Thanks to strong community support, this week MRG awarded $225,000 to 20 amazing grassroots groups working throughout Oregon. These groups are on the front lines, working for human rights, racial and economic justice, and environmental protection. They are developing progressive leaders across the state and bringing people together to create change in communities from Grants Pass to Bend to Portland.
Take a look at the groups that received grants:
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Portland: $19,500
APANO builds Pan-Asian/Pacific Islander civic leadership to address racial disparities and discrimination. APANO builds unity across generations, ethnic groups, and immigration experiences to advocate for the common good of Oregon’s diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Beyond Toxics, Eugene: $10,000
Exposure to toxins can cause irreparable damage to human health. Beyond Toxics challenges the widespread practice of spraying pesticides on forests, farms, and public areas. They champion the right of everyone to live free from unwanted chemical exposure. Beyond Toxics, partnering with Centro Latino Americano empowers Latino residents in West Eugene to take leadership in organizing for environmental justice.
CAPACES Leadership Institute, Woodburn: $15,000
Founded by a network of nine community based, Latino-led social change organizations in the Mid-Willamette Valley, CAPACES Leadership Institute develops the skills and abilities of Oregon’s Latino leaders. CAPACES empowers emerging and established progressive leaders to put into practice the big ideas and values that define the Latino movement.
Center for Intercultural Organizing, Portland, $20,000
The “War on Terror” has had a very real and human impact on immigrant families, communities and lives. Founded by Portland-area immigrants and refugees in 2003, CIO protects and expands immigrant and refugee rights through education, civic engagement, policy advocacy, community organizing, and intergenerational leadership development.
Central Oregon Jobs with Justice, Bend: $5,500
Central Oregon Jobs with Justice is a coalition of 25 labor, community, and human rights groups. They have won concrete victories, including higher living standards, better working conditions, and increased rights for immigrants, people of color, mobile home park residents, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community.
Common Cause Oregon, Portland: $8,000
Common Cause Oregon believes the concerns of every Oregonian deserves consideration – regardless of ability to make large campaign contributions. By leading the way in progressive campaign finance reform, CCO empowers people to speak out for an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest.
Community Alliance of Tenants, Portland: $17,000
As Oregon’s only grassroots, tenant-controlled, tenant-rights organization, CAT develops the leadership of low-income tenants to hold landlords and public officials accountable for unjust housing policies and practices. CAT’s tenant leaders take collective action to create more affordable, safe, and stable rental housing.
Disability Art and Culture Project, Portland: $8,000
Disability is a natural and valuable variation of the human form and affirmative disability identity is intertwined with racial, gender, and economic justice. Disability Art and Culture Project furthers the artistic expression of people with disabilities and utilizes the performing arts as a method of developing disability culture and pride.
Human Dignity Coalition, Bend: $7,000
Founded in response to the virulent anti-gay ballot measures of the 1990’s, Human Dignity Coalition brings together diverse voices to create a grassroots social change movement in Central Oregon. HDC advances human dignity and equity for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) people through their organizing, education, and leadership development work.
KPOV High Desert Community Radio, Bend: $10,000
KPOV is radio by the people and for the people of Central Oregon. KPOV strengthens community and democracy by providing quality programming on topics of local interest and giving a voice to local communities through grassroots participation in independent, non-commercial radio.
KSKQ Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon, Medford: $8,000
Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon is home to KSKQ Community Radio. KSKQ provides a venue for grassroots groups to present their views while challenging the corporate-owned media that dominates the airwaves.
Latino Club, Salem: $7,000
Located in the Oregon State Penitentiary, the Latino Club’s vision is to create an environment within the prison that ensures everyone has the same access to education and work opportunities, regardless of race or ability to speak English. By tackling issues of racism and discrimination, the Latino Club help their members successfully transition back into their communities.
Lotus Rising Project, Medford: $9,000
Lotus Rising Project supports, organizes, and builds the leadership of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth and young adults in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to create an inclusive, affirming, and safe community for queer youth and to combat intolerance in all forms.
NAACP Eugene-Springfield, Eugene: $7,000
The Eugene-Springfield NAACP combats racism in the Eugene/Springfield area. Their Back to School/Stay in School project is working to eliminate the racial achievement gap in local schools by establishing an effective tutoring program for African American students and increasing parent involvement in the education system.
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, Portland: $19,500
OPAL organizes low-income communities of color in East Portland to advance racial, environmental, and economic justice. Through their Bus Riders Unite initiative, OPAL is putting transit-dependent riders at the decision-making table with TriMet and establishing a more equitable transit system for all Portland Metro area riders.
PFLAG Portland Black Chapter, Portland: $10,000
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Portland Black Chapter promotes the health and well-being of Black LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) Portlanders. The first African American chapter of PFLAG in the nation, the PFLAG Portland Black Chapter organizes and engages the LGBTQ community and allies in organizing, education, and advocacy.
Red Lodge Transition Services, Portland: $9,000
Native Americans are grossly over-represented in Oregon’s prison population. Red Lodge Transition Services is a Native American organization working to reduce recidivism, prevent intergenerational incarceration, and challenge the Oregon Department of Corrections to address religious freedom and basic human rights of Indigenous people.
Rural Organizing Project, Scappoose: $18,000
ROP works with 65 member groups throughout rural Oregon to build the grassroots movement for social justice. Tackling issues from immigration to peace to healthcare to the economy, ROP is building rural progressive power and taking a stand for human dignity for all people.
Unete, Medford: $9,000
Through community education, cultural presentations and advocacy, Unete is creating a movement of farm workers and immigrants in Southern Oregon who have the power to defend their rights while also developing and implementing programs that directly benefit the community.
Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, Woodburn: $8,500
Latinos in Oregon are marginalized in most mainstream institutions, and especially in Oregon’s K-12 education system. VHCC is developing the leadership of Latino children to understand their history, think critically, speak out, and to take leadership in their community for social justice.
If you want to support these and many other progressive groups around the state, make your gift to MRG Foundation today!
Questions about applying for a grant in our spring cycle? Check out our General Fund Grants page
