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3-31-1997
Resist Newsletter, Feb-Mar. 1997
Resist
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Recommended Citation Resist, "Resist Newsletter, Feb-Mar. 1997" (1997). Resist Newsletters. 291. https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter/291 Inside: 1996 Grants Summary
Celebrating 30 Years A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority February/March 1997 Funding Renewed Resistance The 1996 Grant-Giving Year in Review
ROBIN CARTON which we came. A broad social vision is an n 1976, RESIST gave out approxi important part of both mately $17,400 in grants and loans. In RESIST' s beliefs and a basic I1986, that figure rose to about $36,000. criteria for receiving funding. In 1996, RESIST awarded over $121,000 In order to evaluate propos in grants and loans to 150 activist groups. als, RESIST seeks an under In total, RESIST has given out more standing of how each grant than one million dollars over the last 30 applicant approaches a range years. to activist groups working for radi of issues, including their po cal social change. During this time, RE sitions on race, class, gender, SIST has been a leader in the movement reproductive and abortion to fund grassroots groups who are orga rights, gay and lesbian libera nizing for social change. We have funded tion, age and disability. hundreds of small-budget groups who Our position is centered struggle towards a broad vision of social around the concept that build justice, while continuing to oppose politi ing a movement for social cal and institutional oppression. change requires groups to dis Based upon its unique role as one of cuss issues and take a stand the first progressive funders in the coun Activists from Common Threads picket against the Robinson on matters that may not be try, RESIST has also served as the inspi May Company in Santa Monica, California. The demonstration intrinsic to their organization ration and model for a number of other was organized by Sweat Shop Watch. Photo by Judy Bran/man or work. For those organiza foundations who now are engaged in sup tions who have not had the porting radical activist calls for change. As Links to the Grass Roots opportunity to address these issues, we Susan Ostrander notes in Money for Unlike other foundations, however, RE hope that our grant process will help to Change (Temple University Press, 1995), SIST relies on small contributions from a facilitate such discussions. We do not in progressive funders like Haymarket lot of people all over the country, and not tend this to be patronizing, but we see this People's Fund "called upon ... RESIST solely on the large donations of a few in as part of our role as a social change orga for assistance in setting up a constituency dividuals. As a result, most of RESIST' s nization, as well as a foundation. based grant making practice" (p. 186). donors are activists in their own commu Haymarket then went on to become a nities who feel strongly about the work we Trends and Patterns in Funding founding member of the Funding Ex do and see the results of our grants first Looking back over the last 30 years, change, which is a network of 15 social hand. In this way, RESIST remains inex there have been several significant trends change foundations located across the tricably linked, and accountable, to the that have developed in RESIST' s funding country. grassroots organizing community from continued on page four
Vol.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page I Renewing the Call to RESIST The history ofRESIST parallels the history ofradical and pro In this issue ofthe Newsletter, we will begin a series ofreflec gressive movements in the United States for the past 30 years. tions, taking a look back at the original "call to resist illegiti Founded primarily to fund anti-war activism and draft resistance, mate authority, "and seeing how RESIST still matters today. This RESIST quickly included anti-racism groups among its grantees. month, we will look at what has always been a cornerstone of Each successive movement-feminist organizing, opposition to the RESIST's ability to fund grassroots organizing: committed do US-sponsored war in Central America, environmental activism, nors. George Salzman has given money to RESIST since 1968, movement for gay and lesbian liberation, labor activism, to name and continues to contribute to numerous organizations. He of a few-challenged RESIST to expand its funding. fers his reflections below.
GEORGE SALZMAN evolved over time, beginning during the year, last year to 132 different groups. And Vietnam War. My wife and I decided to I try to concentrate on non-mainstream August we wrote to many ofyou that separate our interests from those ofthe cor groups, including, of course, RESIST. l "the time has come to resist the war in porations whose stocks we then owned. On a personal basis it's risky: with no Vietnam. " So began a letter of December Immediately the problem came up: what real social security, only accumulated 27, 1967, from Noam Chomsky, William S. to do with the money? And it's taken me wealth remains as a buffer against possible Coffin, Jr., Dwight McDonald and Benjamin about 30 years to resolve that question. misery at the end of one's life. But if Spock. Many of us, myself included, an Only a small percentage of the world's enough of us take the risk, we might gain swered that cal 1. people have the luxury of living far real security for all the world's people. Where are we now, nearly 30 years enough from the brink that every bit of Only a society without greed and with real later? Major political changes gave cause money need not go for day-to-day survival. security can solve all the social problems for hope- including the end of the Cold Those ofus so privileged face the tension of that beset modern capitalism. War and the end of the apartheid regime what to do with the money, and that means in South Africa. But the horrors of geno dealing with our insecurity about our future. George Salzman teaches physics and cide and torture, the brutality of nation Our fears are constantly fed by our radical science at the University of states acting against "their own people" knowledge of what happens to the very Massachusets-Boston. as though people are owned by the state poor without food or homes, to those with makes the struggle for human rights a major health afflictions lacking medical burning necessity which, tragically, will care, to the infirm aged warehoused unto have to be fought into the next millenium. death. We are urged to protect our indi Further, the accelerating destruction of vidual selves by saving, by insurance, by the biosphere, driven by the ideology of investing. Banking conglomerates, giant so-called Western civilization with its ad insurance companies, mammoth brokerage diction to endless "development" and ob empires and the legal sharks who advise scene profits, shows no sign of abating. them feast on our insecurities. Violations of human rights and ofecologi In truth, there is no escaping our fears cal integrity are often closely linked. For within the existing institutional framework. example, the greed of Shell Oil and of the Without real community there is no real ILLEGITIMATE AUTIIORlff military thugs who run Nigeria were served social security. One of capitalism's out ,=iM,d,.,,, '1M..