Purpose Of The Fund:
- Collaborative grant making fund dedicated to supporting community, state and regional efforts which will engage, empower and benefit displaced and returning residents and promote the sustainable and just rebuilding of neighborhoods, cities and ecosystems throughout the region.
- To support projects that help to lift up and strengthen local organizing, address justice concerns, and build movement.
- To operate in partnership with a cross-section of local and state community leaders from the Gulf Coast (Advisory Group) who will inform grant making and identify needs on an ongoing basis.
Programs: The Fund considers only those proposals that are developed by or in collaboration with residents and advocacy organizations affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and that demonstrate how they will address one or more of the following issues:
Right of Return and Right to Stay: Facilitate, promote and create space for former residents to move back to any of the affected areas, and support their efforts to retain and rebuild communities (e.g. restoring levees, rehabilitation and rebuilding of houses, fair elections, restoring of cultural institutions, public schools, public transportation, jobs, mental health services, public health and health care).
Ecological Health: Restore and support coastal wetlands and healthy coastal communities.
Environmental Justice and Health: Monitor and clean up landfills, dumps and other health and environmental hazards; work toward the equitable cleanup of historically and newly contaminated areas; hold polluters accountable for environmental contamination; measure and track environmental contaminants and health impacts; initiate green chemistry projects; and protect right-to-know laws.
Just and Sustainable Rebuilding: Incorporate sustainable solutions such as green and healthy buildings and smart and fair growth into rebuilding, giving all communities the right to return and rebuild; reduce fossil fuel use and production in the Gulf Coast; monitor where private and public sector monies are going and ensure that funds are being effectively drawn down and utilized.
Worker Rights: Protect all workers’ health and safety, protect low-wage workers and fight contractor abuses such as non-payment and immigration status-related threats, and promote analysis, advocacy and organizing which empowers both African American and immigrant workers.
Cultural Arts: Support community-based arts initiatives that promote the well-being of communities and preserve the cultural heritage of the Gulf Coast, with particular emphasis on the traditions of the African American, indigenous and minority communities.
Youth and Education: Recognize and address the needs of children and teens affected by the storms; promote just and equitable access to quality education for all school-age children in returning communities and in the diaspora.
Projects may use any number of strategies, including but not limited to community education, grassroots organizing, advocacy, policy development, media work, litigation and public interest education.
Special attention is given to projects that address one or more of the following:
- Resilience & Revitalization – helping the most vulnerable people and ecosystems recover
- Equity & Movement Building
- Amplifying New Voices
- Influencing Public Policy & Working with Governments
- Sharing Learnings
- Collective Advocacy and Education
- Networking & Collaboration
- Leadership Development
- Right to Self Determination
- Sustainable Human and Community-Based Development
- Accountability
- Empowerment of Women
- Civic Engagement
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San Diego Wildfire Relief & Assistance
