When communities have agency, they are more likely to resist injustice and create lasting environmental change. Working from that assumption, we are supporting communities in cultivating agency, often through civic engagement, volunteerism, and by supporting emerging leaders in networked initiatives.
Thousands of grassroots initiatives across New England are leading transformational efforts in their communities every day. Utilizing volunteer power and very little funding, they are identifying needs, experimenting with solutions, learning lessons, and accomplishing their objectives. They are finding each other – across issue areas or across community lines - and sharing notes. Together we can make these continued successes possible; we hope you will join us as a donor before 2018 draws to a close.
The end of the year is a great time to look both back and forward, to both ask for support and to celebrate those who have already given. It’s not too late to produce some end of year activities related for your group! First, decide on your goal. Are you trying to ask for donations from those who already know about you? Encourage new donors and/or volunteers to join you?
Participants at both events shared that they appreciated the informal networking time with like-minded community members. Others were glad to have had the space for for new and critical thinking about where we are and where we can be headed. Many said they left the event with new collaborative ideas, and new resources and energy to grow their current projects or bring new ones to life. The critical feedback included
Tess Beem joined us as the Events and Seed Grants Program Manager this past summer. We caught up with her recently to learn more about her, her role at Grassroots Fund, and to hear plans for the upcoming RootSkills Conference.
