Racial Equity Pooled Fund

Designed in consultation with community partners, the racial equity pooled fund was launched in mid-2020 to move resources to campaigns and coalitions working at the state-level for policy and regulatory reforms that would improve the lives of people of color who were disproportionately harmed by the effects of COVID-19. Four organizations received a one-year grant of $50,000: WEACT, Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance, New York Renews, and Food Chain Workers and Workers Justice Center. These grants were renewed in 2021.

In 2022, Engage New York selected five new organizations as part of our commitment to supporting more inclusive campaigns and coalitions working on statewide policy shifts, they are: Advocacy Institute, Black Farmers United New York State, Long Island Social Justice Action Network (LISJAN), and VOCAL-NY. The network also selected 22 organizations that are geographically diverse but are leading organizing efforts in their regions (notes organizations that work in multiple regions) - they are:

Capital Region: Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, Troy 4 Black Lives

Central New York: BluePrint 15, Families for Lead Freedom Now!, Layla’s Got You, Workers Justice Center of CNY

Finger Lakes: City Roots Community Land Trust, Connected Communities, Justice for Migrant Families

North Country: Adirondack Diversity Initiative, John Brown Lives!, Seven Dancers Coalition

Southern Tier: Alliance of Families for Justice, Food For the Spirit, Hudson Catkskill Housing Coalition, Tompkins County Workers Center, Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowlege and Healing

Western New York: Access of WNY, Alianza Agricola, Black Love Resists in the Rust, Niagara Organizing for Hope, VOICE Buffalo