The Antioch College Alumni Association announces five finalists for the 2020 Winning Victories Grant program. Two $15,000 grants will be awarded. See the finalists below.
The Winning Victories Grants program was launched in 2018 by alum and former Trustee Matt Morgan ’99. The Grant is a cash award. It supports initiatives designed by College alumni to accelerate the development and deepen the impact of public good and social justice in local, national, and international communities. All types of ventures are welcome. For the 2020 program year, all alums of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, who graduated or left Antioch in 2000 or later were invited to submit a proposal for an activity or project that they developed themself or is their own idea.
Twenty proposals were submitted. Each proposal was blind-reviewed and scored independently by at least two reviewers. The five top-scoring proposals were selected. Finalists have been asked to prepare a 10-minute video presentation of their proposal which will be shown on the first day of Reunion, October 2, and will be posted for streaming for the following two weeks.
All members of the Antioch community—alums and former students, current students, faculty, and staff—will be invited to watch the videos and vote for their top two candidates. The two winners will be announced Sunday evening, October 25.
Amy Etoll Crossin ’01 lives in Columbus, OH. Her proposal, A Fighting Chance for Asylum Seekers in Ohio, aims to address the need for legal help among refugees residing in the Columbus area. If awarded a Grant, Amy will develop legal clinics to advise asylum seekers of their rights, assist them to prepare and file asylum and work permit applications, and help them to connect to other community resources. Ideally, the project would perpetuate itself, then become a non-profit immigration law firm.
Truth Garrett ’20 lives in Yellow Springs, OH. His proposal, Flowing With Facts, aims to address student engagement and absenteeism among poor, ethnically diverse underachieving students. Flowing with Facts is a new initiative. If awarded a Grant, Truth will work with educators and Hip Hop artists to produce digital lesson plans and scripted classroom lessons. The curriculum will be delivered free of charge to schools that do not have their own funding to pay for the services.
Mariah Lossing ’04 lives in Mendota Heights, MN. Her proposal, Breaking the Barrier to Neurodiversity, aims to address segregation, un- and under-employment, and poverty among individuals who identify as neurodivergent. If awarded a Grant, Mariah will develop a comprehensive program for and by neurodiverse individuals, including those on the autism spectrum, as well as those with ADHD and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program will include a website, podcasts, online courses, connection to resources, and inclusion coaching.
Monika Perry ’17 lives in Toledo, OH. Their proposal, The Affordable Eco-Housing Revolution, aims to address climate change and housing insecurity in inner-city Toledo and beyond. If awarded a Grant, Monika’s organization, Toledo Permaculture Network, will offer a zero-interest loan to low-income neighbors and walk them through the process of constructing their own off-grid eco-home using natural materials. The loan will jumpstart a “pay-it-forward” model through which homeowner’s loan repayments will fund the building expenses of the next eco-home.
Ruthie Scarpino ’08 splits her time between Europe and New England. Her proposal, Faulty Fairytales, aims to address the lack of LGBTQIA+ storylines and representation for school age people and their families. Faulty Fairytales builds new stories using classic characters and popular narratives, reversing normative gender roles and expectations. If awarded a Grant, Ruthie will hire a cast of seven LGBTQIA+ artists and tour to traditional venues/community spaces such as parks, LGBTQIA+ centers, schools, and meeting halls at no cost to audiences.
