PC(USA) - SDOP - United States projects


	United States of America - Northeast


	Connecticut

	Seeking Police Protection and Revitalization, Bridgeport ACORN East side, Bridgeport				$35,000

	The people living on the East Side and East End of Bridgeport have come together to address the issue of security. Children had to walk home from school past open drug deals. With increased police protection and neighborhood involvement this will no longer be the case. (2003)


	District of Columbia

	The 16th and Monroe Street Tenant Association, Washington, D.C.				$20,000

	This 12-member tenant association is working to secure its building that has been the target of profit developers. Two of the members have lived in their apartments for more than 25 years. Association members decided to embark on this project because of the unprecedented attempt by market developers to aggressively displace longtime residents of the community in favor of a more affluent population. (2005)


	Maine

	Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights, Portland (P.O.W.E.R.)				$20,000

	P.O.W.E.R. is a grassroots anti-poverty group that organizes around issues of homelessness, low wages and very limited access to healthcare for the poor and uninsured. P.O.W.E.R. members educate and learn about issues of poverty. They also advocate for, document and lead protests when necessary on the above conditions. (2006)

	The People’s Downtown Master Plan, Lewiston				$20,000

	This project was created by the disenfranchised, poor and low-income residents of Lewiston to reflect the needs, desires and voice of the community. The process of including the community in strengthening the planning process will include door-to-door canvassing of residents and businesses and holding community-planning meetings to identify emerging needs. (2006)

	Griffin Park Environmental Health Project, Bangor				$25,000

	These low-income residents came together to identify sources of pollution in the air, water and streams in Griffin Park. Residents have been afflicted with high levels of physical and medical ailments including asthma and cancer. The group plans to develop strategies to deal with the problems and give low-income residents a strong voice in the local government decision-making process. They also plan to test, analyze and evaluate procedures to clearly demonstrate the contents of the air and water in Griffin Park. (2006)

	Movimiento por Justiciadel Barrio, Bangor				$20,000

	This projec,t comprised of low-income residents and people of color, is centered on advocating for just living conditions in three buildings owned by the same landlord. Group members have lived under deplorable conditions for months with no heat or hot water, falling ceilings, electrical fire hazards, broken appliances and exposure to poisonous lead paint. (2006)

	Wabanaki Arts Center, Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Old Town				$25,000

	Indians, whose livelihood is making baskets, are living on the edge of poverty. There is little incentive for younger Indians to learn the craft and so the art form has been dying out. The Wabanaki Arts Center will provide a year round market for the sale of Indian baskets which will help the basketmakers make a living wage and encourage more young people to learn the craft from their elders. (2003)


	Maryland

	Operation Reachout – Southwest, Baltimore				$30,000

	Through group meetings and workshops this group will learn creative and positive ways to battle crime, poverty and low self-esteem issues plaguing their neighborhoods. Made up of more than 300 people from the community, the organization is working toward developing and strengthening their community network for greater leverage and positive action. (2004)


	Massachusetts

	Empower Women To Be Self-Sufficient, Raices Latinas, Hollyoke				$35,000

	A group of Latina Women have organized to find and provide support in areas of personal and professional skill development. As a result of this project they will have a place to meet, use the Internet and other office equipment, and develop entrepreneurial skills. (2004)

	Excalaber Cards Development Group, Roxbury				$20,000

	Excalaber Cards Development Group is a cooperatively-owned greeting card business that is owned, controlled and directly benefits previously-incarcerated men and women. The project members design, market, manufacture and sell original cards to corporations and private individuals. This project addresses the chronic unemployment and underemployment of ex-prisoners. (2004)

	Community Day Center of Waltham, Waltham				$15,000

	The homeless usually do not have a place to go to prepare for interviews, use computers, receive mail or make phone calls. The Community Day Center provides this resource and a place to receive counseling and other help needed to transition back into the working world. The project is run by the disenfranchised with assistance from the local community and local churches. (2004)

	Community Day Center of Walham, Waltham				$20,000

	The 40 to 60 homeless participants in this project have organized to provide themselves with a supportive environment where they can have access to a phone, fax, email and street address. The project includes having a place to meet with advocates and strategize as to how to impact their local political system in areas regarding homelessness. (2003)

	Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston				$60,000

	This group of Brazilian immigrants has come together to support one another through educational and computer workshops, sharing of immigrant resources and other specific programs that will help them adjust to the complexity of a new society. (2002)

	Breaking Barriers Program, Watertown				$50,000

	A group of Latin Americans seeking to overcome racial and cultural barriers have organized to learn English, study for their GED and learn the necessary job skills to secure jobs, thereby improving their families' quality of life. (2001)

