Nominations Now Open for NESAWG Mutual Aid Award

The above photo is Chief Vincent Mann and another member of the Ramapough Lenape Nation Turtle Clan leading a blessing at our 2019 conference in Jersey City, NJ. They were awarded our Mutual Aid Award in 2019. Read more here. 

 

Since 2018, NESAWG has awarded a mutual aid donation, a portion of the funds raised during our annual appeal, to a BIPOC-led food systems organization in the state where we hold our annual conference that year. As an historically white-led organization, we recognize that, even though our resources are modest, we still have a larger budget and greater access to financial resources than many organizations led by people of color, a privilege we've done nothing to earn that directly results from white supremacy and structural racism. Though we know that this award is a drop in the bucket of what's needed to rectify this longstanding injustice, we hope that this effort will inspire other white-led organizations to share resources, leadership, and connections to philanthropy with BIPOC colleagues and follow BIPOC organizations' lead in the fight for equity in access to those resources and others necessary for sustainable and just farm and food systems for all.

This year, the total amount of our award is $1682 (25% of the funds raised during our 2020 appeal.) We will be holding our conference in Providence, RI, (public health recommendations permitting). Please help us select an amazing organization to receive this award! We will present the award at our conference in November. 

The criteria for being considered for the award are as follows:

  • The organization is based in Rhode Island.
  • At least 2/3 of the organization's leaders and at least half the board are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).
  • The organization's work includes a focus on farm and food systems.
  • The organization's programs serve BIPOC and/or frontline communities.
  • The organization has an equity/racial justice analysis that informs their work.
  • The organization's annual budget is less than or equal to $250,000.
  • No NESAWG board members can be on staff at the organization.

Organizations can self-nominate if they meet the above criteria, and organizations do not have to have a formal 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship, so long as they have a recognizable body of work (i.e. a committee of volunteers who are unpaid and 

You may nominate as many organizations as you like, but please use a separate entry for each organization you are nominating.