2004 GRANTEE PROGRAM
In 2004, the Union Square Awards launched a grants program to help sustain
the important work of the award recipients. This mission of this initiative
is to help strengthen the grassroots community working for social justice
goals in New York City. Union Square Awardees who received the award at
least two years prior to the current year were eligible to apply.
There was a terrific response to the announcement of this new program. Awardees
were invited to submit proposals on projects that sought to expand community
outreach efforts or build long-term organizational capacity. Proposals were
reviewed by a readers panel and a selection committee. The Union Square
Awards is pleased to announce that the projects listed below were selected
and awarded $25,000 grants.
Community Outreach Grants
Andolan Organizing South Asian Workers Communications
Program
This project intends to increase
outreach to domestic workers and other low-wage workers through an
expanded communications program.
Building on its successful strategy of advertising in
South Asian newspapers, Andolan will continue to build its base through
forums, a quarterly newsletter
and a “Know Your Rights” brochure that will be translated into
various South Asian languages.
Center for Immigrant Families (CIF) Project to Challenge Segregation in OUR
Public Schools
CIF plans to build leadership among low-income immigrant
parents of color and challenge the systemic segregation of public elementary
schools in District 3. The team will research and document the mechanisms
used to exclude immigrant families of color from school access, raise public
awareness about segregation, develop and engage in community-based actions,
and explore the possibility of legal challenges.
Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) The Family Organizing Project
DRUM intends to reach adult low-income family members
of immigrant detainees through trainings, clinics and family gatherings
to develop a core leadership of family organizers. This project will
sustain members’ active involvement in campaigns and organizing
work including outreach, planning actions, speaking with media and
meeting with policy makers.
Harlem Tenants Council Harlem Senior Citizens Anti-Displacement Project
This project outlines a plan to hire a paralegal to
help fulfill a need for additional legal support for senior citizens
on fixed income facing eviction or experiencing other housing problems
in Central Harlem. The initiative will also build public awareness
about senior displacement and influence public policies related to
senior tenant protection.
Hour Children Program for Immigrant Women in Detention
Hour Children plans to enhance and increase its services
for immigrant incarcerated women and for new, isolated immigrants in
the Long Island City community. Assistance with obtaining refuge status
and other program support will be provided to women coming out of federal
and New York State detention.
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement AccessJustice
This project plans to provide direct legal services
to police brutality victims and produce a cadre of specially trained
organization members and community volunteer advocates to provide education,
and ongoing support and resources for those victims.
Mothers on the Move (MOM) Membership and Voter Regristration/Education Drive
MOM is preparing to increase the power of its constituency
to create social change through its recruitment of new membership and
its lead in a voter registration drive. Staff organizers will integrate
membership recruitment and voter registration in all of MOM’s
community outreach work.
National Mobilization Against Sweatshops (NMASS) Justice for Injured Workers
NMASS intends to conduct outreach and leadership development
among injured and not-yet-injured workers. The project will support
organizing efforts designed to overhaul the workers’ compensation
system and eliminate the long work hours and other sweatshop conditions
that lead to work injuries.
Voices of Youth (VOY)Outreach to Youth Residing in Homeless Shelters
Voices of Youth plans to hire a youth organizer to conduct
outreach to youth ages 18 to 25 residing in homeless shelters who have
aged out of foster care. The project includes assessing the needs and
developing individualized housing plans, while referring these youth
to appropriate services. VOY will build its base of youth advocating
for systemic changes to impact the child welfare system.
Organizational Capacity Building Grants
Amethyst Women’s Project Peer Educator Workshop Training Series
Amethyst assists women and their children in Coney Island
who are at risk of HIV infection or are HIV infected.
Amethyst intends to expand the training of its clients as they become
outreach educators supporting
other women with information on services and treatment.
CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities Strategic Planning Initiative
CAAAV plans to develop an institutional organizing strategy
based on an analysis of current conditions. Part of the initiative,
to be led by its working-class leaders, will be to evaluate CAAAV’s
work during the last ten years and assess the current political and
economic conditions to clearly define its future role.
Voices UnBroken Multi-Purpose Space
The project intends to establish a central office in
the Bronx and a space to provide under-heard members of the community
with tools and opportunity for creative self expression. The location
will also be a workshop and meeting space for other organizations and
a home for Voices UnBroken’s earned income projects.
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