Manchester Renaissance Foundation Inc.

Community Gardens: these are operated through a memorandum of understanding using two village-owned FEMA properties. There is also a memorandum of understanding with the public works/water department which charges the organization only for the water it uses without charging its typical minimum or its sewer charges. Both are significant in-kind contributions that total more than $10,000 annually. T

he Arts: three property owners have offered their outside walls for murals (as in-kind contributions) that will depict people and events of village history. Once funding is acquired and the walls developed, these murals will be part of a self-directed walking tour through the village. In addition, when the organization obtains and renovates a building for its office space, for artist studios and for gallery space, it will host free and low-cost art classes for the community and in collaboration with the school district’s after school programming. It will also host poetry readings, music events and meet-the-artist nights. History: the organization is working with the historical society to develop a self-directed walking tour through the village, incorporating plaques about historic people, homes, buildings and events, with gardens to further utilize village-owned FEMA properties (the village owns 13 properties). It hopes to collaborate with the school district’s history classes to both develop this walking tour and for the schools to use as an educational activity for the students. Other Activities: As a result of its board members’ educations and experiences, Manchester Renaissance Foundation will share its knowledge with other community-based associations, clubs and organizations to increase their capacities to seek grants, to develop fund raisers and to effectively manage their organizations. It will offer educational opportunities either free of charge or for a nominal charge to cover materials and supplies.