I joined with ten other people as part of the Next Generation Giving Project and 21 Portland Giving Project members to resource critical community organizing work. This process was really special because members from Seattle and Portland came together to experience our giving project’s work as part of a bigger movement.

The Next Generation Giving Project raised over $102,000. The Portland Giving Project set a record by raising $116,000. Collectively, both Giving Projects were able to fund 17 organizations in our region working on a wide array of social justice issues. So many people helped make this happen. Thank you for supporting movements for social justice by supporting these Giving Projects!

I recently moved to Seattle and thought joining a giving project would be a good way to get to know the organizations doing social justice work in the Northwest.  I was also encouraged to join by my sister and fellow NGGP participant, Virginia, who had participated in two other giving projects and really loved them.

In addition to expanding my personal analysis of race and class, the giving project positively challenged my understanding of how social change happens. I came into this project thinking that policy changes, from the top down, are what made positive impacts on communities and individuals. This giving project helped me see that what really drives long lasting and sustainable social change is when the communities most directly impacted are leading the fight against injustices. Too often decisions from the top are made about and without the involvement of those whom will be most impacted. Learning directly from organizations in our region through the giving project, taught me how community organizing and coalition work build a healthy and resilient social justice movement.

I was particularly inspired by the work of Causa. Causa’s ability to work within the legislature while staying grounded in the community most impacted is a great example of how policy work should be done. Causa’s commitment to building power within the community for the long term, and the thought and care with which they do this work, is truly inspiring.

Here’s who we funded:

• CAPACES Leadership Institute – Woodburn, OR
• Causa Oregon – Woodburn, OR
• Center for Intercultural Organizing – Portland, OR
• Colectiva Legal del Pueblo – Burien, WA
• Community to Community Development – Bellingham, WA
• Incarcerated Mothers Advocacy Project – Seattle, WA
• Indian People’s Action – Butte, MT
• Momentum Alliance – Portland, OR
• Na’ah Illahee Fund – Seattle, WA
• NCBI Missoula – Missoula, MT
• Oregon Immigrant Activists – Portland, OR
• PFLAG Portland Black Chapter – Portland, OR
• Red Lodge Transition Services – Portland, OR
• Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality – Salem, OR
• Seattle Young People’s Project – Seattle, WA
• Wind River Native Advocacy Center – Riverton, WY
• Women of Color Alliance – Boise, ID

Read more about the organizations here.

Helping to resource 17 organizations that are community organizing in our region is an important role in social justice work. This is a role that I and my fellow Next Generation Giving Project members played to broaden and help grow our movement. I invite you to join the Economic Justice Learning Group starting next week on November 3rd in Seattle. You will be so inspired by the work of these organizations, will grow personally, and will be challenged and rewarded by your own community through the conversations you will have. Learn more and register here.

In Community,

Margaret Weihs
2015 Next Generation Giving Project Member