-.J ~ ""'e. "61 by hanging the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa for standing achievements in its relentless For information and grant guidelines, write to: RESIST, One Summer St, Somerville, MA protesting the ecological/cultural destruc drive to maximize profits has been destroy 02143; or send e-mail to: [email protected] tion caused by Shell's operations. ing real communities. Even extended fami So, if we care about the world and about lies are disappearing as young ·people are RESIST Newsletter (ISSN 0897-2613) is our fellow human beings, and generations forced to leave in search of jobs. published ten times a year by Resist, Inc., yet unborn, we must try to stop the on As long as the fear of insecurity has us One Summer Street, Somerville, MA 02143 (617) 623-5110. The views expressed in ar slaught. The forms of resistance we can in its grip, it seems impossible to contrib ticles, other than editorials, are those of the use depend on our individual life circum ute significant money to grassroots efforts. authors and do not necessarily represent the stances. I will focus on only one form of For me, it is more important to make the opinions of the RESIST staff or board. resistance: providing money for grassroots world better for my children and grand efforts aimed not only at opposing injus children-for all children-than to secure RESIST Staff: Robin Carton Carol Schachet tices, but at seeking to expose and counter with money my own longevity and com RESIST Intern: Danya Greenfield the ideology which supports the repressive fort. So I have decided not to try to save, institutions that exploit and victimize us. not to try to prepare for prolonged medi Newsletter Editor: Carol Schachet I see money as a key focus, along with cal care, and to come to terms with my own Printing: Red Sun Press the commodification of almost every es mortality. This has enabled me to contrib 0 Printed on recycled paper with soy ink. =~..::·· sential for life. My personal response has ute large (for me) amounts of money each
Page2 RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997 Mitchell Goodman Dies at 73 An Organizer ofthe Movement and a RESIST Board Member
GRACE PALEY all this work it became his major, for all I These are the outstanding political facts know only, determined concern. His com of Mitch's life as I knew them. First, he knew Mitch probably from the mid- mitment to RESIST and its meaning-to wrote the important and fine novel The End I1960s when our Greenwich Village resist illegitimate authority-was certainly ofIt (Second Chance Publisher, 1961, re Peace Center office was a New York cen whole-hearted. printed in 1984) about the horrors of war ter-along with the War Resisters League in Italy. As a writer, of resistance work. Or, more accurately, I know well the since most ofus were too old to be drafted, For my part, I will go on fighting kind of intense, in we supported resistance to the Vietnam spiring, drudge War and fonned an organization which be the political system that created work that writing came known as Support in Action. We had involves-I'd call it our own New York conspiratorial state this war with everything I have. political commit ment which we hoped for honor's sake (Mitch Goodman, 1969) ment. would help get us in as much trouble as Second, his role the young resisters. in the trial as the Karl Bissinger, Paul Goodman (no re spokesperson for lation to Mitch) and I wrote a five-line In 1967, Mitch helped organize an anti resistance. Third, his 780-page compen statement carefully quoting the law and draft protest in Washington, DC, where dium of the actions, manifestos arid news then breaking it. We had several thousand activists gathered up and turned in draft articles of the Civil Rights, anti-war and signatures,. many of them acquired at a cards to the Justice Department. For this, feminist movements. And fourth, he never wide-open meeting at Town Hall in New Mitch along with William Sloan Coffin, abandoned our movement and, therefore, York City, where our statement stood high Michael Ferber, Marc Raskin, and Ben never abandoned us to slide into the easy on a large easel. When I remember the dis jamin Spock were indicted for conspiracy evening of liberal agreeableness. cussions by eminent men at the back of to "hinder and interfere with the adminis Mitch worked as long as he could with the hall about whether to sign it or not, I tration of the Universal Military Training the Independent Political Action Commit feel a certain old delight. This statement and Service Act." Their trial, known as the tee, lived far out in the country, believed in in support of the resisters did not come to Boston Five or the Spock Trial, helped t~at life. In fact, Mitch was kind of opin people only by mail. It had a public life; mobilize resistance to the war. The docu ionated about it in an annoying way, but their visible signing or not established a ment "A call to resist illegitimate author developed a community of rural urbanist public commitment. ity" was a central piece of evidence used activism-and what must have been a com This was happening in New York. In against them. munity of poets too, since at his memorial Boston, an organization called RESIST Four of the men were convicted, includ in Farmington, Maine, many poems were with a more academic disposition, but with ing Mitch, but later the courts reversed the continued on page five great power and a brilliant, long-lasting decision. After being released, Mitch had statement of principle-was more useful this to say: Help us Save for movement-building. We New Yorkers We don't need a court to tell us we are were invited by Bob Zevin to sign on to not criminals. . . . The real criminals Trees and Postage the "call to resist illegitimate authority." are walking on the streets of Washing Paul Goodman and I became part of the ton and Texas. When the Government Are you receiving duplicate mail RESIST Board. Karl Bissinger already had begins to listen to its people, we will ings? RESIST wants to be environ a large number of meetings to attend and begin to recover from the terrible sick mentally resposible, and we need specific actions to attend to. In his 80s now, ness of the Vietnam War. For my part, your help to do it. he works daily at the War Resisters League. I will go on fighting the political sys We do our best to maintain our Mitch was part of that time, but I re tem that created this war with every records a~curately, but sometimes member him best working on the Angry thing I have. (RESIST Newsletter #31, we goof. If you are receiving dupli Arts Against the War. He organized a one August 7, 1969) cate mailings, or if you are planning week demonstration in which theaters, to move, please let us know. Send concerts, art exhibits, and readings in fancy Mitch's Political Work us your mailing label(s), indicating halls and on neighborhood street corners Despite all of this, Mitch's obituary in your correct address. We will do our off the backs of trucks, were dedicated The New York Times called him "apoliti best to fix it as soon as possible. solely to opposition to the war. cal"-strange to me because of his passion Thanks for your help! Once Mitch had committed himself to and commitment to justice.
