November 29, 2018
In this month’s entry in Voqal’s grantmaking blog series, Director of Grantmaking Brenda Sears highlights three organizations that are working hard to create a better future for marginalized populations.
For many people, the holidays do not bring the joy and happiness advertised in movies, songs and greeting cards. Unfortunately, many people are coping with the loss of a job or house, fighting an illness or disease and enduring hateful hostility and exclusion.
Fortunately, there are many organizations working to make sure people have decent wages and benefits, adequate and affordable health care, high-quality public education and a safe and clean environment. So, while it may be a blue holiday for many, there is hope.
During this challenging and frightening time in our nation, we are grateful to our partners working to dismantle the hierarchy of human value that marginalizes and criminalizes certain populations. Here, we highlight just three of the many organizations working to ensure the dignity and rights of all people.
Faith in Minnesota
Faith In Minnesota is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to being a vehicle for people of faith in Minnesota to boldly advocate for racial and economic justice. Grounded in the belief that more progressive voices of faith need to be represented, Faith in Minnesota is an interdenominational religious coalition of more than 100 congregations that pushes for progressive economic and social policies that include anti-poverty measures, affordable housing, public transportation and racial equity.
Grassroots Leadership
Grassroots Leadership is a nationally-recognized civil and human rights organization based in Austin, Texas working for a more just society where prison profiteering, mass incarceration, deportation and criminalization are things of the past. Grassroots Leadership strives to transform the criminal justice and immigration system through organizing, research, advocacy and public education; building bridges between communities to increase the capacity of local leaders and coalitions and mobilizing those most impacted by incarceration and deportation.
United Working Families
United Working Families is a people-powered, Illinois-based independent political organization fighting to win back democracy from the wealthy few. It brings together powerful labor unions, fierce community organizations and dedicated individual members to build a politics based on hope, not fear. It asserts the right of all people to live peaceful and abundant lives. Its work includes recruiting and training political leaders who are rooted in grassroots movements for social, racial and economic justice and advancing bold issue campaigns that are centered in the demands of working-class communities of color.
These are just three of the many great organizations working to lift up the voices of marginalized populations. We are proud to be part of this community of changemakers and look forward to the advancement of social equity that will no doubt result from its continued work to ensure marginalized communities and individuals are empowered to ensure their rights remain protected.
You can learn more about Voqal’s efforts to support organizations doing this important work here.