The 2008 BUF grantees are:
Focus Area: Worker and Immigrant Rights
- Boston Workers Alliance (BWA) – $20,000
BWA is a member-led organization of under and unemployed workers fighting for employment rights. They received BUF funding to help them improve job access and address CORI (criminal record) as an obstacle. Their goal is to maintain there current programs and deepen involvement of their base membership in ongoing activities: member organizing, direct services, campaigns and coalition building, and economic development. www.bostonworkersalliance.org - Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) – $20,000
CPA is a grassroots organization that works for full equality and empowerment of the Chinese community in Greater Boston and beyond. They received funding to develop grassroots leadership through the Workers Center Committee, that will investigate and develop organizing strategies that unite the unemployed and increase job opportunities for Chinese immigrant workers, and to build solidarity and organizing capacity with other immigrant communities. www.cpaboston.org< - Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (EPOCA) – $20,000
EPOCA is an organization of ex-prisoners working with allies, families and friends to create resources and opportunities for those how have paid their debt to society. EPOCA received funding to develop a leadership program among those who are directly affected by the Criminal Justice System, with the goal to use this leadership to lead a movement toward changing current policies to ones that rehabilitate and increase former offenders’ potential to succeed in society. Specifically they plan to address CORI reform, expand the “New Leaf” Program in Worcester, and pass a Fair Hiring Ordinance in Worcester. www.exprisoners.org - Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN) – $20,000
UMN’s mission is to ensure that trained, committed grassroots leaders of color effectively organize on issues of concern in their communities. They were awarded funds to help support MARC – Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI, a statewide campaign to reform the criminal justice system and reduce the adverse consequence – unemployment. www.unionofminorityneighborhoods.org
Priority Grant
Housing and Homelessness
- Bread and Roses Housing – $20,000
The Mission of B and R Housing is to create and preserve affordable housing for low income families, to support their goals of self-sufficiency, education and empowerment, and to advocate for very low income households in the greater Lawrence area. B and R housing received funding to support their Affordable Housing Program, in which they outreach to the community to increase the capacity of their constituents to become leaders of change in their neighborhoods, the city, and ultimately, to become role models for other cities impacted by high poverty rates. www.brhousing.org - Homes for Families (HFF) – $20,000
HFF is an advocacy group that builds relationships between the homeless and formerly homeless families, service providers, and others who share the goal of ending homelessness. They promote family empowerment, self advocacy and bridge diverse constituencies to bring about policy change. HFF was awarded a grant for general support of their programs; grassroots organizing, leadership development, and advocacy. As well as facilitating partnerships and networks across the state to assure that constituents are engaged and empowered to create systems change. www.homesforfamilies.org - Waltham Alliance to Create Housing (WATCH) – $20,000
WATCH’s mission is to build, preserve, and promote affordable housing and to enhance economic opportunities, civic participation and leadership skills of low and moderate income families in the Waltham area. WATCH received funds for two of their programs: TORCH – Tenants Organized to Reform Community Housing and WAHC Waltham Affordable Housing Committee. Both of these programs are focused on increasing the amount of quality and well maintained affordable housing in Waltham. www.watchcdc.org
Special Grants
- Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) – $20,000
ACE’s mission is to build the power of communities of color and lower income persons to eradicate environmental racism and classism and achieve environmental justice. ACE received a special grant from BUF to organize the T Riders Union to organize and build a base of riders from the Boston area’s most transit-dependent communities. They plan to address the root inequalities in the system and first fight for first class service and fair share of public transportation investments. www.ace-ej.org - Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC) – $20,000
BIC’s mission is to improve the lives of the people of Brockton by building the leadership of its citizens. BIC trains and develops leaders to realize their own power and how to use it affectively. Relationships built through this process build community and lead to institutional and systemic changes in the city. BIC received a special grant to hire a second community organizer to work on several of their initiatives; foreclosure prevention, the resale of foreclosed homes, increasing Single Occupancy rooms in the city, CORI reform, ESOL and job training funding and classes, and youth violence prevention. www.mcan-oltc.org/affiliates.html#BIC - ONE Lowell – $20,000
ONE is a community based organization that works to improve the life and opportunities for the culturally diverse people of Lowell. They are dedicated to increasing the integration and self-sufficiency of Lowell’s many newcomers by strengthening civic participation, developing strong leadership and increasing access to vital services. ONE Lowell was awarded a special grant for the One Lowell Voting Project, a program to educate, inform and empower the immigrant community in Lowell. www.onelowell.net