Working together to create an equitable and economically stable Mahoning Valley
Join us in building a Mahoning Valley we can all proudly call home. At the Wean Foundation, we seek to partner with residents stepping up to lead, leaders learning to serve and all of those working to build a just and sustainable future.
From grants to workshops to events in Wean Park, we invite you to get involved. Every day, we see the power of resident-led action to improve lives — and our community. Together, we can turn a shared vision of an equitable Mahoning Valley into a reality.
Most Recent Programs
Upcoming Courses, Programs & Events
NEW!
Nonprofit Leadership Cohort
The Wean Foundation will launch its first Nonprofit Leadership Cohort in early 2025. Over eight months, the program will provide up to 10 mid-career nonprofit professionals with coaching, peer-to-peer learning and opportunities to implement skills learned within their organizations. The program is open to those currently employed at Wean Foundation grantees or potential grantees whose work aligns with our strategic priorities, with an emphasis on the under-resourced, including Black and Hispanic/Latinx leaders.
Experience
Participants will engage in self-assessments and monthly sessions that emphasize critical areas such as personal development, strategic planning, leadership communication, and more. The dynamic curriculum will begin and end with immersive retreats.
The Cohort will focus on cultivating key competencies that are vital for personal and programmatic leadership, including:
- Transformational and Inclusive Leadership Skills
- Strategic Thinking and Planning
- Financial Management and Fundraising
- Team Building and Cohesion
- Board Governance and Compliance
Opportunity
Upon completing the program, Cohort members’ organizations will have the chance to apply for a Strategic Partners Fellowship. The Fellowship enables them to grow within their organization and ensures they are fairly and appropriately compensated for their advancement.
This initiative represents the Wean Foundation’s ongoing dedication to empowering leaders who can create inclusive environments, drive organizational success and significantly enhance the quality of life in the Mahoning Valley.
Apply Now
We are accepting applications until Friday, November 1. Selected participants will be notified in early December.
Please contact Victor Ruiz, victor@gradientthinktank.com, or Fallon Peterson, fpeterson@weanfoundation.org, with questions or for more information.
Resident Engagement Grant Prerequisite Workshop
Twice a year, The Raymond John Wean Foundation offers a grant opportunity for those leading resident engagement efforts in Warren and Youngstown. Though we consider the residents doing the work the experts, we curate programs with content experts who share valuable information and provide hands-on support in areas critical for small nonprofits. Experts from Gradient and JSK Solutions will lead conversations on how attendees can refine their narrative and budget.
UPCOMING SESSIONS (all sessions are held at the Wean Foundation):
- Wednesday and Thursday, October 16 & 17, 2024, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 19, 2024, 8 a.m. – 12pm
For any additional questions please contact residentengagement@weanfoundation.org
2024 Race Equity and Inclusion Workshops
(Virtual & in-person options available)
Join us for this dynamic two-day workshop designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms. Participants move away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, to understand a historical, cultural and structural analysis of racism.
Since 2017, more than 800 residents of the Mahoning Valley have participated in one of the Wean Foundation-sponsored REI workshops. The sessions are coordinated by ThirdSpace Action Lab, a Cleveland-based racial equity consultancy, and administered by the Racial Equity Institute of Greensboro, N.C.
NOTE: Please ensure you can attend for the entirety of the two-day training before registering.
SESSION DATES:
- November 6 & 7 (In Person) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- November 13 & 14 (Virtual) – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Click here to be connected with Wean staff to express your interest in attending a session and receive a discount code to register at no cost.
If you already have your Wean discount code, click below to be connected to Thirdspace Action Lab to complete registration.
The Raymond John Wean Foundation will have photography, videography, and audio recording throughout the duration of all events. By attending these events, you consent to the capture of your image, likeness and voice through photography, videography and recordings for ethical and discretionary use, distribution, and/or reproduction by the Wean Foundation.
Resident Council
Composed of area residents, the Resident Council represents the rich diversity that makes the Mahoning Valley a vibrant community. Resident Council members, by way of their proximity to neighborhood challenges and opportunities, use their time and expertise to inform the Foundation, helping to develop and implement resident-led projects and support the Foundation’s resident engagement efforts.
Wean Park Events
All Year
Experience all that the Wean Park Complex offers, including the Great Lawn, Huntington Bank Community Alley and The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre. Check the Park website and event schedule regularly for news and updates.
Logistics and Parking
Due to a 2-hour parking limit imposed for parking around Courthouse Square and to allow for adequate patronage to the downtown businesses, we encourage you to utilize the City of Warren’s Franklin Street Parking Deck, located directly behind the Foundation facility.
Grantmaking
Funding the development and implementation of viable solutions led by organizations whose leadership reflects the racial demographics of the communities in which they work.
Capacity Building
Supporting the strong leadership, strategy and impact of Black and Hispanic/Latinx-led organizations.
Convening and Partnerships
Defining challenges, formulating solutions and taking collective action, with Black and Hispanic/Latinx-led organizations who have a stake in the decisions being made.