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Awarded Anchor University Grants
Anchor University Grants Program 2023-2024
Thanks to the support of the Anchor University Advisory Council, which provided funding for the grant programs to support students, staff, and faculty conducting work in the community that supports our Anchor University mission.
The 2023-2024 Anchor University Grants program included:
- Strategic Investment Grants (seven grants awarded)
- Priority Grants (four grants awarded)
Total Allocated
The allocated amount for the 2023-2024 funding cycle was $72,039.
Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors for Older Adults
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
Sacramento State's Psychology and Cardiovascular Wellness Program, in collaboration with Margaret McDowell Manor CCH, addresses the challenges faced by seniors in housing facilities. Through a grant-funded initiative, gerontology students engage directly with older adults, filling a training gap and providing valuable experiential learning. The program promotes healthy lifestyle changes, community building, and intergenerational connections, fostering a holistic approach to support the well-being of older Californians.
Sac State Lead: Theresa Abah
Community Partner: Margaret McDowell Manor CCH
Morrison Creek: Fostering Youth Empowerment in South Sacramento
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
Morrison Creek: Fostering Youth Empowerment in South Sacramento
Sacramento State's Psychology Department collaborates with Morrison Creek to address gentrification challenges for 4th-grade students at Elder Creek Elementary. Using participatory action research (PAR), the program aims to develop college-going identities and preserve psychological resources. Weekly meetings with faculty and students foster research, action projects, and connections with partner organizations, contributing to community empowerment and aligning with broader anchor initiative goals for student development and civic responsibility.
Sac State Lead: Erin Rose Ellison
Community Partner: Sacramento Community Land Trust and the Chinese Community Services Center
Increasing Promise Zone’s Youth Voice in Workforce
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
The Sacramento State Career Center collaborates with the City of Sacramento on a project to amplify the voices of marginalized youth and enhance access to postsecondary education and STEM careers. The initiative includes hosting a Youth Summit, an Employer Engagement Forum, and facilitating Sac State student intern participation, providing valuable opportunities for students and strengthening community ties.
Sac State Lead: Stephanie Francis
Community Partner: City of Sacramento
Dream Builders Program
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
The Dreamer Resource Center secures funding to expand the impactful Dream Builders Program, collaborating with the Sacramento Family, Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network. Sac State students, serving as "Dream Builders," will work at high school sites to educate and support Dreamers and their parents, addressing educational disparities for undocumented high school graduates in California. The program also conducts ally trainings for high school staff, contributing to increased awareness of educational rights and promoting college access for marginalized youth in Sacramento.
Sac State Lead: Erik Ramirez
Community Partner: Sacramento Family Unity and Education Legal (FUEL) Network
Art 148 Barrio Art in Communities
Art 148 Barrio Art in Communities
The Department of Art, with a grant, partners again with Washington Elementary for the ART 148 Barrio Art in Communities program. The initiative aims to provide K-12 students and parents with art and learning opportunities while offering CSUS students valuable community service experiences. With a focus on equity-driven practices, including workshops and wellness programs, CSUS students seek to challenge assumptions about communities and learning, contributing to positive impact, cultural understanding, and community engagement through art education.
Sac State Lead: Luis Garcia
Community Partner: Washington Elementary
Immigrant Stories
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
The College of Education, along with Capital Storytelling and the Dreamer Resource Center, has secured funding for the second "Immigrant Stories" event in October 2023. This initiative provides a platform for Sac State's immigrant-identifying individuals to share their narratives, fostering community engagement and amplifying their voices. Building on the success of 2022, the 2023 edition aims to double participation through on-campus storytelling workshops, promoting well-being and discussions on crucial topics. Open to the public and supported by Capital Public Radio, the event strives to promote social justice and understanding, emphasizing the transformative power of storytelling for positive change.
