Strengthening
the Urban Community
 The
Fund supports work by communities with few resources
who are confronting significant social, economic,
and environmental challenges. The two areas of focus
for the Fund are to a) create green and open space,
and b) support youth as agents of social change.
These grants are limited to grassroots programs
in New York, New York; Providence, Rhode Island;
and Boston, Massachusetts.
Green and
Open Space
Abandoned and mistreated land is both a challenge
and an opportunity for urban dwellers. Beginning
with a shared vision and working collaboratively
to access resources, neighbors come together around
the land. In the process of restoring healthy open
space, vibrant communities are built and the power
of collective effort is seeded and affirmed.
Our interests include projects that:
- Encourage local residents to reclaim, improve,
and maintain community gardens, land with the
potential for recreational or educational uses,
and under-utilized open space;
- Build local, grassroots organizations, provide
technical assistance, and advocate at a city-wide
level for the enhancement of open space; and
- Provide additional benefits to the community,
such as employment training, fresh food, or
economic opportunities.
Youth Organizing
 In
most urban communities, youth (under 19) make up
disproportionate numbers of those with the fewest
resources and the least power. With proper training
and support, youth are best positioned to be their
own advocates and spokespeople as well as leaders
in the community and of movements for social change.
The Fund supports programs that:
- Involve youth in the design, operation, and
evaluation of a project;
- Train youth to learn skills, develop relationships,
and gain experience while making a positive
impact on the community;
- Support youth to research issues of concern,
design strategies for change, and implement
action plans; and
- Identify youth as important stakeholders in
the health and well-being of the community.
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