Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Historic Northeast Media has been named a recipient of a Rooted Change Grant from the Community Capital Fund (CCF). This funding will support an ambitious three-part event series led by the Northeast News designed to spark local storytelling, bridge the employment gap, and strengthen our neighborhood’s economic ties.

The Rooted Change Fund is a community-driven initiative that provides catalytic funding to projects aimed at building equity and fostering neighborhood leadership. By investing in local organizations, the fund empowers residents to solve community-specific challenges through grassroots innovation.
Readers can find the full schedule of upcoming events on the flier above. More details about each event will come as the dates draw near.

This summer, the Northeast News is hosting three distinct events aimed at helping Northeast residents “level up” their professional skills and career prospects:

Northeast Storytellers Workshop (June 20): This session is designed for creatives, aspiring journalists and social media creators. We are targeting local voices who want to learn how to use modern tools to share our neighborhood’s narrative. Our goal is to build a fresh pipeline of contributors to help document Northeast history, culture and news.

Future Workforce Job Fair (July 18): Aimed at job seekers and students, this event connects the community with major local employers and educational partners. We hope to help residents find immediate employment, or get connected with the skill-building programs they need in order to become hireable.

Trades & Contractor Expo (August 15): This expo targets local laborers and small business owners in the trades. By creating a marketplace for contractors to network with housing organizations and potential clients, we aim to build a stronger labor pipeline that keeps resources and expertise right here in Northeast.

While the Historic Northeast Media is honored to receive this support, we are just one of several organizations utilizing Rooted Change funding to better our community. Other high-impact projects serving our area include:

Lykins Neighborhood Association: Under the leadership of Angie Curtis, this project focuses on beautification and direct home improvements for residents in the 64124 zip code.

The Tamale Kitchen: Led by Becky Gripp, this initiative combines tradition with health by introducing moringa-fortified tamales to the local Hispanic community.

A Hand Up R&CO: Michelle Williams and her team are implementing vital harm reduction programs and CPR certification training, including within Northeast.

Urban Community Connections: Jessica Bentley-Johnson is expanding youth workforce training, providing paid internships for young people in the urban core.

We look forward to seeing you this summer as we work together to grow our community’s skills and stories. Don’t forget to check page five for the event flyer!