November 2007

Grant recipients announced

Close to $500,000 awarded to fund 21 self-help projects in the U.S.
by Margaret Mwale

Sara’ Reynolds with the SDOP funded partner Marshview Community Farm is one of the young farmers learning how to plant and operate an organic farm. Photo by Clara Nunez.

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) has approved grants totaling $495,250 to 21 self-help projects in the United States.

The money is from the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering. Self-Development of People receives 32 percent of undesignated OGHS gifts.

Grants were approved at a meeting of SDOP’s national committee in Washington, D.C., in early November. SDOP is constantly looking for ways to engage communities of economically poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people in partnership. During the two-day meeting, SDOP in conjunction with Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church hosted a community workshop for community-based groups interested in learning about possible future partnerships.

Kalamazoo Homeless Action Network (KHAN), a SDOP recently funded partner actively advocates around issues of homelessness. Photo courtesy of KHA

SDOP enables members and non-members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to form partnerships with oppressed and disadvantaged people in order to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Groups awarded funds at the November meeting include:

• Delta Self Help, Elaine, Ark., $20,000 to support cooperative efforts by a group of Mexican Americans in one of the poorest parts of the Delta to create and operate a thrift store and restaurant.
• South Carolina Sea Island Small Farmer Cooperative, Ravenel, S.C., $60,450 to assist this cooperative in its efforts to improve the economic wellbeing of farmers with limited resources through increased farm production in this drought stricken area. 
• Young Farmers of the Lowcountry, St. Helena Island, S.C., $13,700 to assist farmers in learning how to plant and operate an organic farm. They will use produce sales to reinvest in equipment, seeds and tools.
• Sudanese Self-Help Program, Gallatin, Tenn., $20,000 to enable this group of Sudanese refugees in developing a community garden. The produce will provide a source of income and produce for consumption.
• Castle Square Tenants Organization, Boston, Mass., $20,000 to enable the economically poor residents of this tenant organization to purchase the property to ensure that it continues to be for low and moderate-income residents.
• Ex-prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement, Worcester, Mass., $20,000 to support a public safety campaign by former prisoners in their collective effort to reform the laws governing the public use of Criminal Offender Record Information.
• The Coalition for Parole Restoration, New York, N.Y., $20,000 to empower prisoners and their families to be prepared for successful gaining of parole release and transition of parolees into their families and communities.
• Make the Road by Walking, Brooklyn, N.Y., $20,000 to assist immigrant worker initiated and led efforts at self-organization in the struggle for better working conditions.
• Developing Hispanics for a better tomorrow, Providence, R.I., $20,000 to assist a group of immigrants in developing an English as a Second Language program that will help increase their access to higher-paying employment. While there are other ESL programs in the area, there aren’t enough to meet the demand.
• Worker Center of Eastern Maine, Brewer, Maine, $15,000 to establish and maintain the Worker Center of Eastern Maine, an organization that advocates for low-income unorganized workers.
• Friends Helping Friends, Rochester, N.Y., $20,000 to empower a group of economically poor persons in their cooperative efforts to embark on a food distribution project that will help meet their own food resource needs.
• Teen Direct Action Welfare Group Inc., Charleston, W.V., $18,000 to empower a group of economically poor teens in making positive changes in their community by educating other teens on their rights, issues of poverty, bullying and other issues teens face.
• Benefit Rights Advocacy Group, Cincinnati, Ohio, $20,000 to empower a group of economically poor people to contribute to making changes in county and state policies/laws that affect them by enabling them to learn organizing and leadership skills.
• Beardstown Immigrant Families United, Beardstown, Ill., $20,000 to enable economically poor families to have a voice in advocating for their needs primarily to address issues of inequality/discrimination. 
• Afrikan Business Entrepreneurship, Dayton, Ohio, $20,000 to enable this group of low-income immigrants to form a business cooperative to import authentic products from Africa and sell them locally.
• Immigrant Micro-Enterprise Development, Fargo, N.D., $20,000 to enable a group of immigrants to develop a multi-cultural market to host small businesses. The center will also provide business training.
• White Earth Land Recovery Project, Callaway, Minn., $20,000 to assist cooperative efforts by the Anishinnabig tribe of the White Earth Reservation to grow traditional Native American foods. Health education, greenhouse construction and maintenance and seed preservation are part of the project.
• Winning Circle, Chicago, Ill., $20,000 to enable a group of low-income families organizing themselves to develop awareness of and overcome economic injustices through financial literacy and advocacy.
• Low-Income Tenant Union of the Kalamazoo Homeless Action Network, Kalamazoo, Mich., $20,000 to empower a group of homeless people moving into private apartments to organize against housing discrimination, advocate for fair rental agreements and fight unfair evictions. 
• Women’s Information Network, Cottage Grove, Ore., $30,000 to enable women who have been abused to purchase a residence. The residence will enable the women to continue their personal recovery and advocacy work.
• Anti-Hunger Action Committee, Salt Lake City, Utah, $58,100 over a two year period to empower residents without medical insurance to advocate for/educate varied audiences about the plight of residents without medical benefits.

Devastating floods resulting from Tropical Storm Noel killed several people in the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy of Social-Cultural Movement for Haitian Workers

As SDOP met tragic news was being received from our partners in the Dominican Republic. Tropical storm Noel had in the last four days caused widespread flooding; buildings, bridges and roads were underwater. The following is from Kristen and Greg our partners in the Dominican Republic (At this meeting the Committee approved partnering with Foundation for Peace to have these two wonderful young people as co-workers in the Dominican Republic):

As we went down the hill to enter the poorest part of the slum there was a large crowd blocking the street. We weaved through the crowd and spotted the muddy water that covered the slum. There was a young man floating on what appeared to be a refrigerator through the water. We parked at the top of the hill. We couldn't enter the first floor of the school because it was completely filled with water. We could only see the rooftops of all of the homes that had been built at sea level. According to the people, the river that borders Tres Brazos had risen over 10 feet since noon yesterday. Of course, it's the poorest people who are affected the most when disaster strikes. Those who dwell at sea level and closest to the river live on the cheapest land in the capital. They work their whole lives to buy small plots and construct tin huts only to watch them be filled by flood waters.

"We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. When we have an opportunity to help anyone, we should do it." (Galatians 6:9-10)

In 2006, SDOP identified the Dominican Republic as the country where a new strategy for entering into partnership would be developed. The year 2007 has been spent learning the realities in the country, engaging in conversation with potential partners, and a time of making friends. At this moment our friends are facing critical needs. The National Committee approved $300,000 for immediate assistance to communities in the Dominican Republic impacted by this storm where SDOP has begun partnerships. 

The National Committee also approved $169,999 for the International Task Force to allocate to groups that they are working with in the Dominican Republic. These groups have submitted applications but due to the applications being incomplete and/or the need for additional information they were not ready to be presented at this meeting for funding. Rather than holding the applications until the next National Committee meeting the International Task Force was authorized to fund those meeting the SDOP criteria based on the receipt of additional information and site visits being conducted.

For further information on an upcoming community workshop in your area, to set up a workshop, or to learn more about Self-Development of People, please contact the National Office at: