In 1999, the Foundation — in its first-time collaboration with The Engineering Center Education Trust (TECET) — solicited proposals for programs that focused on "Investments in the Next Generation" and on ways in which communities throughout Massachusetts could strengthen public awareness of "the importance of well-designed buildings, public spaces, cities and their infrastructures." Twenty-seven proposals were received from communities, community groups, and others throughout Massachusetts. The 14 grants totaling $62,000 are summarized here and include the names and telephone numbers of the individuals to call in each case for additional details:

Architectural Education Resource Center — $5000 to support "Learning By Design in Massachusetts," a new partnership of the Architectural Education Resource Center and the Boston Society of Architects that administers classroom design workshops, professional development programs for schoolteachers, an architects-in-residence program for schools, curriculum consultation services and other school-based services. (Polly Carpenter AIA, 617-492-8266)

Diane Beckley Miller, Assoc. AIA — $2,000 to support a collaboration of teachers and architects to research, develop and implement a Web site containing a concise series of model lesson plans and contact information for schoolteachers seeking to promote an awareness of architecture among children. (Diane Beckley Miller, Assoc. AIA, 781-396-0546)

Artists for Humanity — $5,000 to support the development of educational exhibits designed to provide Boston's inner-city youth, their families and communities with access to examples of high-quality architecture and community design in order to encourage public participation in the design processes that shape communities. (Susan Rodgerson, 617-737-2455)

Boston By Foot — $2,000 to support an expanded recruiting and training program for this exceptional architectural tours program in order to attract volunteers to lead the "Boston By Little Feet" program for young audiences. (Polly Flansburgh, 617-367-2345)

Citizen Schools — $10,000 to support this program's effort to increase the quality and quantity of its architecture programs for Boston's youth by formalizing an architectural unit of an existing hands-on apprenticeship-based curriculum for 9-14 year-old children in Boston's public schools. (Anuradha Desai, 617-695-2300x112)

Historic Neighborhoods Foundation — $3,000 to support City/Build, the design/development/construction program offered to Boston youth through a 16-week curriculum in the public schools, a mentoring program, and a slide show available to Massachusetts audiences. (Dr. Nina Meyer, 617-426-1885)

Institute of Contemporary Art — $5,000 to support the Vita Brevis presentation of "Art on the Emerald Necklace," a series of temporary public art installations based on themes of history, architecture and the landscape along the Necklace. (Jill Medvedow, 617-927-6601)

Lanesborough Elementary School — $3,000 to support a building-bridges-with-toothpicks curriculum for fourth-grade students as a means of elevating design awareness. (William Ballen, 413-442-2229)

Massachusetts Pre-Engineering Program — $10,000 to support students' participation in national program "modules" on engineering, architecture, surveying and other aspects of design incorporated in the National Engineers Week "Future City" program and the Junior Engineering Technical Society's "National Engineering Design Challenge". (Lisa Ackerman, P.E., 781-275-0494)

Nuestras Raices — $5,000 to support the completion of an agricultural center in Holyoke designed as a tropical garden plaza in a youth-directed project. (Roque Sanchez, 860-522-3174)

Nueva Esperanza — $2,000 to support the development of a workshop based on this organization's "Youth Power Guide/How to Make Your Community Better." (Imre Kepes, 413-532-2360)

Parmenter Elementary School — $5,000 to support the development of a fifth-grade curriculum that will use student research of the design, building materials, evolution and historical significance of actual structures along Boston's Freedom Trail to illustrate how architecture and community design affect contemporary residents and how historic Boston developed. (David Barner/Rebecca Miller, 508-541-5281)

Understanding Our Differences — $2,000 to support the development of a fourth-grade curriculum that addresses the impact of architectural design on everyone and especially on those with special needs. (Beth Mendel, 617-552-7687)

Urban Arts — $3,000 to support "Youth Works/Art Works", a proposal to create two public artworks shaped by Boston-area teens in collaboration with professional artists. (Program Director, 617-536-2880)