Vo/.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page3 Funding Renewed Resistance continued from page one Washtenau County (Ann patterns. In 1967, RESIST grants went to Arbor,MI). groups engaged in the anti-war, draft resis RESIST has also sup tance and student organizing movements. ported environmental orga Groups like: American Exile Counseling nizing from groups like: Center (Montreal, Quebec), Black Draft Re Citizens for Alternatives to sistance Union (New Haven, CT), Jackson Radioactive Dumping (Al Human Rights Project (Jackson, MS), the buquerque, NM), Citizens Student Organizing Committee (Chicago, for Safe Water Around Bad IL), and the War Resisters League (New ger (Merrimac, WI), Political ark, NJ). Ecology Group (San Fran Within two years of formation, RESIST' s cisco, CA), and Women's funding broadened to match the political Voices for the Earth (Mis recognition that the war in Vietnam did not soula, MT). exist in a vacuum-separate and apart from This year, the majority of other governmental policies. As a result, grants awarded went toward RESIST began providing money for prison groups involved in direct support work, community organizing, black actions around many of power, and a range of projects in high today's most pressing is schools. sues: labor struggles, eco nomic justice, the environ By 1971, women in RESIST began to People gather in front of the federal prison complex in Florence, challenge the sexism inherent in the left' s CO, to protest human rights abuses, racism in the justice system, ment, prisoners' rights, and political organizing and its concomitant and isolation in U.S. prisons. Photo courtesy of the Rocky issues in Central and Latin presence in RESIST' s funding decisions. Mountain Peace and Justice Center America. These groups are As a result of these important struggles located across 28 states and over the organization's vision and goals, munity News (Boston, MA), and the Na the District of Columbia. RESIST pledged to increase its support for tional Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays In addition, RESIST charted new terri a much broader range of groups struggling (Washington, DC). tory this year by giving out six training against a redefined "illegitimate authority." By the 1990s, RESIST found itself grants which helped current and former During that decade, groups focusing on looking more closely at economic justice grantees attend organizational develop women's rights, reproductive rights, and and environmental issues as they became ment workshops designed to strengthen the labor movement joined the ranks of major struggles nationwide. As the gov skills in areas including fundraising, stra RESIST' s funding priorities. RESIST ernment viciously cuts back its support for tegic thinking and planning, and working funded such diverse groups as: Reproduc many vulnerable members of society with a board of directors. Based on this tive Rights National Network (Chicago, through welfare "reform" and attacks on success, RESIST hopes to continue to pro IL), Miners Support Committee (Beckly, social security, RESIST has seen a signifi vide training grants in the future. WV), City Workers Committee for Pen cant increase in proposals from groups sion Fund Divestment from South Africa working toward economic justice, groups Special Grants (Detroit, MI), Wounded Knee Defense like: Kensington Welfare Rights Union RESIST awards two special grants an Fund (Rapid City, SD), Military and Draft (Philadelphia, PA), Tri-County Advocacy nually in tribute to the life and work of Law Resource Center (Cambridge, MA), Coalition (Havre, MT), Welfare Education Freda Friedman Salzman and Walter and National Anti-Draft Teach-In Project and Training Access Coalition (Medford, Raymond Cohen. A grant from the Arthur (Washington, DC). MA), and the Welfare Rights Union of Raymond Cohen Memorial Endowment By the mid- l 980s, RESIST was deeply involved in two new major areas of con P.acli year (j{_PSIS Page 4 RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997 Mitch Goodman continued from page three We received the $1,000 RESIST grant with said and sung. And he was a poet too, which was one of the things that gave him joy and gratitude! It gives us both financial pleasure to live and strength to die. On the wall at the foot of his bed, dur support and great encouragement ing his last illness he had pinned this poem for the work. Thank you. by Stanley Kunitz: Day of Foreboding (S.O.A. Watch, Columbus, GA) Great events are about to happen I have seen migratory birds in unprecedented numbers " is designed to support the causes to wl,lich against each other for the scraps thrown descend on the coastal plain Arthur Cohen (1918-1986) was commit from the big table. Although admittedly the picking the margins clean ted: opposition to the arms race, the cold Left is in disarray, and we find no "move my bones are a family in their tent war, and American intervention abroad; ment" to carry us forward, there are still huddled over a small fire and support for civil liberties, the fight vibrant strains of resistance that regularly waiting for the uncertain signal against racism, and the struggle of work counter the well-financed push to smother to resume the long march ers and unions at home." social justice. In 1996, the grant from the Cohen Me The dynamic groups who "remember Mitch was married to Denise Levertov morial Endowment Fund was given to the to resist" range from the long-term activ for many years, one of our great activist Women' s Institute for Leadership Devel ists that face down the militias in Montana poets, who was a major organizer of art opment (WILD) in Jamaica Plain, Massa and right-wing think tanks in Wisconsin; ists' resistance activities. Their son Nicolai, chusetts. Organized in 1987 by women to youth organizers from high schools and who I knew as a child in my daughter's labor activists and educators, WILD works college campuses in Washington, DC, who fourth grade class, is an artist and has writ to empower women to become leaders in are engaged in anti-racist work; from farm ten some wonderful short stories. the labor movement. The group also seeks workers struggling for union representa Sandy Gregor, Mitch's wife, is a jour to promote a democratic, inclusive and tion and healthy work environments in nalist- a writer too-a strong, courageous anti-racist labor movement. A grant of California and North Carolina, to the woman. Their son Mattie who is 16-and $1 ,000 from the Cohen Fund covered the underappreciated efforts of those seeking a-half years old is a violinist, a true musi costs of translators who helped create a to expose the cruel and unequal punish cian since small boyhood, and a sun which fully bilingual training program for WILD ment of prisoners in Georgia. shone on Mitch's last years and helped him this past summer. Surprisingly, today there are more in hard times to live in light. The Freda Friedman Salzman Memorial groups working for social change in this Mitchell Goodman died at his home on Endowment Fund " is dedicated to the pur country than at any time in RESIST' s his February 1, 1997, of