Our Board of Directors has a shared commitment to inclusiveness, justice and equal opportunity. We serve all the culturally diverse residents of Martha’s Vineyard.
We encourage every Island community member to stand firm in the fight to protect civil rights and opposition to racism and hate. Even amid polarizing times, we welcome the opportunity to alleviate ignorance. We cannot let it hinder us from being a catalyst in shaping a promising future for the people of Martha’s Vineyard. Justice prevails when we stand together. We all lose when we are divided or apathetic.
The Martha’s Vineyard Social Justice Leadership Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization incorporated in October 2013.
Our Mission is: To empower island groups and individuals to transform racial and social injustices through grant making, education, and advocacy.
Our Vision is: A fair and just island for all.
We believe in and promote equity, access, participation, and human rights. Some of our community causes are housing, youth empowerment, climate change, economic condition, education, health, seniors, immigration, incarceration, and racial bias.
We build connections and collaborate with professionals in other sectors, including faith-based organizations. Together, these agencies and individuals share information to develop the best strategies and measures for reducing social and economic barriers in our community.
We also want to empower our youth to become community change agents.
Social justice means all citizens are entitled to the same rights and services. Social justice issues occur nationally, regionally, locally and within groups. These issues are often the result of unequal wealth and resource distribution, unfair treatment of individuals with differing traits (race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) historical prejudice, and laws that support segregation. In the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
MVSJLF values the input of adult and youth citizens of Martha’s Vineyard to assist us in priority setting. We want to know, from your perspective, what you perceive as social justice and diversity issues on Martha’s Vineyard.
Giving general operating support enables us to respond immediately to causes that resonate with our donors. Donors can act in solidarity by contributing money and time, knowledge, skills, relevant connections, and access.
Thank you in advance for your partnership and for investing in the MVSJLF.
CONTACT US: SOCIALJUSTICEMV@GMAIL.COM
Among the MVSJLF’s community-based accomplishments:
- Held forums on Immigration rights and distribution of “Know Your Rights” cards;
- Funded training for MV Regional High school and MV Public Charter School teachers on racial justice;
- Facilitated classes on Revolution and Activism in Ace MV’s new social justice program;
- Supported Driving Families Forward legislation to safely and legally issue driver’s licenses to qualified undocumented immigrants;
- Provided a grant to the Martha’s Vineyard Chiefs of Police Association for its vision and proactive coordination in establishing a need for and delivering implicit bias training for all island police personnel;
- Hosted community-wide events with political and social leaders.
- Hosted Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau to explain racial inequality and resistance to it through their new book “Unequal”.
GRANT PROGRAM:
The Foundation makes grants to Island organizations who want to pursue an innovative program or project that underscore our Mission and accentuates our Vision for A fair and just island for all. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status per 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code are eligible for grants.
Endeavors must be island specific.
The Foundation does not make grants for the following purposes.
- Computers or software
- Audio or video equipment
- Gardening programs or equipment
- Individuals for any purpose
- Political lobbying activities or other political purposes
- Private foundations
- Dinners, balls, or other ticketed events
Purposes outside of the Foundation’s funding priorities, as mentioned above