Coahoma Community College News December 11, 2020 Coahoma secures $30,000 Access to Opportunity grant The Women's Foundation of Mississippi has awarded Coahoma Community College as well as Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College an Access to Opportunity grant. The one-year grant, specifically for women students of the College, amounts to $30,000 and will financially respond to urgencies uncovered by the ongoing pandemic. Chaquina Griffin, who serves as the career pathway navigator for the MI-BEST program of the College's Workforce Development Center, invested much effort into the grant-writing aspect of landing the funds. Griffin underscores that a $300 deficiency can be the reason for discontinued educational pursuits. "We are ecstatic to be granted the opportunity to continue our partnership with the Women's Foundation of Mississippi," said Griffin. "The partnership and grant funds provided will definitely help so many women we serve at Coahoma Community College. Our students' education is important. We want to see them succeed in every aspect of their lives. Being able to be an asset in helping our students overcome life obstacles is indeed a blessing to me and for me." The grant will uniquely meet needs not met due to low income, public assistance, and other similar means. Mothers attending college may be facing family-related challenges that result in them indefinitely postponing their college education. However, the Access to Opportunity grant can save them from abandoning their pathway to a supportive career. "Historically, students have sought assistance for child care, utility bills, transportation costs, automotive repairs, technology devices, et cetera, and there was not an avenue to assist," Griffin continued. "The grant will also incorporate financial literacy to provide knowledge and strategies those women can apply to their daily lives to increase family-sustaining wages and learn to budget." The Foundation has awarded more than $422,000 in grants to support women and girls of Mississippi organizations. Eleven Mississippi-based programs, including Clarksdale youth organization Spring Initiative, have been granted funds. Adult Education Director Tamara Washington-Travis also played a role in filling the financial gap for women students through the grant-writing process. "This grant is going to meet the needs of those young ladies of the College who need help with childcare," said Washington-Travis. "We're trying to make sure they have the extra support so that they can continue on with their studies here at Coahoma. This grant will eliminate those barriers to help them be successful." The mission of the Women's Foundation of Mississippi is economic security for women. Since becoming an independent non-profit in 2008, it has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants to programs, nonprofits, and educational institutions. The organization currently operates under the motto "When women thrive, Mississippi thrives." Contact Chaquina Griffin at (662) 621-4301 or cgriffin@coahomacc.edu, or Tamara Washington-Travis at (662) 621-4307 or twashington@coahomacc.edu<mailto:twashington@coahomacc.edu> for more information. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/