For over 25 years, the Boston Women’s Fund has provided seed money, program support, and on-going funding for women-led, grassroots community groups. Through BWF’s multi-cultural, community-based, grant-making process, emerging groups are able to expand, and effective social change organizations which often are neglected by mainstream funding continue to contribute to the integral base for social justice. In FY12, BWF distributed $350,000 in grants to women and girl-led social justice organizations throughout the Greater Boston area. As always, BWF is deeply grateful for the work being done in our communities by our grantees, listed below.

Boston Tenant Coalition, Boston, MA

Grant Amount: $15,000

The BTC works with local grassroots partners and public housing tenant advocacy groups, to promote affordable housing in Boston. Training Latina leaders who may run for and serve on resident/tenant task forces. BTC has been a leading voice in defending, supporting and expanding the rights of tenants and standing with Boston’s low-income populations.

Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

The Brazilian Immigrant Center is a grassroots organization whose mission focuses on the training, advocacy and organizing of immigrant workers. BIC actively supports current movement building among MA domestic workers—mostly immigrant women of color—to secure legislation and other policy changes necessary to advance and defend labor rights.

Brazilian Women’s Group, Allston, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

The Brazilian Women’s Group works to promote political and cultural awareness by contributing to the development of the Brazilian community, providing information, supporting community organizing and advocacy on immigrant rights.

Centro Presente, Somerville, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

Fostering the empowerment of the Boston Latina population within their youth organizing program Pintamos Nuestro Mundo/We Paint Our World, Centro Presente offers a safe, inclusive and democratic space where young Latinas learn how to use analytic tools to explore the root causes of sexism, racism, and classism, and develops the skills necessary for Latina youth to become strong leaders in their community.

Chelsea Citywide Tenants Coalition, Chelsea, MA

Grant Amount: $19,265

The Chelsea Collaborative organizes low-income tenants, primarily female, who occupy public housing and who are victims of predatory lending. Chelsea Tenants Association members work to maintain neighborhood stability and to preserve the community.

The City School, Dorchester, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

The City School functions as a leadership development program working with court-involved, high need/high risk young women in Greater Boston.  These women learn to address societal issues they are directly affected by, support one another, and develop the skills and training to become Boston’s future community educators, organizers, and organizational leaders.

Gedakina, Inc., Hull, MA

Grant Amount: $15,000

Returning to traditionally Native American cultural values, Gedinka, Inc. cultivates the health and wellness of Native American women and children through community-based initiatives and regional alliance building. Gedinka, Inc is a multi-generational endeavor strengthening the cultural identity and knowledge of Native American youth and families of New England.

The Genki Spark, Jamaica Plain, MA

Grant Amount: $10,000

The Genki Spark aims to share the art of Japanese taiko drumming by promoting the voice and visibility of Asian Americans as the first and only Asian women’s taiko-based group in the country.  Through demonstrations and workshops, The Genki Spark encourages cultural pride and progressive social change, spreading a bold message of empowerment for Asian American women.

Homes for Families, Boston, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

Homes for Families was founded on the belief that families and individuals who have experienced extreme poverty or homelessness must play an integral role in the movement to end homelessness. Their Leadership Development Institute educates, empowers and supports homeless mothers in their work to end family homelessness, to overcome poverty, and to promote social justice.

 

MassCOSH (Mass Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health), Dorchester, MA

Grant Amount: $17,000

MassCOSH provides young women with the tools and support they need to become mobile addressing the unique issues young women face in the workplace and in other aspects of their lives, such as sexual harassment/violence, self-esteem, and self-worth.

 

Merrimack Valley Project, Lawrence, MA

Grant Amount: $15,000

The Merrimack Valley Project fosters the leadership capacity of women by working with local women and men to act together in fighting foreclosures and post-foreclosure evictions in Lawrence, Lowell, and the surrounding areas.

Mystic Learning Center, Somerville, MA

Grant Amount: $8,000

The Mystic Learning Center serves supports the endeavors of low-income girls and families living in the Mystic Public Housing Development, where low school achievement permeates, and accounts of drug abuse and reports of domestic violence astound. The MLC works to bring East Somerville residents of all ages together in various programs to foster a healthier and safer community for all.

Neighbor to Neighbor, Worcester, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

Neighbor to Neighbor Worcester Chapter works to transform the current political system by building the political power of the low-income community.  In the upcoming year, N2N will continue to develop the leadership of women activists in Worcester, as well as recruit new leaders, by supporting women in addressing the problems that affect their lives, resulting in self-empowerment.

The Network/La Red, Boston, MA

 

Grant Amount: $20,000

The Network/La Red seeks to raise awareness of and community responsibility for lesbian/bi/transgender domestic violence.  Through a combination of education outreach, solidarity events, community collaborations and media activism, they aim to create a climate of intolerance for domestic violence.

 

¿Oíste?, Boston, MA

Grant Amount: $15,000

¿Oíste? addresses the lack of Latina political representation and civic participation in MA and aims to increase the political, economic and social standings of the Latino population. Operating on a grassroots level through local and statewide advocacy efforts and educational training, ¿Oíste? works to restructure the traditional policy-making apparatus to include a significant and powerful Latina presence.

Project HIP-HOP, Roxbury, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

Project HIP-HOP is a youth-led organization bridging artful expression and political organizing. Using hip-hop, the organization teaches youth to use the genre as a powerful tool to educate and motivate the community. This grant supports their work to increase the voices of young women who use hip-hop as a tool to challenge misogyny and all forms of oppression.

Reflect and Strengthen (R&S), Dorchester, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

R&S functions as a grassroots collective of young working class women from the urban neighborhoods of Boston who take a holistic approach to organizing in order to create personal and social transformation.  Their programming focuses on political education, creative expression, community building, and campaign work to end racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.

Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC), Jamaica Plain, MA

Grant Amount: $18,000

RIAC offers a wide variety of services and programs whose mission is to promote self-sufficiency, foster support, and increase successful resettlement. Its Somali Leadership Initiative offers structured training, outreach, and support for young female participants who are organizing or participating in community activities and giving back to the community.

South Boston en Acción, South Boston, MA

Grant Amount: $17,697

South Boston en Accion is a member-driven organization empowering Latino families to create change that will lead to personal and community empowerment.  Their demographic reflects a culture that responds to the needs and interests of women in South Boston’s housing developments.

Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), Boston, MA

Grant Amount: $20,000

WILD is a multi-racial, multi-cultural women’s organization that supports women’s empowerment as they become more effective leaders and organizers in their workplaces, communities, and the MA labor movement.