The Make the World Better Team
THE MAKE THE WORLD BETTER TEAM is a community of past grant writing students from Fort Hays State University who want to use their grant writing skills to make our world better. Grant writing is a skill that promotes people's careers as well as allows them to assist on a voluntary basis as they secure funds to help local grass-roots organizations (such as churches, homeless shelters, and hospitals) help people in need.
The world is open to us to do good. We can travel to Africa or South America to help people there, and this is very important work. But all we have to do to find people in need is look out our front door. Need is everywhere, and some of the most rewarding contributions can be made in one's own community. The grant proposal writing training we provide at Fort Hays State University is not simply academic training. Our grant writing training is action-oriented, and we encourage our students to use their skills to make our world better.
Membership in THE MAKE THE WORLD BETTER TEAM is by invitation only, and those invited have excelled in our university's grant proposal writing training. This web space shares the names and interests of our team members. Another space that is private is where team members network as the seek to make our world better. If you would like to know how to become a member of this team, please email Sociology@fhsu.edu.
David Abbott
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I currently serve as senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are located in the downtown area of the second largest city in Indiana. Our neighborhood is made up of the two poorest demographics according to the US Census: Tough Times and Dare to Dream. My passion is helping people see the good news of Jesus Christ intersect with the social issues that plague our society.
DIFFERENT FAITH COMMUNITIES
NON-PROFITS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIO/DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES
POLICY REFORM, INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, LEGAL SYSTEMS
Dr. Victoria Arneson
Williston, North Dakota
I am open to all sorts of projects, but hold a special place in my heart for low-income children and trauma survivors. My idea is to focus on increasing their academic success to create more opportunities for them outside their environment. I believe if we invest in them at school, we can create a whole new world of choices that will show them they can rise above their circumstances. The cycle of trauma and abuse does not have to continue. The mentoring will focus on encouraging children and teens to put significant effort into school and consider attending a trade school, certificate program, community college, or an university. I am also very interested in helping domestic violence adult survivors who need to finish their education.
LOWER INCOME YOUTH, TRAUMA VICTIMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, EDUCATION, GED
Catherine Catrone
Manorville, New York
I am open to a variety of projects, but I am especially interested in helping youth specifically LGBTQ youth through educational programs. Currently, I am interning at the LGBTQ Center in New York City and my role is to provide resources and support to students and staff. Each school has their own needs and I am dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQ youth have the same chance at success as their peers. The educational programs will focus on teaching about bias, inclusion, and diversity.
LGBTQ YOUTH
Laura Cook
Owls Head, New York
I am primarily interested in projects pertaining to agriculture and/or food security. I want to help farmers implement sustainable practices on their farms, increases the welfare of livestock, improve the understanding of agricultural practices in the United States, and help food insecure families gain adequate nutrition. I am keen to participate in the improvement of agricultural systems in developing nations.
FARMERS, LOWER INCOME FAMILIES
Wendy Dominique
Fairbanks, Alaska
Retired Federal Government Employee, also retired 17 year school board member. President of school board for 2 years. Longest serving board member in Fairbanks, Alaska and a Black Female. Working on starting my non-profit status. Enjoy doing God's work - helping people. I especially want to help underprivileged youth become educated, be successful, and then give back.
EDUCATION OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH
Julie Einspahr
Republican City, Nebraska
I am open to anything, but of particular interest are any projects for youth or anything involving education since I am a teacher. I am interested in projects that help young people graduate or stay in school. I am a youth fishing mentor through Nebraska Game and Parks and am interested in projects that get people of any age outdoors. I would also be interested in any projects involving gardening or landscaping.
YOUTH, EDLERLY, PEOPLE SEEKING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PEOPLE SEEKING OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES
Katie Fisher
Phoenix, Arizona
I am very interested in helping the environment, but am happy to assist with other projects. I believe that it would be beneficial to run yearly seminars for school aged children in order to teach them the importance of recycling, along with how to properly identify/sort recyclable materials. I believe that by doing this, North America's environmental footprint would be greatly reduced in the future. I am also interested in helping protect and restore endangered wildlife.
RECYCLING, REDUCING OUR FOOTPRINT, PROTECTING AND RESTORING ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
Charlotte Foust
Joplin, Missouri
I am interested in programs assisting older adults 60+ years of age and disabled adults 18-59 years of age hoping to remain independent in their homes. This would include using home health agencies to provide activities of daily living, physical and occupational therapies, companionship services and social activities.
