Mesa Public Library Receives $15,000 Young Adult Civic Learning Grant

Trending...
~ Mesa Public Library Receives Grant to Empower Young Adults as Civic Leaders

Mesa Public Library has been selected as one of 10 libraries across the nation to receive a $15,000 grant from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) for their Civic Makers Lab for Adults initiative. This program aims to equip librarians with the skills and resources to serve as civic learning facilitators and empower young adults between the ages of 18-24 to become active contributors in their communities.

Library Director Polly Bonnett expressed her excitement about the opportunity to provide this program for young adults in and around Mesa. She emphasized the vital role that libraries play in civic life and how they are uniquely positioned to engage young residents in the process. Through the Civic Makers Lab program, Bonnett believes that they can provide the necessary tools and resources to empower the next generation and strengthen the community.

More on The Arizonar
The program will focus on helping young adults acquire civic knowledge and skills through hands-on experiences. By harnessing experiential learning methods, participants will be able to build new pathways rooted in curiosity, connection, and problem-solving. "It's more important than ever for our young leaders to see libraries as safe, inclusive spaces where they can dream, explore, and ask questions," said Brooks Rainwater, President & CEO of ULC. He believes that this is how libraries can help create the community leaders of tomorrow.

At a time when civic education is often politicized or nonexistent, Rainwater sees libraries playing a crucial role in strengthening civic health through real-world learning opportunities. The grant received by Mesa Public Library will be used to implement various civic learning experiences for young adults such as simulations, community design challenges, project-based civic action, and civic awareness campaigns.

More on The Arizonar
These initiatives will include both a small pilot project and a larger project aimed at engaging young adults in meaningful ways within their communities. The Mesa Public Library system operates five libraries within Mesa with a mission to support lifelong learning, empower individuals, and strengthen the community. Library cards are free for anyone who lives in Maricopa County for at least 30 consecutive days a year, works, owns property, or attends school within the county.

The Urban Libraries Council is an innovation and action tank of North America's leading public library systems. Their goal is to drive cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships that elevate the power of libraries as essential, transformative institutions for the 21st century. By identifying significant challenges facing today's communities, they develop new tools and techniques to help libraries achieve stronger outcomes in education, workforce and economic development, digital equity, and race and social equity.

Mesa Public Library is honored to be chosen as one of the recipients of this grant and looks forward to empowering young adults as civic leaders through their innovative Civic Makers Lab program. To learn more about the library's resources and programs or to sign up for a library card, please visit mesalibrary.org.

Filed Under: Government, City
Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on The Arizonar