The recent grant awards of the Sociological Initiatives Foundation reveal a familiar list of discriminatory practices and public policy concerns identified by immigrant communities in the U.S.

The research and community organizing projects supported by the foundation this year will investigate a wide range of issues such as wage theft, discrimination, fraud, workplace safety, and the effects of recent anti-immigrant legislation.

Most of the projects link the research process with a grassroots advocacy campaign and typically involve a number of coalition partners in the effort.

The Sociological Initiatives Foundation was established to support research that furthers social change, including language learning and behavior and its intersection with social and policy questions.

To read the grants list, click here.

The Herman and Frieda Miller Foundation recently awarded its first round of grants for its new Innovation Fund.

The Innovation Fund is broadly conceived as a resource that supports innovations, tools, and practices that help social justice organizations and their allies improve conditions and institutions in pursuit of an involved, informed, and active public.

The Fund is a program designed to complement the core grantmaking program of the foundation which supports civic engagement, advocacy, and community organizing in Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts.

The six grantees represented a diverse set of organizations that were very experienced at community organizing and advancing public policy.

Most of the projects supported by the fund were developed by strong coalitions of organizations grappling with urgent public policy issues such as the foreclosure crisis, the rights of workers, and health care reform. Continue Reading »

GRANTEES IN THE NEWS

Source: The Nation

Amy Dean reports on community/labor coalitions that have taken a leadership role in promoting green jobs in Boston, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Seattle and Portland.

To read the article, click here.

Featuring Boston’s Green Justice Coalition members including Community Labor United, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Neighbor to Neighbor, the Chinese Progressive Association, and City Life Vida Urbana, all grantees of the Herman and Frieda Miller Foundation.