News

The Yurok Tribe was awarded a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Promise Neighborhoods to create a regional five-year effort for a "cradle-school-career pathway project" that will build programs and support services for students in Del Norte County. 

“The Yurok Education Department is excited about what this grant means for our families, our students and the community as a whole. In partnership with the True North Organizing Network, Del Norte schools, First-5, Del Norte Child Care Council and other local entities, we will build sustainable supports, services and programs that help our students succeed as they make their way from pre-kindergarten to college to a satisfying professional career,” said Jim McQuillen, Yurok Education Department director. "I look forward to establishing the high-quality learning opportunities our students need and deserve."

The DOE’s Promise Neighborhoods grant aims to improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in distressed communities and to transform those communities.

The grant will be paid over the next five years in the amount of $5,999,644 annually.

The Klamath River Promise Neighborhood looks to bring together tribes, schools, the Del Norte Unified School District and county office of education, community-based organizations, institutes of higher education, local government and parent and resident groups, who intend to improve educational, health and developmental outcomes for children by building a continuum of solutions centered around great schools in Del Norte County and adjacent tribal lands.

North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman applauded the grant award.

"It’s inspiring to see folks across the region come together under the goal of improving students’ lives to secure this grant," he said in a press release. "Del Norte County is one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in my district, but with this funding we can ensure children are healthy, have the tools they need for a successful education, and can go on to have fulfilling careers to support themselves, their communities and Tribes.”

Read the full press release below.

Huffman Announces Multimillion Dollar Education Grant for Yurok Tribe

Huffman, Community Members Across Del Norte Partnered to Advocate for Funds

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) applauded a nearly $30 million Federal grant awarded to the Yurok Tribe through the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Promise Neighborhoods grant program to build a regional five-year effort for a Cradle-School-Career Pathway Project in rural Del Norte County. Rep. Huffman supported the Tribe’s application for this grant in a letter earlier this year and released the below statement today.

"It’s inspiring to see folks across the region come together under the goal of improving students’ lives to secure this grant. Del Norte County is one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in my district, but with this funding we can ensure children are healthy, have the tools they need for a successful education, and can go on to have fulfilling careers to support themselves, their communities, and Tribes,” said Rep. Huffman.

“The Yurok Education Department is excited about what this grant means for our families, our students and the community as a whole. In partnership with the True North Organizing Network, Del Norte schools, First-5, Del Norte Child Care Council and other local entities, we will build sustainable supports, services and programs that help our students succeed as they make their way from pre-kindergarten to college to a satisfying professional career. I look forward to establishing the high-quality learning opportunities our students need and deserve,” said Jim McQuillen, Yurok Education Department Director.

Terry Supahan with True North who helped pull together community leaders in the unified request to the Department of Education said, “It was the injection of good will that was the most promising thing about the grant application.”

The DOE’s Promise Neighborhoods grant aims to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in our most distressed communities, and to transform those communities. This grant will be in the amount of $5,999,644.00 for the first budget period (01/01/2022 through 12/31/2022). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 years. You can click here to read more about the program and click here to read the letter of support from Rep. Huffman.

About the Klamath River Promise Neighborhood

The Klamath River Promise Neighborhood brings together cross-sector partners including Tribes, schools, the Del Norte Unified School District and County Office of Education, community-based organizations, institutes of higher education, local government, and parent and resident groups, who intend to improve educational, health, and developmental outcomes for children by building a continuum of solutions centered around great schools in Del Norte County and adjacent Tribal Lands.

The Yurok Tribe has worked with a local community organizing project, True North Organizing Network, to bring together multiple cross sector partners to plan the Klamath River Promise Continuum of Solutions. The partners undertook an extensive community mapping effort to inventory current services and supports, analyze gaps and unmet needs, and design a cradle to college and career continuum so that children have no choice but to succeed, wrapped around with family and parent supports.