2022 has been a year of reimagining and rebuilding... as well as AJL's third year for participatory grantmaking. Fifteen incredible community organizers, families, youth leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, human service professionals, educators, businesspeople, community lovers and change-makers came together to identify twenty high-impact, community-driven organizations serving Colorado families and youth to each receive a $20,000 general operating support. Meet the 2022 grantmaking committee here.
Why participatory grantmaking? We believe that by bringing together diverse representatives of all stakeholders affected by our grantmaking to make funding decisions, the collective expertise and experiences of the group will lead to more effective and equitable grantmaking decisions and increased impact.
How does the participatory process work? Read all about it here. And without further ado, meet the incredible community-driven organizations here who are supporting, empowering and leading their communities:
Asian Girls Ignite is on a mission to build a strong community of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) girls and women by celebrating their individual and collective power through shared stories. We envision a world where every AAPI girl and woman define their own power and story.
B Peace Productions has a mission to facilitate peaceful experiences across cultural differences, co-create through authentic expression, and discover the power of our voice, body and spirit.
The Boys & Girls Club of the San Luis Valley's mission is to ensure that all children and youth, especially those who need us most, are offered opportunities to realize their full potential as responsible, caring and productive citizens of a richly diverse world.
The Center for Restorative Programs has a mission to strengthen community in the San Luis Valley by building connection, transforming conflict and healing relationships.
The mission of the Compound of Compassion is to provide a self-sustainable environment created to encourage a safe place of healing for youth, young adults, veterans and seniors. To meet those in need where they are and provide disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and other tangible assistance.
Delta Eta Boule Foundation helps young Black males become leaders in their professions and communities through its leadership development program, which provides academic scholarships, individual mentorship, summer internships and professional development coaching.
Herbal Gardens Wellness has a mission to empower Native health outcomes from surviving to thriving. To increase positive health outcomes through traditional knowledge and shared education of our greater Intertribal and Rural communities throughout our overlapping territories.
Indigenous Voices envisions classrooms where Indigenous knowledge is the norm and educators are confidently implementing Indigenous curriculum.
The mission of INSPiRE is to ignite, train, and invest in youth to become Change Agents in their schools, families and communities.
Mamabird Doula Services has a mission is to promote awareness, access, and availability of professional Doula support and provide evidence-based, respectful maternity care to all childbearing persons of color.
Project VOYCE has a mission to partner with youth to cultivate transformational leadership that addresses the root causes of inequity in underrepresented communities by training, employing, organizing, and building equitable youth-adult partnerships.
Queenshipp's mission is to empower all young people including queer, trans, and non-binary students. We achieve this through a holistic approach that includes leadership development, mentorship and community engagement to develop emotionally intelligent and civically minded leaders who contribute to their families and greater communities.
RISE 5280 exists to empower underrepresented youth in Colorado to develop healthy social-emotional skills and career planning through mentoring, academic support, community service, and exposure to opportunities that extend beyond the boundaries of their neighborhood to improve the professional and social trajectory of minority leaders.
The Sistahbiz Global Network is a business accelerator with a mission to provide Black women entrepreneurs with free and low-cost caching, training, technical assistance, and community to both ensure their success and close equity gaps in entrepreneurship.
Street Fraternity's mission is to provide a place of brotherhood and personal growth for urban young men.
Transformative Leadership for Change (TLC) was built by and for black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) leaders to transform ourselves, our organizations and the larger ecosystem so we can thrive in our leadership, build power for our communities and see our visions of liberation come to life.
The mission of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado is to continuously improve the professional and social trajectory of minority leaders through effective leadership training.
The mission of Young Aspiring Americans for Social & Political Activism is to encourage and support disengaged and underserved youth to participate in their communities socially and politically, in order to make changes within the community.
The Youth Empowerment Broadcasting Organization (YEBO) cultivates habits of belonging, wellness, and independence in youth by amplifying their everyday digital practices as powerful skills for social change.
