WHAT WE’RE ABOUT
VISION
WE ENVISION AN ELGIN WHERE OUR DIVERSE, GRASSROOTS RESIDENTS HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY BUILT ON EQUITY & JUSTICE, TRUST & LOVE. WE ARE INSPIRED BY OUR GRASSROOTS RESIDENTS, WHO ARE THE LEGACY-CREATORS, MOVEMENT-BUILDERS, AND CULTURAL LEADERS NEEDED IN OUR CITY.
MISSION
WE SEEK TO SUSTAIN A GRASSROOTS GRANTMAKING STRUCTURE THAT BOTH CENTERS AND AMPLIFIES THE UNDERHEARD AND OVERLOOKED VOICES OF ELGIN, SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO NURTURE THEIR CREATIVITY AND REALIZE THEIR VISION. WE BELIEVE CENTERING THESE COMMUNITIES ENSURES A BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE ELGIN FOR ALL. WE BELIEVE EQUITY CANNOT BE ACHIEVED UNLESS RACIAL EQUITY IS ACHIEVED.
OPPRESSION (RACISM, SEXISM, CLASSISM, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, ETC.) CREATES DEEP INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE IN SOCIETY AND IN ELGIN. IN TRADITIONAL PHILANTHROPY, THESE FORMS OF OPPRESSION PREVENT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM BEING THE ONES WHO MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS OR RECEIVE THE FUNDING. ELEVATING EQUITY PLACES THE DECISION-MAKING POWER IN THE HANDS OF OUR GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
