Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Momentum-Excellence, Inc., a non profit entity, in support of programming for school-aged children.
Momentum provides a joyful, supportive and rigorous dance, music, and performance program for children that emphasizes self-confidence, resilience, perseverance and teamwork. The program imparts the lifelong skills and habits boys and girls need to travel their own path to success. Programs are delivered in elementary schools during the school day and in out of school settings during after-school and evening hours. Momentum’s impact on the children it serves has far reaching influence on the school cultures where the program is delivered, the families of participants, and ultimately the communities in which they live. As both an arts and a human service organization, Momentum shares Columbus City Council’s priority to build thriving, healthy and connected neighborhoods by providing life enhancing, developmental and safe activities for children. By engaging children in their formative years, Momentum is shaping their future and that of our community for the better.
Momentum serves 1,600 children annually from preschool through middle school. The majority attend Columbus City Schools with additional participants from Hilliard City Schools, and local charter schools, United Schools Network and Kipp. More than 75% of the children are from economically disadvantaged families and have limited opportunities to participate in the arts. Program offerings include preschool classes that promote kindergarten readiness, year-long classes during the school day for elementary students that culminate in a grand spring production, after-school classes at youth serving agencies, and Advanced Team classes for middle school age youth during out of school hours. These young people comprise Momentum’s Community Performance Troupe that performs at cultural and civic events. There is no cost to families to participate in Momentum.
This proposal seeks support for the elementary school based program and out of school classes for middle school age youth. Intended outcomes are that participants will demonstrate increases in self-confidence, resilience, perseverance and teamwork as a result of their participation in Momentum. Achievement of anticipated outcomes is measured through a professionally developed survey tool specifically designed to measure resilience. Qualitative information from the classroom teachers and parents is also collected.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide Momentum with the resources necessary to sustain and expand services for school-aged children through the remainder of the current school year.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Momentum-Excellence, Inc. in support of programming for school-aged children; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($140,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Momentum serves 1,600 children annually from preschool through middle school; and
WHEREAS, Momentum provides a joyful, supportive and rigorous dance, music, and performance program for children that emphasizes self-confidence, resilience, perseverance and teamwork; and
WHEREAS, programs are delivered in elementary schools during the school day and in out of school settings during after-school and evening hours; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary authorize the Clerk to enter into a grant agreement to provide Momentum with the resources necessary to sustain and expand services for school-aged children through the remainder of the current school year; 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 Momentum-Excellence, Inc. in support of programming for school-aged children.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $140,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000,subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council in 03-Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $140,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund is hereby authorized 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.