DA lauds five-year anniversary of “Bend the Arc” Grant Program, announces kickoff
For release on April 4, 2025
CONTACT:
Hugo Meza
Deputy District Attorney
Community Prosecution Unit
(408) 792-2456
[email protected]
DA lauds five-year anniversary of “Bend the Arc” grant program, announces kickoff
The District Attorney’s Office has kicked off the fifth annual “Bend the Arc” grant program. Over the past four years, the Office has successfully distributed over $220,000 in grants to local organizations working towards racial equality.
Groups are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in grants to help them work against racial discrimination and disproportionality in Santa Clara County. District Attorney Jeff Rosen began offering the community grants in 2021.
“Justice may be delivered in the courtroom,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “But justice begins when we support and empower our neighborhoods.”
Last year, Valley Palms Unidos received a grant to purchase essential supplies, like detergent, flour, and dish soap, to help improve the quality of life for their residents. Santa Maria Urban Ministry was awarded funds that were used to hold a summer camp, which included recreational activities and educational excursions like visiting the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, for youth from the Guadalupe Washington neighborhood.
The grants come from the DA’s Asset Forfeiture Fund, which is money seized from gangs, drug traffickers, and criminal organizations. The DA’s Office invests the funds back into the community to help repair the harm caused by those criminals.
DA Rosen announced a series of 26 social justice reforms in 2020, including the Racial Justice Grant Program. All of the reforms are intended to address racial discrimination and promote equality within the criminal justice system. The implementation of the reforms began in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
The application deadline is Friday, May 9, 2025. For more information, please visit the Bend the Arc Grant Application Eligibility and Requirements webpage.
###