Board approves several Measure K grants; $100,000 scholarship proposal left open
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Summary
Supervisors approved multiple one‑time Measure K discretionary grants — including $20,000 for Ta'ulama for Tongans, $10,000 for Empowerment Through Action and $30,000 for Casa Circulo Cultural — while a $100,000 scholarship endowment proposal drew questions and was not advanced.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a series of one‑time Measure K discretionary grants totaling multiple tens of thousands of dollars for community programs, and left a $100,000 scholarship endowment proposal unresolved.
Ta'ulama for Tongans: Lucy Latu, assistant director of Ta'ulama for Tongans, asked the board to fund an intergenerational empowerment series that aims to strengthen communication and cultural identity for Tongan youth and parents. ‘‘These Measure K funds will allow us to pilot intervention upstream,’’ Latu said. The board approved District 2’s $20,000 discretionary request for the program on a unanimous roll‑call vote.
Schools and youth supports: Rachel Lauderdale, co‑executive director of Empowerment Through Action, described efforts to expand mentor groups and campus resource spaces and said the program now serves ‘‘over 400 students’’ in its initial expansion. The board approved a $10,000 Measure K grant to Empowerment Through Action by roll call (Spear Aye; Mueller Yes; Gauthier Yes; Canapa No; Corso Yes).
Arts and cultural hub: The board approved a $30,000 grant to Casa Circulo Cultural to support basic operations for the Center for Creativity in downtown Redwood City. Supervisor Gauthier described the center as a ‘‘community‑led effort to build a permanent visual and performing arts hub’’ and the motion passed on roll call votes matching the Empowerment vote.
Scholarship endowment proposal left open: Supervisor Canapa introduced a $100,000 Measure K proposal to create scholarship endowments for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking through the Ariana Mae Hatami Foundation. Farzin Hatami, CEO and co‑founder, described plans to partner with the San Mateo County Community College District and create an endowment from which annual proceeds would fund scholarships. Board members pressed for more detail on timing, how quickly funds would flow to recipients, and the mechanics of an endowment; Supervisor Mueller and others said additional clarification from college foundation staff would be useful. A motion to move the item failed for lack of a second; staff said they will work with the sponsor to return with additional information if desired.
Votes at a glance: - ATR (Measure K) for public art (District 2) — approved (Yes: Mueller, Gauthier, Canapa, Corso; No: Spear). - Ta'ulama for Tongans ($20,000) — approved, unanimous. - Empowerment Through Action ($10,000) — approved (Spear Aye; Mueller Yes; Gauthier Yes; Canapa No; Corso Yes). - Casa Circulo Cultural ($30,000) — approved (same roll call as above). - Ariana Mae Hatami Foundation ($100,000) — motion died; no vote recorded.
What they said: Farzin Hatami said the foundation would ‘‘provide half of the money’’ toward the proposed joint endowments and described a three‑person selection committee including community‑college representatives; board members requested that community‑college foundation staff attend a follow‑up meeting to clarify endowment structure and timing for scholarship disbursement.
What’s next: For the unresolved scholarship item, staff and the sponsor agreed to work with San Mateo County Community College District foundation staff to return with clearer performance measures and logistics before the board considers the appropriation again.
