Central Washington Progress (Yakima, WA) – CWP works for the common good for everyone in Central Washington through political empowerment and civic engagement towards systemic change. This grant will support the Yakima Home Rule Charter Campaign — transforming Yakima County’s system of government from a panel of three commissioners elected countywide to a “county executive-county council” with multiple districts, providing access to power for the county’s communities of color. Through this campaign, CWP will engage Latinos and Native Americans in drafting the charter and recruit and train candidates of color to run for office.
Entre Hermanos (Seattle, WA) – Entre Hermanos works to promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy, and community building. This grant will support a campaign, in partnership with Equal Rights Washington, to organize Latino LGBTQ communities and Latino straight allies in support of marriage equality, while building a base and developing new leaders for future community organizing efforts.
Statewide Poverty Action Network (Seattle, WA) – Poverty Action builds grassroots power to end causes of poverty and create opportunities for everyone to prosper. Recently Poverty Action was instrumental in passing the Voter Restoration Act, restoring the right to vote for 400,000 previously incarcerated people. This grant will support Poverty Action’s work during the 2012-13 legislative sessions and election seasons to reach out those whose voting rights were recently restored by the Restoration Act, and engage people with low-incomes in the political process.
Washington CAN! Research and Education Fund (Seattle, WA) – Washington CAN works for racial and economic equity and believes that institutional and structural change can only happen when people come together in struggle for justice. This grant will support Washington CAN’s work to help permanently shift political power in key geographies, particularly new majority people of color districts that may be created by redistricting in Yakima and South King County. Organizing strategies include voter registration focusing on communities of color, ongoing voter education, and mobilization for local, state, and federal elections.
East African Community Services (Seattle, WA) – EACS is an inclusive organization dedicated to the well-being and quality of life of refugees from East African and elsewhere living in King County. This grant will support the African Political Awakening Project, using workshops to educate East African immigrants and refugees about the political process and give them opportunities to practice civic engagement and community forums to organize and empower them, so that they may influence the policies that affect their everyday lives.