pancreatic cancer. pose of supporting organized resistance tory. As a result, RESIST receives more to the institutions and practices that rob funding requests and larger donations, people of their dignity as full human be which means we can give out more money. Grace Paley is a writer, activist, and ings . . . [giving] a high priority to the ef Even more remarkably, in this time of RESIST Board member. forts of Native American peoples to resist overreaching layoffs and wage cutbacks, cultural as well as actual genocide." The people continue to send us their hard grant from the Salzman Memorial Endow earned dollars. Our donors tell us they do ONE SIZE ATS ALLI ment was awarded to Californians for Jus so because they believe in RESIST' s long IF YOU AREN'T SURE WHAT tice in Oakland, California. Their primary term vision and commitment. TO GIVE SOMEONE FOR A objectives are to respond to right-wing at In 1967, when our "call to resist ille tacks on human rights and to create a last gitimate authority" was signed by over SPECIAL OCCASION, WE ing, progressive infrastructure that will 20,000 people, we demonstrated our be SUGGEST RESIST SHOPPING. enable young people, low-income commu lief that a radical grassroots movement CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT TO nities and communities of color to set could bring about an end to the Vietnam RESIST AS A WAY TO CEL proactive agendas. A grant of$1,000 sup War and work for peace. In 1997, we still EBRATE HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, ported the distribution of press manuals believe that such a radical grassroots move GRADUATIONS, OR OTHER which were used to organize against at ment can bring about social justice, and SPECIAL OCCASIONS. RESIST tacks on affirmative action and immigrants we work for renewed resistance to the var CAN SEND A CARD IN YOUR in California. ied forms of illegitimate authority that ex ist today. Remember, now is still the time NAME TO THE HONOREE. FOR Staying Left, Moving Ahead to RESIST. MORE INFORMATION, WRITE OR The Right believes that by spreading a CALL THE RESIST OFFICE, climate of fear, they will be able to rend Robin Carton manages the grant giving 6 I 7/623-5 I I 0. what remains of the Left by pitting us program at RESIST Vo/.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page5 1996 RESIST Grantees Africa/ Asia/International Guatemala Partners/Manos Mutuas Por GABRIELA-Chicago (Northlake, IL) Guatemala (Washington, DC) $1,000 $974 for a conference entitled "Isang for non-travel expenses of a speaking Daang Taon Pakikibaka: 100 Years of tour concerning the October 1995 mas Struggle" regarding the struggles and sacre of members of the Xaman com concerns of Filipina women and link munity in Ixcan region of Guatemala. ing Filipina women with other women New York CISPES (New York, NY) $1,000 of color. for the "Educate and Advocate for Working People's Rights" campaign. Central/Latin America and the Peace Works (Morristown, NJ) $960 to in Caribbean form the public about issues in Central Boston CISPES (Jamaica Plain, MA) America via the Internet. $1,000 to fund printing and mailing Pittsburgh Labor Action Network for the costs of a mock fashion mail order cata Americas (PLANTA) (Pittsburgh, PA) log from " Sweatgear International" $1,000 to highlight labor rights viola about abuses in the garment industry in tions and foster cross-border organiz El Salvador. ing efforts in Mexico, Central America Cambridge/El Salvador Sister City Project and the Caribbean. (Cambridge, MA) $700 to cover print Portland Central America Solidarity Com ing and postage costs for brochures for mittee (Portland, OR) $1 ,000 to pur Sister City Work-A-Thon ' 96. chase a computer, printer, modem and Colombia Support Network (Madison, Internet access. A CISPES activist plays U.R. Conned, a CEO, during the SweatGear Fashion WI) $97 4 to update office equipment Tonantzin: The Boston Committee in Sup Show at the Cambridge (MA) River enabling CSN to continue outreach and port of Native Peoples of Mexico (Ja Festival. Photo courtesy of Boston CISPES educational work around human rights maica Plain, MA) $785 to publicize a abuses in Colombia and to publish an series of events including appearances Californians for Justice (Oakland, CA) English-language magazine. by members of the Frente Auten ti co del $1,000 to develop multilingual public Committee in Solidarity with the Central Trabajo (F.A.T.), Cecilia Rodriquez, ity and press manuals opposing the at American People (Eugene, OR) $1,000 and Pastors for Peace. tacks on affirmative action and immi for three events, two editions of the Voices for Haiti (Washington, DC) $770 gration in California. newsletter El Aviso and an insert of the to purchase a computer to produce Catholic Peace Ministry (Des Moines, IA) satirical " Sweatgear" catalog. Voices for Haiti Speaking Out. $300 to support a quarterly newsletter Cuba Information Project (New York, NY) Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nica regarding CPM and other peace and jus $200 emergency grant to defray the ragua (Madison, WI) $300 to support tice organizations. expenses of educational materials in the visit of the "Ocho de Marzo" Chinatown CA/T Task Force (Boston, volved in the U.S. tour of two HIV-posi Women's Theater Project. MA) $1,000 to organize local residents tive Cubans discussing HIV/AIDS ac to combat highway construction that tivism in Cuba. Community Organizing/Anti-Racism would disrupt and displace residents in Ecumenical Program on Central America Arlington Citizens and Clergy Embracing Chinatown and other low-income com & the Caribbean (EPICA) (Washington, Pluralism and Trust (ACCEPT) (Arling munities of color. DC) $300 to purchase a laser printer and ton, MA) $300 for a public forum to Coalition for Olympic Justice (Atlanta, to print a publications catalog for soli examine and confront inroads made by GA) $100 toward an alternative press darity organizations. the religious right in surrounding towns. center at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Frente Indigena Oaxaqueno BiNacional Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Copwatch Police Accountability Project (Livingston, CA) $960 for a day-long Family Safety Center (Seattle, WA) (Berkeley, CA) $1,000 to purchase a la conference on domestic violence, AIDS $974 to hire a community organizer to ser printer, fax machine and camera to and alcoholism for members of the do education, outreach and advocacy in assist in the quarterly publication of Oaxacan Mixteco community living in the Filipino, Korean and Pacific Is Copwatch Report. California. lander communities around issues of Empty the Shelters-Atlanta (Atlanta, GA) Grassroots Interconnect, Inc. (Pittsford, NY) domestic violence. $1,000 for a Spoi/Sport 's Guidebook to $100 for a quarterly newsletter which Bay Area Police Watch (San Francisco, Atlanta regarding the effect of the Olym shares resources and grassroots move CA) $1,000 for general support for ac pics on low-income people. ment-building ideas among the U.S./Latin tivists and community groups confront Empty the Shelters-Philadelphia (Philadel America solidarity