OLDER ADULTS 60+, DISABLED ADULTS 18-59
Nermine Habib
Cairo, Egypt
I am passionate about supporting others with focus on refugees and vulnerable people. I am especially interested in helping youth who can't find their way or their career via accessing different coaching programs. I like to be involved in education projects giving access to vulnerable children to better educational opportunities full of fun and entertainment. I look forward to establishing a project for illiterate people explaining to them the importance of education to see the light and change their future and the future of their children.
EDUCATION AND COACHING FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH
Nakesha Harvey
Goldsboro, North Carolina
I am open to various projects; I am especially interested in low income youth. I have noticed in my community the youth in the lower income areas are struggling with academics during the pandemic. I believe free tutoring and access to Internet will help them be successful throughout the rest of the academic year. I am also very interested in helping minority business owners. Minority business owners have also suffered through the pandemic. I believe providing them access to resources and seminars to help them boost their businesses and be more prepared for pandemics.
LOWER INCOME YOUTH, MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS, ELDERLY POPULATIONS
Nicole B. Hayes
Alexandria, Virginia
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping marginalized communities and underrepresented populations. My idea is to use connect with organizations that have relationships in community organizations providing assistance to underrepresented populations. The connection will focus on social inequality, racial injustice, secondary education access and communities where access to healthy food options are not available. I am also interested in equal pay for women, especially women who are not involved in STEM and Tech communities.
CREATE HEALTHY, LIVABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Desiree Hochstein
Port Orchard, Washington
I am open to various projects, not sure yet if I have any particular areas of focus right now but would like to help make the world better where I can.
ALWAYS OPEN TO A GOOD CAUSE
Sheila Kearney
Valley Falls, Kansas
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping kids in foster care. My idea is to use physical activity projects to help with the over all well-being for the kids in care. Focusing on encouraging the youth to engage in physical activities, which also includes yoga and meditation, will improve mental health by decreasing anxiety, depression and pain. Physical activity can also improve focus, school performance, sleep and energy levels. I am also very interested in helping lower income youth and youth aging out of foster care.
KIDS IN FOSTER CARE, KIDS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, LOW INCOME YOUTH
Connie Lee
Cuba, Missouri
I would be honored to join various projects, Dr. Campbell. I work with abused women and children, at risk youth, communities, professionals, legal professionals, to provide free counseling and legal professionals to provide services for women and children of abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. We provide guidance and services to help them safely transition into more sustainable lives. I have currently been off caring for my ailing mother, so I have no website or office. Our office will open in Knoxville, TN by the end of the year. I look forward to working with you and our colleagues.
AT RISK YOUTH, SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION, HOMELESSNESS, FOOD PANTRIES, BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Michael Little
Fargo, North Dakota
I'm open to a wide range of projects, but get especially excited leading ideation to implementations of innovative service lines designed to improve the health and spiritual well-being of others.
CHILDREN WITH VISION HEALTH NEEDS, CHILDREN WITH ORAL HEALTH NEEDS, CHILDREN WITH DIABETES, AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES, AND NEW NONPROFIT LEADERS
Wendy Love
Norfolk, Virginia
My interests in aid via grant writing at this time involve refugees and immigrants to the United States. I wish to help newcomers feel welcomed and to acclimate to life here as seamlessly as possible so they can rebuild their lives after an often traumatic exit from their homes. This population has a multitude and variety of needs and so can benefit from all types of grants. Recently, I became a grant writing intern at a refugee aid non-profit. Their goals and focus is to provide educational opportunities to refugees such as English tutoring, acquiring driving licenses, citizenship classes and career readiness. The second goal they have is to aid them in what they are lacking now. This includes adequate shelter, clothing, and food. Finally, their third mail goal is to help people become financially stable and independent.
IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, NEWCOMERS
Kelsey Lowry
Colorado Springs, Colorado
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping lower income youth and Native American youth through mentoring and sports based projects. My idea is to use fun outdoors activities like hiking, fishing, and all sports as the way to attract youth to community mentoring projects. The mentoring will focus on encouraging youth to get active and use sports as a way to connect with each other and the communities they live in. I also am interested in faith based programs that are focused on youth and diverse communities as well as Native American based programs, and elderly who live at home and need assistance.
LOWER INCOME YOUTH, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, FAITH BASED PROGRAMS
Lawrence Majercin
Kelso, Washington
Since receiving my grant writing certification I have worked with my wife, Jean Majercin in providing pro bono grants to food banks and food pantries in our region during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing food and resources to alleviate and combat food insecurity is vital to ensure that children and families don't go hungry. We have created a program of outreach to these nonprofits. Currently we are writing two grants for each group. To date, our donated efforts have resulted in significant foundation funding. I am interested in continuing to provide this type of service to these groups after the shutdowns and economic strife subsides. Food banks and pantries exist in every community and are operated by passionate, concerned neighbors looking to make a difference.
