San Francisco — The Board of Directors of The James Irvine Foundation has approved 23 grants totaling more than $7 million in support of the Foundation's mission of expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. (For a list of approved grants, click here.)

Of the $7 million, $755,000 will fund arts service organizations as part of Irvine’s Arts program. Another $1.2 million California Democracy program grant will fund the Institute for Local Government to develop civic engagement practices among local public officials. Additionally, a grant in the Youth program provides $400,000 to the Green Dot Education Project to help restructure Alain Leroy Locke Senior High School into nine small schools.

Sharing Civic Engagement Practices Among Local Public Officials

Irvine’s California Democracy program seeks to advance effective public policy decision making that is reflective of and responsive to all Californians. Grants approved to advance this goal include a $1.2 million grant to the Institute for Local Government (ILG) to develop and disseminate case studies and self-evaluation tools, host workshops and provide technical assistance to city and county officials. ILG will target leaders in the San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire and other regions where public engagement in local policymaking has been limited.

Supporting Statewide and Regional Arts Service Organizations

The goal of Irvine’s Arts program is to promote a vibrant and inclusive artistic and cultural environment in California. Grants approved as part of the Arts program include $750,000 to support statewide and regional arts service organizations. These organizations are expected to serve in leadership capacities and look for creative solutions and opportunities for best practices and information sharing within the arts field.

Restructuring a High School to Utilize the Multiple Pathways Approach

Irvine’s Youth program seeks to increase the number of low-income youth in California who complete high school on time and attain a postsecondary credential by the age of 25. Grants approved as part of Irvine’s Youth program include a $400,000 grant to the Green Dot Education Project to restructure Alain Leroy Locke Senior High School into nine small schools, including its newest, the Amino ACE Academy, which will utilize the multiple pathways approach by focusing on an architecture, construction and engineering curriculum. 

Contact: Ray Delgado, Communications Manager
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