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Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance Awarded a 2023 Envision Grant

April 30, 2023

The Envision Board announced 2023 grant recipients, investing $85,000 in Baltimore County and international partners. These Envision grants are intended to provide seed money for projects that will enrich the ministry and life of the church.

The projects funded serve a wide variety of people, from within our congregation to broader local, national, and international communities. Grant proposals are evaluated in the categories of ministry development, service in community, social justice/advocacy, and capital improvement.

The Board is grateful to God for the life and witness of Robert Riley—whose generous bequest to Catonsville Presbyterian Church was used to establish this endowment—as well as the Session, Finance Committee, church staff, and the entire congregation, all of whom make these awards possible.

With great joy and support, the Envision Board has awarded a grant of $40,000 to the Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance (ERICA) for their Pathways to College program. The Board determined that this project faithfully follows God’s mission to the church through social justice, service in community, and ministry development.

Pathways to College provides guidance and support to recently-arrived refugee and asylum-seeking students in Maryland. This program makes the difference between life as a university student or working in a warehouse. This Envision grant will support 8-10 students over two years with intensive, full-time Academic English, pro bono college and financial aid guidance, and funding to offset staffing costs for advocacy and implementation. Additionally, ERICA will individually connect students to colleges that have demonstrated a strong humanitarian interest and financial capacity to support refugees.

This grant was submitted by Assistant Director Daniel Jacob and sponsored by Susan Krehbiel and the Mission Committee.

Read about ERICA Baltimore