Ten organizations will receive a total of $150,000 in grant funding from the African American Equity Restoration Task Force (AAERTF) to meet its key goals for reinvestment in the East Knoxville community.
At its Feb. 4, 2025, meeting, City Council approved the allocation to these awardees, whose activities will take place through the Spring, Summer and/or Fall 2025:
· C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries: $20,000.00
· Girl Talk, Inc.: $10,000.00
· East TN Freedom Schools: $10,000.00
· East TN Housing Development Corp: $20,000.00
· Hopewell Foundation: $20,000.00
· Karate Five Association: $10,000.00
· New Directions Health Care Solutions: $20,000.00
· Make a Way Transport: $10,000.00
· One Knoxville Collective: $10,000.00
· Real Talk Mentoring, Inc.: $20,000.00
Recipients will use the funds to support programming, stipends, payments and other services directly related to the investment areas identified in the Task Force’s Strategic Framework: education, community investment and engagement, homeownership, small business development and entrepreneurship, and workforce equity.
In November 2024, the City of Knoxville sought local groups to apply through a competitive application process. The Task Force’s Investment Committee reviewed applications received by the Dec. 5 deadline and advised on which applications should receive funding, in what amount, and with what conditions or guidance.
The City’s Office of Community Safety and Empowerment (OSCE) will monitor the progress of the funded projects, provide technical assistance as needed, ensure delivery of all project close-out reports and receipts, and encourage an exchange of ideas and best practices among grant recipients.
The African American Equity Restoration Task Force was established by City Council resolution in December 2020 to study, review and identify strategic solutions to improve areas of disparity and disenfranchisement in the East Knoxville community by working with existing community agencies to develop policy and program recommendations that will create opportunities for generational wealth building.
For more information, including a list of Task Force members, meeting dates, agendas and minutes, go here.
