Chandler has budgeted $20,000 for qualifying schools, nonprofits and community groups.
In 2006, the city started giving up to $1,000 to diversity programs and projects geared toward students. In 2022, the city doubled its budget to award about 20 grants annually.
The city’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Niki Tapia, said a recent back to school event focused on neurodiversity, “They asked for funding for items to go into the community resource bag that were related to autism and neurodiversity. So we were able to put books into the back to school bags for kids and families to talk about the different dimensions of diversity because it's not always cultural.”
Other awards have funded multicultural fairs, speakers and musicians.
“Our goal is to not run away from the things that might make us different. It's to learn about them and then to celebrate that we're all part of what makes this community and what makes Chandler such a great place,” Tapia said.
All proposals must address one or more of the following:
- Age
- Socio-economic status
- Culture
- Ability and Disability
- Ethnicity
- Gender and Identity
- National origin
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Language
A subcommittee of the city’s Human Relations Commission will review applications. More information can be found on Chandler’s website.
