Headwaters - Foundation For Justice

Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 4, 2007. After an extensive evaluation process the Headwaters Foundation for Justice board of directors came to a unanimous decision to bring the foundation’s 12-year-old Walk for Justice to an end.

The Walk was the largest grassroots gathering in the state, providing a mechanism for social justice groups to raise money and visibility, while creating a unique opportunity for the progressive community to come together and celebrate their work.

Changing times, new resources and opportunities have placed Headwaters in a unique position to support the social justice movement in more strategic and innovative ways. “So like many great programs that had served their purpose, this one too had to end,” said board member Brandon Lacy Campos. “Putting on a special event is expensive and the resources raised have not kept pace with the costs. As an organization we felt our resources could be best utilized by helping groups learn and use new techniques to raise money in more cost effective ways.”

Rick Cardenas, co-executive director of Advocating Change Together, a grassroots disability rights organization, said that his group had participated in the Walk since its beginning back in 1996—“never missing a single year.” Cardenas said he values Headwaters work as a community based foundation committed to supporting small grassroots groups like his. “We plan to continue our relationship with Headwaters through their other community building initiatives, but we are sad to see it (the Walk) go,” he added.

“Some groups have participated in every Walk—raising it a dollar at a time,” said Monica Bryand, Headwaters program officer, “while others used it for a year or two as a spring board for launching their own fundraising effort.” Bryand said Headwaters is working with social change groups to take advantage of the new tools available for fundraising and for increasing their organization’s visibility. “We will continue to bring the community together in a variety of new ways,” she said.