- Does the project or program seek
to address the root causes of poverty by fostering the building of
power and community among the poor?
We identify the following as a few of the possible causes of poverty:
racism, greed, lack of available resources, an unjust economic system,
lack of power, perversion of the Christian
"message," failure of society to define its boundaries to
include persons at the margin, classism, lack of nurture in the basic
fabric of community.
Proposals should reflect how the project will foster the development
of human and financial resources in communities that have been systematically
denied opportunities available to the community at large. They must
reflect the vision and planning of those being served by the project.
The following are examples of projects that address
root causes of poverty by building power and community among the
poor:
- Cooperative enterprises such as worker-owned
businesses, land trusts and credit unions;
- Incentives to economic development, such as
loan guarantee funds and small business incubators;
- Community organizing and leadership training;
- Affordable housing development, including home
ownership counseling and lease/purchase programs;
- Incentives to achieving a higher level of education;
- Advocacy of laws and/or social policies that
serve and enrich the common good;
- Voter registration and education;
- Self-help programs in which people develop
and implement their own solutions to community problems;
- Cultural activities that facilitate leadership
development
- Does the organization or project
hold as a primary goal to encourage persons and communities
who are poor to discover - in and among themselves - the capacity
to gain responsibility and control over their own lives? Gaining
control over one's own destiny, even in a portion of one's life,
may bring about dignified economic, social and cultural strength.
Thus, those who are poor should be in positions of leadership
and decision making with regard to the project or program.
This means that those who plan and make policy (e.g. the board of
directors) must consist of members of the community being served
by the project. For projects which do not presently meet this criterion,
applicants should document the following in the letter of intent:
- Why members of the poverty group do not have a significant role
in planning and policy making at the time of application;
- How members of the poverty group
were involved in determining their need for the project;
- What time schedule is planned for
representatives of the poverty group to have a significant role
in governing the project.
- Does this project or program provide
an opportunity for members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
to be involved as partners in addressing root causes of poverty
in such a way that the whole Christian Church might be transformed?
The Speer Commission is interested not only in the transformation
of society as root causes of poverty are addressed, but also
in the transformation of the church. Thus, projects or programs
that invite respectful and trusting partnership of the community,
the poor and the church will be given highest consideration
for funding.
*The
Commission requires a letter of support from the Presbyterian
Church ( U.S.A. )
or Presbyterian members involved with your project.
Projects or
programs should provide an opportunity for individual
Presbyterians (clergy and/or lay leaders), to have face-to-face,
hands-on involvement, where genuine relationships can be formed,
through such means as:
- Direct
personal participation in the activities of the program.
- Membership
on the board or involvement as a partner in decision making.
- Public
advocacy in solidarity with the community of need served by
the project or program.
Of lesser
significance would be:
- Financial
support by the congregation.
- Sharing
of resources, such as the church building.
Priority
will be given to those projects or programs in which the local
congregation itself feels a sense of partnership with the
program or project.
Priority will
further be given to those projects or programs which provide
an opportunity for those Presbyterians involved to reflect upon
the nature of the church and society, in such a way that genuine
transformation may begin to occur within the life of the congregation
in regard to its mission, identity, theology or priorities.
Projects which
do not currently have Presbyterian involvement must demonstrate
in their proposal in what way Presbyterian involvement
will be invited in the future. Projects where, because of the structure
of the program itself, there is no genuine opportunity for
Presbyterian involvement, will not be considered for funding.
|
