News + Events
We are thrilled to announce the recent Economic Justice grants made by the Seattle and Portland 2017-2018 Economic Justice Giving Projects. Here’s a little about both groups:
The Portland Economic Justice Giving Project is a small but mighty group of 12 volunteers including nonprofit workers, urban farmers, social workers, public health workers, data analysts, parents, and more. They raised $105,454 from 160 donors – an all time record high for a Portland Giving Project. Adding to that, a $60,000 match from Riverstyx Foundation means they have $149,593 in grantable money.
The Seattle Economic Justice Giving Project consists of Seattle and Tacoma locals, newcomers to the area, tech workers, church ladies, educators, art lovers, parents, public health workers, soccer fans, and students. They raised $225,886 from 160 donors with $192,003 in grantable money.
The two Giving Projects raised money and made decisions separately but worked together to ensure that all grants from this cycle received the same grant amount.
Learn more about some of the participants in the Economic Justice Giving Project:
Together they awarded 17 grants of $20,980 over two years to the following organizations:
Grants made by the 2017-2018 Economic Justice Giving Projects
CAPACES Leadership Institute** | Woodburn, OR
The CAPACES Leadership Institute increases the capacity of leaders committed to serve the community in the mid-Willamette Valley though convenings enriched with social justice and political consciousness. CAPACES is working to establish Anahuac Farm, a small organic farm to support and nourish underserved farmworker communities.
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo* | Burien, WA
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo uses community organizing and legal services strategies to strengthen undocumented communities to defend themselves from deportation and detention and transform the broken immigration system. Colectiva’s legal support, deportation defense work and leadership development programs build community leaders and prepare them for collective action.
Community Alliance of Tenants** | Portland, OR
Community Alliance of Tenants’ (CAT) mission is to educate and empower tenants to demand safe, stable and affordable rental housing in Oregon. CAT addresses the impact of Oregon’s decreasing supply of safe, affordable housing and absence of meaningful protections for tenants from unjust evictions and rent increases, as well as unsafe housing conditions.
Equality State Policy Center** | Laramie, WY
Equality State Policy Center (ESPC) is a coalition of diverse member groups seeking to enact social change through grassroots organizing, advocacy and leadership development. ESPC teaches people in Wyoming how to navigate a murky local government and advocate government transparency, election accessibility, and a more comprehensible legislative process. ESPC will organize and ignite residents to make their voices heard so underrepresented constituencies can amplify their message to enact long-lasting social change.
Firs Home Owners Association** | Seatac, WA
The Firs Home Owners Association (FHOA) was formed to save the Firs Manufactured Home Community in response to a notice to close the park and to evict the homeowners. FHOA is fighting to preserve the homes and equity of vulnerable manufactured homeowners and to empower the local SeaTac/South King County community – especially immigrant community members and families of color – to resist the pressures of gentrification and displacement and build wealth through community ownership and the preservation of deeply-rooted networks of mutual support.
Got Green* | Seattle, WA
Got Green is a people of color-led organization in South Seattle working to ensure the benefits of the green economy – living wage green jobs, access to healthy food, green healthy homes, and reliable public transit – reach low-income communities and communities of color. Got Green’s Young Leaders in the Green Movement campaign creates sustainable living wage internships for young people of color, builds the leadership of low income women and women of color through their Food Access Team and Womxn of Color and Families Coalition; and builds resiliency within communities facing climate change and displacement.
Hilltop Urban Gardens** | Tacoma, WA
Hilltop Urban Gardens’ (HUG) mission is to develop systems for food sovereignty and create racial and economic justice. They do this by building a neighborhood-based network of urban farms and gardens. They provide neighborhood-grown produce for at least 30 households each week; train a minimum of 30 Black and non-Black people how to grow their own food; are developing a microgreens grow operation; and support reentry of two currently incarcerated women.
