Current Grantees

180 Degrees, Inc.
236 Clifton Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55403-3466
612-813-5017
www.mnsecondchancecoalition.org
www.180degrees.org
The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition (SCC) is a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals (including ex-offenders, community, faith-based, and policy-focused organizations), advocating for fair and responsible laws, policies, and practices with regard to individuals who have committed crimes. The SCC will work on policy research, public education, lobbying, advocacy, and community organizing that enables individuals to redeem themselves, return to their communities and contribute to their full potential.

African & American Friendship Association for Cooperation and Development (AAFACD)
Midway Griggs Building
1821 University Ave. W S-328
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-645-5828
www.aafacd.org
African & American Friendship Association for Cooperation and Development (AAFCD), envisions social and economic justice for all immigrants. The Foreign Trained Healthcare Professionals (FTHPs) Advocacy Project focuses on multi-ethnic medical professionals facing barriers to practicing in the United States. The Project will increase involvement in community engagement, organizing and advocating for educational and employment system changes at the Legislature, and will encourage licensure boards and healthcare systems to accelerate changes that will remove barriers in licensure for FTHPs.

aMaze
PO Box 17417
Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-724-4323
www.amazeworks.org
aMaze focuses on traditionally marginalized populations including GLBT families. aMaze is working to change the public education system in order to make it safer and more accessible to all students. This grant will focus on expanding the Families All Matter Program for parents with pre-school children receiving anti-bias education. aMaze will create a general curriculum with additional materials and exercises for specific groups of traditionally marginalized families, such as teen parents, newer immigrants, low-income families, and parents who did not finish high school.

Asian Economic Development Association
712 University Ave. W, Suite 105
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-222-7798
www.aeda-mn.org
The Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) is a group of Southeast Asian small business owners. AEDA works to impact the institutions and structures that affect economic growth opportunities for the Southeast Asian community living and working along the Central Corridor.

Center for Earth Energy And Democracy, IATP
2105 First Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-3415
www.iatp.org/CEED
The Center for Earth Energy and Democracy (CEED) works to transform the current climate change debate by supporting the participation of low income communities, indigenous groups and communities of color in policy debates. Ultimately, CEED wants to see these communities 1) designing sustainability solutions that respect their own unique histories and self-identified goals and 2) contributing to the development of climate change policies that are environmentally sound and socially just.

Centro Campesino
216 North Oak Avenue
Owatonna, MN 55060
507-446-9599
www.centrocampesino.net
Centro Campesino's primary constituents are new Latino immigrant workers and their families that live and work in southern Minnesota. Centro Campesino will continue to organize, educate and empower Latino immigrants in rural Minnesota to assure their full social and civic adjustment in our communities. Centro will work to address failing and abusive immigration policies and organize their community to push for fair and just immigration reform.

Communities United Against Police Brutality
3100 16th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-874-7867
www.cuapb.org
Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) works to create a climate of resistance to abuse of authority and to empower people to confront and end police brutality. CUAPB provides support for survivors of police brutality and families of victims so they can reclaim their dignity and join the movement. CUAPB engages in political and legal actions to increase police accountability and change underlying conditions that allow police brutality, misconduct and abuse of authority to occur.

CrossingBarriers
450 Syndicate St N Ste 45
St. Paul, MN 55104-4127
651-603-5899
www.crossingbarriers.org
CrossingBarriers (CB) is a grassroots organization led by immigrant youth, student leaders, parents and community members. CrossingBarriers develops leaders that advocate, organize and bring about systemic change to improve schools and other related systems that continue to fail immigrant families. CB empowers participants and the community they represent to take on leadership and advocacy roles by articulating needs, influencing public policies, holding institutions accountable and training the next generation of immigrant leaders.

Dakota Wicohan
PO Box 2
Morton, MN 56270
320-564-9061
www.myspace.com/dakotawicohan
Dakota Wicohan works to preserve and revitalize the Dakota language and life ways. While rooted within the Dakota community, Dakota Wicohan works across tribal and political boundaries, working to address the crisis of a mere 9 fluent speakers remaining in the state. Their vision and philosophy is that language is linked to the regeneration of Dakota identity, health and community. Language will heal our inherent relationship with creation which is essential to the continuation of indigenous populations.

Environmental Justice Advocates of MN
2100 Plymouth Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612-436-5402
www.ejamn.org
Environmental Justice Advocates of MN (EJAM) will identify, train and work with new community-based leaders on the North side of Minneapolis to advocate and work for green jobs, toxin-free communities and local economic initiatives. EJAM will develop and implement a membership model that facilitates and complements grassroots work and base building.

