Information provided by Peace Development Fund. Lea este articulo en español aquí.
Editor’s note: Lora Wondoloski with Peace Development Fund told BenitoLink Hollister Guardians was awarded $2,500.
The Peace Development Fund (PDF) announced grant awards through their Seeding the Movement Fund to 19 social justice organizations in every region of the United States, as well as Haiti and Mexico. Each organization received grants of varying amounts for a total of $80,000 granted this spring. The national Seeding the Movement Fund (SMF) grants support grassroots social justice organizing. Grantees included local Hollister Guardians.
Hollister Guardians was founded in 2023 after a planned sewer expansion threatening low-income, neighborhoods of color. They’ve made significant strides in securing environmental justice for their residents through community dinners, education, and translation services. The organization has successfully campaigned for translation services in their city hall, as well as mobilized hundreds of community members.
“For years, westside residents have voiced concerns about persistent sewer odors and cockroach issues, yet their pleas have gone unanswered. Fueled by a sense of urgency, we rallied to uplift the quality of life for our residents,” remarked Jasmine Castillo Rosales, Program Director, Hollister Guardians.
PDF granted to organizations working on a range of issues including environmental justice, economic inequity and labor rights, racial justice and Indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s issues. The largest concentration this year was around racial justice followed by environmental justice and climate.
Multiple organizations received funds last year as well, continuing PDF’s efforts to build equity by funding organizations over multiple years. The grant award decisions are made by the Peace Development Fund’s volunteer board of directors, leveraging their community experience with marginalized communities.
“These inspiring organizations represent a diverse range of critical social justice issues. From economic equality and environmental protection to racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights, their work tackles the most pressing challenges facing our communities,” shared Jessa McCormack, PDF Program Manager.
2024 Seeding the Movement Fund Grantees
- Best Practices Policy Project*, Morristown, NJ
- Black Lives Matter (BLM 5280), Denver, CO
- Denver Metro Tenants Union, Denver, CO
- Education Council Consortium Inc., New York City, NY
- Fundacion Biosfera del Anahuac A.C., Jiutepec, MX
- Global Center for Climate Justice, Boston, MA
- Hollister Guardians, Hollister, CA
- Ho,opae Pono Peace Project, Honolulu, HI
- Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment, Jacksonville, FL
- Latinos Activate, Selma, NC
- Marijan*, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Mississippi Rising, Ocean Springs, MS
- Muslim Counterpublics Lab, Washington, DC
- Return Strong, Las Vegas, NV
- Rio Grande Valley Harm Reduction, Edinburg, TX
- SICARS, Sapelo Island, GA
- UE Research and Education Fund Southern Worker Justice Campaign, Raleigh, NC
- Washington Fair Trade Education Coalition*, Seattle, WA
- Wisdom Institute, Detroit, MI
*previous year grantee
The Peace Development Fund’s mission is to build the capacity of community-based organizations through grants, training, and other resources as partners in human rights and social justice movements.
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