Introduction

My grant proposal is a community project involving low and/or lower-middle-class

individuals and families living in apartment complexes. Within the program, the tenants will
have the opportunity to participate in a Community Meet-Swap where they can exchange
unwanted household appliances, decorations, clothes, etc. Additionally, the project aims to teach
upcycling and crafting skills to create new, functional items or to repair them rather than
disposing of it.

Implementation Location and Program Objective

The target of this program is tenants of 1-2 low to lower-middle-class apartment complexes
located in the Houston area. Preferably, the program will be implemented in a recreational room
within the apartment complex, however if a recreational room is not readily available,
consideration will be given to utilizing the lobby of leasing. The primary aim of this program is
to encourage community, reduce waste, and promote creativity by utilizing unwanted, discarded,
mismatched, or aged materials to craft new, functional, and aesthetically pleasing items.

Implementation Timeframe and Program Structure

The program will be implemented for 12 months and structured around a series of 24 classes
(two classes per month), each lasting for about 2.5 to 5 hours. Additionally, to accommodate
participants, classes will be differentiated relative to age and experience. The three anticipated
age groups are 12-18, 19-25, and ages 25 and up. Furthermore, there is a small, one-time
matriculation fee of $225 for the 2.5 hour classes and $450 for the 5 hour classes, with the option
of paid installments to reduce financial strain. Moreover, a Community Meet-Swap will be held
twice a month to give tenants an opportunity for individuals or families in need to obtain lightly
used, yet unwanted household items from their neighbors. Items may be sold at reduced cost or
given away for free. Community Meet-Swaps and Upcycling/Crafting classes are to be
coordinated on alternating weeks.

Community Impact

The successful implementation of this plan requires a series of strategic steps. Primarily, a
comprehensive survey will be conducted to ascertain the age groups and the number of
individuals interested in participating in the program. This crucial step will serve as the
foundation for tailoring the program to the specific needs of the community.

Following the survey, the program will be meticulously designed and structured to
accommodate different age groups and skill levels. Ideally, there will be multiple levels of
classes, ranging from beginner to advanced, which will ensure that participants are able to
engage at an appropriate and proficient level. Furthermore, results from the survey will help in
the scheduling of class days and times. The goal is to accommodate roughly 10 - 12 students per
class, while simultaneously ensuring that there are little to no scheduling conflicts for individuals
interested in learning the art of upcycling through sewing and crafting, as well as woodworking.
This arrangement aims to ensure accessibility and inclusivity within the program.

Acquiring the necessary resources is a crucial part of the implementation of the program.
Efforts will be made to secure necessary materials, supplies, and equipment for students. The
program will also explore the potential for volunteers and donations from within the apartment
complex, as well as partnerships with thrifting centers like Goodwill and Plato’s Closet, and
crafting and wood crafting stores such as Michaels, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, Woodcraft, and
TXRX Labs. Ideally, 2 to 4 instructors from businesses such as JoAnn, Woodcraft, and TXRX
Labs will volunteer their expertise and rotate teaching schedules throughout the program. A
nominal fee will be charged to each student for participation in the curriculum, the proceeds of
which, will go towards miscellaneous fees, instructor costs, and other items/services that cannot
be donated or volunteered.

The preliminary arrangement consists of weekday classes lasting a maximum of 2.5 hours,
with weekend classes ranging from 2.5 hours to 5 hours. After the program initiation, the classes
will remain flexible, and lesson durations may be re-evaluated after the first one to two months
to better align with the schedules of participants. At the conclusion of the program, students will
be encouraged to showcase newly developed skills by presenting a major craft item of their
preference that they created during the course. Additionally, a post-program survey will be
administered to evaluate the curriculum's success, assess student satisfaction, evaluate
instructors, and attain future recommendations. These steps, when carried out in a thoughtful and
cohesive manner, will contribute to the overall success and impact of the program.
 Conclusion

I believe this type of program is necessary because it will help to reduce output of
unnecessary waste, such as cooking utensils, wooden furniture, decorations, and clothing. This is
particularly important when considering how much is thrown away when people relocate and
cannot take everything, resulting in many decent quality furniture, appliances, etc. being
carelessly and unfortunately discarded. If this program is successful, it would help to reduce cost
within the households, teach new skills, and also reduce waste and therefore pollution. Below is
a rough estimate of costs and expenses for the program implementation.

Expense Item Estimated Cost

Sewing Machines and Appliances $2,500 - $8,000

Travel Fees $1,200

Cleaning Fee $2,000

Supplies $3,500 (partially donated)

Miscellaneous $4,500

Advertising $1,000
 Expense Item Estimated Cost

Instructor Fee (may be partly voluntary) Up to $5,000

Staffing (voluntary) $0

Reference

OpenAI. (2023) ChatGPT (September 25 version) https://chat.openai.com/chat