Harrison Neighborhood Association
503 Irving Ave N Ste 100
Minneapolis, MN 55405
612-374-4849
www.hnampls.org
The Harrison Neighborhood Association (HNA) is located in North Minneapolis. HNA empowers residents to better control their lives and influence their surroundings by engaging physical examples of racism and classism. Residents work to reclaim polluted land for housing and green space development, and to encourage commercial and industrial businesses on sites that are environmentally appropriate. Lastly they work to increase awareness of structures and decision-making processes to influence public policy and hold private business accountable.

Indigenous Environmental Network
PO Box 485
Bemidji, MN 56619
218-751-4967
www.ienearth.org
The Indigenous Environmental Network (EIN) is a Native-based national environmental and economic justice network based in Bemidji MN working to strengthen grassroots efforts to bring about fundamental change. This specific grant will provide general operating support for a Minnesota based campaign which will result in new leaders who use indigenous science to solve local concerns of food security and sovereignty. The Ojibwe Seventh Generation Guardianship project combines native language revitalization with environmental conservation by engage the whole community in understanding the relationship and protecting local ecosystems that grow wild food and medicinal plants.

Indigenous People's Green Jobs Coalition
2104 Stevens Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-245-9946
www.greenjobsmn.org
The Indigenous People's Green Jobs Coalition was formed to ensure that indigenous people have a voice in the new green economy. The Indigenous People's Green Jobs Coalition will launch and sustain an effective state-wide movement that will result in the development of training programs, legislation, funding and awareness of the need to create healthy sustainable communities in this emerging green economy for Indigenous people.

ISAIAH
2720 E 22nd St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612 333 1260 x211
www.gamaliel.org/ISAIAH/
ISAIAH, a faith-based organization comprised of 90 congregations in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. ISAIAH equips leaders to exercise their faith in the public arena for systemic change by challenging structural and institutional racism. ISAIAH will build a multi-racial, multi-region team of grassroots leaders of faith to hold the Minneapolis School District and the West Metro Education Program accountable to achieving racially equitable outcomes for students of color. This campaign will transform the public debate from a conversation around integration to one focused on racial equity.

Jewish Community Action
2375 University Ave W Ste 150
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-632-2184
www.jewishcommunityaction.org
Jewish Community Action (JCA) in partnership with organizations led by communities of color and immigrant communities, is building avenues out of the predatory lending and foreclosures crisis. JCA will make personal contact with at-risk homeowners and renters in a dozen neighborhoods in north and south Minneapolis, referring people to foreclosure prevention counseling and expanding the coalition of community residents working with lenders on broader loan modifications and other solutions.

JUST Equity
c/o ASANDC
774 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-222-0399
http://www.aurorastanthony.org
Just Equity is an African American organization that implements culturally-centered organizing strategies to maximize community participation in development projects that affect them. The Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project presents an ample opportunity to work within the historic African American Rondo community to influence the outcome of large-scale transit development slated for the area. Just Equity's goal is to avoid or minimize the adverse impacts posed by the Central Corridor light rail project on the African American community.

Main Street Project
P.O. Box 80066
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-879-7578
www.mainstreetproject.org
The Main Street Project is a grassroots cultural organizing, media justice and economic development initiative working to help rural and urban communities fully participate in all aspects of community life. The Minnesota Digital Justice Coalition addresses the need for historically marginalized communities to build knowledge and power around digital communications and media, and then participate in current discussions around the need for universal broadband (Internet) access and education.

Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network of MN
1821 University Ave W Suite S-160
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-637-2800
www.mhcsn.org
Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network (MHCSN) is a membership-based organization of consumers/survivors of mental health services. While Minnesota is considered progressive in regard to mental health care, public health policy is still tempered by the underlying assumption that individuals with mental health issues are incapable of managing their lives and need others to determine treatment options. CSN works to ensure that the health care system is fair, equitable, and just for people diagnosed with mental health issues in Minnesota.

Native American Community Development Institute
1404 East Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-872-4700
www.nacdi.org
Native American Community Development Corporation (NACDI) is an American Indian community development organization created by and for American Indians. NACDI works to: develop and maintain effective human and social relationships; develop economic assets and vitality; and develop sustainable physical assets. NACDI is working to develop alignment and capacity-based strategies for social and economic change. As part of this work, NACDI will identify and train emerging leaders, community organizers, and residents to define the Indian 21st century.

Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP)
2525 E. Franklin Ave., Ste. 301
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-746-4224
www.oaproject.org
Organizing Apprenticeship Project's (OAP) education equity organizing collaborative includes partners in the American Indian, Somali, Latino and African-American communities. OAP brings groups together to develop tools and strategies to increase the impact of education equity organizing. The collaborative creates space to combine efforts, and create strategies and a united front for addressing systemic racism in schools. This grant supports OAP's convening role, expansion of collaborative partners, and continued work in Minneapolis to develop a collaborative racial justice schools strategy.