CLIENTELE OF FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES
Savannah Mellberg
Denver, Colorado
I am passionate about closing equity gaps by addressing injustice through an intersectional lens. I am particularly interested in healthcare related work, and acknowledging and implementing strategies to overcome disparities in the industry through education and grant proposal writing and research. I am very interested in improving healthcare for children.
HEALTHCARE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, LGBTQ, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN
John Miller
Vinton, Virginia
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping at-risk youth through community mentoring projects. My current activities involve using wrestling, boxing, and martial arts to attract youth to community mentoring projects. The mentoring focuses on encouraging youth to find constructive life activities, graduate from high school, and discover options that lead to a successful career. I am also very interested in helping with resources assisting people to navigate the complex immigration process and provide a path for those who want to become citizens of the United States of America.
AT-RISK YOUTH, IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Lacey Morris
Wichita, Kansas
I am an undergrad pursuing sociology and social work. I am open to projects, internships, and other collaborations. Currently, I am interested in working with survivors of abuse, domestic violence, and trafficking-children, teenagers, and adults. I am also interested in issues of racial justice, gender equality, and politics.
ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RACE, GENDER, POLITICS
Kevin Niemann
New York, New York
I am interested in helping international students make the most of the cross cultural opportunity they have while studying in the United States. I am drawn to projects that give the international students the opportunity to forge deep friendships with not only other international students from various cultures, but also with the host cultures that exist here in the Unites States. Additionally, I am also interested in helping urban children combat isolation, depression, and other mental health issues through providing opportunities to participate in community building and leadership skill developing activities found outside the city in nature such as camping, rock climbing, hiking, orienteering, canoeing and team building.
INTERNATIONALS STUDENTS, CROSS CULTURE, URBAN YOUTH, COMMUNITY, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
Jennifer Oie
Saint Paul, Minnesota
I am open to various projects, but my areas of interest are international development, food insecurity, and ending intergenerational poverty. I have experience in non-profit administration and program development for organizations working to create sustainable food systems abroad; US food deserts; and organizations working to break the cycle of poverty through education, proper nutrition and healthcare, and creating sustainable food and income sources. Additionally, I am extremely interested in refugee resettlement programs to help new immigrants get established in their new communities.
REFUGEES, LOW INCOME YOUTH AND FAMILIES, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Raenee Patterson
Hays, Kansas
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping women and girls. I want to offer mentoring opportunities and have open conversations about careers and what we need to be doing to empower each other. I am also very passionate about stopping the migration of younger generations from Western and rural Kansas to large cities or other states. I have experienced first hand how this can impact communities.
WOMEN, MENTORING, RURAL AMERICA
Erika Prieksat
Anchorage, Alaska
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping disadvantaged youth through mentoring, education, and promoting healthy family resources.
LOWER INCOME YOUTH, ALASKA NATIVE/AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES
Ziwei Qi
Hays, Kansas
My interests in grant writing primarily focus on providing adequate resources for victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Victims of GBV usually face complex social, cultural, economic, and legal challenges when accessing services. It is crucial to address the fundamental needs of the survivors-economic independence, safe housing, access to trauma-informed services, an community support. My idea is to incorporate a social entrepreneurship model to support victims by providing safe housing and on-site employment. In the meantime, I also strive to address the importance of trauma-informed practices when working with victims.
VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Andrea Ramirez
Union Gap, Washington
I would like to make use of my abilities by participating in various projects that can help a variety of groups. Coming from an area with many lower income families, youth, and migrants families, I feel that more can be done for the families and youth that are having a difficult time with school, work, and housing. Meetings, in-person or virtual that families that ask and seek help with things that they do not understand. Working in a school district right now, I see that families and students need help more than ever. I would also like to find ways to help or assist the homeless, and the elderly who need the help.
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, MIGRANT FAMILIES, ELDERLY, HOMELESS, LOWER INCOME YOUTH
Elie Rubenstein
New York, New York
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in humanitarian projects in the Unites States and abroad. Humanitarian projects are necessary to address the results of manmade and natural disasters, poverty, and armed conflicts.
Providing assistance to a group of people or a country in need of aid is extremely important. Let's not forget that we live in one world together. I am also very interested in helping elderly by using various technological innovations such as the Telephone Emergency Response System(TERS), pill boxes with alarms, and social robots developed specifically for the needs of the elderly.
HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS, ELDERLY AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
Whitney Sandoval
Wichita, Kansas
With over a decade of experience working for public schools, I am passionate about projects that directly help schools, educators, and especially students. Although, I am open to all different types of projects, my background is in education, literacy, and working with people with visual impairments. I especially believe in collaborations that create accessibility, safety, and opportunities for people with visual impairments. As a practicing yoga teacher, I lend my skills to missions around community health and wellness.
