When Melissa Longman enrolled in 麻豆精品 S� grant writing course as part of her , she expected that what she learned would help her in her professional pursuits 麻豆精品 S� just maybe not quite so quickly.
Longman, a social worker by trade, also serves on the executive board of the David Posnack Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Davie, Florida. Through her work with the organization, she learned that federal funds were available for projects aimed at providing opportunities for individuals with cognitive impairment. Having just completed White-Jones 麻豆精品 S� grant writing class, she decided to take a chance.
麻豆精品 S淚 knew that I had already created a grant application for the course, so the timing was perfect, 麻豆精品 S� Longman says. 麻豆精品 S淭he window on the application was pretty short, so there wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have been time to write an application from scratch. 麻豆精品 S�
Utilizing her professional experience and her professor 麻豆精品 S檚 expert guidance, Longman drafted a grant proposal for HireAbility, an initiative through the David Posnack JCC that would use a food truck as a vehicle 麻豆精品 S� literally and figuratively 麻豆精品 S� to provide adults with cognitive impairment an opportunity to learn marketable work skills in a community-facing environment.
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Longman says the food truck would also serve as a recruiting tool for the participants, as people can see them practicing in-demand food service skills that might lead to long-term employment.
麻豆精品 S淔or me, it 麻豆精品 S檚 personal, 麻豆精品 S� Longman says. 麻豆精品 S淚 have a teenage daughter who is quickly approaching the age where she would benefit from a program like this. I 麻豆精品 S檝e done the research, and I know that demand for a program like this exists from the community, these adults and their families. 麻豆精品 S�
Longman 麻豆精品 S檚 hard work paid off, as she submitted her application through the David Posnack JCC and received $1.5 million in federal funding for the project.
麻豆精品 S淢issy 麻豆精品 S檚 passion and incredible work ethic helped secure funding our HireAbility program that will provide a work-life experience for so many adults with developmental challenges, 麻豆精品 S� says Scott Ehrlich, CEO of the David Posnack JCC. 麻豆精品 S淢issy continues to make incredible impact in the community through her desire to help others. We are so proud to have her as an executive board member. 麻豆精品 S�
White-Jones says the success of Longman 麻豆精品 S檚 project is not only a success story but a reinforcement of the School of Public Administration 麻豆精品 S檚 experience-based learning philosophy.
“I’m so happy for Melissa, 麻豆精品 S� White-Jones says. 麻豆精品 S淭o see her take an idea in this course and turn it into not only a fully formed and submitted grant proposal, but then to see it be funded in this capacity is why our experiential learning programs are second to none. It is nothing short of a privilege for me to assist our students with the opportunity to engage in real-world learning 麻豆精品 S� assignments that not only strengthen them professionally but make a positive impact in communities.”
