Grass-roots religious organizations working for social change...

Grass-roots religious organizations working for social change are among those eligible to apply for “Community Bridges” grants from the California Community Foundation.

The Los Angeles-based foundation established the $1-million, four-year grant program last year to improve relations between the many ethnic and racial groups in Los Angeles County. Programs operated by religion-based groups that help Angelenos of different cultural traditions work together received four of 16 initial grants.

Terri Jones, the foundation’s vice president for program, said: “These grants are at such a local level that their impact will be hard to measure. It’s like throwing tiny little pebbles into a very large pond.

“(But) we hope that they can create a climate in which deserving organizations can get further recognition and funding,” she said.

The grants are given annually in three areas: dialogue, conflict resolution and mediation between and among ethnic and racial groups; community organizing and planning to solve problems in ethnically and racially mixed neighborhoods; and youth leadership development programs that provide constructive opportunities for disadvantaged low-income youths.

Three of last year’s grants to religious organizations were in the area of conflict resolution.

The non-sectarian National Council of Jewish Women and the African Community Refugee Center received $5,600 for a joint program, which provides support groups for immigrant women of six ethnic groups.

The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council received $25,000 to operate youth-led intergroup-relations conferences for middle school parents, students and teachers.

The “Two Cultures, One Heart” program of Kehillath Israel synagogue in Pacific Palisades and Abundance of Christ Church in South-Central Los Angeles received $20,000 to launch the Rainbow Inn, a fish restaurant that employs church neighborhood youths as workers and managers, supervised by adults from the church and the synagogue.

The fourth grant to a religious organization was for neighborhood organizing. Centro Pastoral Rutilio Grande in Hollywood, founded by the late Father Luis Olivares, received $7,000 for management training. A human services organization housed at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, the center is dedicated to improving relations between recent Central American immigrants, business owners and longtime Mexican American residents in Hollywood.

Jones said that the Community Bridges program--which receives funds from the Ford, William Randolph Hearst and Pacific Mutual foundations and other large private charities--targets poverty-stricken and ethnically mixed areas.

Grants may be sought for new efforts or for expanding or improving programs. The grants generally do not exceed $25,000 a year for a single project.

Preliminary applications must be submitted by May 16. Further information and applications are available at (213) 413-4042, extension 497.

DATES

* Pepperdine University’s 51st annual Bible lectures feature more than 75 scholars teaching more than 200 classes Tuesday through Friday on the school’s Malibu campus. Classes, which are free and open to the public, are taught in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. For complete information, phone (310) 456-4270.

* The 20th annual Long Beach Area Hunger Walk takes place Sunday, with registration at 12:45 p.m. at the First Church of the Brethren, 3332 Magnolia Ave. The event benefits such local charities as Centro Shalom, the Family Shelter for the Homeless, Christian Outreach Appeal, St. Francis Center, Interfaith Action for Aging and the Mid-Cities Help Center of Bellflower. The largest portion will go to Church World Service, a global disaster relief and agricultural development organization. Walkers may participate through local churches or independently. Information is available at (310) 595-0268.

* State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, a gubernatorial candidate, will be the keynote speaker at the Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship, United Church of Christ, celebration of Women’s Day at 11 a.m. Sunday. “Sweet” Alice Harris will be honored for her work with the Parents of Watts, a community organization that helps teen-age parents learn to to care for their children. The Rev. Madison T. Shockley Jr. will officiate. 2085 Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 731-8869.

* UCLA Extension offers seven courses in fund raising for nonprofit organizations this spring, leading to an optional certificate program. They include “The Art of Fund-Raising” and “Public Relations for Nonprofit Organizations.” For information, call (310) 825-0641.

* “Sisters and Strangers on the Brink of Peace in the Middle East” is a symposium sponsored by the New Israel Fund Women’s Voices and American Jewish Congress Feminist Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Middle East specialist Judith Kipper, guest scholar at the Brookings Institution, will the the keynote speaker. There will also be a lunch and a panel discussion. Registration is $40 and begins at 9:15 a.m. at Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 559-0445.

* The Native American Ministry Project will hold an ecumenical worship service at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and the second and fourth Sundays of each month. This Sunday’s service is at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3rd Street and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. After the service, the Rev. Henry Fawcett will conduct a discussion on lay leadership training. For information, call the Rev. Buddy Monahan at (310) 670-5076.

* A Shabbat evening focusing on people with disabilities will be held at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge. The service will include a sign interpreter, hearing amplification units and prayer booklets with enlarged type. Larry Carmel, vice chairman of Mayor Richard Riordan’s Commission on People with Disabilities, will speak; a reception will follow. 18200 Rinaldi Pl. (818) 360-2258.

* Los Angeles InterGroup presents the Taurus Festival of Wesak, the second of three meditation festivals of spring, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Frances Moore will speak. 9550 Haskell Ave., Sepulveda. (818) 353-9535.

* Summer Ango (Peaceful Dwelling) retreats are offered by the Zen Center of Los Angeles at the Zen Mountain Center between May 29 and Aug. 23. Various plans are available. (213) 387-2377.

BRIEFLY

* Current and former members of B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, B’nai B’rith Girls and Aleph Zadik Aleph chapters are being sought for a planned reunion July 31 in Anaheim. (714) 263-9001 or (909) 861-3232.

* The Bahais of Los Angeles and the United Nations Assn. present a World in Transition Forum. For a complete schedule of topics, call (310) 559-9512.

* Rabbi David Schnall, a sociologist at Yeshiva University, will speak at four locations April 30. For details, call (310) 777-0225, extension 3.