Pioneer Valley Community Advised Fund 2023 Published on May 19, 2023
PEACE DEVELOPMENT FUND AWARDS $10,000 TO VALLEY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
AMHERST, MA – The Peace Development Fund (PDF) announced grant awards through their Pioneer Valley Community Advised Fund (PVCAF) to three social justice organizations in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties. Each organization received $3,333 for a total of $10,000 this spring. The grant award decisions are made through a participatory process that includes community members, students, and donors, which builds the expertise of local leaders and draws upon their community experience.
2023 PVCAF grant awardees include: Decarcerate Western Mass Bailout Project, Nolumbeka Project (based in Greenfield), and the Trans Asylum Support Network (based in Greenfield). Both Decarcerate and Trans Asylum Support Network received funds last year, continuing PDF’s efforts to build equity by funding organizations over multiple years.
“TASSN is a collective helping to get trans asylum seekers out of ICE detention and help build thriving lives. Thanks to the grant from PDF, our work will become that much more sustainable and allow our project to continue into the future,” commented Rebecca Abrams of TASSN.
The Pioneer Valley Community Advised Fund supports local organizing efforts challenging injustice, building power, and creating new community structures anchored in social justice. These annual grants are made possible by the generous support of individual contributors. Grant awards are made through a participatory grant process. This year’s grant committee includes Thulani Davis, CD Lefebvre , Luz Lopez, Berlyann Rivera, and Francia Wisnewski.
“I had the incredible opportunity to interview leaders from several grant applicants. These organizations are doing incredible work in their communities and I hope receiving grants supports them in sustaining their work,” shared PVCAF Committee member Berlyann Rivera.
The Peace Development Fund’s mission is to build the capacity of community-based organizations through grants, training, and other resources as partners in human rights and social justice movements.
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