Celebrating the end of Cohort 8

In June, the HRC and Civic Wellbeing Partners Celebrated the end of the Winter/Spring Season of Wellbeing Microgrants, inviting the Mayor of Santa Monica and other partners.

Many of these projects tapped into creating a stronger sense of unity through the arts and other activities to improve a range of: financial, environmental, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This season saw an increase of interaction across intergenerational participants where younger generations could teach older generations how to do something new. Older generations were invited to reconnect with community post-pandemic and found new purpose and inspiration to plan for their future. At least 60% of the projects addressed equity through language access and ALL projects brought forth access to materials and resources needed to continue activities beyond the project’s timeline.

Are you interested in making an impact in your community? Stay tuned for applications to re-open on July 24th!

Apply here

Apply for a 2023 Wellbeing Microgrant

Wellbeing Microgrants 2023 Applications are OPEN! Wellbeing Microgrants are a new approach to engage and support individuals across Santa Monica and throughout West LA, who are looking to make a positive change in their community. Designed to empower local action, Civic Wellbeing Partners provides up to $500 for ideas that are focused on small scale projects to improve community wellbeing. Get started with your application here.

Applications close March 3rd, 2023. Apply or share this incredible opportunity with your community today!


¡Las solicitudes de Wellbeing Microgrants 2023 están ABIERTAS! Wellbeing Microgrants se enfoca en involucrar y apoyar a miembros de la comunidad de Santa Mónica y en todo el oeste de Los Ángeles que buscan hacer un cambio positivo. Diseñado para empoderar a los residentes, Civic Wellbeing Partners otorga hasta $500 para ideas que se centran en acciones a pequeña escala para mejorar el bienestar de la comunidad. Comience con su aplicación aquí.

Las solicitudes cierran el 3 de marzo de 2023. ¡Aplica o comparte esta increíble oportunidad con su comunidad hoy!

Apply for a Wellbeing Microgrant- Fall 2022

Civic Wellbeing Partners is now accepting applications for their new cohort of Wellbeing Microgrant leaders! The Wellbeing Microgrant Program provides up to $500 for ideas that are focused on small scale projects to improve community wellbeing. Check out the new website and apply for a microgrant at: www.wellbeingmicrogrants.org

Applications are due Wednesday, August 31st, 2022.

Feel free to contact cityofwellbeing@gmail.com with any inquiries. Note: Former leaders who participated before 2022 are welcome to apply!

Building Community in Santa Monica

Free event on Wednesday, June 22 @ 5:30pm- Sunset, Ocean View Park, Santa Monica

Join the global movement on Wednesday, June 22nd at Ocean View Park from 5:30pm-Sundown.
At the Big Talk event, people will be asked to skip small talk when answering questions to fight loneliness, foster community belonging, and build curiosity and empathy in wake of the pandemic. This event is FREE!

Register on Eventbrite: Big Talk Santa Monica Summer Solstice
Address: 2701 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Kicking off a new round of Wellbeing Microgrants!

To all who applied or spread the word about Microgrants this round: Thank you!

We are very excited for what this new group has to bring and will be sharing more about each of their individual projects in the coming weeks.

The Human Relations Council is the fiscal receiver of the Wellbeing Microgrants Program. The Microgrants were brought to the HRC by Civic Wellbeing Partners, and are made possible through funding by Cedars-Sinai.

To get connected with any of these great projects through June 2022, please email cityofwellbeing@gmail.com

Apply for a 2022 Wellbeing Microgrant!

Wellbeing Microgrants 2022 Applications are OPEN! Wellbeing Microgrants are a new approach to engage and support individuals looking to make a positive change in their community. Designed to empower local action, Civic Wellbeing Partners provides up to $500 for ideas that are focused on small scale projects to improve community wellbeing. Get started with your application here.

Applications close February 25, 2022. Apply or share this incredible opportunity with your community today!

Black History Month 2021

The City of Santa Monica presents several of Black History Month events under the theme The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity. Learn more at https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/blackhistorymonth2021

February 2020 Dinner & Dialogue Event

The 2019 Mark J. Benjamin Community Impact Award Recipients

Congratulations to Terri Decker and Barbara Inatsugu

Terri Decker, No Limits for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children

Terri Decker, born and raised in Santa Monica, recently retired after 45 years of retail banking. Terri began volunteering as a teen. She has been active in many local charitable and civic organizations and has served on many nonprofit boards over the years. Currently, Terri is Board President of No Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, the organization which nominated Ms. Decker for the award.
Congratulations Terri!
Thank you for your service to our community!
Barbara Inatsugu, League of Women Voters of Santa Monica

Barbara Inatsugu has been involved in the Santa Monica community since moving here from Hawaii in 1982. She has been active in PTA, locally and at the state level, for all of the years her children attended Santa Monica schools. In 1992, she joined the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica where she has been very active locally and also on the state level. The League of Women Voters nominated Ms. Inatsugu for the award. Congratulations Barbara!
Thank you for your service to our community!

To learn more about the Mark J. Benjamin Community Awards visit http://hrcsantamonica.org/impact-2/