The City of Dubuque’s Office of Equity and Human Rights is please to announce the latest winners of its Equitable Community Grants. The grant program was established in 2023 and provides funding to support programs, activities, or services that help promote equity in the Dubuque community.

The 2025 winners of the grants are Afriwell Hub, Inc. and the Visiting Nurse Association of Dubuque. The two organizations were chosen from a pool of twenty applicants, a new record for the program. The recipients will each receive $5,000.

Afriwell Hub, Inc. is a Dubuque-based non-profit organization founded by Ugandan-born performing artist Sarah Ndagire. The group will use its grant to launch African Vibes, a community engagement opportunity to celebrate African culture through music, dance, cuisine, storytelling, and art. The inaugural event is intended to foster inclusivity, strengthen community cohesion, and empower skilled African immigrants while enriching the Dubuque community through an immersive and engaging cultural experience.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Dubuque will use its grant funding to support its Maternal Health Program, specifically the effort to provide free educational materials, portable cribs, and sleep sacks to Marshallese and Hispanic families in the Dubuque region. These items will allow families to improve infant safety during sleep and play, with the overall intention of reducing the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

The application period for the next round of Equitable Community Grant awards will open in September. For more information about the Equitable Community Grant, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/EquityGrant or contact the Equity and Human Rights Department by calling 563.589.4190.