Organizations the Buck Dinner has funded
over the last several years:

Organizations the Buck Dinner has funded recently:

2023 BUCK DINNER GRANTS

These are short portions of the grant applications that were approved for funding by the Buck Dinner headhunters shortly after the April 2023 virtual dinner.  The legacy organizations’ funds are disbursed according to a formula: National Lawyers Guild, Detroit; Sugar Law Center and ACLU. ACLU waived its distribution for 2023 and asked that its portion be reallocated to community organizations. The grants to the community organizations total $47,400.

Alliance to Halt Fermi 3
Arboretum Detroit
Cities of Peace
Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM)
Detroit Eviction Defense
Detroit Jews for Justice
Detroit Justice Development 
Detroit MLK Day Committee
Detroit People's Food Co-op
Economic Justice Alliance for Equitable Detroit Coalition
Flying Cardboard Theater's Cantastoria Workshop
Great Lakes Bioneers
Detroit Interfaith Round Table Washtenaw County
Immigration Law & Justice ILJ-MI (formerly JFON-MI, Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan)
Meta Peace Team
Michigan Poor People's Campaign
Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network
Mint Artists Guild
Moritorium Now Coalition
Organization of Exonerees
Peace Action of Michigan
Redford MLK Breakfast Committee 
Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice (SEMJWJ/UC)
Stand with Trans
St. Peters Episcopal Church Social Justice Hive
Strangers No Longer
Suburban Connections for Collective Liberation
Viola Liuzzo Park
Women in Black

BUCK DINNER 2023 GRANTEES SUMMARIES

Summaries of the organizations’ accomplishments as presented in their Buck Dinner year-end report

 Alliance to Halt Fermi 3
The Alliance entered our 13th year by continuing our “Speaking Truth to Power About Nuclear Power” campaign by publishing a full page color newspaper ad about the Palisades nuclear plant in the Lansing State Journal in June, entitled “An Open Letter to Michigan State Legislators, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm: Don’t Waste Taxpayer And Ratepayer Dollars On A Nuclear White Elephant!!!” The Buck Dinner grant was helpful in covering its cost, as well as other administrative costs incurred during the year: printing, office supplies, mailing costs, and our organizational memberships in the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and the Michigan Environmental Council. We began work on draft text for the next Alliance To Halt Fermi-3 ad (our 20th since January2021) that will appear in the Lansing State Journal in the first quarter 2024. Targeting Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature, we will “Speak Truth To Power About Nuclear Power” by documenting the nuclear industry’s long history of overpromising and underdelivering, and why Small Modular Reactors are not a solution for climate change

Arboretum Detroit

Change is the Pointe

Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM)

Detroit  Eviction Defense
Detroit has changed from a primarily home ownership city to one in which over 50% of residents are tenants. This change informs the work we have done over the past year. The people who reach out to us are dealing with lack of available, affordable housing, repairs that are not being made, application fees, court costs and late fees added to rents that are too high for their incomes; evictions that stay on their records and make it nearly impossible for them to find new homes. They are facing physical violence in some cases and a level of disrespect and disparagement that borders on overt discrimination. City, state, and federal government claim to provide resources; the people who come to us are not able to access these resources. We fight for them to gain access to what they are promised. Our goal is to organize tenants to fight for what they need. The entire metro area is in a housing disaster for working people and Black people in particular. More than 100,000 homes have been lost to tax and mortgage foreclosures in recent years. Whole neighborhoods have been gentrified, with house prices and rents raised to unaffordable levels. Thousands of people are living in motels or with relatives because they are not making enough to pay move-in costs. We worked with other organizations: Detroit Tenants Association and Michigan Tenants Assembly in the Rent Is Too High action in Lansing. We participated in Silence the Violence; the Southwest Fest; and gave a workshop at the General Defense Committee conference. We worked with tenants and tenant unions in 8 different buildings. Over 63 individuals came to our weekly meeting for help and/or advice. We held three legal Rights workshops and participated in Courtwatch and attended city council meetings, demanding safe and secure housing.

Detroit Jews for Justice
As part of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, we canvassed and called our neighbors on the property tax foreclosure list to connect them with public resources. Our coalition passed the Property Tax Reform Ordinance, guaranteeing vital systemic checks to ensure that people’s property taxes are no longer over assessed, and their homes no longer illegally foreclosed. With our partners Detroit People’s Platform and Detroiters for Tax Justice, we fought the $800 million in property taxes that were waived to billionaire developers for District Detroit and got Council to vote against it. Now, we are turning our attention toward using Community Benefits Agreements processes to ensure that corporate developers are contributing to public resources, instead of sapping them.  We advocated for statewide water affordability, driver’s licenses for all, a renter’s bill of rights, fair chance housing for formerly incarcerated Michiganders, LGBTQ+rights, and clean energy.  While we won some (clean energy and LGBTQ+rights), we saw a number of our other partners’ issues languish in committees. We are resolute in our commitment to continuing this statewide legislative advocacy in 2024.

Detroit Justice Center
Buck funds helped continue to hone our “movement lawyering” model: this is lawyering in a way that centers relationships and the people organizing on the ground. Movement lawyers make space for, bolster, protect, and build the power of organized people. Within this model, we use a three-pronged approach: Legal Services & Advocacy Practice, Economic Equity Practice, and Innovation Lab.  This team continued to provide direct representation for legal clients at the risk of incarceration in various courts in Southeast Michigan. Our attorneys supported clients by helping them: resolve outstanding warrants; address traffic citations and corresponding fines and fees; obtain their driver’s licenses; address child support payments; address child custody and parenting time issues; prevent evictions; and other legal need.  The Economic Equity Practice team has increased economic mobility for Detroit residents through our worker-owned cooperative and community land trust work.  For example, DJC has been partnering on a co-op incubator program to provide education.    DJC has focused on community reinvestment through a concept known as Divest/Invest. The idea is to shift funding from carceral structures and reinvest into more proactive forms of community safety.

Detroit MLK Day Committee
The grant was used to organize and support the 2024 Annual MLK Day Rally and March on January 15, held at the Historic St. Matthew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Detroit. Commemorating the 95th birthday of Dr. King, the 21stannual MLK Day event was organized under the theme "Six Decades of Mass Movements, The Struggle Continues" and the demand for “Jobs, Peace and Justice while protecting Water, Climate and Communities.” The MLK Day Rally brought together many organizations who provided speakers, artists, and other forms of support. This year’s rally highlighted the resurgent labor movement, the struggle for a Free Palestine, and the continuing struggle to defend our communities. Shawn Fain, UAW President, and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib were featured speakers.

Detroit People's Food Co-op
Funds were instrument in helping our volunteer-staffed Membership Outreach Committee recruit 240 new members in 2023. We grew from 1,821 members to 2,254 members, and have increased our membership goal to 3,000 by the time the store opens in May 2024. In order to recruit members, DPFC volunteers had tables at the African World Festival, D-Town Festival and the Veggie Fest at Eastern Market. We helped sponsor 3 house parties, 2 membership meet-ups, and attended a special event at Nandi’s Knowledge Café. In addition, volunteers regularly dropped informational postcards at public libraries, farmers markets, local stores, churches, coffee shops. We plan to continue to ramp up our membership recruitments, and continue them before, during and after the store opens. The store will be located in the Detroit Food Commons, 8324 Woodward. We recently hired our first general manager, held a hiring fair, and vendor recruitment fair. Funds from the Buck Dinner Grant were spent on printing, event supplies, refreshments for outreach events and tabling/venue rental expenses.

