“She built a spaceship out of uncertainty.”
Tricia Hersey, The Nap Ministry
Dear Resister,
On Tuesday night we were joined by close to two hundred people from all over the world for the second installment of our Justice is Essential Series with Tricia Hersey and Emmanuel Brown: Healing Ourselves Free. Tricia Hersey, reflecting on her grandmother’s legacy, let us know, “she built a spaceship out of uncertainty.” This was true then, and it remains true now for marginalized communities all around the country.
Our grantees make spaceships out of uncertainty in the face of the unspeakable. They’ve established networks for mutual aid, responded to communities amid a pandemic, and continued fighting for Black lives, Indigenous sovereignty, and queer liberation. And you, as a part of a community of over 9,000 donors nationwide, have funded their work every step of the way. We’re inviting you to deepen your commitment by becoming a Movement Sustainer today. Every monthly and quarterly gift serves as a movement sustainer to the hundreds of grassroots organizations all across the country, moving us towards justice and liberation.
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[image description: red background, black dandelions and white text that reads:"We can't have freedom if we don't have care." - Emanuel H. Brown][/caption]
Why Become a Movement Sustainer?
We can’t have freedom if we don’t have care. For us at Resist, care looks like moving resources to the communities most deeply impacted by systemic oppression. These resources serve as a balm for communities who, at best, have been historically under-resourced and, at worst, have been systemically disenfranchised.
Nationally, only 7% of grant-making dollars go to groups led by communities most impacted by systemic oppression in the US.1 For Resist, this number is 100%. All of the funds we raise go towards grassroots groups that are resisting, reimagining, and building resilience in their communities and all across the country. We might not be able to outspend big philanthropy. Still, with sustained and consistent funding efforts, a commitment to freedom, and care, we can ensure that these communities have the resources they need to continue the fight against systemic oppression.
By committing to sustaining these brave and visionary communities’ work, you become a part of a 53-year-long history of grassroots fundraising and people-powered movements. There’s a new world coming; our grantees are on the ground, ensuring that. Join us in making their vision a reality and become a movement sustainer today.
In solidarity,
Kendra Hicks
Director of Radical Philanthropy
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(1) Rick Cohen, “Data Snapshot on Racial Justice Grantmaking,” Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity: Critical Issues 5 (June 2014): 38.
