations. Its funding priorities include providing affordable housing, supporting a healthy democracy, strengthening Jewish cultural life, expanding equitable access to the arts, closing education achievement gaps, improving access to basic needs and increasing economic mobility.
“LWV Indy’s innovative, peer-to-peer approach to civic engagement empowers high school students with resources while trusting them to use their perspective to engage peers,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation. “We believe this unique program will create ripple effects that go beyond developing civically engaged youth to inspiring more informed and engaged lifelong citizens.”
For more information about Glick Philanthropies or to see the complete list of this year’s grant recipients, visit www.glickphilanthropies.org.
To learn more about the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis and our civic engagement programming for youth, contact us directly at communication@lwvindy.org.