Economic Justice Alliance for Equitable Detroit Coalition
The Coalition (EDC) celebrated a decade of organizing in Detroit to win fair and equitable economic development practices. These practices are focused on large scale private development projects subsidized with a variety of public incentives including multi-million dollar and long term tax incentives. The work of EDC is to mitigate the harms of these projects which often range from housing displacement, gentrification and negative environmental impacts. There is long standing evidence that low income Black and Brown neighborhoods are targeted for location of large industrial projects such as the Stellantis plant. This site has been cited for multiple air quality violations by EGLE the stare regulatory agency. The resident led organizing work of the Just Beniteau Campaign callout for accountability for these violations have increased public awareness and narrative about the harm associated with these projects. Residents won a Supplemental Environmental Plan to bring additional benefits to the impacted community but more needs to be done to reduce these harms. Building on the impactful work of the Just Beniteau Resident led campaign, EDC’s goal is to replicate the work in other Detroit low income neighborhoods impacted by large scale publicly subsidized industrial development. EDC with support through Buck Dinner/Friends of Equal Justice funding, provided support to residents in the American Motors Corporation (AMC) redevelopment project.

Flying Cardboard Theater's Cantastoria Workshop

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit
GLBD held a successful conference in October at University of Detroit Mercy, with over 400 attendees, almost all having their registration subsidized. The goal was to educate Metro Detroiters on many of the environmental challenges to our area, and to discuss proposed solutions. We also saw successful models of community gardening, recycling, and activism –even hosting ten tours to see Detroit-based community gardens, solar projects, or our annual “environmental justice” tour that involves places of environmental destruction as well as places of hope. The conference has as its goal the gathering together of like-minded individuals and organizations so that we can gain inspiration from each other and make connections. We had over a dozen exhibitors and vendors who shared literature and environmentally sound products, including books. We were gathered each day by opening and closing prayers and songs offered by Indigenous/ First Peoples of our continent. We gathered over meals and snacks offered by local vendors.  We reached out to the youth of Detroit and the metro area to make sure that they are realizing the importance of environmental issues to their lives. We also have programming so they can see that engaging in nature (walks in our parks, artistic clay work with natural objects, or fun competitions intended to teach recycling at the same time) can be both fun and educational. Youth not only attend, they also present. Several presented their scientific experiments and results regarding water purification, seed sterilization, and the importance of saving the Great Lakes wildlife from balloon waste. Youth were presenters in two poetry learnshops, exploring nature through their own poetry, and encouraging learnshop participants to write and share as well.

Interfaith Round Table Washtenaw County

Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan

Meta Peace Team [NOTE: I could not open their report]

Michigan Poor People's Campaign
The Michigan Poor People’s Campaign used Buck Dinner funds to support organizing firstly for the June POOR PEOPLE’S AND LOW-WAGE WORKERS’ CONGRESS in Washington DC, which was focused on poverty as the 4th leading cause of death in the US.  The Congress was convened for testimony, decision-making, organizing, lobbying, and public action. A delegation of 12 was sent. As part of the Congress they visited or left packets with all of the Michigan Senators and House Representatives, meeting with staff of Peters, Stabenow, Tlaib, and James.  Upon return to Michigan, the delegation set up a political action committee to visit across the state, starting a sit-down to Haley Stevens office.  The Coordinating Committee became sponsors for MICare, Universal health care in Michigan.  Currently, national staff are reorganizing the MPPC Coordinating Committee out of Lansing.

Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network

Mint Artists Guild

Moritorium Now Coalition

National Lawyers Guild (NLG)

The Guild continues to be a trusted legal arm for social justice movements. This year we continued our robust Legal Observer program; organized important speaking events; and placed a spotlight on our financial challenges. We are re-growing our chapter membership, adding to our network of movement lawyers throughout Michigan to represent and support people on the frontlines; and expanding our reach to community members learning and asserting their rights. The Buck Dinner Grant allowed us to have staff, basic resources, and organizational infrastructure - as we learn and build ways to better meet the legal demands of many movements and crises and prepare for whatever comes next. Our Legal Observer program supported 105 actions across Michigan, including 57 actions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza: rallies at businesses that create products/services used to sustain the genocide in Gaza, actions at the offices and homes of representatives failing to call for a ceasefire, and demonstrations at city council meetings calling for cease fire resolutions. In 2023, we sent 289 Legal Observers to a variety of action types, including sit-ins, rallies, marches, car caravans, pickets, vigils, and home defenses.

Organization of Exonerees

Peace Action of Michigan

Redford MLK Breakfast Committee

On January 15, Redford Township hosted our 26th annual MLK Community Prayer breakfast. Unfortunately, this year the event fell on an extreme weather day and we saw a large dip in participation. Even so, we welcomed over 100 guests to the new World Peace Outreach. Community members, students, teachers and state and local leaders including -  State Representative Laurie Pohutsky, State Senator Mary Cavanagh, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and State Representative Stephanie Young were in attendance. We were honored again to have One Redford chair Pastor Lawrence Glass Jr. of El Bethel Church provide our opening invocation, followed by Redford Township Supervisor Pat McRae for our welcoming remarks. The theme was “Planting Seeds of Hope & Unity in Our Community.” The entertainment portion of the program was Thurston High School Chamber Choir and Redford Union High School Madrigal Choir. The main portion and keynote for our event was relayed by Mark Ostach,  Digital Wellness, focusing on giving organizations the tools to find the courage to connect online and offline and to restore energy. He is a TEDx speaker and has spoken all across the world. He spoke of planting seeds of hope and unity within Redford Township. Each attendee took home a 14 day gratitude notebook to help make shifts that will create a positive impact in their lives and communities

Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice (SEMJWJ/UC)

Stand with Trans

St. Peters Episcopal Church Social Justice Hive

Strangers No Longer

Suburban Connections for Collective Liberation

Sugar Law Center  (SLC)

We provided legal representation and fought for the most vulnerable workers. SLC provided direct assistance and advice to nearly 1600 workers. We assisted workers in obtaining earned UIA benefits and relief from erroneous UIA fraud claims and provided advice and counsel on workers' rights issues.  We obtained a $2.8 million class action settlement for student workers exploited by their for-profit cosmetology school. This is the only case known to have won a judgment on behalf of students and secured a settlement. As a result, a precedent has been established against the for-profit exploitation of trade school student labor under the guise of "education requirements." We brought one of the first cases in Michigan for wrongful termination based on a violation of the state COVID emergency orders. We successfully settled this case and stood up for workers whose employer treated their health and safety as disposal during COVID.  SLC co-counseled with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and Farm STAND to represent undocumented workers injured on the job. We are challenging as unconstitutional the state's practice of denying wage loss benefits to injured undocumented workers in workers' compensation proceedings. As a result of this litigation, state legislative bills were introduced to end this practice. We provided education and training and engaged in advocacy for equitable unemployment insurance policies. SLC created a pro se guide for unrepresented claimants to file a response to a UIA or employer-initiated appeal of benefit eligibility in circuit courts. We assumed ownership and stewardship of the UI Digest(https://uidigest.org), previously operated by the University of Michigan Workers' Rights Clinic, a free legal resource, including a searchable database of legal precedents claimants can use to access benefits, advocates, and researchers. SLC joined and has a leadership role in the NELP Excluded Worker network, a national workgroup formed to expand excluded worker fund policies across the US, thereby expanding unemployment compensation to immigrant workers, and other non-traditional workers left out of traditional UI programs.

Viola Liuzzo Park

Women in Black

The grant has enabled important updates to enhance our vigils by funding creation of new/additional puppets, particularly some less subject to the vagaries of weather. Our monthly peace vigils are non-combative and silent. When we use the older puppets, we attract far more attention to our group than does a simple procession of marchers with signs, which happens when weather impedes our ability to use the puppet. Such “street theatre” is particularly effective in attracting the attention of children, whom we then often hear questioning the adults with them. The adults are thus forced to discuss peace initiatives which otherwise they might pass over lightly. We do collect a good-will offering at our vigils, but that very limited income would not cover any extra activities/publicity so Buck funds are crucial.

2022 Buck Dinner Grants

These are short portions of the grant applications that were approved for funding by the Buck Dinner headhunters shortly after the March 2022 virtual dinner.  Not included are grant applications from the legacy organizations: National Lawyers Guild, Detroit; Sugar Law Center and ACLU, whose funds are disbursed according to a formula. ACLU waived its distribution for 2022 and asked that its portion be reallocated to community organizations. The grants to the community organizations total $42,000.

Alliance to Halt Fermi Three (THF3)
Citizens Resistance At Fermi Two (CRAFT)
Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM)
Detroit Jews for Justice
Detroit MLK Day Committee
Detroit Environmental Justice (DWEJ)
Flying Cardboard Theater
General Baker Institute (GBI)
Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD)
Jewish Voice for Peace - Detroit
Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan
Michigan Coalition for Human Rights
Michigan Poor People's Campaign
Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network
Mint Artists Guild
Moratorium Now Coalition
Peace Action of Michigan
Redford MLK Breakfast Committee
Southeastern Michigan Jobs With Justice
Stand with Trans
St. Peters Episcopal Church Peace and Justice Hive
Swords Into Plowshares
Visions Tribal Peacemaking
Women in Black (WIB)
Women Walking Woodward

Alliance to Halt Fermi Three (THF3)

THF3 is requesting this grant to further the continuation of our anti-nuclear /pro-renewables media messaging campaign.  Additionally, we wish to assist the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP), headed by Executive Director and epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, with their “Tooth Fairy Project” now underway in Monroe County, MI.  Monroe County parents are donating their children’s teeth to the Tooth Fairy Project so they can be tested for Strontium-90 levels. In the 1960s, parents across the U.S. donated their children’s teeth to science, which helped end above-ground atom bomb tests. This was a great stride in improving child health.  The mission of ATHF3 is the ultimate transformation of our current national electrical grid from large, for-profit nuclear, coal, and natural gas plants to publicly-owned decentralized solar and wind projects integrated with efficiency improvements in order to achieve zero net green-House gas emissions and good paying green energy jobs.”  We want a design for public education and to further leverage our public education function with direct communication with top governmental officials at the federal and state level. We believe our work is unique to safe energy groups operating in SE Michigan  Our next ad will likely be published in the Detroit Free Press, to be mailed to President Biden and U.S. DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm.  We highlight the national security risks posed by nuclear power plants and their irradiated nuclear fuel pools---recently illustrated by the attack on and occupation of at least two nuclear complexes in Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia and Chernobyl. The purpose of this ad will further underscore nuclear power’s fatal flaws to the public and government officials as a strategy for combating climate change and for the environmental mega-hazards that these sites present in the U.S. and abroad.

Citizens Resistance At Fermi Two (CRAFT)

Citizens Resistance At Fermi Two (CRAFT) is an Indigenous led, independent nonprofit organization, to advance the public awareness on the dangers of nuclear energy, in particular those policies which cause harm to unprotected and underserved populations of Southeast Michigan, and advance a future with clean renewable energy for all, free from radioactive waste.  CRAFT will use the grant funds for general support and media ads to promote our mission.  CRAFT’s objectives and the objectives of the BUCK Dinner align with each other seamlessly in our vision to help minority communities self-empower to protect ourselves and protect our communities from within.  CRAFT originally formed in 1993 but membership dwindled and the group was disbanded until 2015 when a revival occurred after the Fukushima accident.  Current members realized how marginalized groups in the Wayne and Monroe county areas would be negatively impacted by the nuclear situation here and reorganized CRAFT to what it is today.  CRAFT seeks the decommissioning of the Fermi2 nuclear facility in Monroe, and the removal of stored waste from Lake Erie shores.  CRAFT also supports and works for replacing the energy produced by the reactor with renewable resources.  CRAFT believes in the strengthening of ties within the community through organization and leadership through direct interaction and tasking.

Detroit Area Youth Uniting (DAYUM)

DAYUM was founded in 2018 after we organized the March for Our Lives in Detroit.  Attended by over 10,000 people, we didn’t want this single event to be the finish line of youth activism in our communities.  Since then we have been busy leading climate strikes in Detroit, coordinating a coalition of youth leadership programs, facilitating adult ally trainings, and presenting at national conferences.  DAYUM’s mission is to fight for a seat at the table for marginalized youth in decision-making about our lives and communities.  Whether we are addressing lead and copper in our school water fountains, gun violence, climate change or education justice we believe that youth voices matter.  We work intersectionally on issues of economic inequity, racism, homophobia, and ageism.  During the Covid-19 lockdowns, DAYUM shifted to focusing on mental health support and mutual aid.  This was followed by a campaign for educational equity in virtual schooling called “The Online Learning Bill of Rights.”  In 2022 we launched a youth-led podcast exploring student perspectives of education justice.  We also announced our campaign to abolish the uniform code in Detroit Public Schools- one of the only public school districts in Michigan requiring a uniform.  We have continued to do Covid-19 safety and vaccine education outreach to youth through our Covid Youth Resource Center campaign

Detroit Jews for Justice

DJJ seeks support in order to sustain our coalitional campaign work in Detroit’s struggles for water, housing, immigration and reproductive justice, and to continue to engage in cultural organizing that builds a progressive voice in the Jewish community and a Jewish voice in the progressive community.  DJJ employs the tools of community organizing to make life in Michigan more sustainable, equitable, and joyous for all, with a particular emphasis on BIPOC, low-income workers, the unemployed, women, GLBTIQ+folks, immigrants, and others struggling against systemic bias.  We draw on the richness of Jewish traditions, history, beliefs and culture to deepen and sustain our work and fulfill our mission by nurturing a growing, diverse base of leaders to organize as a spiritually grounded Jewish collective committed to social justice.  Through collaborative and community based decision-making processes, we choose legislative advocacy campaigns that are winnable, relevant to and led by marginalized communities in our region, and serve as opportunities to build long-term partnerships with local grassroots organizations while expanding the metro-Detroit Jewish community’s presence in progressive justice work.

Detroit MLK Day

The Detroit MLK Day Committee is requested support for the 2023 Detroit MLK Day Rally and March, an annual all day celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By hosting the event, the Committee seeks to promote Dr. King’s vision and quest for jobs, peace and economic justice for all, and to encourage people to honor his legacy by building the movement for progressive social change. The event is held on the U.S. national holiday celebrating the birthday of Dr. King. 

Prior to the Covid lockdown, the event was structured into three parts: an indoor rally at the Historic St. Mathew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, a march through the North End neighborhood in Detroit, and an “after march” community meal served by the Detroit Wobble Kitchen and cultural event at the church featuring local hip hop artists/poets, musicians, and cultural performers. Participants were encouraged to bring items of winter clothing to donate for the houseless. Because of Covid, for the past two years the event was held online featuring political speeches and cultural performances. The organization held the event in-person in 2023. The program tackles the issues confronting our communities today and their connection to the struggles and message of Dr. King. The rally was followed by a lively march through the North End neighborhood, where slogans demanding jobs, affordable housing and water, funding for schools and other human needs, and expressing opposition to war abroad and at home and opposition to Trumpism, austerity, and the threat of fascism and war.

Detroit Environmental Justice (DWEJ)

Established in 1994, DWEJ was created to provide people of color and low-income Detroiters the tools to educate, advocate and organize for a cleaner, healthier city.  As the oldest environmental justice organization in Detroit, DWEJ is known for effectively advocating for public policy changes that eliminate or drastically reduce pollution for the city’s most vulnerable populations.  In order for movements to survive and grow, new people must join and take up the cause.  DWEJ is meeting this need through its AAA program.  This work is aligned with the mission of Buck Dinner specifically in supporting groups working for progressive social change through advocacy. In the past two years DWEJ improved the health and wellness of Detroiters through education and advocacy: Faith and Works: Partnered with Detroit 2030 District to conduct a treasure hunt with local leaders to help them identify areas within their houses of worship which could be more energy efficient.  Detroit houses of worship were connected to sustainability experts (building engineers, architects, lighting and solar experts, etc.) who provided free services to improve their buildings’ environmental sustainability

Flying Cardboard Theater

The Flying Cardboard Theater plans to conduct a “cantastoria workshop” for local activists, organizations and artists in the late summer/early fall 2022. The workshops, conducted over a month, will lead up to the second annual Detroit Cantastoria Fest show at St. Peter’s church. “Cantastoria” is the Italian word for an ancient form of street theater that involves a narrator telling or singing a story while gesturing to elaborate painted banners.  Cantastorias have been an integral part of street protest and cultural change through storytelling for centuries. We members of Flying Cardboard Theater trace our use of this form to the mid 20th century theater of Bertolt Brecht and the Bread & Puppet Theater, with whom we have worked. It is a highly effective and theatrical form of storytelling.  The goal of the workshop is to create several new works, based on issues and stories of struggle that Detroit community members are currently facing, using song, humor, drama, and other tools of theater. These pieces can then be taken into the streets as forms of protest, to meetings, rallies, communities and schools. We also want this workshop to teach other educators and organizers to use this form as an interactive teaching and organizing tool. We wish to train people who can then train others.  Our work aligns with the mission of the Buck Dinner because the cantastoria form is a wonderful tool for activists. They can turn complex political situations and their various nuances into a visual and theatrical form that can help shed light on complex social problems and call people to action. In this time of isolated “online activism,” it is a powerful tool to put us back in our bodies and in safe outdoor physical space again

General Baker Institute (GBI)

The mission of General Baker Institute (GBI) and the Buck Dinner are philosophically aligned. In the tradition of Detroit’s iconic life-long labor and human rights activists, General Gordon Baker Jr., (September 6, 1941–May 18, 2014), who devoted his entire life to social justice, GBI seeks to carry forth the legacy of his righteous fight for progressive social change, in defense of the ever-increasing litany of attacks on our civil rights and civil liberties. General Baker Institute, one of Southeast Michigan’s most progressive organizations, has always been on the front line, through the ongoing work of General Baker who have consistently demonstrated that their central focus is advancing high impact social justice advocacy.  GBI believes the “victory is in the fight,” and is a movement incubator determined to follow the uncompromising legacy of General Baker, and others of his ilk, to transform fighters into thinkers and thinkers into fighters.  At General Baker Institute, our programs are focused on progressive advocacy: political education by frontline activists and scholars, the utilization of cultural arts to raise the consciousness, projects that enhance awareness of survival in a society of rapidly shrinking social services, and establishing global connections to build bridges and to better understand geopolitical forces.  As a progressive organization focused on sustainability and strategic succession, we make significant efforts to engage the youth, the next generation of progressive activists to advocate for social justice.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD)

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit believes that the environmental movement and the social justice movement are one movement. Through education and action flowing from a systemic, diverse and multi-disciplinary framework, GLBD collaborates with individuals and organizations advocating for opportunities to restore our damaged and depleted Earth and human communities, particularly communities of color that are often the least likely to be at the decision-making table and are often the most affected. For the past 16 years GLBD has sponsored an annual conference that features speakers from the National Bioneers conference as well as local presenters that exemplify what is happening in SE Michigan, particularly in Detroit.  In 2018, University of Detroit Mercy hosted the conference. (Prior to that point, it had been hosted for three years at Wayne State University, and then for a decade at Marygrove College). GLBD’s previous co-coordinators Gloria Rivera IHM and Paula Cathcart IHM worked with Detroit Mercy to bring the conference to campus. They assisted with the planning of the conference in 2018, 2019, and 2021.  While we didn’t have a conference in fall of 2020 due to COVID, we did launch four one hour zoom talks which were attended by over 100 people, including many youths who usually attend the conference. These videos of 2020 are available on our GLBD you tube channel. Our website, https://udmercy.edu/glbd contains information on GLBD, our sponsors, the past program of 2021, a link to our you tube channel, and photos of our 2021 conference.  Over 80 students attended, and we had over 200 registrants. Amount requested will support the GLBD conference scholarship fund for youth (33 conference scholarships that will benefit youth (7th to 12th grade) and persons with low income. There are many expenses in the conference, and registration covers less than 50 percent. We need grant money and sponsor money. A grant from the Buck Dinner and Fund for Equal Justice will help us to pay the costs of having students attend for a low price of $5 each which is well below our costs. But our children are the future! We need them involved and learning about the importance of the environment, racial justice, social harmony and spirituality and so it is important to include them.

Jewish Voice for Peace, Detroit (JVP-Detroit)

JVP-Detroit’s mission fits with the Buck Dinner mission: We support the struggle of Palestinians for peace, justice, equality, dignity, human and legal rights, and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals. 

JVP's mission promotes the Buck Dinner’s commitments to universal social and economic justice, through local activism. The parallels between the traumas of daily living encountered by Black Detroiters and Palestinians are dramatic and related to settler-colonist. The oppression involves water rights, home evictions and demolitions, arbitrary imprisonment and killings — including children — and failed access to education and health care (including almost no Palestinian access to COVID vaccinations in 2021, except for Palestinians who cross into Israel daily as workers in close proximity to Israeli Jews). Israel is now in violation of its legal duty, as the occupying force, to provide COVID vaccines and other needed medical care to the occupied Palestinian population.

JPV uses non-violent tactics requested by Palestinian civil society in 2005 from supporters around the world: boycott, divestment, and sanctions (“BDS”) against the State of Israel (not the Israeli people) and complicit transnational companies.  JVP-Detroit continues to educate the community and now, as activists in JVP Action, also candidates for public office and members of Congress. Jewish college students go home on breaks and urge their parents to understand that criticizing Israel and zionism is not anti-semitism. They hear their children, and they are listening. JVP and other organizational allies are slowly but hugely changing popular perceptions, here in metro Detroit and throughout the U.S.

Justice for Neighbors (JFON-MI)

Our Neighbors Michigan (JFON-MI) welcomes immigrants by providing free, expert immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Services are provided regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability. We also actively engage in advocacy and community education to promote immigrant justice. As an organization, we consciously work to improve diversity and enhance inclusive practices. JFON-MI helps immigrants understand their choices and navigate the complexities and barriers of the legal system.  Immigrants have very few options for fair, accurate and affordable legal advice, and JFON-MI is proud to serve them.  JFON-MI’s Metro Detroit office was founded in 2009. The Justice for Our Neighbors model is volunteer driven and collaborates with local churches or community groups to offer legal clinics, education, and advocacy directly in the community.  JFON-MI supports a humane climate for immigrants and fair and non-punitive immigration reform. Staff, Board, and volunteers work toward this goal through community outreach and education, participating with other local, regional and national immigration organizations, supporting new programmatic and policy initiatives and promoting advocacy actions in favor of fair and compassionate immigration laws. With the support of Buck Dinner and the Fund for Equal Justice over the past eight years, JFON Metro Detroit expanded its capacity to provide or support outreach, education, and advocacy in the community. Staff spent time initiating, researching, promoting, and engaging in local, state and national advocacy needs and actions both directly and indirectly.  Volunteers and supporters were encouraged to take action too.

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights

The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR) is a non-profit organization that has been in existence for over 40 years. It is an interfaith network of religious, labor, civic and humanitarian groups, and individuals. Its mission is to promote awareness of, commitment to, and advocacy for human rights through education, community organization, and action. MCHR promotes peace and reconciliation and opposes forces that suppress human dignity, freedom, and justice locally and around the world. MCHR seeks financial support for MCHR’s 2022Freedom Tour Program initiatives which includes a tour in June 2022. We look forward to taking a bus full of diverse high school students on a twelve-day tour south to educate them about the civil right movement and inspire them to be social justice leaders. Our theme is environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and storytelling.  MCHR launched in-person tour initiatives in 2013,2016,2018, and 2019andallwerea huge success. While the pandemic has kept us virtual during recent years (2020-21), we have still been able connect with the Freedom Tour student cohort through our virtual youth engagement series (VYES).The budget this year is $80,000 and it costs $1,500 to sponsor a student. We are asking the Buck Dinner to provide a grant to sponsor 3 students. 

Michigan Poor People’s Campaign (MI PPC)

MI PPC seeks support for organizing in the coming year with two main foci in mind.  One is the June 18 POOR PEOPLE’S AND LOW-WAGE WORKERS’ ASSEMBLY AND MORAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND TO THE POLLS, which aims to mobilize the 140 million poor and low wage workers in the upcoming elections. Overlapping and coinciding with that we are doing trainings and building local communities toward the late August Line 5 Resistance encampment.  These moneys will support both.  Because the State and National Poor Peoples Campaigns are committed to intersectional or fusion organizing, we are focused broadly on movement work addressing militarism, poverty, racism, democratic rights, and climate crisis/environmental justice–all toward changing the national narrative on poverty and under the leadership of low income and impacted people. At the beginning of the national electoral campaign, the PPC met publicly with most of the Presidential candidates and challenged them to make poverty a priority in the campaign and in their subsequent administrations. Joe Biden pledged so. Though it is only a first step, we regard provisions of the ARPA COVID relief bill as the fruit of our work with so many others.  The narrative is changing and with it, policy  As the PPC recently outlined: Many of ARPA’s provisions embrace our Campaign’s 14 Policy Priorities to Heal the Nation, including additional stimulus payments ($400 billion), unemployment insurance ($300/week), food security ($12 billion), housing assistance ($35billion), utilities assistance ($5 billion), the expanded Child Tax Credit, resources for public schools ($130 billion), childcare ($39 billion), Head Start ($1 billion),and aid to state, local and tribal governments ($350 billion). There is also funding for students with disabilities ($3 billion) and indigenous people, including for Indian Health Services and education (+$9 billion). In fact, early estimates suggest that ARPA will reduce child poverty and economic insecurity by 10-45%

Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network (MichUHCAN)

MichUHCAN is a statewide organization established in 1990. Our mission is to work for comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare for ALL and improved health outcomes through education and advocacy and by addressing the social determinants of health. Since our inception, we have been a consistent voice for healthcare justice at the local, state and national levels. We believe that for any reforms to be sustainable, they must advance the values of the community and be accountable for outcomes to the people.  Our mission is perfectly aligned with the Buck Dinner mission of achieving equity and justice in our community. Without health, one may be unable to work or contribute to their community. There is no liberty or justice without one’s health

Mint Artists Guild

Our work involves creating opportunities for creative Detroit youth and children. So we focus on equality, equity and room at the table for marginalized youth and creatives. We have a strong commitment to social justice because of our co-founders’ beliefs and life experiences (including 15 months on a picket line in Detroit). And we seek to uplift and share the work of other social justice organizations through our Paint Detroit with Generosity paintings and exhibit, held each fall.  First, Mint will hire at least 18 and perhaps as many as 22 youth from Detroit this summer and pay them to create art that reflects our commitment to community, generosity, equity and inclusion. This will be a record number for us, up from 13 in 2020 and 16 in 2021. The Buck Dinner funds will allow us to hire two of those youth to paint six Paint Detroit with Generosity paintings to honor the work and donate to local social justice nonprofits. We intend to reach out to recipients of Buck Dinner grants including the ACLU, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and others.  Second, we plan to create two posters on social justice themes chosen by our youth. We will professionally print these posters and offer 100 free copies to Detroiters, underwritten by the Buck Dinner, in the fall - then sell the remainder of the posters in the Mint Shop online and at our events.  Third, we will create a workshop for Detroit youth that looks at how art and social justice movements are connected and the impact artists and musicians have made.  This will be offered to Mint Artists and other youth in the fall.

Moratorium Now

The mission of the Moratorium Now Coalition continues to be bringing together community activists in southeast Michigan to fight on a broad range of issues affecting poor and working people. We initiate struggles and campaigns while also joining other organizations who may have initiated an important struggle.  The issues that concern us include fighting bank and tax foreclosures and evictions, water and other utility shutoffs, police brutality, war and militarism. This is in line with the Buck Dinner’s goal of “working for progressive change.” Our work in the last year continued to be hindered by COVID.  However, we worked both virtually and in the streets. During February 2021 as well as February 2022 Moratorium Now convened webinars for Black History Month. On February 21, 2022 the topic was on Critical Race Theory with speakers from Detroit Will Breathe, and attorneys Mark Fancher (ACLU-Michigan)and Nancy Parker (Detroit Justice Center).  We also brought together a coalition of anti-racism forces to once again rally and march down 8 Mile Road to protest continuing racial profiling. Throughout much of 2021 we built support for Armani Sharpe, an autistic African American young man, who faced serious charges from both Ferndale and Hazel Park for “walkin while Black” in his neighborhood. All charges were eventually dropped.  Despite COVID we sent a delegation to rural Wisconsin to attend and speak at the People’s Power Summit convened on a farm. This was in the heart of Trump country yet attracted several hundred progressive people.  During September 2021 we held several press conferences/rallies to demand that CERA Emergency Rental Assistance funds be released to those who needed them.