Sac State Lead: Lisa Cantrell
Community Partner: Capital Storytelling, Dreamer Resource Center
Learning and Linguistic Justice
Anchor University Strategic Investment Grants
The Department of English, in collaboration with Florin High School and 916 Ink, has secured a grant to advance anti-racism in Sacramento K-12 education. This initiative focuses on experiential learning opportunities for Sacramento State students within the Writing Program, ensuring sustainability and promoting linguistic justice at Florin High School. The project also emphasizes community engagement, preparing CSUS students for their professional journey with increased confidence and skills grounded in antiracist writing principles.
Sac State Lead: Angela Clark-Oates
Community Partner: Florin High School and 916 Ink
EDD Transformative Leadership Service-Learning and Action Research
Anchor University Priority Grants
EDD Transformative Leadership Service-Learning and Action Research
The Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EDD) program at Sacramento State is dedicated to fostering anti-racist educational leaders through a comprehensive educational approach. The newly introduced Transformative Leadership Service-Learning and Action Research Project leverages the program's longstanding partnership with the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) to deepen engagement with Black families and students. This initiative not only expands collaborative scholarship opportunities for EDD students but also enhances their civic engagement skills by addressing pressing issues such as racial disparities in school suspensions through active participation in service-learning projects and the development of a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project supervised by Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, an expert in family advocacy in schools. The proposed seed funding is crucial for demonstrating the initiative's potential and paving the way for future impactful research projects and grants.
Sac State Collaborators: Elizabeth Morgan
Sac State Department: College of Education, Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program
Promoting Inclusion & Engagement in STEM (PIES)
Anchor University Priority Grants
Promoting Inclusion & Engagement in STEM (PIES)
The Career Center at Sacramento State has been awarded a grant to collaborate with the City of Sacramento on the project "Increasing Sacramento Promise Zone’s Youth Voice in Workforce Development and Developing Employer Capacity to Respond." This initiative, aligned with the City's Inclusive Economic Development goals, supports the Youth Excel Initiative (YEI) led by the National League of Cities. The project involves hosting a Youth Summit, an Employer Engagement Forum, integrating youth-led input into virtual employer workshops, and facilitating Sac State student intern participation. Through these efforts, the program aims to amplify the voices of marginalized youth, providing internship and networking opportunities for CSUS students, fostering leadership and networking skills, and building crucial relationships with employers.
Sac State Collaborators: Sayonita Ghosh Hajra (Program Director), Deb Stetson (Program Director), Anna Baynes (Faculty Advisor), Mariappan Jawaharlal (Faculty Advisor), Jas Pannu (Faculty Advisor), Jenna Porter (Faculty Advisor), Susan Rubert (Faculty Advisor).
Community Partners: Hiram Johnson High School, Luther Burbank High School
Jumpstart Program Expansion
Anchor University Priority Grants
Sacramento State's Community Engagement Center, collaborating with SETA Head Start, has secured a grant to expand the Jumpstart program. Led by Principal Investigator Alicia Herrera, Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Development, the initiative builds on the university's enduring partnership, serving over 100 children annually for two years. The interdisciplinary program, open to students from various fields, provides valuable insights into child development while actively contributing to the early literacy and social/emotional skills of young children. With Alicia Herrera guiding its expansion, Jumpstart prepares 20 Sac State Corps members for careers in early childhood development.
Sac State Collaborators: Ann Moylan, CEC Director & Alicia Herrera, Assistant Professor, College of Education
Community Partner: Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) Head Start
Festival of New American Music
Anchor University Priority Grants
Festival of New American Music
The Department of Music at Sacramento State, in collaboration with Cosumnes River College (CRC), has secured funding for the Festival of New American Music (FeNAM). This initiative aims to enrich CRC students' musical experiences by providing masterclasses, artist forums, and lectures, fostering student success in music and supporting recruitment and retention. With a decade-long connection between the festival and CRC, this partnership not only enhances the educational journey for CRC students but also acts as a feeder program for talented individuals entering the Sacramento State School of Music (SoM). The collaboration extends beyond FeNAM, contributing to a vibrant musical culture in the Sacramento area and showcasing a commitment to recruiting student talent and fostering the School of Music's presence in the Elk Grove community.
Sac State Collaborators: Timothy Stanley
Community Partner: Cosumnes River College