The Nissan Foundation has announced a new round of grants to nonprofit organizations. The 27 organizations that benefit from the grants are located in the Southern California, Tennessee, Central Mississippi, Eastern Michigan and the New York and Atlanta metro areas.

Over its 28-year history, the Nissan Foundation has awarded more than $12 million to approximately 150 organizations that offer educational programs that inform, inspire and celebrate diversity among the various racial, ethnic and cultural groups that make up society.

Photo courtesy of Nissan North America

“The Nissan Foundation’s singular focus from day one has been to stimulate dialogue around race relations and cultural diversity and to support organizations celebrating our differences while reminding us of our similarities,” said Nissan Foundation President Travis Parman. “Our 2020 grantees have been engaging in this important, difficult, and often uncomfortable, work for many years. It’s our honor and privilege to recognize and amplify their efforts.”

Since it was founded in 1992, the mission of the Nissan Foundation was been “to build community by valuing culture diversity”, according to a release. The Foundation was founded in response to the civil unrest that occurred near Nissan North America’s then-U.S. sales operations in Southern California following the Rodney King trial verdict.

The list of 2020 grant recipients includes:

• California
  • Autry Museum of the American West, “Native Voices Theater Company and American Indian Arts Marketplace” ($15,000)
  • Japanese American National Museum, “School Visits Program and Family Festivals” ($30,000)
  • San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, “Roots Series: Cultural Events, Educational Programs, and Exhibits for Children” ($10,000)
  • San Diego Museum of Man, “Challenging Conversations to Support Community Change” ($15,000)
• Georgia
  • Atlanta Historical Society, Inc., “Juneteenth 2021 Family Program and Free Admission Weekend,” ($25,000)
  • Catholic Charities Atlanta, “Refugee Education and Engagement Project” ($10,000)
  • Fernbank Museum of Natural History, “Winter Wonderland: Celebrations and Traditions Around the World” ($25,000)
• Michigan
  • Arab American National Museum (An Institution of ACCESS), “AANM Public Programming Series 2020-2021” ($10,000)
  • Detroit Educational Television Foundation, “Inclusive Media, Essential Journalism” ($30,000)
  • Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus, “Using Holocaust Literature to Combat Hate and Provide Cross-Cultural Understanding” ($20,000)
  • The Community House, “The Community House’s Diversity & Inclusion series” ($10,000)
  • The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metro Detroit, “Journeys in Religious Diversity: A Program Proven to Improve Faith-Based Relationships through Education” ($10,000)
• Mississippi
  • Cleveland Music Foundation d/b/a GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, “Right to Write: Music’s Journey to Freedom” ($25,000)
  • Jobs for Mississippi Graduates, “A.C.E. in the Workplace” – ($25,000)
• New York
  • Brooklyn Historical Society, “Muslims in Brooklyn-2020” ($10,000)
  • Jewish Children’s Museum, “Public School Initiative” ($25,000)
  • The Jewish Museum, “Movies That Matter” ($25,000)
  • One To World, “Global Classroom: Intercultural Education and Exchange for NYC Youth” ($20,000)
  • Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, “Building Community by Promoting the Value of Diversity at Schools” ($30,000)
• Tennessee
  • Discovery Center, “Kids First” ($60,000)
  • Global Education Center, “Passport to Understanding” ($25,000)
  • Nashville Public Library Foundation, “Civil Rights and a Civil Society: Critical Dialogues in Equity, Race, and Identity” ($50,000)
  • Nashville Public Television, “Next Door Neighbors: 2020-2021” ($75,000)
  • Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, “39th Annual Native American Indian Education Pow-Wow and Arts Exhibition” ($15,000)
  • Oasis Center, Inc., “Oasis Center’s Building Bridges” ($50,000)
  • Stars Nashville, “Understanding Bullying Prevention Through the Lens of Cultural Competence & Race Equity” ($20,000)
  • Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, “Welcoming Tennessee Initiative” – $15,000

The Nissan Foundation will begin accepting letters of intent for the 2021 grant cycle in mid-October with a submission deadline of November 16. Applicants must be based in California, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, or Texas.