ECM’s 2014 Burgess Urban Fund grantees at award reception with ECM board members and staff.

[Episcopal City Mission press release] Episcopal City Mission (ECM), a faith-based ministry which promotes social and economic justice working through congregations, community-based organizations and people within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, presented their Burgess Urban Fund grants to 20 Massachusetts grassroots community organizations working to make profound changes to social injustice.

The Burgess Urban Fund (BUF) was established in 1975 to improve the lives of the urban poor and oppressed. Grants are intended to reach community-based organizations that have the power and capacity to reach into many neighborhoods. Over its 40 years, BUF has awarded nearly $7.0 million in grants; this year grants ranged from $10,000 to $20,000.

“The Burgess Urban Fund recognizes that community organizing is an important process that develops power and capacity in solidarity with those in need. Strong organizing requires grantees to engage members of the community to identify shared concerns and create goals for social change; develop new leaders, especially among those affected by social inequality; undertake projects with concrete goals for the core constituency; articulate both the immediate and root causes of the problem through social change, and collaborate with other organizations, regional and statewide,” said Dr. Ruy Costa, Executive Director, Episcopal City Mission. The fund focuses on six key areas: faith-based organizing, immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, housing/tenants’ rights, poverty-related organizing and youth organizing.

This year’s 20 Burgess Urban Fund grantees are:

Agencia ALPHA, Boston
Boston Youth Organizing Project
Brazilian Immigrant Center, Brighton
Brazilian Women’s Group, Brighton
Brockton Interfaith Community
Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, New Bedford
Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Fall River
Dominican Development Center, Jamaica Plain
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation: Youth Force
Ex-Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement, Worcester
Greater Four Corners Action Coalition, Dorchester
Massachusetts Community Action Network, Dorchester
Merrimack Valley Project, Lawrence
MetroWest Worker Center, Framingham
Student Immigrant Movement, Boston
United Neighbors of Fitchburg
WATCH, Waltham
Women Encouraging Empowerment, Revere
Worcester Homeless Action Committee
Youth on Board, Boston

“ECM’s Burgess Urban Fund grant and support of our work has enabled us to have great success with the recent Raise Up Massachusetts campaign winning an increase in the minimum wage from $8 to $11 an hour, and up to 5 days of sick time for all workers.  This will make a huge difference to families that struggle daily to make ends meet and make difficult decisions about whether to go to work or stay home to take care of a sick child. Our 2014 grant will build on this victory towards taking the next step for economic and racial justice,” said Lew Finfer, Executive Director of Massachusetts Communities Action Network.

ABOUT EPISCOPAL CITY MISSION

Incorporated in 1844, ECM seeks to mobilize Episcopal parishes, individuals and resources in partnership with other community organizations for social structural change in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the urban poor. ECM does this through support for community organizing, mission-related investments in affordable housing, parish-based community economic development, and public policy advocacy. The Burgess Urban Fund was established as a tribute to The Rt. Rev. John Melville Burgess, former Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; he wanted a collection of money given to community-based organizations that empowered the poor. ECM’s mission is to work for the economic wellbeing of the underserved as an expression of God’s grace.