Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with MORE, Inc. in support of their EMSPIRE MORE! Youth Program and Conference.
MORE, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Columbus with a vision for every individual to be empowered to reach their fullest potential. MORE (Motivate Others to Reach Excellence) works towards this vision by empowering people who are undervalued and under-resourced to shift the power dynamic by centering their voices and lived experiences. MORE, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Columbus with a vision for every individual to be empowered to reach their fullest potential through arts, culture, health, community, economics, and education.
The Emspire MORE! Youth Conference & Program is an immersive 16 week youth-led experience that supports high school youth in Central Ohio to ideate, plan, and implement a youth-led youth conference based on the youth-chosen topics of mindset, mental health, finances, and family relationships. Throughout the program, youth meet at least weekly to learn personal and professional development skills necessary to plan a youth-led youth conference. Youth are connected to professionals who are passionate and equipped to empower youth to be their authentic selves and connect them to skills that will enhance their future. This program is an opportunity for youth to be heard and to learn how to advocate and express themselves in ways that lead to better mental health and productive citizenship.
This program will collaborate with multiple schools and organizations that benefit youth and will also intentionally solicit minority owned businesses as vendors to stimulate the local economy.
Emergency legislation is required to provide reimbursement to MORE, Inc. for their January 7th event in as timely a manner as possible. MORE is actively covering the costs associated with their last 16 weeks of programming and the culminating event provided for and led by the youth involved with the organization.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with MORE, Inc, to support the organization’s youth conference and program; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($5,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, MORE, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Columbus with a vision for every individual to be empowered to reach their fullest potential through arts, culture, health, community, economics, and education; and
WHEREAS, Columbus youth have experienced an increase in poor mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic and youth-involvement in crimes has also increased; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to promote pathways out of poverty and good-paying jobs; and
WHEREAS, the MORE’s youth programming provides youth with personal and professional development skills opportunities in public speaking, networking, and other skills that prepare them for the workforce and good-paying jobs; and
WHEREAS, the MORE’s youth programming promotes strong neighborhoods by connecting youth to elected officials to support their understanding of the legal and political system, making both more accessible, and navigation of these systems more attainable; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with MORE, Inc. to provide reimbursement in as timely a manner as possible for their EMPSIRE MORE Youth Conference and Program; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with MORE, Inc. in support of their EMPSIRE MORE Youth Conference and Program.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $5,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $5,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.