The Harambee House, in partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s CEAR Hub, has distributed $200,940 to Savannah neighborhood associations and nonprofits to support projects that build community capacity, address local challenges and strengthenresilience to extreme weather and  environmental threats, promoting collaboration amongst communities.

“Through the long work and collaboration between the Harambee House, Georgia Tech, and Savannah State University, we decided we would invest funding in our communities to develop strategies and actions that will promote environmental protection, resiliency and sustainability”, said Dr. Mildred McClain, founder of the Harambee House, which has been building capacity in Savannah for over 35 years.

“This work is being done in honor of Brother Henry Moore, who served as the Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Building for the City of Savannah for 17 years. In 1987, Moore walked the streets in Cuyler Brownsville to see what the community needed. As a result of those community tours, he created a vision for the neighborhood where the Grants for Blocks Program was born, which gave individual residents up to $500 toward helping to improve their neighborhoods as they saw fit. He was taking a bottom-up approach to rebuilding neighborhoods. This was a bold and creative way to support positive community development and growth that would have a long-term effect and make a real difference. We are promoting the Asset-Based Community Development approach here in Savannah,” said McClain.

The Mustard Seeds of Community Investment Initiative awarded $5,000 to five neighborhood associations in East Savannah, Woodville, Ogeecheeton-Dawes, Liberty City and Hudson Hill. With more neighborhoods set to receive the funding in coming months, the support will be used to address specific community needs, while encouraging resident participation, expanding youth engagement, and conducting truck counts to monitor traffic and air pollution concerns. Leadership of the neighborhood associations were recognized by Savannah City Council on July 10, 2025.

“Dr. McClain has put in the work. And she continues that work in season and out of season,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. “I have worked with her for the Mustard Seeds of Community Investment, which is a combined initiative with Savannah State University, Georgia Tech CEAR Hub, the Harambee House and City of Savannah Mayor’s office, to be able to salute 12 neighborhood associations with grants to support community-driven growth and engagement through this program.” The CEAR Hub Community Grant Initiative funded 14 projects led by grassroots leaders and organizations across Greater West Savannah. It also included 2 communities from the East Side of Savannah. Each project received between $4,000 and $20,000, and was selected from competitive applications reviewed by a community council of residents. The community-led projects empower residents to identify challenges and create innovative solutions to improve their communities, fostering collaboration and strengthening the long-term resilience of historic African American neighborhoods impacted by weather-related events, including flooding, industrial pollution, and development pressures.

“This is a new beginning for us. Never would we have thought someone would have invested in our neighborhood at this level. It gives us hope and concrete resources to work with so we can really change the quality of life at the neighborhood level”, said Johnny Mae Law of the Ogeecheeton-Dawes Avenue Neighborhood Association.

Each funded project is encouraged to leverage the funds by working with local businesses and industries located in or near the community. “The Harambee House is a true partner. With these funds, we will be able to demonstrate the real power of neighborhoods. The Harambee House is enabling us to see some of our dreams materialize, and change poor conditions in our community”, said Michelle Howard of the Hudson Hill neighborhood.

The awarded projects address a wide range of focus areas including environmental sustainability, neighborhood revitalization, health and education, food and nutrition, cultural knowledge preservation, disaster preparedness and community empowerment. Each project reflects a deep understanding of
local needs and a commitment to building a stronger, more sustainable future.

One of the funded projects, Through It All Inc.’s Multifaceted Community Resilience Initiative, described its goals as “increased youth confidence and civic awareness, stronger economic and parenting skills among women, and families better prepared to navigate health, climate and financial challenges.” Serving the Kayton Homes and Frazier Homes communities, the project’s activities “reflect our commitment to community-led change.”

2025 CEAR Hub Community Grant Awardees include:

1. Wellness and Nutrition Program Initiative – Quincy and Rose Pullin Foundation, Inc – West Savannah, Hudson Hill Communities

2. Tatemville Community Garden – Tatemville Community Garden, Tatemville Community

3. Healing Our Hearts, Growing Our Strength – Healing Hearts Grievance Group – Kayton Homes and Frazier Homes Communities

4. Resilience Hubs – Ogeecheeton-Dawes Ave. Neighborhood Association & Tremont Park Neighborhood Association – Ogeecheeton-Dawes Ave. and Tremont Park Communities

5. Home Energy Efficiency and Disaster Preparedness – Silverback Health LLC – Sylvan Terrace and West Savannah Communities

6. Roots and Resilience – Ogeecheeton-Dawes Ave. Neighborhood Association – Ogeecheeton- Dawes Community

7. Coastal Community Resilience Project – S2S FACTS Inc – Frazier Homes, Woodville, Hudson Hill, and Garden City Communities

8. Westside Energy Relief Program – Optio Communications – Woodville, Hudson Hill, and Liberty City Communities

9. Multifaceted Community Resilience Initiative – Through It All Inc. – Kayton Homes and Frazier Homes Communities

10. Neighborhood Emergency Resilience Training & Kit Distribution – Savannah Community Land Trust Inc. – Hudson Hill, West Savannah, Carver Village, Cloverdale, and Ogeecheeton Communities

11. Frazier Homes Resilience Hub – Frazier Homes Resident Committee – Frazier Homes Community

12. Cooling and Recharging Center – Solomon Temple – West Savannah Community

13. Cloverdale Resilience Hub – Cloverdale Civic Improvement – Cloverdale Community

14. Mobile Lab Program – Public Health 4 Kidz Production – Kayton Homes and West Savannah Communities

After receiving the approval and congratulations, the awardees shared a joint response, “We recipients want to take a moment to express our deepest appreciation for the crucial approval and congratulations of the CEAR Hub Community Grant. Your dedication and efforts to make sure that meaningful impact continues [...], we understand it takes us all to be the driving forces behind the change we all strive to see.”

In addition to the funding, Harambee House is providing recipients with support in project planning, reporting, partnership building and peer learning to strengthen implementation and impact.