Mini-Grants

Each year, The 84 Movement offers its Chapters the opportunity to apply for a mini-grant to do meaningful youth-led work in their community.

Summary: The 84 Movement is offering two opportunities to apply for grants that will enhance your youth program by facilitating youth-led creative work that incorporates the theme of fighting against the tobacco and vaping industries. These opportunities are available to registered Chapters of The 84 Movement as well as non-Chapters. Your organization may apply for and receive either option or both. We will hold a virtual information session to answer questions about these opportunities on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, and will add to the frequently asked questions as needed.

Eligibility: Applying groups must be nonprofit organizations (501c3) or have the fiscal sponsorship of a nonprofit, or be a school/city/town, and have at least five youth and one adult advisor or project lead who will work on the project. Current mini-grant and stipend recipients of The 84 are eligible and encouraged to apply. Groups not involved in The 84 are also eligible and encouraged to apply. Groups located in priority communities (Western Mass, and Cape Cod) will be prioritized for funding but all are eligible. If your group is interested in becoming an 84 Movement Chapter, please register at https://www.the84.org/join-us

About Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and The 84 Movement: The 84 Movement (referred to as The 84) is a statewide youth racial justice and tobacco prevention program that promotes youth leadership to improve public health. Specifically, The 84 supports young people in middle and high school to fight the influence of the tobacco and vaping industries in their communities. Chapters of The 84 educate peers and adults about the deceptive marketing practices and racial inequities perpetuated by these industries. The 84 represents the 84% of Massachusetts high school youth who did NOT smoke cigarettes when the program began in 2007. In 2023, that number was 97%. Also as of 2023, 84% of high school students did NOT vape. The 84 continues to prevent youth nicotine dependence through a positive youth development approach and builds the capacity of a statewide network of youth committed to reversing the influence of the tobacco industry. The 84 is comprised of over 50 school- and community- based Chapters representing over 1000 youth, including a Statewide Leadership Team (SLT) of 20 youth from across MA. Chapters receive trainings and technical assistance (TA) on racial equity and policy, systems, and environmental change, mini-grant opportunities and two youth-led statewide events - Youth Power Summit and Ending Nicotine Use for the Future (ENUFF, formerly known as  Kick Butts Day)- to unite and train youth on racial and social justice and connect their local work to a broader statewide movement.

The 84 Movement is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) managed in partnership with the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program (MTCP) and Health Resources in Action. Funding for these grants is made possible through a partnership with DPH and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.  For more information, visit The84.org 

Option One: The Comic Book Project

Number of awards: Up to 12 youth serving organizations in Massachusetts will be funded.

Funding Amount: $20,000

Project Timeline: February 2025 – June 2025

Summary: The 84 Movement Comic Book Project will equip 84 Chapters and other youth-serving programs with the training and resources that empower them to facilitate middle and/or high school youth to plan, write, design, and publish original comic books which incorporate themes of fighting against the tobacco and vaping industries.

Comics can include:

·       Information to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco/nicotine products

·       Data to increase awareness of use in different areas or amongst different populations

·       Information on vaping (e-cigarettes, vape pens, e-hookah)

·       Information on the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke or aerosol from tobacco/nicotine products

 

Programs will be provided with:

·       Staff development workshops to learn how to facilitate young people creating their own comic books.

·       Mid-point check-in with 84 and/or Comic Book Project staff and troubleshooting sessions and technical assistance as needed to support successful implementation.

·       Individual printed publications (a few copies per student)

·       A culminating exhibition event where young people can showcase their work and network with others from across the state.

·       A selection of the highest quality comic books to be included in a published compendium book.

Expectations: The 84 Comic Book Project mini-grants will be given to youth serving organizations who are interested in incorporating programming that would support the creation and development of comic books that include themes of fighting against the tobacco and vaping industries. Grantees will be required to attend an in-person Kickoff Event and the final Statewide Comic Book Project Showcase. Grantees will be required to submit a brief progress report midway through the project, and a brief summary upon completion. The mini-grant will be paid out in two payments, the first upon execution of the contract and the second upon completion.

Funding may be used to pay for staff time, consultants, youth stipends, supplies and materials and transportation to in-person events.

