It's Time to Take Action. Conversations Are Not Enough.
It's Time to Take Action. Conversations Are Not Enough.
Like you, Woods Fund Chicago is outraged by the continued brutality of the Chicago Police Department and the killing of Black men, women, and children. We are simultaneously holding grief and outrage for George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Dion Johnson, Ahmaud Arbery, and the thousands of Black people killed by police. And we are exhausted by the hollow words that so many in our city have expressed during this inflection point in our country’s trajectory.
We won’t go into the history of systemic and institutional racism. We are all well aware of it, whatever our race. Those of us in positions of power must now ask: what is our political will to create change? These issues have always been there, but let’s be honest — as a city, we have not escalated our political will to make the changes needed to undo these systems of racism. As inboxes are being flooded with statements of support, let us insist: statements are not enough. It is time to take action. Woods Fund grantees have worked tirelessly towards a racially just Chicago. A Chicago in which all of her residents are treated with respect and dignity. A Chicago for all of us. Will we join them in this fight? And as our friends at the Neighborhood Funders Group have asked — can we commit to breaking all of the philanthropic rules to defend Black lives?
At this critical moment, Woods Fund Chicago vows:
To continue supporting grassroots organizing and advocacy for racially equitable policies. Community organizing is a vital service that must be funded equitably and comparably in the nonprofit sector.
To continue to share our power and privilege to amplify the demands of our community leaders, and the voices & ideas of leaders of color.
To encourage and invite our philanthropic colleagues to collectively invest more funding, and higher funding amounts, in Black communities and in Black-led organizations.
To analyze our grantmaking on a rolling basis to ensure that we are adhering to the tenets of racial justice.
To use our influence to advocate for public investments sought by those who face systemic racism every day, so that essential services and institutions that have been eradicated over the years can be reinstated, empowering communities of color to build their resiliency.
To raise our voices and join those demanding to defund the Chicago Police Department.
If you are looking for a way to contribute and to support activities that are occurring on the ground, consider supporting the following grantees of Woods Fund Chicago:
Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation — Supports direct action initiatives and is increasing their mutual aid support of far Southside communities;
Action Now Institute — Supports protests and provides organizing support to individuals on the ground, as well as cleanup efforts on the West Side of Chicago;
Equity And Transformation — Organizes against the targeted anti-Black violence that emerged after weekend protests against police brutality, coordinates protests, and directs action aimed at achieving justice for George Floyd and the release of unjustly arrested activists like Malcolm London. [ASG8] They are also leading a campaign for reparations;
Community Renewal Society — Facilitates healing and prayer circles;
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization — Fosters solidarity between Black and Brown communities on the Southwest side of the city;
The Chicago Community Bond Fund — Provides bail for protestors arrested and detained in Cook County Jail;
Organized Communities Against Deportations — Focuses attention on protestors being arrested, detained, and denied legal services; supporting direct action initiatives.
Now is the time to act. Today, we call on our colleagues in philanthropy. If we are to dismantle unjust systems, we must ensure that our collective grantmaking reflects our intent. If we purport to support racial equity, our allocation of resources must reflect this commitment.
To Chicago’s organizing community, Woods Fund Chicago is with you every step of the way.
In solidarity,
Michelle Morales
President
Woods Fund Chicago
Photo by Sarah-Ji