Irvine’s Board of Directors approved $14.5 million in grants at its quarterly meeting last week. Of the 53 grants approved, 32 are in the Arts, three in California Democracy, four in our Youth program, 13 in Special Initiatives and one in Special Opportunities. I’d like to highlight some of the grants that we are excited about:

Exploring Engagement Fund – Our Arts program is supporting 19 arts organizations that are experimenting with new ways of engaging audiences and participants as part of our Exploring Engagement Fund. The goal of the new strategy is to promote engagement in the arts for all Californians — the kind that embraces and advances the diverse ways that we experience the arts and that strengthens our ability to thrive together in a dynamic and complex social environment.

Civic Engagement – Our California Democracy is supporting the Environmental Health Coalition and the Institute for Local Government, organizations that provide public engagement in local and regional governance and policymaking. These grants are part of the program’s Civic Engagement priority. The goal of the California Democracy program is to advance effective public policy decision making that is reflective of and responsive to all Californians.

ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career – Our Youth program promotes Linked Learning as a new approach to high school education that combines strong academics with real-world experience in a wide range of fields. A new $450,00 grant will support ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career to plan for regional expansion of Linked Learning pathways in San Bernardino County. Grants made as part of Irvine’s Youth program seek to increase the number of low income youth in California who complete high school on time and attain a postsecondary credential by the age of 25.