GLSI Planning Grant for a West Michigan Stewardship Hub
Grant Type: 2007 Planning Grant
Project Duration: 6/13/07-10/25/07
Grant Amount: $17,310.00
Project Description
The region serviced by this grant (Muskegon, Oceana, Newaygo, and the northern portion of Ottawa County) is in the southwestern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and encompasses just over one million acres. The 22 public K-12 school districts in the region span the entire urban/rural and rich/poor continuum.
Project Outcome
The goal of this project was to collaboratively develop a plan for a West Michigan Hub for place-based education. Leadership was provided by a Planning Team, comprised of key staff of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District’s Regional Mathematics and Science Center and the Muskegon Conservation District. The Planning Team met nine times to manage the project, and used listservs, e-mail, meetings with individuals, and a brochure to share information about the project with a wide audience. A larger West Michigan GLSI Planning Collaborative, composed of 22 representatives from philanthropy, K-12 education, governmental agencies and higher education, met five times to learn about place-based education and stewardship, develop a shared vision for the West Michigan Hub, identify readiness criteria for teachers, schools and community partners, and define desired core experiences for students. The project resulted in an Implementation Grant that addressed administration, programming, marketing, outreach, and sustainability of a West Michigan Hub centered in Muskegon. Twenty-one schools and 12 community organizations committed to participate. In addition, this project engaged representatives from Manistee County in the planning process in order to discuss and define a possible relationship between a regional hub and a more remote site. Grantee did not use all funds for planning.