2024 has been a year of hope and action... as well as AJL's fifth year for participatory grantmaking. Seventeen 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 2024 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:
African Leadership Group’s mission is to help the African diaspora integrate and prosper by connecting cultures, developing strong community leaders, and advocating for economic, social, and educational impact.
Art from Ashes exists to empower struggling youth by providing creative programs that facilitate health and hope through expression, connection, and transformation.
At Backpack Society, we are driven by a single goal; to remove food insecurity as an obstacle for children so they can grow, learn, and thrive.
Colorado Asian Culture & Education Network's mission is to elevate Colorado’s Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and address inequities through cultural exchange and education.
Colorado Asian Pacific United strives to celebrate and preserve Asian Pacific American cultures and histories through education, allowing us to build stronger communities and allies while taking a step towards equitable empowerment, collaboration, and representation.
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 Conejos Clean Water is to build public awareness and encourage advocacy and education around environmental, social, economic, and food justice issues in the Conejos Land Grant Region. From the website: Here at Conejos Clean Water, we operate with the understanding that water is our life source. Without clean water, there is no life - life that is connected to all things. That’s why we’re protecting our water, land, and air, fostering a healthy environment to improve our community’s health and wellbeing.
Delta Eta Boule Foundation supports education for young African American Men through academic and professional enrichment, so that they may achieve their greatest potential
East Colfax Community Collective's mission is to fight displacement and build collective power in our community to shape our own destiny. Our vision is to be a multicultural community where low and moderate-income residents and locally-owned businesses can thrive.
Families Forward Resource Center's mission is to enrich entire families through partnership and services that create a safe, healthy, and connected community.
The mission of Foster Source is to provide relevant training, resources and support to foster and kinship parents from a trauma-informed approach, giving them the skills and confidence to spark healing in vulnerable children, and the vision is to inspire lasting healing in vulnerable children through confident, compassionate foster and kinship parents.
Grupo Tlaloc Danza Azteca is a traditional Mexica/Azteca group embodied of Chicano/Mexicano families and students of all ages dedicated to preserving and nourishing the ancient knowledge of their ancestors. They have pledged to uphold and walk a spiritual way of life and have committed themselves to help educate the public’s view of the Aztec culture.
Hands to the Future works to increase the number of students from immigrant, refugee, or multicultural backgrounds completing college degrees, master's degrees, educational credentials, certificates, and licenses. We connect Colorado-based students and their families to educational opportunities and provide college advising, leadership development, tools, and resources to succeed in their educational pursuits.
The mission of the Downtown Denver Islamic Center (DDIC) is to invest in the future of Denver by providing essential humanitarian services to immigrants, refugees, and low-income families. Our focus is on addressing food insecurity and ensuring access to nutritious, culturally- responsive food programs, while also facilitating essential community connections, thereby helping newcomers integrate into American culture.
Move Mountains Youth Project Inc. has a mission to activate youth into taking ownership of their communities, speaking up about what they see and use their creativity to positively influence San Luis & the Culebra villages. To develop the art, science and entrepreneurial skills that will empower active community citizens through a focus on local and global social justice issues.
Project Greer Street is a transformational college pipeline program and educational enrichment program that utilizes a bold new approach and framework to promote high achievement among African American high school males by cultivating an academic ecosystem and eliminating roadblocks to their success.
The mission of SLV Housing Coalition (SLVHC) is to provide safe and affordable housing to low-moderate-income community members.
SLV Immigrant Resource Center has a mission to connect and empower immigrants with resources to achieve legal documentation, fulfill their economic needs, and integrate into the community.
Shooting Stars Cultural and Leadership Center has a mission to provide services and activities that will increase the skill and abilities of Latino families that will help them achieve their personal goals.
Transformative Leadership for Change was built by and for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders to transform ourselves, our organizations and the larger movement ecosystem so we can thrive in our leadership, build real power for our communities and see our visions of liberation come to life.
