Centering Community Power for Health and Racial Equity
12/16/2020: Season's Greetings from The Praxis Project
Dear Praxis Family,
With profound appreciation, The Praxis Project wishes you happy holidays and a happy new year. This year wasn't what any of us expected, and as we reflect on 2020, we want to acknowledge and appreciate your incredible efforts. We have witnessed the invaluable support you continue to provide to your communities. Despite the risks and through unimaginable loss, you continued to show upin the moment and beyond the momentto sustain the work of transforming systems towards better health, justice andracialequity.
“Decades of expertise creating mutual aid infrastructure kicked into gear during COVID-rapid response.” - US Federation of Worker Co-ops
"This has been a moment for us. Allies have emerged from the shadows, black and brown people seem more inclined speak out about the injustices and the community is turning to us more to speak/address the racial undertones in our schools. We are outlining a political education series to respond to the gaps in knowledge.” - Gwinnett SToPP
You gracefully extended warmth, care, patience, and collaboration. Your efforts ensured that your community could continue to access support, address their essential needs, and feel connected.
“Focusing on a sense of space and place, and sense of belonging, has become important since COVID-19 seemed to rip this away from many people. Not just for our clients but also for our staff as well.” - La Plazita Institute
“When the pandemic began, we began calling and checking in with every single member, this took a few weeks to complete but this allowed us to respond in a way that was addressing common themes.” - InnerCity Struggle
The Praxis Project has been incredibly grateful to be in community with each of you and for the opportunity to convene virtually to learn and grow together. We wish you healing, peace, and joy throughout this time and into the new year. We look forward to working with you in the years to come and to changing the world together.
Gratefully,
The Praxis Project Team
Praxis Team 2020 Artifacts
Holding 2020 In A Moment
On a fun note, Praxis staff have compiled a few artifacts that sum up our teams' 2020 from the unexpected beauty and life our world has to offer us to quarantine toilet paper challenges. Enjoy!
We’re counting down to the new year by featuring how grassroots organizations use community-led and community-centered approaches to address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). As we count down, the Praxis Project is calling on everyone to give #BeyondTheMoment and donate to the amazing organizations that have continued to work tirelessly on the frontlines to address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), support their communities, and forge the path towards justice.
If you missed donating to our #BeyondtheMoment matching donation partners, we're matching your donations through December 31st. Help them meet their matching donation goal and join us in supporting their critical organizing efforts!
Organizing Against Systemic Racism During COVID-19
Centering Community in Public Health Brief
In 2020, many of Praxis’ community partners have answered the call to leverage years of building trusted relationships to facilitate the distribution of emergency resources and aid, and to continue advocating for community needs. However, the challenges elevated in 2020—the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing, systemic racism, and their subsequent and intersecting impacts—are not new to community organizers. They surface for a broader swath of the population the fractured health, social service, and political systems that have long needed transformation. Advocates and basebuilding organizers from across the nation have consistently stood on the front lines in contests over social issues that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and other historically oppressed groups.
The purpose of this brief is to share findings about the priorities of organizers in 2020, particularly around challenges elevated by COVID-19 and systemic racism; and how public health, philanthropy, and other allied fields can support our diverse communities’ shared goals for health, justice, racial equity, and liberation.
The Justice for Black Farmers Act will enact policies to end discrimination within the USDA, protect remaining Black farmers from losing their land, provide land grants to create a new generation of Black farmers and restore the land base that has been lost, and implement systemic reforms to help family farmers across the United States.
National Endowment for Democracy Grants Program - Grants averaging $50,000 will be awarded to nongovernmental organizations, civic organizations, associations, and independent media dedicated to advancing democratic goals and strengthening democratic institutions. Applications are due January 11. Learn more.
California COVID-19 Relief Grant Program - Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a COVID-19 relief program for nonprofits in either 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) categories with yearly gross revenues of $2.5 million or less. Nonprofits in all fields of work are eligible; in fact, arts and cultural institutions are explicitly included. Sign up to get information directly from CalOSBA.
Essie Justice Groupis seeking to fill several position including a Healing to Advocacy Program Manager, Sr. Manager of Operations, Director of Communications and Partnerships, and National Organizing Director based in Los Angeles or Oakland, CA
Do you have any resources or opportunities to share with our network? Reply to this email and tell us about it!
The Praxis Projectis a values-driven national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to build community power. Our Community Power Digest - Monthly Newsletter features updates and news from The Praxis Project and our basebuilding network. If you'd like to stop receiving these emails, simply click here to unsubscribe.
