Grants

Grant Recipient

Organized Communities Against Deportations

Awarded: April 2022 Awarded Amount: $150,000

Two years later, our communities have overcome the worst pandemic in our lifetime. We adapted new ways of creating community, to continue to advocate and develop leaders that transform the social fabric of our communities. We learned how to use tools like zoom, streamyard, CRM programs, and how to keep our information secured. For OCAD the last two years have been transformational, we acquired our 501c3 status, completed our first audit, and brought new staff members adding a Digital Coordinator and a new Deportation Defense Coordinator. Now with 6 full time staff and 5 individual stipend members that are working 1:1 with a staff member on specific organizational projects. Our proposal is to continue to develop leadership and increasing capacity by centering and focusing on the development of directly impacted individuals by deportations, policing, and discrimination. Healing practices have been increasing member participation that is consistent and that allows us to have more power to mobilize around our mission. The creation of a self-determination curriculum that uses practices of popular education as a component to be accessible to all audiences and create a sense of power within the members of our communities. Strengthening networks between neighbors, individuals with the same experiences, and that celebrates our intersections and diversity. We have seen the impact of creating a culture of collaboration and collective problem solving. As we grow we want to also gain collective knowledge and create measures of evaluation and accountability as to not allow systems of hierarchy or oppression within structures. Creating a Theory of Change as well as finalizing our strategic planning for the next stage of the organization. We would use the funds of this proposal to collaborate with external facilitators, attend training sessions and have members use the materials obtained to document an internal-curriculum. We have learned that our communities are resilient and transformation is possible. “We Are What We Need” is one of our organizational values and embodimente for the next three years.