Client News
As part of its commitment to Indigenous communities, leaders and organizations, The Christensen Fund is celebrating the first cohort of its Indigenous Leaders Program: four leaders who are advancing the inherent rights, dignity and self-determination of their communities, Nations and Peoples, and who work to achieve the promise of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Leaders Program was developed collaboratively with these Indigenous leaders in order to respect their prior commitments and demands on their time. In the spirit of self determination, these leaders will focus on issues or projects that they determine themselves.
Fawn Sharp, 23rd President of the National Congress of American Indians (United States)
Andrea Ixchíu, Storyteller for Human and Environmental Rights (Mexico-Guatemala)
Ole Kanuga Mali, Lobbyist and Champion for Indigenous rights (Kenya)
Joan Carling, Environment and Indigenous Rights Defender (Philippines)
This week, Akonadi Foundation celebrated #SoLoveCanWin grantee partners from the first round of funding for the year. These Oakland-based organizations, led by and serving Black, Asian, and Latino LGBTQI people, use arts and culture, healing, organizing and media to amplify a collective vision of freedom and justice in Oakland.
Black Census Month rolls on! Alicia Garza, founder and principal of the Black Futures Lab and Black to the Future Action Fund, went on Roland Martin Unfiltered (minute 35) to talk about events hosted by Black Futures Lab and their partners across the U.S. to encourage Black people to fill out the census, and how Black Futures Lab uses that data to improve Black communities across the nation. Learn more about the Black Census here and how you can celebrate on social media: @blackfutureslab
Amidst calls from GOP leaders to “de-fund the FBI” in reaction to their raid of Mar-a-Lago, Alicia Garza calls the move out for what it is — political theater” — and draws a distinct line between this hypocrisy and calls from the racial justice movement to defund the police: “What I hear Black communities saying through our year-long Black Census Project is… we want police to be held accountable when they commit crimes in our communities.” The Hill.
“This is consistent with the experiences of many communities of color, including the Latino and Asian community where we have historically been scapegoated and blamed for whether it is a public health, economic or national security crisis.” Chinese For Affirmative Action co-executive director Cyntha Choi recently spoke to La Opinion about the No Place For Hate campaign that declares street harassment a public health problem warranting a public policy solution through two pieces of legislation; The Increasing Safety for Public Transit Riders Bill and The Expanding Civil Rights Protections at Businesses Bill. Learn more about the campaign at noplaceforhateca.org.
Coming up
Young Women’s Freedom Center is hosting a huge celebration next month, and we can’t wait to hear what it’s all about. Save the date and follow @YoungWomenFree for more details.
On Tuesday, Ella Baker Center will host a conversation on the impact of mentorship in the movement towards racial justice. Moderated by Lateefah Simon, president of the Meadow Fund, Wanda Johnson, Board President of the Oscar Grant Foundation, Marlene Sanchez, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center and organizer and activist Linda Evans will come together to discuss “what it means to invest in people beyond just in organizing spaces so we can build our collective power.” Tickets available for purchase at bit.ly/ETM2022
Gameheads will host their 8th Annual Student Showcase on Saturday, August 27. Held for the first time at Gameheads’ new Video Game Center, the Showcase will have food trucks, music and hella fun games. RSVP to reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/3dmT3IJ