community. ing the root causes of police violence. phia, PA) $1,000 for the SummerofSo- Page 6 RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997 cial Action campaign. version (Uncasville, CT) $500 toward $1,000 to help produce a newsletter and Eviction Free Zone (Cambridge, MA) costs for a brochure and staff time for a to purchase a fax machine to aid in or $200 for an emergency grant to research project examining economic conversion ganizing around issues of reclaiming and educate around the issue of expir in southeastern Connecticut. control from corporations. ing-use buildings in Cambridge. Dorchester Women's Committee (Dor Survivor's, Inc. (West Roxbury, MA) $300 Immigration Workers' Human Rights chester, MA) $1,000 for printing and dis to organize low-income students on col Project (Boston, MA) $800 for a day tribution costs of "Truth Sheets" and a lege campuses around issues of welfare long conference bringing together na newsletter for the Economic Literacy reform and to make higher education tional and local immigrant rights work and Political Education Campaign. accessible to low-income students. ers and organizers to plan Boston-based Fight Back! (Burlington, VT) $1,000 to pur Thread City Currency Committee (Willimantic, organizing around human rights abuses. chase a computer for use in welfare re CT) $500 toward start up funding for Thomas Merton Center (Pittsburgh, PA) form organizing and skill-building for an alternative currency project entitled $1,000 to purchase a computer for a low-income people. "Thread City Bread." monthly newsletter, Internet access, and general office use. Missouri Progressive Vote (St. Louis, MO) $860 to purchase a computer to track information related to right-wing groups in Missouri. North Carolina Farmworkers' Project (Benson, NC) $1,000 to purchase a la ser printer and copier to support group organizing and training of farmworkers. Parents Committee of the New London County Multicultural Coalition (New London, CT) $250 to print an informa tional handbook on steps parents can take if their child encounters racial or ethnic discrimination at school. Political Asylum Project of Austin (Aus tin, TX) $750 for the production and publication of two brochures for out reach to low-income refugees in central Texas. Recovery Initiative (Cincinnati, OH) $200 emergency grant fort-shirts which say Activists from Californians for Justice demand that the manager of Beverly Hills Home Savings and Loan oppose the anti-affirmative action California Civil Rights Initiative. Photo by Scott Braley "I am a consumer" worn at a meeting of the Mental Health Advisory Board. Somerville Tenants for Responsive & Open Just Economics (Albany, CA) $974 to pur Welfare Education and Training Access Government (STRONG) (Somerville, chase Internet access and a laser printer Coalition (Medford, MA) $1,000 for a MA) $420 for an organizing campaign to improve outreach and internal com campaign to maintain and increase ac on issues related to affordable housing munications focusing on grassroots cess of AFDC recipients to higher edu which will bring together public and economic literacy projects. cation. non-public housing tenants. Justice for All (Ithaca, NY) $650 to bring Women's Statewide Legislative Network Washington Peace Center (Washington, together local youth and veterans of (Boston, MA) $960 for an oral history DC) $974 to purchase a laser printer to earlier movements around economic jus project documenting the human impact publish the Washington Peace Letter. tice issues during Justice Summer. of changes in the state's welfare laws. Kensington Welfare Rights Union (Phila Economic Justice delphia, PA) $1,000 for a Tent City to be Environmental Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central erected in north Philadelphia, including Citizens Awareness Network (Shelburne America (Raleigh, NC) $630 for the Pil outreach and organizing projects around Falls, MA) $1,000 to purchase a com grimage for Peace and Justice a march the issues of housing and poverty. puter to support organizing efforts focusing on economic justice in Haiti, Minnesota Jobs with Peace (Minneapolis, around health hazards affiliated with Central America and North Carolina. MN) $1,000 to support efforts at eco nuclear waste. Community Currency Project of Central nomic conversion and environmental Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Vermont (Montpelier, VT) $710 to de cleanup of military facilities. Dumping (Albuquerque, NM) $1,000 velop and print a community currency. Program on Corporations, Law and Democ to fund a conference on the use of civil Community Coalition for Economic Con- racy-Maine Chapter (North Berwick, ME) continued on page eight Vol.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page 7 continued from page seven cling plant which poses a health threat OR) $97 4 for The Education/Media resistance tactics in response to in to the residential neighborhood. Project which publishes a newsletter, creased health and safety threats from Political Ecology Group (San Francisco, holds forums, has a Speaker's Bureau the nuclear industry in New Mexico. CA) $1,000 for the Immigration and and distributes civil rights and social Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger Environment Campaign to build coali justice information. (Merrimac, WI) $960 for outreach mate- tions to ban acute toxic methyl bromide. PFLAG-Toledo (Toledo, OH) $300 for Project Free Your Mind, an anti-ho mophobia outreach campaign in Ohio high schools and middle schools. PREP Education Fund, Inc. (St. Louis, MO) $900 to upgrade computer equip ment for a campaign to combat ho mophobia and protect privacy rights around issues such as reproductive choice, shared housing, drug testing and HIV testing. Health/AIDS/Disability ADAPT of Texas (Austin, TX) $960 for literature and sign language interpret ers for national ADAPT demonstration in Houston in support of home/commu nity-based attendant services. Boston Mobilization for Survival (Cam bridge, MA) $974 for a "T-Card" project on the local public transporta tion trains in order to generate support for a sing.le-payer health care system. Champaign County Health Care Consum Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribe take time to celebrate on their way to meet with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in California. Photo courtesy of Save Ward Valley ers (Champaign, IL) $912 for a voter education campaign involving consum rials highlighting public health and en Save Ward Valley (Needles, CA) $1,000 to ers in a referendum to implement a vironmental problems caused by the enable local tribal members and towns county-wide public health department. pollution at the Badger Army Ammuni people to meet with the U.S. Bureau of Coalition of Montanans Concerned with tion Plant. Land Management concerning the pro Disabilities (Missoula, MT) $1,000 to Citizens' Resistance at Fermi 2 (CRAFT) posed Ward Valley Low Level Nuclear support a training and strategy session (Monroe, MI) $300 to organize around Waste Dump. to empower disabled activists and their issues related to the 30-year anniversary Student