Application

Grants

The Tomorrow’s Leaders program has been implemented in three different ways on a weekly or bi-monthly basis:

  • Classroom program as part of the regular school day
  • After-school program
  • Community program as part of an ongoing city or county government initiative

The grant level for each program differs according to how the sponsoring organization decides to implement the program.

Grant Requirements

The following lists the key responsibilities of the sponsoring organization and adult leader, as well as for New Mexico First.

Sponsoring Organization Responsibilities
Each sponsoring organization accepts responsibility for the following:

  • Assist in recruiting a teacher/community volunteer to implement the program.
  • If a classroom program, allow the teacher/community volunteer to incorporate the Tomorrow’s Leaders curriculum into the regular course activities. If an after-school program, allow the teacher/community volunteer to recruit 10-15 students to participate in the program (e.g., post flyers, include a notice in the school bulletin, make a presentation regarding the program in the classrooms of other teachers, make a school announcement, etc.).
  • If a classroom program, allow the teacher/community volunteer to use the classroom and school equipment (e.g., computers, library reference tools, etc.) to support the curriculum. If an after-school program, provide a meeting space for the students on school/city premises (e.g., classroom, library, cafeteria, city council room, etc.) and school/city equipment (e.g., computers, library reference tools, etc.) to support the curriculum.
  • Allow the teacher/community volunteer to showcase the program with the other teachers, staff, and students pre- and post-youth town hall event (e.g., at faculty meetings, school assemblies, school publications, etc.).
  • If a classroom program, allow the teacher/community volunteer and students to hold the youth town hall either 1) on three consecutive days during the regular classroom period schedule or 2) within a half-day as a special session during the classroom day.
  • Allow the teacher/community volunteer to recruit participants for the youth town hall from the school (e.g., post flyers, include a notice in the school bulletin, make a presentation regarding the program in the classrooms of other teachers, make a school announcement, etc.).
  • Provide a meeting space to convene the youth town hall, adequate to meet the needs of the group size which could be between 50-100 students (e.g., multiple classrooms, library, cafeteria, gymnasium, community center, etc.).
  • Give permission for the teacher/community volunteer and two youth delegates to attend the annual statewide town hall sponsored by New Mexico First, held in the spring.

Adult Leader Responsibilities
Each teacher/community volunteer accepts responsibility for the following:

  • Attend the 1-2 day Tomorrow’s Leaders training session, held in late July or early August.
  • Participate in regular teleconference sessions with the Tomorrow’s Leaders program manager to review progress and share lessons learned throughout the school year.
  • If a classroom program, orient the students to the program and the curriculum within the first week of the semester. If an after-school program, recruit 10-15 students to participate in the program (e.g., post flyers, include a notice in the school bulletin, make a presentation regarding the program in the classrooms of other teachers, make a school announcement, etc.) within the first three weeks of the semester.
  • If a classroom program, incorporate the Tomorrow’s Leaders curriculum into the regular course curriculum on a weekly or bi-monthly basis. If an after-school program, meet with the group weekly or bi-monthly to complete the Tomorrow’s Leaders curriculum. For both types of programs (e.g., classroom or after-school) completion of the curriculum includes both planning/implementing a youth town hall and advancing the recommendations that result from it.
  • Report progress to New Mexico First using the report forms provided.
  • Submit various program materials to New Mexico First throughout the school year.
  • Be a chaperone (or identify a responsible chaperone) for two youth delegates to attend the annual statewide town hall, held in the spring.

New Mexico First Responsibilities
New Mexico First provides the following support to the sponsoring organization, teacher/community volunteer, and students:

  • Provides a grant to cover the costs of implementing the program.
  • Provides a week-by-week curriculum so that planning time is minimal.
  • Conducts a training session for the teacher/community volunteer.
  • Offers support – via email, phone, website, and site visits – throughout the program.
  • Provides an allowance to cover the cost of refreshments for the program (i.e., classroom celebration at the end of the school year or snacks for after-school meetings).
  • Pays for youth town hall expenses.
  • Covers all travel, lodging, meal, and registration costs for the teacher/community volunteer and two students to attend the New Mexico First annual statewide town hall.

Grant Application

If you are interested in submitting a grant application to implement the Tomorrow’s Leaders program in your community or your school, please download the application form and submit to:

Tomorrow’s Leaders Program Director
New Mexico First
320 Gold Avenue, Suite 300
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

If you have questions, please contact Charlotte Pollard at charlottep@nmfirst.org or 505-241-4817.