PIERRE – The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) selected the Turtle Island Learning Circle as one of 14 recipients in its recent round of Community Innovation Grants. Community Innovation Grants provide funding aimed at uncovering breakthroughs in community needs across the state.

The $7,294 grant supports planning and building a community process and structure which recognizes similarities and differences and advances common interests and mutual benefits of a cohesive community.

A task force will work to create a plan for environmental conservation and economic incentive in Flandreau focusing on the Crescent Street and Big Sioux River intersections.

“The intersection of Crescent Street and the Big Sioux River is a concern openly acknowledged by many,” said Adrienne Brant James, president of Turtle Island Learning Circle. “This area has emerged as a possible productive pathway for joining citizenry and its governing agencies to work together for mutual benefits. This grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation provides a much needed boost for these efforts.”

Turtle Island Learning Circle is a nonprofit corporation which works to develop respectful, sustainable and democratic environments through recognition of the interdependence of all life.

“The Community Innovation Grants were designed for projects that are inclusive, collaborative and resourceful,“ said Ginger Niemann, SDCF program officer. “The development of this community process and structure meets all those criteria.”

During 2017, nonprofits across the state will receive a total of $400,000 through the Community Innovation Grant program, which is a partnership between the SDCF and the St. Paul, Minn.-based Bush Foundation.

Round one for 2017 has been awarded and application submissions for round two just closed. Applications for round three, the final round for 2017, are being accepted from September 1 through September 29.

Pictured above accepting the grant are, from back, Janelle Weatherly of the East Dakota Water Development District Board, Elizabeth Wakeman, coordinator representing the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Dept., Jeff Veltkamp, SDCF, and Adrienne Brant James, president of the Turtle Island Learning Circle.

In front are Garrie Kills-a-Hundred, Mary Kills-a-Hundred and Joseli Bahr, of the FSST Tribal Historic Preservation, Brooke Martens, and Leslie Hurley of First Flandreau Insurance, Dorothy Bauske, county resident, Jack Majeres, supervisor of the Moody County Conservation District and Tammy Lunday, unit director at Boys and Girls Club of Moody County.