Peace Action of Michigan

We continue to strive for: a demilitarized, sustainable economy by supporting a reduction of at least 10% in pentagon spending, cancelling the “modernization” budget for our nuclear weapons and delivery systems.  The abolition of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, by campaigning for the U.S. to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, cancelling the ICBM leg of our nuclear triad, Diplomatic resolutions to global conflict by advocating for a complete end of the Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates war on Yemen, advocating for the human rights of Palestinian Muslims and Christians.   Funds will go towards our 2022 Peace Voter Strategies.  We believe only an educated and energized citizenry can overcome the Trump/Republican dangers to building peace and democracy. We have two strategies for increasing voter turnout of peace-oriented voters in Michigan’s August 2 and November 8 elections  Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Possibilities, support the Detroit NAACP’s initiatives to register voters and GOTV   Support student-led organizations to register voters and GOTV such as the Wayne State University and University of Michigan Students Demand Action to Prevent Gun Violence   Political Action Campaigns (PACs) and Pro-Peace Candidates in the 13 New Congressional Districts Support Representatives Andy Levin and Rashida Tlaib who have been endorsed by Peace Action National and Peace Action of Michigan  Endorse and support Pro-Peace Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.  Support will include publishing our four full color  editions of our FLASH! Newsletter that reach 2,000 homes.  You can review the latest edition on our improved website–www.peaceactionmich.org  .Support will also include providing financial resources and volunteers for GOTV and our promoting Pro-Peace Candidates.

Redford MLK

We are seeking support for our annual 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast (MLK Breakfast).  The goals for the breakfast are to continue to promote and educate the community on peace, equality and fellowship among all.  Our event is always held the first of the year and continues into additional projects throughout the year.  We are hoping to be able to once again hold our event in person in 2023, if not we will once again modify the event based once again based on CDC guidelines and Township direction.  The second support we are seeking is for the Redford Township Commission on Diversity and Inclusion Commission.  Last year was their first year with hosting events. Due to the continuance of Covid, many of their events had to be modified to small group or virtual. This year they are looking to expand their activities.  One of their major plans for this year is to gather information from residents on what they feel is needed in Redford Township.  Their goal is help promote diversity and inclusion within Redford Township through ongoing events and activities.  The mission of both the MLK breakfast and Diversity and Inclusion Commission are similar: to bring to the community Peace, equality, fellowship and to expand the multicultural opportunities to bring our community together.  The annual Martin Luther King Breakfast will be celebrating our milestone 25th year continuing to support the Redford Interfaith Relief Food and Clothing Pantry in Redford Township.  We are always looking at additional organizations that need assistance in supporting local residents

Southeastern Michigan Jobs With Justice

SEMJWJ grew out of the Detroit newspapers strike in the 1990s as a passionate all-volunteer organization. In recent years, the organization declined in numbers and the ability to function effectively. In recognition of the value of such an umbrella organization locally, an Organizing Committee was formed in October 2014 to revitalize SEMJWJ and develop a sustainable support structure to effectively address the many local coalition building and coordination activities among labor, community and faith-based organizations. We are affiliated with National Jobs With Justice that was organized by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union 30 years ago. CWA Local in Southfield provides us office and meeting space.  The goal is to organize 10 Reversing Runaway Inequality workshops this year (ZOOM or in-person) as a tool for building multi-racial, working-class unity around issues of economic fairness and racial and gender equality, giving a voice to under represented constituencies and mobilizing citizens to engage political, community and union action, while united around a common economic analysis that the central problem in the U.S. is the extreme concentration of wealth and inequality.

Stand With Trans

Stand with Trans is committed to undergoing racial justice training for its staff and board in2022. The education will not only give us much needed perspective to serve a racially diverse trans youth population but will enable us to expand our reach to impact a greater number of families with varying intersectionalities. Through our work, we know that BIPOC youth need representation that goes beyond gender diverse identities. They want to see and interact with trans folks who “look like them” and who can relate socially and culturally as well. The training will be conducted by a seasoned team of educators specializing in this work.  Stand with Trans empowers and supports transgender youth and their loved ones. The Buck Dinner is about justice, peace, and equality. That is what our community strives for and why we are here.  Transrights are no less important or valid than anyone else’s human rights. The intolerance, violence, and turmoil that often surrounds the community is untenable.  We are speaking out and stepping up so our youth can have a future with choices and opportunities.  In June 2021, SwT and its Executive Director were recognized by the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings as Game Changers during Pride Month for the work that is being done in the community. During October 2021, SwT successfully hosted its second annual virtual Trans Empowerment Month. More than 400 registered for the event that boasted 50+ sessions, nearly 90 presenters, panelists, and performers, and reached a national and global audience. In addition, over the last couple of years we provided trans 101 and safe spaces training to nearly 1,000 individuals including lawyers, health care professionals, bankers, educators, and others.

St. Peter’s Peace and Justice Hive

The Buck Dinner has supported St. Peter’s Peace and Justice Hive since it was first established in 2010.The Hive provides space for organizations working to build a more just world through creativity, resistance, peace-making, and mutual aid. It serves as an anchor institution both for our church and for the wider community.  In the past two years, the Hive has continued to serve many community organizations, even as COVID has shifted tenants’ office uses and needs. As noted in our 2021 grant report, we experienced some turnover last year: The Black Youth Project 100 closed its Detroit office during the summer of 2021 and We the People of Detroit, a long-time renter of office space and water storage space, purchased their own building and relocated their offices in December 2021.  We continue to host a water storage station on three walls of the Hive kitchen. We are excited that this year has also brought the addition of two new tenants:  Michigan Mutual Aid Coalition, a group that distributes food to elderly and poor people in Detroit, and the Flying Cardboard Theater, a community puppet and theater group.  We are excited to continue supporting the work of both these organizations.  The current Hive tenant community includes:

• Meta Peace Team– an international effort to foster active nonviolence

• National Lawyers Guild– a bar association to support the legal rights of social change activists

• Michigan Interfaith Power and Light– part of a national movement for faith-based environmental stewardship

• Flying Cardboard Theater– a collaborative for community folk puppetry

• Michigan Mutual Aid Coalition– a group developed during COVID to provide meals to those in need

• Geez Magazine– a quarterly publication on “contemplative cultural resistance”

• Three Lyons Creative– a media and broadcasting group

• Manna Works Clay Studio– a space for creating ceramics

• Manna Community Meal– a Catholic Worker soup kitchen

• Corner Shower and Laundry– shower and laundry facilities for unhoused guests

• We The People of Detroit– water storage and distribution

Swords Into Plowshares

Our organization is dedicated to providing a space that allows community members, organizers, and artists to come together and work for a better world.  We host a mixture of art exhibitions, educational events, and private meetings that all focus on the work of building a world where peace is possible.  Peace is not just something you can declare and hope remains unchallenged - it has to be built out of material circumstances.  We work to use our space to contribute to this struggle.  We are currently in the process of gathering funding for a new artist residency designed to support political artists working in Southeast Michigan.  We aim for this residency to carry forward the ethos of artists like Paul Robeson who said, “As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.”  We are currently working with a team of 5 community artists to build out the idea, but our goal is to fund 2 artist residency slots, offering free studio space and a stipend to each artist.  Artists would receive support and guidance from other Detroit creators.  Our ultimate goal is to have 2-3 cycles of the program run over the course of the year, and to culminate in a once a year exhibition of all of the artists’ work

Visions Tribal Peacemaking

Visions is applying to the Buck Dinner for support of a specific video documentary project. The educational and advocacy objectives of our 30-minute program, “Tribal Peacemaking: A Path to Sacred Justice for All,” fits well with the mission of the Buck Dinner in regards to addressing issues of peace, justice, equality, progressive social change as well as to influence policy and resource allocation in systems and institutions. Also, the documentary will give voice to Native Americans—a particularly underrepresented constituency—by focusing upon their traditional tribal restorative justice values and practices and how they can apply to mainstream society.  

