Episcopal City Mission (ECM), a ministry which promotes social and economic justice through congregations, community-based organizations and people within the Diocese of Massachusetts, announced on Jan. 21 the presentation of its annual Burgess Urban Fund grants to 20 grassroots community organizations working to reach those affected by social injustice.
The Burgess Urban Fund was established in 1976 in honor of Bishop John M. Burgess to improve the lives of the urban poor and oppressed. Grants are intended to reach community-based organizations that have the power and capacity to reach into many neighborhoods, according to an ECM news release. Over 37 years, ECM estimates it has awarded about $6.8 million in grants; this year grants ranged from $10,000 to $20,000 each.
The Burgess Urban Fund grantees.
“The Burgess Urban Fund recognizes that community organizing is an important process that develops power and capacity in solidarity with those in need. Strong organizing requires grantees to engage members of the community to identify shared concerns and create goals for social change; develop new leaders, especially among those affected by social inequality; undertake projects with concrete goals for the core constituency; articulate both the immediate and root causes of the problem through social change and collaborate with other organizations, regional and statewide,” Dr. Ruy Costa, Executive Director of Episcopal City Mission, said in the release. The fund focuses on six key areas: faith-based organizing, immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, affordable housing, poverty-related organizing and youth organizing.
Katie Campbell Simons, Associate Director Community Partnerships and Public Policy for ECM, said in the release, “It is evident that there is an overwhelming need for organizing and advocacy to right the injustices of many. This year again, we received a record high of 60 applications with a large number from the workers’ and immigrants’ rights sectors.”
This year’s Burgess Urban Fund grantees are:
• Boston Youth Organizing Project
• Boston Workers Alliance
• Brazilian Immigrant Center
• Brazilian Women’s Group
• Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores
• Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts
• Dominican Development Center
• Dorchester Bay Youth Force
• Essex County Community Organization
• Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending
• Massachusetts Community Action Network
• MetroWest Worker Center
• The Neighborhood Developers
• Neighbors United for a Better East Boston
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• Student Immigrant Movement
• United Neighbors of Fitchburg
• Worcester Homeless Action Committee
• YWCA of Great Lawrence: Women’s Health Advocacy Initiative
• Youth on Board