When Hawai‘i People’s Fund began in 1972, its mission was to help island residents understand the root causes of injustice and empower people to unite for change. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Kapa‘a Public Library meeting
When Hawai‘i People’s Fund began in 1972, its mission was to help island residents understand the root causes of injustice and empower people to unite for change.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Kapa‘a Public Library meeting room, the organization will host a workshop on how to apply for a Hawai‘i People’s Fund grant. The two-hour workshop will help potential grantees understand what makes a successful application.
Hawai‘i People’s Fund is a partnership of progressive activists and donors who share a vision of justice. According to Program Coordinator Richard Rodrigues, Hawai‘i People’s Fund gives grant money to support work that challenges institutions and attitudes that feed economic, social, racial and gender inequalities.
The organization has funded programs such as Truth-2-Youth on the Big Island, which offers a counter perspective to students who are hearing from military recruiters at school.
Last fall the foundation didn’t receive any successful proposals from Kaua‘i.
“That’s why we’re coming to Kaua‘i,” Rodrigues said. “We like to engage people and find out what are the things going on in their community.”
“Community organizers connect the dots for people,” he continued.
But it wasn’t that long ago when the vast population didn’t even define abuse as an injustice to women.
“Only a few decades ago we didn’t have shelters for battered women. Now safe houses are commonplace,” he said. “For a movement to start, you have to shed light on the injustice.”
The foundation recently gave out grant awards totaling $49,000 to 10 different community-based social justice projects in the islands.
“We’re proud of our organization’s tagline, ‘change, not charity,’” Rodrigues added.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Hawai‘i People’s Fund to talk about their ideas before putting their proposals in writing.
“People don’t understand the terms. We’ll deconstruct social change and social justice for them,” he said.
The questions on Rodrigues’ mind are, “how to engage people in direct action and how to help them understand the root causes of injustice.”
North Shore nonprofit Hawai‘i Ocean Film Festival is an example of one Kaua‘i organization that has received HPF funding.
“Hawai‘i Film Festival is one way the arts support social change,” said Rodrigues. “By providing an opportunity for small-scale film makers to come out from behind their computer or camera to connect with those who’ve been reporting with their cameras much longer.”
Individuals who contribute to Hawai‘i People’s Fund are investing in Hawai‘i’s future by supporting projects that seek out the root causes of social problems and pose new solutions. The next deadline for grant applications is March 1, 2008. To learn more, visit hawaiipeoplesfund.org or call (808) 845-4800.
Fall 2007 Hawai‘i People’s Fund grantees were:
• American Friends Service Committee, all islands: www.afschawaii.org
• Associated Animals, Inc., International: www.pinkyshow.org
• Community Alliance on Prisons, all islands: www.lifeofthelandhawaii.org
• Hawai‘i SEED, statewide: www.hawaiiseed.org
• Hui o Kuapa, Moloka‘i
• Hui Pu, all islands
• Ka Pakaukau, all islands
• KAHEA, the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance, all islands: www.kahea.org
• Kukuna o Ka La, all islands
• Safe Zone Foundation, international: girlfesthawaii.org
