Chapter Two
Securing Major Funding for Community-Engaged Research
"Over $800,000 in external grants to build sustainable community partnerships."
The transformative potential of Dr. Mendenhall's research has been recognized and supported by major funding institutions. Over the last five years, she has secured over $800,000 in external grants, enabling her to expand her work, mentor students, and build sustainable community partnerships.
NSF EAGER Grant
$300,000 • 2020-2023
Supported the STEM Illinois Nobel Project, fostering computer science identity among underrepresented youth.
MacArthur Foundation
$500,000 • 2021-Present
Funding for Health Equity & Community Health Workers, creating wellness toolkits and policy clinics.
Youth participating in the STEM Illinois Nobel Project.
Culturally Relevant STEM Education
The STEM Illinois Nobel Project provided education to nearly 150 Black and Latinx students. This initiative led to remarkable innovations, such as a 7th grader's prototype for a mental health robot.
MacArthur Foundation: A Third Reconstruction
The MacArthur Foundation grant has been instrumental in addressing racial trauma and health disparities in Chicago. This funding supports the development of a Community Health Worker training program, the creation of wellness toolkits in partnership with the Siebel Center for Design, and a policy clinic to train the next generation of Black and Latinx policymakers.
This work directly builds on the findings of the Citizen Scientist Journaling Project, which captured the lived experiences of Illinois residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the need for community-centered healing.