Environmental Action Coalition allies to organize around disability and of the meltdown of the Enrico Fermi (Chapel Hill, NC) $200 emergency access issues. breeder reactor and the need to abolish grant for the costs of a consultant to do National Organization for Women-Massa the use of nuclear reactors. a mediation around issues of race and chusetts (Boston, MA) $1,000 to print Cove Mallard Coalition (Moscow, ID) class. $974 to support a permanent encamp Women's Voices for the Earth (Missoula, ment of activists near the timber sales MT) $1,000 to educate workers and in Idaho, including demonstrations and their families about health dangers from DONATING STOCK non-violent civil disobedience. dioxins and to counteract the "jobs ver RESIST accepts donations Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice sus the environment" myths. of stock. When you donate (Gainesville, FL) $1,000 to produce and appreciated stock to RESIST mail a leaflet for "Walk for the Earth," Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual you avoid paying the capital exposing environmental racism in Clergy and Laity Concerned (Eugene, OR) gains tax, and since we' re tax Florida. $1,000 for printing and postage costs Native Forest Network Eastern North affiliated with the Youth for Justice exempt, we don't pay it either. American (Burlington, VT) $1,000 for anti-homophobia campaign targeted to You could call it a win-win a campaign to ban aerial herbicide wards public schools. situation. spraying of Vermont's forests. Ground Zero (Colorado Springs, CO) Call us ifyou want more People Organizing in Defense of Earth and $1,000 to purchase MAC TRAC soft information about donating her Resources (PODER) (Austin, TX) ware to enhance its fundraising ability. stock: 617/623-5110. $800 for a campaign to relocate a recy- Lesbian Community Project (Portland, Page 8 RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997 leaflets for a rally commemorating vic U.S./Guatemala Labor Education Project Middle East tims of shootings at local abortion clinics (US/GLEP) (Chicago, IL) $1,000 for con Boston Committee on the Middle East and a call to action to end clinic violence. tinued assistance to STITCH which de (Cambridge, MA) $960 for setting up a Texas Alliance for Human Needs (Austin, velops relationships between women Web page to disseminate ideas about TX) $960 to provide a stipend for in workers and women's rights advocates the current peace process that are un terns in the Minority Health Internship in North America and Guatemala. available in mainstream media. Program. Women's Cancer Resource Center (Min neapolis, MN) $1,000 for a sign lan guage interpreter and promotional ma The four-day action was a huge success . . terials for a conference entitled Turn RESIST funds were invaluable. Your ing Tides, Creating a Cancer Free En vironment NOW. support enabled us to do things we would Labor have been too strapped to do. Coalition on New Office Technology (ADAPT of Texas, Austin, TX) (Somerville, MA) $1,000 for a member ship drive and fund raising campaign to help stabilize the organization. Committee for Labor Access (Chicago, IL) Media/Culture Middle East Coalition (Northampton, MA) $1,000 to purchase a video camera to Arroyo Arts Collective (Highland Park, CA) $960 for publicity, phone and mailing aid in producing the weekly cable tele $480 to produce a special issue of the costs in conjunction with a week-long vision access show Labor Beat. Arroyo Arts Collective newsletter in series of events entitled Palestinian & Common Threads (Venice, CA) $1,000 for conjunction with the exhibit Without Israeli Women's Activism: struggle/or start-up costs for an educational news Alarm: Issues of Public and Private health and human rights. letter about abuses in the garment in Security. U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu dustry, a slide projector and a second Borderviews 2000/Southwest Research (Madison, WI) $880 for printing and copy of the slide show "A Look at the and Information Center (Albuquerque, postage costs for a special report from Los Angeles Garment Industry." NM) $650 to distribute a five-part ra an international delegation to Israel seek East Bay Taxi Drivers' Association (Ber dio series on human rights violations in ing the release of political prisoner keley, CA) $300 for a labor organizing the Mexican state of Guerrero. Mordechai Vanunu. project designed to break the monopoly Civic Media Center and Library of the Friendly Cab Company in Oak (Gainesville FL) $895 to purchase a Native American land and start a taxi drivers' union. used copier to promote CMC events and ANPO, Native American Cultural Organi Immigrant Workers Resource Center (Bos for library users to copy information not zation and Encampment (Portland, OR) ton, MA) $1,000 to support an Interna available in the mainstream press. $1,000 for campaign costs to renew and tional Labor Day rally and celebration National Radio Project(Portola Valley, CA) preserve the culture of Indigenous linking union and immigrant groups. $1,000 for computer equipment and a sti peoples and to oppose the development Labor Art and Mural Project (New pend for an outreach coordinator to in of logging roads which destroy ceremo Brunswick, NJ) $960 to produce a bro crease their progressive media distribu nial grounds. chure publicizing the Cross Border Mu tion for radio show "Making Contact." American Indian Movement (AIM)-Cleve ral Project-a collaboration focusing on Northwest Alliance for Alternative Media land (Cleveland, OH) $1,000 to rent a labor and working class struggles in and Education (Portland, OR) $1,000 billboard near Jacob's Field to raise con Mexico and the U.S. for general support for the monthly pub sciousness about the rampant use of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice (Cam lication Portland Alliance. · indigenous people as marketable ob bridge, MA) $300 toward start-up costs Pine Tree Folk School (Carmel, ME) $100 jects, particularly by the Cleveland In for a Rapid Action Network and "I'll toward five performances of the dians and their mascot Chief Wahoo. Be There" pledge cards to enable ac People's Theater Project. Florida Indian Alliance, Inc. (St. Petersburg, tivists to respond to labor struggles. Seattle Public Theater (Seattle, WA) FL) $300 to help purchase a computer, Montana Community-Labor Alliance $1,000 to help create a 45-minut~ play printer and fax machine which were de (Missoula, MT) $1,000 to support ex about people, power and participation stroyed in an electical storm. pansion of staff to enable effective or entitled The Jane Show. Friends of Nitassinan (Burlington, VT) ganization between labor and grassroots Sinister Wisdom, Inc. (Berkeley, CA) $960 $1,000 for the "Nitassinan News" which community groups. to purchase a laser printer which will informs the international community Urban Justice Center Organizing Project ensure materials are camera-ready for about the struggles of the Innu people. (New York, NY) $1,000 to print but the publication Sinister Wisdom, a les Honor Our Neighbors' Origins and Rights, tons as part of an organizing campaign bian literary and activist journal. Inc. (HONOR) (Milwaukee, WI) $974 to entitled "WEP Workers Together." continued on page ten Vo/.