OutFront MN Community Services
310 E. 38th St Ste 204
Minneapolis, MN 55409
612-822-0127
www.outfront.org
OutFront MN works to increase organizing and advocacy for GLBT equity statewide. The laws in Minnesota prohibit same-sex couples from obtaining civil marriage and the over 500 legal protections afforded through marriage. OutFront is working to pass marriage equality legislation within the next three years by organizing an active statewide movement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality supporters.

People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP)
116 12th St S
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-236-5434
www.pepp.org
People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) based in Moorhead MN, will focus on bringing organizations together to train and develop leaders, strengthening those organizations and individuals involved with community issues in a way that will effectively impact local and regional system changes in the criminal justice system, affordable housing, employment, and education.

Somali Action Alliance
2525 East Franklin Ave Ste 301
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-455-2185
www.somaliactionalliance.org
Somali Action Alliance (SAA) will continue its work in the Whittier neighborhood. SAA has two primary goals: to build on their success of leadership and development of both Somali residents and businesses and to expand their work with Whittier stakeholders in an effort to more fully integrate and build the visibility and voice of the Somali community in that neighborhood.

TakeAction MN
1821 University Ave W Ste S-137
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-641-6199
www.takeactionminnesota.org
TakeAction Minnesota's Justice Reform campaign seeks to change the criminal justice system and increase opportunities for people with criminal records and their families. The organization's leadership table of those most affected by the justice system-- ex-offenders, their families, and members of communities of color-- will lead the process of targeting opportunities to make change, framing the issues and challenging dominant perceptions about people with criminal records.

Trans Youth Support Network
PO Box 7625
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-875-8164
www.transyouthsupportnetwork.org
The Transgender Youth Support Network (TYSN) empowers transgender youth through leadership support for social justice organizing and work to transform the systems and institutions they encounter. TYSN will build on existing work to make institutions and organizations transgender-accessible and supportive.

Twin Cities Community Voice Mail
1821 University Ave W Ste N-184
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-643-0883
www.tccvm.org
Twin Cities Community Voice Mail (TCCVM) is organizing a core group of voice mail users who are 50+ years of age, have very low or no incomes, and are homeless or near homeless. TCCVM will address issues related to difficulties with the Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income application and appeals processes, and work to ensure its constituents have a voice in the priorities of major Minnesota public initiatives addressing homelessness.

Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School
PO Box 860
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-8924
Waadookodaading Language Immersion Charter School delivers coursework in Ojibwe k-5th grade. Research shows that students in a language immersion experience have greater success in school and consistent measurable improvements of achievement on local and standardized tests. In the eight years since its inception, the school has created proficiency with dozens of children -a level that has not existed for two generations. The long-term goal is to preserve Ojibwe as an active language and to continue to revitalize the Anishinaabe language used by tribal people.

Welfare Rights Committee
PO Box 7266
3104 16th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-822-8020
http://welfarerightsmn.wordpress.com
Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) is composed of and led by volunteer, multiracial, low-income women advocating for themselves and their communities. Working at the grassroots level, WRC aims to create a visible presence of low income families where welfare legislation is made, ensure that resources are distributed to them equitably, and reclaim the perception of welfare as fundamental to economic justice.

West Side Citizens Organization
127 Winifred St W
St. Paul, MN 55107
651-293-1708
www.wsco.org
The West Side Citizens Organization (WSCO) will continue its research into the underlying environmental realities in their neighborhood. WCSO will build its base of leaders, empowering communities of color, and low-income communities to increase community participation in the decisions that are being made on the West Side of St. Paul. In the end, WSCO will start to focus on a community plan with a vision for a healthy sustainable West Side.

Women's Network of the Red River Valley
116 12 Street S.
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-233-2737
www.wnrrv.org
The Women's Network of the Red River Valley (WNRRV), based in Moorhead, MN will focus its work in three phases: (1) Re-Framing Women's Reproductive Health, (2) Choice Women in Movement Building, and (3) Full Participation in Policy Making. This work will also lay the groundwork for future presentations and research that will lead to the improvement and preservation of women's reproductive healthcare and rights.

Workers Interfaith Network
C/O Bethany Lutheran Church
2511 E Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-332-0663
www.workersinterfaith.org
The Interfaith Center for Worker Justice (ICWJ) of the Workers Interfaith Network will continue its organizing efforts against wage theft through the "Clean up the Cleaning Industry" Campaign. Over the past two and a half years, ICWJ has partnered with hundreds of low-wage workers to secure over $450,000 in unpaid wages from employers in different industries. In 2010 ICWJ will deepen this work by organizing a proactive campaign with retail cleaning workers that gets to the roots of worker exploitation and wage theft in retail cleaning.