Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Community Development for All People (CD4AP) to provide upfront financial support for their All People Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative. CD4AP works to build a mixed-income, self-sufficient, and vibrant South Side Columbus community by connecting neighbors to high-quality education, housing, health, and economic opportunities that create a fair start in life.
CD4AP operates the All People Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools at Lincoln Park Elementary, a 14-year anchor summer program serving K-8 scholars on the South Side of Columbus. The program is rooted in the legacy and pedagogy of Freedom Schools during the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi, empowering youth through social action, leadership, and literacy. It intentionally serves children and families in South Side Columbus neighborhoods impacted by long-standing disinvestment, providing free, full-day summer learning with literacy enrichment, social-emotional development, leadership activities, and daily meals. In partnership with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, scholars receive two meals and an afternoon snack daily at no cost to families. Scholars also engage in hands-on learning including STEM, financial wellness, fitness, nutrition, mental health, and community service. For more than five years, CD4AP has been a consistent partner of the City of Columbus, previously supported through the Youth Summer Learning Grant; however, 2026 funding was not awarded, placing the program at risk. The program serves nearly 100 scholars annually, delivering over 270 hours of programming. The grant will support staffing, materials, enrichment, and family learning sessions. This request represents a bridge investment to sustain a proven, city-aligned program while long-term funding partnerships are reestablished.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $25,000.00 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY: CD4AP begins programming for this initiative in early June and therefore has an immediate need for financial support.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Community Development for All People to provide upfront financial support for their All People Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative; to authorize an expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the mission of Community Development for All People is to improve the quality of life for persons on the South Side of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Community Development for All People sponsors the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative, a national, literacy-education movement, impacting the lives of children across the US by cultivating a love of reading, encouraging high self-esteem, and offering experiential learning opportunities; and
WHEREAS, participants will engage in hands-on learning including STEM, financial wellness, fitness, nutrition, mental health, and community service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's office insofar as Community Development for All People has begun the All People Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative in early June and requires financial assistance posthaste; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to enter a grant agreement with Community Development for All People to provide upfront financial support for their All People Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools initiative.
SECTION 2. That per the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $25,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all grant agreements or modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reason stated in the preamble hereunto. which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.