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page 9 continued from page nine tains articles about social justice issues, boycott to bring attention to prisoners' organize opposition to county efforts action alerts and a calendar of events. families who are overcharged by the to abolish treaties giving Indian tribes Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission Michigan Department of Corrections for sovereignty and jurisdiction over land. (Colorado Springs, CO) $1,000 to pur collect telephone ca_lls. Indigenous Resistance Against Tribal Ex chase a computer to aid publication of Books Through Bars (Philadelphia, PA ) tinction (IRA TE) (Old Town, ME) $974 "Active for Justice" which looks at anti $300 for anti-death penalty organizing. to purchase computer equipment to en military organizing and other related California Prison Focus (San Francisco, able an Indian resistance movement or peace/social justice issues. CA) $921 to print and mail their first ganization to recruit new members and S.O.A. Watch (Columbus, GA) $1,000 for a newsletter California Prison Express generate income by producing bro two-day strategy meeting in Washing concentrating on Security Housing chures, t-shirts and buttons. ton, DC, and a nonviolent action to mo Units in Cali-fornia's prisons. Mattaponi Heritage bilize grassroots supporters nation-wide Let's Start (St. Louis, MO) $300 for print Foundation (West ing and copying Point, VA) $500 to costs to support ward general ex advocacy efforts penses of a cam around issues of paign to stop the alternative sen King County reser tencing for women. voir project which Nebraskans would flood over Against the Death 2,000 acres that Penalty (Lincoln, contain more than NE) $1,000 to pur 140 significant Na chase a computer, tive American ar set up a home page cheological sites. on death penalty Micmac Release, Inc. abolition in Ne (Presque Isle, ME) braska, and pro $1,000 to fund four duce a newsletter issues of Micmac and other materi Release. lnexport workers, supported by STITCH and U.S./GLEP, closed their factory in Guatemala City als. after a successful union drive. Photo by Jennifer Hill Oregon Coalition Peace/Anti-Militarism to Abolish the Brandywine Peace Community (Swarth to oppose the School of the Americas. Death Penalty (Portland, OR) $300 for a more, PA) $300 to fund a series focus Women Against Military Madness (Min 4-day, 60 mile "March Against the ing on nonviolent direct actions at war neapolis, MN) $1,000 to print two issues Myth" against capital punishment. making industries in the Delaware Valley. of their newsletter. Prison Law Project/National Lawyers Guild Citizen Soldier (New York, NY) $300 toward (San Francisco, CA) $960 for one issue production and printing costs for a Q Prisoners of the Legal Journal which will focus and A brochure for active-duty Gis and #10 Collective (Plainfield, VT) $300 for a primarily on women jailhouse lawyers. Reservists explaining their rights under campaign to organize and educate Prisoners with AIDS - Rights Advocacy the Pentagon's mandatory DNA sample people about the status ofMumia Abu Group (PWA-RAG) (Jonesboro, GA) conscription program. Jamal, and issues involved in the crimi $1,000 for postage, copying and print Healing Global Wounds (Boulder Creek, nal justice system. ing to support a quarterly newsline CA) $960 for the annual Spring Gather Activists for Mumia Abu-Jamal (San Fran about care, treatment and prison reform ing at the nuclear test site in Nevada. cisco, CA) $1,000 to fund a Volunteer issues to prisoners who are HIV-posi Nevada Desert Experience (Las Vegas, NV) Mobilization Campaign which will get tive or have AIDS. $950 to purchase a printer and software new members involved with the group Rocky Mountain Peace Center (Boulder, to support organizing efforts to ~an and a House Meeting Campaign. CO) $600 for printing and postage for nuclear testing and support negotia Alabama Committee to Abolish the Death handouts regarding prisoners rights on tions for global disarmament. Penalty (Birmingham, AL) $850 to fund issues related to control unit prisons. Nukewatch (Madison, WI) $1,000 for Shad a newsletter on developments in death TX CURE (Austin, TX) $1,000 to expand ows on the Rock Peace Camp, a resis penalty cases which includes action outreach efforts in west and south Texas tance encampment at the Navy's Project alerts on pending cases, legislation and against future prison building expansion ELF in northern Wisconsin. executions. and economic justice issues. Peace and Justice Action League of Spo American Friends Service Committee-Crimi Western Massachusetts Prison Issues kane (Spokane, WA) $300 for printing a nal Justice Program (Ann Arbor, MI) Group (North Amherst, MA) $974 for newsletter Handful ofSalt, which con- $974 to organize demonstrations and a printing and mailing costs of Prison Page JO RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997 Connections: A Newsletter of Prison Network and for the costs of a Rally · · radical youth. Activism in New England which looks Against Racism in October. People Organizing to Demand Environ at criminal "justice" issues and anti Community Action International Alliance mental Rights (PO DER) (San Francisco, death penalty projects. (Washington DC) $960 to purchase a CA) $1,000 to train teens in planning, copier to increase the effectiveness of organizing and implementing campaigns Women the Youth Catalyst Project in local high to advocate for positive solutions to Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massa schools. problems facing inner city youth of chusetts (Hadley, MA) color. $900 for registration fees for three representatives to at Technical Assistance/ tend the National Network Training Grants of Abortion Funds confer The following groups re ence to learn media, ceived grants to attend the fundraising and organizing Organizational Development skills. Workshop sponsored by the Network for Battered Lesbi Peace Development Fund: ans (Boston, MA) $300 to purchase computer soft Boston Mobilization for Sur ware to effectively publish vival (Cambridge, MA) $88. their semiannual newslet Concord Feminist Health ter Network News/ Center (Concord, NH) $176. Noticias de la Red. Dyke March (Jamaica Plain, Women United for Justice, MA)$176. Community and Family Eviction Free Zone (Cam (Boulder, CO) $500 for an Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger protest nuclear arms at an army bridge, MA) $176. art installation entitled munitions plant. Photo by Laura Olah Massachusetts Jobs With "The Faces of Poverty: Justice (Cambridge, MA) Poor Women and Their Families in Boul DC Student Coalition Against Racism (DC $176. der County" to be displayed at the Boul SCAR) (Washington, DC) $1,000 for the Survivor's, Inc. (West Roxbury, MA) $176. der Public Library. Organizing Internship Program which Women's Alliance (Framingham, MA) organizes college and high school stu Loans $1,000 to purchase used computers to dents to struggle against racism on a dollars & Sense (Somerville, MA) $1,000 