	Chesterbrooks Tenants Association Computer Training forEmployment, Chesterbrooks Tenants Association, Waltham				$131,420

	The tenants of this community have organized to educate themselves and their children in the skills necessary to become computer literate. (2001)

	Latino Grassroots Leadership Project, Community Education Project, Holyoke				$54,265

	The Latino residents of this community have organized to develop leadership skills so that they can be better represented in local government. (2001)


	New Jersey

	Spirit of the Law Legal Clinic, Hudson				$5,000

	This project has allowed women and their families who are survivors of domestic violence to develop themselves while also locating a range of services to help them gain independence from abusive relationships. The group sought funding in its efforts to expand its network of governmental, faith-based and community-based organizations willing to support survivors of domestic violence. (2005)

	Farmworker Human Rights Organizing Project Glassboro				$20,000

	This group sought funding to educate its members about their internationally-recognized rights as immigrant workers, to organize their colleagues and to structure goals and objectives in direct negotiations with employers to tackle issues such as low wages, inadequate housing, limited access to health care and education, and safety issues. They hope their advocacy work will influence policy decisions made at all levels. (2005)

	Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Morristown				$20,000

	This project is a faith-based immigrant resource center comprised of both undocumented and legal immigrants. They have organized themselves around immigrant needs by providing English as a second language classes, education, advocacy and intervention. They build bridges to the non-immigrant community through a program called Amigos en Cristo. (2005)

	Spirit of The Law Self-Help Clinic, Strengthen Our Sisters Inc., Hewitt				$35,000

	Many members of this group suffer from battered woman’s syndrome, which often leaves them in a vulnerable state both emotionally and spiritually. This project will empower them to obtain legal support and guidance in court procedures. (2003)

	Men On Reform and Education, Hispanic Americans for Progress Inc., Trenton				$31,000

	This group of Hispanic men incarcerated in the prison system have organized to communicate and educate themselves through publications and videos. By learning life skills and developing their minds and talents, they are preparing for life outside to become productive citizens. (2001)


	New York

	Friends Helping Friends Inc., Rochester				$25,000

	This project was developed to refurbish leased facilities that will be used to expand food handling and storage facilities for large quantities of both non-perishable and perishable food currently going to waste. The project provides food for the members of the organization, as well as education, training and leadership opportunities. (2004)

	University West Burnside Neighborhood Association, Bronx				$20,000

	An association of 175 tenants organized to advocate together in maintaining affordable, safe and quality housing conditions. In order to force landlords to act, the tenants maintained records of violations, documented abuses, attended public meetings and protested landlords at their private homes. (2005)

	NMASS Lower East Side Workers Center New York City				$20,000

	This project is a community-based workers organization with a diverse membership. Their group came together as a result of being hurt by the toxic air and economic fall out of the September 11 tragedy. (2005)

	Eastern Service Workers Association, Rochester				$20,000

	The Eastern Service Workers Association was formed in 1976 by low-income working families to address poverty issues. The association applied for SDOP funding to assist with expanding its current services and develop new services. Low-income persons that are traditionally excluded from leadership roles will have enhanced opportunities to learn and apply skills with authority as well as responsibility. (2005)

	The 142nd Street Block Association, New York City				$25,000

	Residents of the 142nd Street Block Association are besieged by inferior education, health-care and housing. SDOP funding has enabled the block association to formalize its structure to uplift the community by promoting a community spirit and has connected residents with services that will improve their quality of life. (2005)

	Schenectady Youth Boxing Club, Schenectady				$20,000

	Several youth that are economically challenged came together to organize around this boxing club. The boxing club helps them experience both physical and mental disciplines through exercise and formal boxing instruction and coaching as well as providing a social support system that holds them to high standards in their daily life in school and work situations. (2006)

	Haitian Community Development Project, Niverville				$20,000

	This group of lower income Haitian immigrants and Haitian-Americans came together to provide language skills training, employment referrals, temporary emergency assistance, immigration services and promotion of Haitian art and culture to the Haitian community in the Hudson, New York, area. The project provides an opportunity for the people to integrate into the non-Haitian community. (2006)

	FUREE (Families United for Racial and Economic Equality), Access to Training and Education, Brooklyn				$20,000

	Seeking to change a welfare system that does not equitably provide training or work opportunities is difficult. However, this group of women intends to accomplish this by ensuring that the welfare bureaucracy enacts the recently passed Access to Training and Education Law in New York City. (2003)

