Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA), a corporation for non-profit, in support of their next cycle of professional development programming for Latinas in Columbus.
Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA) seeks to provide Latinas with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to succeed in their chosen careers and become leaders in their fields. Through this dual focus, ELLA aims to increase the representation of Latinas on boards, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership roles, and promote Latinas' voices to be included in Columbus Ohio's crucial decision-making. By offering training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, ELLA seeks to empower Latinas to advance professionally, break down barriers, and achieve their full potential as leaders who can positively impact their communities and society as a whole.
The grant will support ELLA’s five-month professional development program that brings together Latinas in a variety of career stages and career fields for a unique experience, combining professional mentorship with culturally relevant workshops and civic engagement. The program creates a culturally relevant and brave space for our Latinas in the Columbus community to grow professionally and personally. The ultimate goal is to empower ELLA’s growing Latina network to advocate and be good community stewards in their professional space.
ELLA is not limited to one career state, industry, or field of work, but rather focuses on breaking down the barriers that all Latinas face in professional development. The program supports a cycle of 20 mentees and mentors each year. In addition to the 20 mentees and mentors, ELLA partners with additional community organizations and small businesses for each session.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that reimbursement to Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy may begin as soon as possible, as their programming began in mid-May, and support is needed immediately to continue to book speakers and spaces for the mentoring events.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy to support their next cycle of professional development programming for Latinas in Columbus; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council seeks to promote the professional development of and opportunities for underrepresented communities in the Columbus workforce, including Latinas; and
WHEREAS, Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA) seeks to provide Latinas with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to succeed in their chosen careers and become leaders in their field; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy mentoring program that supports 10 mentees and 10 mentors over five months of sessions and other opportunities, in an amount of up to $20,000.00; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk in that it is immediately necessary to transfer and appropriate funds so that reimbursement to Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy as their programming began in mid-May, and support is needed immediately to continue to book speakers and spaces for mentoring events; 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 the Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy in an amount up to $20,000.00 for the purpose of supporting their professional development programming for Latinas in Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $20,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.