Visions’ mission is to produce and distribute social affairs documentaries that tell the stories of Michigan individuals and communities underrepresented in the mainstream media and in public discourse. To shine a light on people who are often voiceless and invisible in American society.  Its goal is to create one-of-a-kind documentaries that ignite our audiences’ empathy, expand their knowledge, enrich their lives as well as inspire civic engagement and positive social change at the local, state and national levels.

In the past few years, Visions successfully completed its one-hour Michigan Native American documentary entitled, “Warrior Lawyers: Defenders of Sacred Justice.” Here is the trailer: https://vimeo.com/365613227.  Also, the program began airing locally and nationally on PBS in mid-2021. And as the pandemic allowed, we began the documentaries’ community engagement campaign in the fall of 2021. Presently, Visions continues to schedule and implement community screening events of “Warrior Lawyers” to libraries, colleges and organizations/institutions. We have a wide range of showings/Q&A’s already organized throughout 2022 and will continue to add to our roster of events. In addition, Visions has begun fundraising for its next Michigan Native American documentary on Tribal Peacemaking.

Women in Black (WIB)

The group has been holding silent vigils since the early 1990s to call the public’s attention to U.S. military policies which erode our civil rights and civil liberties. Held on the second Monday of every month from noon–1 pm, WIB walk, single-file and in silence, carrying signs which inform the public of the dangers of current aggressive U.S. policies and actions (primarily military). A few examples of recent signs and banners:

• MONEY FOR COMMUNITIES NOT WAR/ Women in Black, Detroit

• NO WAR IN UKRAINE/Women in Black, Detroit

• In Revolutionary Spirit, WE GRIEVE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD/ Women in Black, Detroit

• WAR NO MORE

WIB, Detroit, has held monthly vigils, January–December, for both 2020 and 2021(as well as prior years as noted above). Participants ranged in number from 8 to 20 (size often dependent on the weather). We provide “street theatre.” The march is led by a drummer beating a slow cadence, a participant carrying or wearing a large peace puppet, and all other participants carrying signs or banners. Our visibility and persistence are our most significant organizational accomplishments.

Women Walking Woodward

Women Walking Woodward for Peace has its roots in the U.S. Social Forum held in Detroit in 2010, where a 90-mile walk from Detroit to Lansing was proposed at a plenary workshop on peacemaking. The following summer, six walkers from the Detroit area embarked on a ten-day journey dubbed Moveable Peace. Upon arriving at the Capitol, they gathered with peacemakers from around Michigan to demand a State Commission for Peace and Justice.

Women Walking Woodward was hatched during a conversation that took place between Anita Jones and Kim Redigan during that long walk, somewhere between Williamsburg and Lansing on a brilliant August afternoon alongside a soybean field. The idea of reclaiming Mother’s Day and returning it to its rightful place as a radical occasion to call for disarmament had resonance and began to take shape. On Sunday May 12, 2019 there was more than average interest in the walk beyond their core supporters. WILPF came along with their banner. They walked the three-mile loop from Cass & Forest to Grand Circus Park and back. Their numbers went up slightly to 25+.  

2021 Buck Dinner Grants

Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM)
Detroit Eviction Defense
Detroit MLK Day Committee
Friends of Royal Oak Township, Inc.
Geez Magazine
Jewish Voice for Peace - Detroit
Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan
Keiga Foundation
Meta Peace Team
Michigan Coalition for Human Rights
Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
Michigan Poor People's Campaign
Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign
Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network
Moratorium Now Coalition - Racial Profiling Along 8 Mile
Moratorium Now Coalition to Stop Evictions, Foreclosures & Utility Shut-offs
One Michigan for the Global Majority
Mint Artists Guild
Peace Action of Michigan
Redford MLK Breakfast Committee
Sarah Elizabeth Ray Project
Stand with Trans
State Fairgrounds Development Coalition
St. Peters Episcopal Church Social Justice Hive
St. Peters Episcopal Church Water Struggle
We the People of Detroit

American Civil Liberties ACLU & Fund (donated its 2021 share to organizations above)
Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice
National Lawyers Guild (NLG)

2021 FEJ Special Grant Fund

The Fund for Equal Justice (FEJ) received a special grant from the Ford Foundation for $50,000. The following organizations have received $5,000 grants:

• Coalition For Police Transparency & Accountability 

• Dignity 4 Detroit 

• Green Light Black Futures: BPY 100 Detroit 

• Detroit Coordinated Defense Coalition 

• Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition 

• Moratorium Now Coalition Profiling Across 8 Mile Coalition 

• National Lawyers Guild 

• One Michigan for Global Majority 

• Sugar Law Center from Economic & Social Justice 

• We The People Detroit 

About the Organizations that received
Grants from the Buck Dinner Committee in 2021:

Sugar Law Center $ 12,833.21 

The Sugar Law Center (SLC) -- general operating support to provide essential advocacy, legal support, and legal representation to advance social justice, racial equity, and economic equity in Detroit and throughout Michigan.  Sugar Law Center fights for the rights of low-income workers and other vulnerable citizens in the following areas:

Workplace Justice.  We assist low-wage, immigrant, and temporary workers fighting against wage theft, wrongfully denied unemployment benefits and paid sick leave benefits, exposure to workplace hazards including lack of COVID-19 protections for workers, and workplace discrimination in all its forms. We will also increase legal support for collective organizing.  

Community Justice. We provide legal representation on behalf of grassroots coalitions to obtain equitable development. We engage in public policy advocacy for equitable development and launched an online community benefits resource center to broaden the public discourse on equitable development.  

Democracy Emergency. We provide legal representation and engage in advocacy that supports democratic practices, and the equitable distribution of public resources by local and state government. 

National Lawyers Guild (NLG) $ 12,833.21 

National Lawyers Guild -- general operating support funding to sustain and expand capacity to do the following: a) Provide, coordinate, and network legal support and representation for social justice movements, organizations, and active individuals. b) Be present as visible and trained Legal Observers during demonstrations and other events where police might appear. c) Share accessible and practical Know Your Rights education with activist groups, classrooms, community organizations, and the public - through workshops, literature, and presentations about ways to protect and assert constitutional rights in everyday and protest situations. d) Bring law students into progressive legal work; support radical law students organizing educational events; collaborate with student chapters to consistently introduce movement lawyering, abolition, and other topics that challenge typical law school indoctrination and can help anchor students in social justice. e) Show public solidarity for grassroots community initiatives, human rights work, and other social justice efforts occurring in the courts, workplaces, and streets, and by people confined in jails and prisons. f) Establish and maintain an online legal directory for people and organizations seeking progressive attorneys in Michigan.

Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) $ 3,000.00 

General operating support to fight for a seat at the table for marginalized youth in decision-making about our lives and communities. Whether we are addressing lead and copper in our school water fountains, gun violence, climate change or education justice we believe that youth voices matter. We work intersectionally on issues of economic inequity, racism, homophobia, and ageism. We have been leading climate strikes in Detroit, coordinating a coalition of youth leadership programs, facilitating adult ally trainings, and presenting at national conferences. Since the pandemic, DAYUM has shifted to focusing on mental health support, mutual aid, and educational equity in virtual schooling. 

Young people will not get involved in activism if they do not see themselves represented in the national conversation and they can’t find an organization that speaks to them. DAYUM provides that representation.  Funds go toward campaigns, protests, and strikes led by student activists. Priority issue areas currently include climate change, mental health, and pandemic learning conditions. 

