Grantees: Fall 2000 Organizing Technology Grants

Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Anchorage, Alaska, $9,000
ACAT works to protect human health and the natural environment in communities across Alaska.. ACAT collaborates with affected communities to protect people's rights under right-to-know and other laws that safeguard health and the environment. ACAT will train staff to maintain their website and continue to employ GIS mapping software for research and analysis. Digital video equipment will enhance ACAT's education efforts and issue campaigns.

Californians for Justice Education Fund, Oakland, California, $8,000
CFJ is a statewide, grassroots organization working to build power in communities that have been pushed to the margins of the political process. PTP's award allowed CFJ-EF to launch an "intranet-extranet" network that combines 1) an in-house server with full access to a centralized database and file-sharing; and 2) a wider web-based network that will be accessed by activists and organizations statewide to work in coalition.

Centro Independiente de Trabajadores Agricolas, Florida, New York, $8,500
CITA is a migrant workers organization that works to reduce workplace discrimination and exploitation of New York's community of farm and immigrant workers. CITA's technology plan is to augment communication between staff, leaders, and members in the labor camps through the use of a centralized database, LAN network and cell phones.

Colonias Development Council, Las Cruces, New Mexico, $8,000
CDC works to improve the quality of life in the "colonias" communities of New Mexico by developing community organizations that promote participatory economic development. CDC used their grant to improve their communication efforts by strengthening their basic technology infrastructure and providing training to its members.

Colorado Progressive Coalition, Denver, Colorado, $7,500
CPC is a statewide, multi-racial, multi-issue network of groups and individuals organizing at the state and local level to build a broad base movement for racial and economic justice. PTP funding supports CPC's plan to conduct a strategic assessment process of their technological needs with an emphasis on base building and engaging citizens in the political process.

Drew Community Voters League, Drew, Mississippi,$8,000
The Voters League is committed to working with low-income students and parents to impact school local education policy and helping families obtain safe, affordable low-income housing in their community. The Voters League will use their funding to increase their technology based communication and evaluation efforts by creating a database to track actions taken against students. They will also utilize video, desktop publishing and graphic software and hardware to produce better public education materials.

East Bay Alliance For a Sustainable Economy, Oakland, California, $7,000
EBASE brings together labor, community and faith-based groups in San Francisco-East Bay area to build a movement to end low-wage poverty. EBASE is using projection technologies to enhance their ability to conduct economic education trainings with low-wage workers and make multi-media presentations to community groups, elected officials and public agencies.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Des Moines, Iowa, $8,000
ICCI is a statewide, multi-issue membership based organization working in urban and rural communities to empower citizens to address issues impacting residents in their communities. PTP funding is being used to enhance their technology capacity and communication in rural areas. CCI will expand their database, develop a website, and provide software and Internet training to staff and members.

People United for a Better Oakland, Oakland, California, $8,800
PUEBLO is a multi-ethnic, multi-issue community organization working to impact the institutions that affect their lives at the local, county, and regional level through political analysis, leadership development and youth organizing. PTP's grant was used to enhance PUEBLO's capacity to use GIS mapping to develop community-based research and policy.

Sisters in Action for Power, Portland, Oregon, $9,000
Sisters in Action works to organize and empower low-income girls of color to take leadership in their communities and develop community-driven campaigns that support economic, racial and gender equity. Funding from PTP enabled Sisters in Action to acquire equipment, technical assistance and training in using GIS mapping to promote transportation equity. In addition, the use of translation equipment has enhanced their outreach efforts to non-English speaking immigrants.

Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, Los Angeles, California, $8,500
SAJE is an economic justice and popular education center dedicated to increasing the economic rights of working class people and building community leadership. SAJE will train staff and members to use Geographic Information System mapping as a tool to conduct research in the Figuerroa Corridor to expand and target anti-gentrification efforts in response to the area's economic development plan.

United Senior Action Foundation, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, $8,219
USAF promotes the social welfare of seniors in Indiana by educating seniors about their rights and sharing information about public policy issues affecting their lives. USAF will use their award to enhance their communication and campaign efforts by training staff and members on effective uses of the Internet, hire a database consultant and purchase hardware and digital video equipment.

Western Regional Welfare Rights Activist Network, Missoula, Montana, $8,000
This network of 15 welfare rights groups from 11 states works to create a common policy agenda and response to welfare reform. Funding from PTP will assist WRWAN in its effort to advance computer-based communication across state lines through the use of a website, database and updated hardware.

Working Interfaith Network, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, $8,500
WIN organizes communities of faith to address common issues impacting the greater Baton Rouge area of Louisiana. PTP's grant will allow WIN to purchase multi-media equipment, presentation and desktop publishing software to capture and publicize the problems in their community.

Youth in Action, Providence, Rhode Island, $7,500
YIA is a youth run organization that works to develop youth leaders to take action in their community to promote social change. PTP's award will help YIA advance their organizing agenda by training youth organizers to use GIS mapping and the Internet to help inform their outreach, public education and campaign efforts around lead poisoning, tobacco and youth violence.