Indian People’s Action**| Butte, MT
The mission of Indian People’s Action is to work in Montana’s border towns and reservations to empower Montana’s Indian families to address the economic, racial and environmental inequities that shape their lives. Indian People’s Action is securing satellite election offices on Montana reservations for the 2018 election; expanding a youth training program focused on political engagement, environmental and social justice; strengthening the engagement of families affected by the criminalization of Native communities and expand the support network for Native inmates who seek to engage in tribal religious practices; and working with tribal leadership and environmental partners to explore and encourage economic development through green energy initiatives on reservations.
Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas** | Woodburn, OR
Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas (MLP) is a group of farmworker women who create economic development and promote leadership among women in the community. MLP integrates leadership and social economic development in every aspect of its organization. They will extend their outreach to other communities in need of leadership and social economic development among Latina immigrant and farmworker women.
Native Youth Leadership Alliance** | Ferndale, WA
The Native Youth Leadership Alliance invests in young Native American leaders and communities to create culturally based community change. NYLA will launch a new Fellowship Program cohort, further developing their Advanced Leadership Fellows, continue policy development work with Tribal Youth Committees, and strengthen their internal capacity and programming.
Portland Community Harbor Coalition* | Portland, OR
Portland Harbor Community Coalition (PHCC) builds the capacity of communities most disproportionately at risk of negative health impacts from Willamette River contaminants, ensuring these communities are able to influence the final outcome of the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup process. PHCC will implement a grassroots organizing campaign led by impacted communities that would pressure public agencies and multinational corporations to place racial and economic justice at the forefront of the Portland Harbor cleanup and redevelopment process through a historic Community Benefits Agreement.
Queer The Land*| Seattle, WA
Queer The Land is an emerging collaborative project grounded in the self determination of queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) and the vision of collectively owning land and labor. They are working to establish a cooperative network and build a solidarity economy that is anchored by a community space and transitional housing which prioritizes the needs of QTPOC in our communities. Queer The Land will grow their membership base, launch a political education program, and create a movement space that can generate income and be a political hub for QTPOC and their community organizing.
Tacoma Urban League* | Tacoma, WA
Tacoma Urban League assists African Americans, other ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals and families in the achievement of social equality and economic independence. Tacoma Urban League will establish neighborhood learning groups to extend the work of their African American Financial Capability (AAFC) Initiative through grassroots community organizing. Grant funds will help establish four long-term neighborhood learning cohorts with partner organizations to increase the financial well-being within African American communities and other communities of color in the local Tacoma area.
Transit Riders Union** | Seattle, WA
The Transit Riders Union (TRU) is a democratic organization of working and poor people, including students, seniors, and people with disabilities, taking control over their own lives, and building up the power they need to change society for the good of humanity and of the planet. These funds will help TRU provide stipends for organizers who are working to build their base, build relationships with diverse allies, and win ambitious campaigns for economic justice in Seattle and beyond.
U.T.O.P.I.A Seattle* | Seattle, WA
U.T.O.P.I.A Seattle works to create a safe space for Pacific Islander LGBTQI+ communities in advocating for social justice, education and overall wellness. U.T.O.P.I.A’s New Possibilities Project combines direct support and organizing advocacy to support transgender teens and adults who are seeking to transition out of the sex industry with advocacy at the state and local levels to combat racism and trans/homophobia.
Verde**| Portland, OR
Verde serves communities by building environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy. Verde’s equity-focused community organizing efforts will be advanced through the Cully Housing Action Team and their Mobile Home Repair and Organizing program.
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network** | Seattle, WA
The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) is a grassroots coalition made up of nearly 100 immigrant and refugee rights organizations and individuals in Washington. WAISN plans to hire a coordinator in order to strengthen the state’s resistance to fight Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attacks, by building pockets of resistance and supporting the growth of organizations and communities in the Eastern part of the state.
* organization was funded by the Economic Justice Giving Project in Portland
** organization was funded by the Economic Justice Giving Project in Seattle