support a Leadership Development Pro local and international level. to cover a shortfall from publishing four gram and newsletter for an organizing Houston Committee for Youth and Non books during the spring of 1996. project to empower low-income women. military Opportunities (Bellaire, TX) Underground Railway Theater (Arlington, Women's Committee of One Hundred $1,000 to support the continuation of a MA) $1,000 to enable URT to pay staff (Washington, DC) $1,000 for printing, counter-recruitment project in the Hous salaries while waiting for payment of postage and telephone costs affiliated ton Independent School District includ previous performances. with the National Teach-In Support ing display racks of literature, posters, Project on Women, Welfare, and Work. and tabling. Donor-Directed Grants Women's Institute for Leadership Devel Justice Education and Action Project (Oak National War Tax Resistance Coordinating opment (WILD) (Jamaica Plain, MA) land, CA) $1,000 for research staff sala Committee (Monroe, ME) $3,348.75 $1,000 for translators to create a fully ries to develop Action Education Cur for general expenses. bilingual Summer Institute which devel riculum to organize around juvenile jus ops leadership and organizing skills for tice issues. women in the labor movement. Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc. (Bay Shore, NY) $960 to train 5 youth RESIST 1996 Totals Youth organizers to conduct educational work Bill of Rights Education Project/Project HIP shops and outreach on creating social Number of Grants HOP (Boston, MA) $1,000 for a "rolling change and a better/safer environment and Loans ...... 150 classroom" which takes high school stu for Long Island's gay, lesbian, bisexual RESIST Grants: ... $115,659.00 dents to visit memorial sites of the Civil and transgender youth and young Donor-Directed Rights Movement and to meet with adults. Grants (NWTRCC) $3,348.75 movement members and local students New York Committees of Correspondence Total Grants ...... $119,007.75 involved in social change activities. (New York, NY) $1,000 to support a se Loans: ...... $2,000.00 Campus Action (Albany, NY) $1,000 to help ries of youth organizing workshops and Grants & Loans: .. $121,007.75 build and strengthen a Students of Color the Carry On Cafe, a coffee house for Vo/.6 #2 RESIST Newsletter Page I I Still Funding After All These Years Grant Distribution How to Apply for a RESIST Grant in 1996 by Issue Area* D ESIST is not a "typical" foundation. RESIST Grants: Our primary funding 1-'.At the core, we remain a political or occurs within our regular funding cycle. # (%) ganization, committed to being part of a Although our maximum grant is $1,000, Community Organizing! 20 (13.3) movement for social change. We fund the average award is closer to $700. RE Anti-Racism groups that reflect that political commit SIST funds eight cycles each year (about Central/Latin America 16 (10.7) ment and play a role within the boarder every six weeks); a group can receive only & the Caribbean movement for justice. one RESIST grant in a 12-month period. Economic Justice 15 (10.0) With eight funding cycles each year, Emergency Grants: RESIST also offers Prisoners 14 (9.3) RESIST can respond quickly to the press Emergency Grants of up to $200 on an "as Environment 12 (8.0) ing needs of grassroots groups and sup needed" basis. These funds are designated Labor 10 (6.7) port timely organizing projects. to help groups respond quickly to unex Media/Culture 9 (6.0) pected organizing needs, such as a rally or Peace/Anti-militarism 9 (6.0) Funding Priorities and Grant Types demonstration arising from a political crisis. Youth 9 (6.0) RESIST concentrates on supporting ac These grants are not intended to provide a Native American 8 (5.3) tivist projects and organizations that fall . safety net for groups that did not plan ad Health/AIDS/Disability 7 (4.7) outside of more "mainstream" funding equately for their financial needs or those Training Grants3 6 (4.0) sources. As a result, RESIST' s funding pri who missed the regular funding deadline. Women 6 (4.0) orities include: groups with an annual bud Accessibility Grants: RESIST actively Gay/Lesbian/ 5 (3.3) get approximately $100,000 or less; seeks to fund the additional costs of Bisexual groups that might be considered too radi projects or events which will make them Middle East 3 (2.0) cal to receive funding elsewhere; and accessible to people with disabilities, such Africa/Asia/International (0.7) projects that take action, not just dissemi as sign language interpreters or wheelchair nate infonnation or perfonn social services. accessible venues. The events themselves * NOTE: These arbitrary divisions RESIST does not fund social services; must fit within RESIST's funding priori do not accurately portray the inter the production of films, videos or radio ties. A group can receive more than one connectedness of many issues. Gen projects; material aid campaigns; legal Accessibility Grant in a 12-month period. erally speaking, grants are organized defense; projects outside the U.S.; travel; For more infonnation, proposal dead according to the project or campaign sectarian organizations; or individuals. lines, or to request grant guidelines and an rather than the sponsoring group it RESIST offers three types of grants, all application, contact RESIST, One Summer self. For example, an environmental of which must fall within the funding pri Street, Somerville, MA 02143, or e-mail project sponsored by a labor group orities outlined above. to [email protected]. would be listed as "Environment" ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• rather than "Labor." • • a NOTE: Groups of various catego : Join the RESIST Pledge Program : ries received grants to attend orga • • nizational planning workshops. • We'd like you to consider Yes! I'll become a • • • • becoming a RESIST Pledge. RESIST Pledge. • by Geographic Region • • Pledges account for over I'll send you my pledge of $__ • 30% of our income. every month/two months/ • Northeast 46 (30. 7) quarter/six months (circle one). • By becoming a pledge, you help (CT, MA, ME, NH, VT) guarantee RESIST a fixed and [ ] Enclosed is an initial pledge Mid-Atlantic 24 (16.0) dependable source of income on which contribution of$___ . (DC,DE,NY,PA) we can build our grant-making Midwest 23 (15.3) program. In return, we will send you a [ ] I can't join the pledge program (IA, IL, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI) monthly pledge letter and reminder now, but here's a contribution of West (CA) 18 (12.0) $___ to support your work. along with your newsletter. We will Northwest 18 (12.0) keep you up-to-date on the groups we Name ______have funded and the other work being (CO, ID, MT, OR, WA) Address done at RESIST. ------Southwest 9 (6.0) City/St ate/Zip ______(NM,NV, TX) So take the plunge and become a South 12 (8.0) RESIST Pledge! We count on you, and Phone ______the groups we fund count on us. (AL, FL, GA, NC, VA) TOTAL 150 (100) RESIST • One Summer Street• Somerville, MA 02143 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 12 RESIST Newsletter February/March 1997