EDUCATORS, PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, HEALTH/WELLNESS
Lydia See
Independence, Missouri
I am open to a variety of projects, but I am especially interested in helping the homeless population through charitable work and service. Our metro area has had a surge of job losses in lieu of the pandemic and much of the shelters, churches and other organizations reach capacity and have to turn many individuals away. I would love to be involved in aiding newer organizations with any help they need to apply or reapply for RFP's revolving around housing, feeding and helping affected persons to possibly get a leg up when they are in need. I am also interested in lending anyway I am able to with lower income youth and animal shelters.
HOMELESS POPULATION, LOWER INCOME YOUTH, ANIMAL SHELTERS
Kristen Shook
Topeka, Kansas
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping individuals who are homeless get help into housing. The concept is called "Housing First" by Dr. Sarm Tsemberis, this has been studied for years and has a high success rate if done correctly. I was lucky to attend a conference he was a guest at, I also received the Pathways to Housing First manual that he developed. This project is slowly becoming a reality as the family friend who originally brought it to my attention, and invited Dr. Tsemberis to come and speak, is beginning the nonprofit paperwork necessary to begin. I am also interested in assisting lower income youth as I come from that background as well. I see myself as a successful individual thus far who has made my way mostly on my own-mentally and financially. I would love to help others stay on track and have a successful career and know that it is possible. I also love elderly individuals as I previously worked as a CNA. To assist that population would be fulfilling. I am open to other ideas as well as I enjoy being busy and helping others in general. Thank you for the opportunity.
HOMELESS, LOWER INCOME YOUTH, ELDERLY STILL LIVING AT HOME
Tamarah Taylor
Lake Ridge, Virginia
I am open to various projects, but I am especially interested in helping alleviate poverty within communities by providing opportunities for continued education, job prep, skill-building, and housing. In addition to this, I am interested in helping lower-income youth through community mentoring projects. I envision the creation of community projects that involve mentorship, supplemental education, and college application support.
LOWER INCOME YOUTH, THE ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, FOOD AND NUTRITION, HUMANITIES
Cathleen Terrano
Lake Ronkonkoma, New York
I am open to various projects, but especially interested in helping the rare disease and disabled communities, through awareness and advocacy. My idea is to use dance and games; such as wheelchair races, wheelchair games, scavenger hunt and a dance lesson to team up seated and standing partners. The activities will focus on encouraging "normal" people to have fun, while learning what a rare disease and/or a disabled person(s) goes through, and how difficult it can be with either of these diagnosis. The community participants will focus on learning with and from a seated and/or rare disease person and have a better understanding what others go through. I am also interested in advocacy for rare disease patients and the disabled.
RARE DISEASE PATIENTS, DISABLED PERSON(S), COMMUNITY, ADVOCACY
Jill Weglarz
Oswego, Illinois
I am open to various animal projects, however my passion is senior animal rescue and welfare. I am interested in helping senior dogs from shelters and providing medical care needed for long term foster care and adoption, as well as reducing the euthanasia rate in senior dogs. My proposed ideas are to use social media to promote the dogs in need, document success stories of medical care, foster care, and adoptions of the senior dogs and utilizing rescue partners to pull seniors from local shelters that are faced for euthanasia.
MILITARY ANIMAL RESCUE, ANIMAL WELFARE, ANTI-CRUELTY, SENIOR ANIMALS, LOCAL SHELTERS, ANIMAL RESCUE
Amber Wogomon
Concordia, Kansas
Hello, my name is Amber Wogomon. My education and employment background encompasses the Social Work field. I dedicate a large part of my life to serving people, fellow people who need support. I am exceedingly open to new opportunities and challenges for grant writing, as I find myself yearning for the experience. My interests lie heavily with the agencies, foundations, and people serving marginalized, unrepresented, and oppressed populations who benefit substantially from grant funding.
POVERTY, ACCESS TO HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, WOMEN, LGBTQ+, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES
Jessica Znidarsic
Kansas City, Missouri
I am open to helping when I can and where I can, though the Fall can be a little tough for me. I am very interested in helping LGBTQIA+ youth. I have not yet been able to put my grant writing skills to practice, so I'm hoping to receive some knowledge and mentoring from my fellow members. I enjoy painting, reading, movie watching, and cooking. I am also a yoga teacher and taught four classes a week, pre-pandemic. I currently work for a national association. In addition to LGBTQIA+ issues, I am passionate about the environment and the fair treatment of animals.
LGBTIA+YOUTH, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, ANIMAL WELFARE