Crown Heights: Here's Your 2nd Chance to Weigh in on $100,000 in Community Spending

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — For the second year, the Brooklyn Community Foundation will spend $100,000 on community projects in Crown Heights — and it wants to know how residents think the money should be used.

The philanthropic organization will host its second community visioning session on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at YO S.O.S Crown Heights, located at 267 Kingston Ave. (You can RSVP here, which is encouraged.)

This is the second visioning session the Foundation has hosted, with the first taking place in September. The session will allow people to make suggestions about specific projects or organizations they think should be funded, or to simply talk through ideas they have and turn them into project pitches.

The Foundation says it's looking for "creative ideas for investing in ways that will strengthen the community, address inequality, and advance a collective vision for a future in which all who call Crown Heights 'home' can thrive."

This year, the money could be used for multiple small projects, or a few large ones, according to Foundation spokeswoman Liane Stegmaier.

In 2015, a total of 11 projects were funded, including $15,000 for UHAB, a community group that fights abusive landlords, and $10,000 for a mentorship program run by the Brooklyn Clergy Action Network, which works to combat gun violence.

After all of the ideas are in, an advisory council will select a group of finalists and pick the winners later this year.

Top photo courtesy of 401(K) 2012/Flickr