Love Your Block Mini-Grants
Applications are open. Through our mini-grants, we help transform physical landscapes with social programs that highlight the culture of a community.
Applications are now open for the 2022 Love Your Block mini-grants. Do you have an idea for a project to bring your community together and improve your neighborhood? You are encouraged to submit a proposal for a community project for the chance to win up to $3,500 in grant funding and supplemental City services. The funding will allow winners to purchase necessary supplies to engage their neighbors and transform their neighborhoods. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 10, 2022, at 5 p.m. (EST).
Possible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Creating green space: pocket parks, community gardens or vacant lot cleanups
- Streetscaping: Planting trees or flowers along streets, creating new art on blank spaces, and
- Park improvements: Installing benches and play equipment, repairing and repainting existing facilities.
Project examples: before and after photos
Project examplesThe Waldren Road Community Garden in Roxbury was a Love Your Block project in the 2015-2016 year. The Wardman/Walnut-Washington Community Working group was awarded the mini-grant. Over 40 people came out to participate and engage with their families and neighbors.
The Yarn Bombing in Dorchester was a Love Your Block project in the 2015-2016 year. The VOICES group was awarded the mini-grant. They engaged the community in discussions around domestic violence while creating this temporary art installation.
The Ripley Road Park in Dorchester was a Love Your Block project in the 2015-2016 year. The Four Corners Art Committee was awarded the mini-grant. They were able to paint benches, plant new perennials, and remove a dangerous fence.
The Shangri-La Rock Garden in Mattapan was a Love Your Block project in the 2015-2016 year. The Shangri-La Community Garden Group was awarded the mini-grant. The community was able to get together to remove blight from a plot of land in the middle of Orlando Street.
The Egleston Square project in Roxbury was a Love Your Block project in the 2015-2016 year. The Egleston Square Main Street group was awarded the mini-grant. They were able to do an improvement project in the park. This included planting perennials and building a mini free library.
To engage Mattapan residents with Love Your Block for the 2016-2017 year, our team did a demonstration project to spread awareness. Together with local community organizations and service days, we were able to paint the wall next to the Mildred Avenue Community Center. It went from a dark uninviting place next to a playground to a painted work of art.
After receiving a Love Your Block mini-grant, Curtis Guild was able to bring an edible garden to life. The amazing garden acts as a source of learning for the students and also looks and smells delicious.
After receiving a Love Your Block mini-grant, Eastie Farm was able to install rain barrels. These amazing barrels take runoff from the roof of two adjacent homes. This helps prevent erosion while supplying the garden with a much needed water source.
As an already established community garden, Woolson Street used a spring 2017 mini-grant to add hand-painted benches. They also created a beautiful mural for their space. This mural highlights the culture while adding vibrancy to the neighborhood.