	Bernice Bakery, Rochester				$5,000

	Technical assistance was given to this previously-funded group from the Ogoni Tribe in Nigeria, who started a wholesale bakery to improve and stabilize those who are constantly being displaced from jobs to the unemployment line. It provides skills in management at different levels and jobs, which will help in future job opportunities. (2002)

	Filipino Workers Center, New York City				$85,000

	To stop exploitation and have more say over their work, this group of domestic workers have organized to place themselves with employers, establish clear and fair contracts, learn their rights, and provide mutual support for each other. (2002)


	Pennsylvania

	PEACE IN THE STREETS, Chester				$30,000

	This group of citizens came together to address the violence on the streets of Chester. They hope to effect change by creating a culture of peace through non-violent methods of citizen actions, violence prevention education, and outreach and advocacy for more resources in the city. (2004)

	Community Leadership Institute, Philadelphia				$25,000

	This grassroots group, based in North Philadelphia is focusing its efforts on training and organizing its non English-speaking, poor residents around the issues of unjust use of eminent domain, and the exclusion of residents from the planning/redevelopment process. (2004)

	Senior Advocacy Team, Philadelphia				$20,000

	This project is a public outreach campaign in Philadelphia to promote community integration of older adult consumers (older adults with mental illness) and also to disseminate anti-stigma messages. The project is needed because mental illness and aging are emerging as a major public health crisis. The Senior Advocacy Team works to support and empower themselves and other older adults with mental illness. (2005)

	Every Mother is a Working Mother Network Philadelphia				$20,000

	This project is organized to oppose punitive welfare reform, to campaign for “caring work” to be recognized as work and for the value of this work to be reflected in right to welfare and other resources. (2005)

	South Asian Support Center, Philadelphia				$20,000

	This project involves providing a forum for immigrants from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to better themselves and their families through English language programs, translation services for driver’s licenses, apartment leases and other paperwork, as well as job training programs. (2005)

	Community Leadership Institute, Philadelphia				$10,000

	This project is focused on training, organizing and empowering grass-roots leadership. It is centered on organizing primarily non-English-speaking and poor residents over the unjust use of eminent domain. Extremely low prices are paid to residents whose houses are being acquired and residents are excluded from the planning/redevelopment process. (2006)

	South Asian Support Center, Philadelphia				$25,000

	Facing cultural differences, language barriers and lack of job skills, the members of this group seek to develop self-sufficiency through job training, language development and other related services. (2003)

	Consumer Owned Snack Shop, Confident Beginnings, Erie				$113,492

	Recovering mentally ill patients operate a snack/craft shop and drop-in center providing a place where they can meet and support one another by learning skills (crafts, office, cashiers, janitorial) that will enable them to fill useful places in society and become accepted. (2002)


	Rhode Island

	Rhode Island ACORN, Providence, Neighborhood Organizing Project, Providence				$20,000

	These 700 low and moderate income families will focus on developing leadership, organization-building and targeted campaigns designed to address utility company accountability issues, predatory lending, fair housing, rat infestation and lack of city services. (2003)

	Cost of Care Campaign, Day Care Justice Co-op Inc., Providence				$15,000

	Through the Cost of Care Campaign, the Day Care Justice Co-op seeks to recruit new members, lobby legislators and candidates for governor, negotiate with the Department of Human Services for a fair and equitable contract in providing child care and educate the public about the situation of child care providers and quality of care issues. (2003)

	Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships, Warwick				$75,000

	Empowered survivors of domestic violence have organized to change the systems that often either prevent people from escaping domestic violence situations or fail to protect them and their children after leaving such situations. (2002)

	Organized Parents Against Lead (OPAL), Providence				$90,000

	A group of low-income parents organized to heighten awareness of lead poisoning to their children, increase the enforcement of housing standards, pressure public officials for more public funds to fix up contaminated housing and educate the community about the rights of those who suffer from lead poisoning. (2002)

	Rhode Island Parents for Progress, Providence				$100,000

	This is a group of welfare mothers advocating for their needs to become self‑sufficient and who are making positive changes in the welfare system in Rhode Island. (2001)


	West Virginia

	Cooperative Action Program of Southern McDowell County (CAPS), Panther				$35,000

	In this underdeveloped and underserved area, the residents have decided to take matters into their own hands by providing themselves with general education, computer literacy and leadership classes. They will also address substandard living conditions by actually doing home repairs. (2003)

	P.S. Project Community Support Program, Parkersburg				$127,926

	The residents of this project all have some form of mental illness. They have come together to purchase a home to be used as a drop‑in center to work on resumes, practice job introductions and have access to computer and educational material. Of the amount provided by SDOP, $5,000 was given for technical support. (2001)



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