The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the Catholic Church’s domestic anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently awarded grants to seven local ministries and programs in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Two types of CCHD grants were given to various ministries in North Georgia, including local parish grants and local community grants. The parish grants range up to $1,000 in support of parish-based ministries and organizations, while the community grants focus on local organizations that feature programs correcting social injustices while encouraging low-income people to participate in activities that will empower them to move beyond poverty.

Following is the list of 2010-2011 CCHD Parish and Community Grant Award Recipients with a brief description of their program:

St. Brendan the Navigator Church, Cumming, received $1,000 for the Help and Hope Technology Center. The technology center is a parish activity and advocacy program designed to provide a technology based learning environment. The center is designed to help people both on-site and virtual, allowing all parishioners, parish food pantry clients, ESL students and others in the local community, regardless of legal or financial status, to have access to computer technology, as well as instruction in computer use and use of various computer technologies, for the primary purpose of improving the lives of low-income and marginalized groups.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta, received $1,000 for its Catholic Earth Day. Catholic Earth Day brings Catholics together to pray, act and learn about stewardship of the earth and the Catholic call to care for God’s creation. Particular emphasis is given on how the poor are affected by poor air quality and pollution.

The Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, Atlanta, was awarded $1,000 for its Days of Reflection for Homeless Women retreat, a day-long retreat for women coming from local shelter programs who are battling homelessness and addictions and who need to be reminded of their value and worth.

The Catholic Center at the University of Georgia, Athens, received $1,000 for its JustFaith class. This request for funds is designed to offset expenses of this year’s JustFaith class, which is the center’s seventh class. The class began in September and will be completed this month. Twenty-one people of diverse ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds are enrolled. People will be trained in the principles of Catholic social teaching.

The Enriching Communities One Plot At A Time (ECOPAAT) Gardens, Atlanta, was awarded $4,000 for its Grassroots Leadership Skills Project, which teaches participants about growing their own food and health and nutrition basics so they may become leaders in this area for their community.

The Habersham Families Helping Families and H.O.P.E., Inc., Habersham County, was awarded $4,000 for its Hispanic Education Fairs. This program has three objectives: to present a bilingual Hispanic Education Fair to 10th- through 12th-graders and their parents to educate them about college entrance requirements; to present a bilingual Hispanic Education Fair for seventh- to ninth-graders and their parents educating them about high school courses and how they can affect their college opportunities; and to develop a handbook on “Steps to Take Before Applying to College” to be given to students and parents attending the fairs.

Be Someone, Inc., Lithonia, received $4,000 for Think Before You Move, a project that teaches participants the methods of evaluating a situation before responding. This project is directed specifically at low-performance students, those with disciplinary challenges and those with low self-esteem.

For more information on CCHD grants, visit www.catholiccharitiesatlanta.org/services/psjm/cchd.html or www.usccb.org/cchd/grants/index.shtml.