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November 11, 2004

New trust targets Roxbury agencies

Jeremy Schwab

Two years ago, Roxbury-based La Alianza Hispana employed 52 people. Now, due to funding cuts, the social services provider can only afford to maintain a staff of 38.

Due to a conservative shift in Washington politics and a faltering economy, funding to social service groups across the country has dried up, driving many out of business.

The number of service providers in Roxbury has dwindled. But a new funding source opening for business Monday gives Roxbury-based community service organizations a new hope.

The Roxbury Trust Fund Committee Trust will inject $300,000 annually for the next 10 years into the coffers of service providers located in three Roxbury zip codes — 02119, 02120 and 02121.

The trust’s board of directors is inviting social service groups to an open meeting at the Dudley Branch Library from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday. There, organizations working in the areas of youth development and family services will learn how to apply for a share of the first round of money.

The trust has been 14 years in the making. In the early 1990s, Roxbury and Chinatown community activists won concessions from a development consortium that planned to develop Ruggles Center and 1 Lincoln Place. To win support for its plan, the minority-owned Columbia Plaza Associates agreed to donate seed money to community initiatives in Roxbury and Chinatown.

The developers did not disperse the money until two years ago, however. Now, after the mayor and governor appointed a board of directors for the Roxbury fund and the board filed for nonprofit status, the pieces are finally in place for the funding to begin.

“I think being from the community gives us an advantage of really understanding the funding challenges of organizations in the community,” said Jeanne Pinado, the treasurer of the trust’s board of directors and executive director of Madison Park Development Corporation.

Pinado is joined by four other appointed board members — Roxbury Neighborhood Council President Bruce Bickerstaff, Rev. Thomas Clark, La Alianza executive director William Rodriguez and Leonard Durant — who are involved in the civic life of the Roxbury community.

Unlike many funding agents, the trust will react flexibly to the needs of applicants rather than fund narrowly tailored programs, say board members.

Board members aim to build up organizations’ infrastructure through capacity-building assistance, rather than just funding short-term programs.

“Funds offering capacity-building assistance, that area is deeply underfunded,” said Rodriguez during an interview with board members Monday.

Since the economic downturn, foundations have been giving less and keeping service providers on a tighter leash by reducing the longevity of grants and requiring stricter performance standards.

To provide an alternative funding vehicle to community organizations, board members say they want to enlarge the trust by attracting funding from other sources, such as banks.

“We should look at this trust as a vehicle for future community benefits,” said Bickerstaff.

While the supply of cash for social services has dwindled, the demand has not.

“We know these next four years are going to be a struggle for communities of color, with war and poverty being the uppermost concerns,” said state Rep. Gloria Fox, who along with Sen. Dianne Wilkerson acts as an ex-officio trust board member.

The first round of funds will go to groups working in youth development and family services.

“Those two areas have been dramatically decreased in terms of funding,” explained Babanina James, consultant for the trust.

Future rounds will focus on other areas, including economic development and civic engagement.

Grants will range from $5,000 to $40,000. For more information on Monday’s informational meeting, email James at RoxburyTrust@yahoo.com. Responses to the request for proposals are due Wednesday, December 15.

 

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