Lead Forward Community Grant Awarded to the Ripley County Community Foundation

In collaboration with Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. (ICI), the Lilly Scholars Network has selected 10 organizations around the state to receive the inaugural round of Lead Forward Community Grants, which pair charitable organizations with a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar (or multiple scholars) in their Indiana communities.  The Lilly Scholars Network, with funding to ICI from Lilly Endowment Inc. and oversight and support from ICI, works to engage Lilly Endowment Community Scholars in topics and with people focused on advancing Indiana's future, while inspiring and equiping the scholars to be active change-makers in their communities and cultivate meaningful connections.

The Ripley County Community Foundation received one of the #LSNLeadForward Community Grants for $2,500.00. The grant will be used to prepare teachers for the unique mental health challenges faced by students and assist in the expansion of developing additional modules for the Mental Health / Trauma-Informed Virtual Training that will focus on Social Emotional Learning, Trauma, and Stress & Anxiety.

The project will work alongside East Indiana Area Health Education Center and Dr. Beth Trammell of Make Words Matter. Lilly Scholar Partners included Eric Benz, Christina Record White, and Holly Toops Swinney.  More information about this grant can be found at www.lillyscholars.org/leadforward.