About The Comic Book Project: The Comic Book Project is a literacy and creativity initiative that engages young people in planning, writing, designing, and publishing original comic books. Since 2001, CBP has reached more than 250,000 learners in a creative process leading to academic achievement, social awareness, and community development. By engaging youth in brainstorming, sketching, plotting, designing, and publishing original comic books, CBP encourages youth to become active learners and content creators, rather than receivers and consumers of information.

Required events:

  • Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 9:30am-1pm — IN-PERSON, Kickoff and Staff Development (Adult Advisors only)

  • Friday, June 13, 2025—IN-PERSON Statewide Comic Book Project Showcase (Adult Advisors and Youth Participants)

  • 3 monthly group check-in meetings (Adult Advisors and Youth Participants):

o   Friday, March 21, 2025 – VIRTUAL

o   Friday, April 18, 2025 – VIRTUAL

o   Friday, May 23, 2025 - VIRTUAL

These are all required events for The 84 Comic Book Project grantees. All grantees are required to attend the in-person Staff Training and Statewide Comic Book Project Showcase. Transportation will be provided. At least one adult advisor or project lead must plan to attend each check-in meeting. You will receive a calendar invitation with all three check-ins and in-person events after receiving funding.

Programs that want to participate in The Comic Book Project must agree to be fully committed to this initiative and implement The Comic Book Project in its entirety (at least 15 hours). Programs will also be required to:

·       Recruit students who will attend the comic book club or class regularly.

·       Assign a dedicated staff member or teacher to implement the project.

·       Deliver the curriculum over a minimum of 15 program hours (could be divided into 8-12 longer sessions).

·       Provide an adequate space with tables (or desks) and chairs.

·       Provide a sufficient supply of #2 pencils and colored pencils or crayons.

The following materials are provided to accepted sites:

·       Activity Booklet

·       Manuscript Starter

·       Comic Book Canvas

·       Past Student Publication

·       Staff Lesson Plans

The application is open January 13, 2025 to January 29, 2025. Applications should be submitted by 3:00PM on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. You will be notified whether your proposal is accepted by February 12, 2025. We will host a virtual information session on January 22, 2025 where you will be able to ask questions.

Option Two: The Creative Spark Fund

Number of awards: Up to 30 youth serving organizations in Massachusetts will be funded.

Funding Amount: $5,000

Project Timeline: February 2025 - June 2025

Summary: The 84 Movement Creative Spark Fund will provide funding to youth-serving programs to carry out a creative project of their choosing. The creative project must address an element of The 84’s mission and can range from art murals, podcast shows, music videos, and photography. Organizations that are awarded funds will be required to participate in an 84 Movement messaging training to ensure that the project aligns with messaging priorities.  

Programs will be invited to submit proposals to receive grants that will support their participation in:

·       Adult and youth participation in an 84 Movement messaging training

·       Facilitating submissions of works created by young people that incorporate 84 Movement themes

·       Technical assistance to support successful implementation.

Expectations: The Creative Spark Fund will award $5,000 mini-grants to youth serving organizations who are interested in completing a creative project related to The 84’s mission (i.e, addressing racism and discriminatory practices of the tobacco and vaping industries, uplifting youth voice, root cause factors that lead to tobacco and nicotine use, etc.) The expectation is to submit at least four smaller works or one larger project. Examples of final works are podcasts, Tik Toks or other videos, posters, murals, etc. or one large art mural in a neighborhood. There will be two check-ins with staff to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Funding may be used to pay for staff time, consultants, youth stipends, supplies and materials and transportation to in-person events,

Important Dates:

·       Wednesday, February 19 at 6pm, VIRTUAL - 84 Messaging Training

·       Check-ins will be scheduled for the months of April and June, VIRTUAL

·       Friday, June 20, all final submissions are due and funds should be spent

These dates are required for all Creative Spark Fund grantees. At least one adult advisor or project lead must plan to attend each check-in meeting. You will receive a calendar invitation with the important dates after receiving funding.

 The application is open January 13, 2025 to January 29, 2025. Applications should be submitted by 3:00PM on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. You will be notified whether your proposal is accepted by February 12, 2025. We will host a virtual information session on January 22, 2025 where you will be able to ask questions.