Detroit Eviction Defense $ 3,000.00 

Detroit Eviction Defense is a volunteer network of home owners, tenants, union members and community advocates united in the struggle against unjust foreclosures and evictions. We have been organizing in Detroit since 2009, first as “People Before Banks” and, since 2013, as Detroit Eviction Defense. Issues fall into two broad categories: new and continuing cases of homeowners or tenants facing mortgage, tax, or landlord foreclosure; and ongoing campaigns focusing on particular slumlords, banks, or government agencies. New cases are vetted by sub-committees to ensure that the family or individuals involved are prepared for a public campaign mobilizing their neighbors against an unjust eviction. Tactics vary according to circumstances, but can include: story line development and property research; lit-drops and postering of the neighborhood; canvassing the neighbors; Facebook/web/ YouTube/ newsletter page; developing an emergency text list; house rallies; fundraising; court packing at eviction hearings; phone flooding of landlord, bank or government offices; house vigils by shifts if eviction is imminent; outreach to neighborhood associations, churches, and/or businesses; media outreach; press conferences at the events on this list; neighborhood marches; packing of public hearings; petitioning of neighborhood associations, union meetings, public events; letter drops to bank branches and government offices; picketing and rallying at the courthouse, bank branch, or rental/realtor office, government office, and/or homes of officials; car caravans targeted as above; delegations to above targets; and finally, when all else fails, home defense to peacefully but militantly block evictions where possible

Detroit MLK Day Committee $ 1,750.00 

Funds for the 2022 Detroit MLK Day Rally and March, an annual all day celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By hosting the event, the Committee seeks to promote Dr. King’s vision and quest for jobs, peace and economic justice for all, and to encourage people to honor his legacy by building the movement for progressive social change. An indoor rally at the Historic St. Mathew’s & St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, a march through the North End neighborhood in Detroit, and an “after march” community meal served by the Detroit Wobbly Kitchen and cultural event at the church featuring local hip hop artists/ poets, musicians, and cultural performers. Participants are encouraged to bring items of winter clothing to donate for the homeless. The rally program tackles the issues confronting our communities today and their connection to the struggles and message of Dr. King through speeches from community activists involved in the struggle. For the past eighteen years, the Detroit MLK Day Committee has opened the new year with an event that inspires and invigorates the Detroit progressive community with a renewed sense of commitment to struggle for a better world. 

Friends of Royal Oak Township, Inc. (FOROT)  $ 2,000.00 

FOROT is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization, for 10 years actively engaged, provides training, resources, education, and cultural enrichment to include South Oakland County communities, and Metropolitan Detroit, with a range of comprehensive projects and activities. We provide free or low-cost educational and informational presentations to underserved individuals and communities via experienced and knowledgeable individuals. Our four pillars are: (1) Cultural Enrichment: Ongoing programs focused on contemporary and traditional events which celebrate individual and historical contributions, (2) Health and Wellness Promotion: Target’s children, youth and adults, and elders with emphasis on the benefits of food produced without the utilization of pesticides, nutritional label information, and caloric intake. We encourage healthier eating habits, diet, exercise, and physical fitness, (3) Urban Agriculture: Sankofa Community Garden grew out of the urban farming and agriculture movement. It is a “teaching and learning” program which involves all aspects of organic gardening and urban agriculture. It provides hands-on, guided instruction to participants, and (4) Historical Preservation.  These long-range projects will preserve the history and legacy of Royal Oak Charter Township by acquiring historical designation for a Township school building, and a free-standing historical library. We anticipate acquiring and archiving historical materials that depict the 1819 founding of the broader Royal Oak Township community. 

Geez Magazine $ 2,500.00 

Geeze magazine is a quarterly, non-profit, ad-free, print magazine about social justice, art, and activism for people at the fringes of faith in both Canada and the U.S. The grant is to uplift the voices, art, and stories of Detroit activists.  Aim is to nurture a community of faith-oriented folks that are concerned about the environment, peace, gender justice, disparity between rich and poor and other social concerns. At best we offer a prophetic and provocative voice to the institutional church and a pastoral presence to those laboring at the front lines of social change. Geez opposes all forms of oppression; it supports campaigns for social and environmental justice worldwide, acting as a vehicle for unheard voices. Geez adheres to core values of self-reliance, responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. We hope that in every issue we are addressing peace, justice, equality, progressive social change, and a defense against erosion of our civil rights and civil liberties. We believe that storytelling is a crucial piece of advocacy. 

Jewish Voice for Peace - Detroit $ 1,500.00 

General operating funds for JVP-Detroit, a chapter of national Jewish Voice for Peace. We support the struggle of Palestinians for peace, justice, equality, dignity, human and legal rights, and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals. The parallels between the traumas of daily living encountered by Black Detroiters and Palestinians are dramatic, involving water rights, home evictions and demolitions, arbitrary imprisonment and killings (including children), and failed access to education and health care. We use non-violent tactics requested by Palestinian civil society in 2005 from supporters around the world: boycott, divestment, and sanctions (“BDS”) against the State of Israel (not the Israeli people) and complicit transnational companies.

Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan $ 2,000.00 

Justice for Our Neighbors welcomes and supports immigrant communities by providing free, expert immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.  Services are provided regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability. We also actively engage in advocacy and community education to promote immigrant justice. As an organization, we work to improve diversity and enhance inclusive practices. JFON-MI helps immigrants understand their choices and navigate the complexities and barriers of the legal system. Volunteers promote a welcoming community that honors immigrants and help them integrate into local communities. Immigrants have very few options for fair, objective, accurate and affordable legal advice. The Justice for Our Neighbors model is volunteer driven and collaborates with local churches or community groups to offer legal clinics, education, and advocacy directly in the community. JFON supports a humane climate for current immigrants and fair and non-punitive immigration reform,  through community outreach and education, participating with other local, regional and national immigration organizations, supporting new programmatic and policy initiatives and promoting advocacy actions in favor of fair and compassionate immigration laws. 

Keiga Foundation $ 2,500.00 

Grant is to develop an educational program surrounding the Reverend Milton Henry and his impact on African American lives in Detroit. Our vision is to forge a world where artificial barriers disappear, and the unity and diversity of humanity is celebrated. False divisions and privileges based on class, race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, gender identity, and other perceived demarcations, must be spotlighted and eliminated for the benefit and advancement of all humanity. Keiga Foundation is an advocate for social and economic justice, through our high impact programs, we promote critical analysis, independent thought, and encourage informed activism to make a better world. Our social and economic justice programs are bold, creative, and transformative. We tackle serious topics, which may appear on the surface to be of local consequence, but upon closer examination, have a global dimension such as environmental racism, state and police violence, corrupt governmental systems, water shut-offs, illiteracy, homelessness, the inability to access clean and affordable water, and profiles of legendary champions and ordinary people who rise up against oppression and injustice.

Meta Peace Team $ 2,500.00 

Meta Peace Team (MPT) grant to help cover the cost of nonviolent violence de-escalation and direct action trainings, with a focus on work with the Michigan Poor People’s Campaign and local groups concerned about the rise in hate crimes. In November last year, we trained scores of election poll watchers as well as a large and well-coordinated affinity team from Detroit that covered every precinct in the city, concerned that armed militia members would show up at the polls to intimidate voters. MPT believes that Trumpism, with its violence rooted in white supremacy and nativism, is very much alive and intent on asserting its hateful ideology. MPT has played an integral part in the evolution of the Michigan Poor People’s Campaign.  MI-PPC engages in the Moral Monday campaign and joins forces with the People’s Water Board Coalition to advocate for water justice. 

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights $ 2,500.00 

MCHR seeks financial support for its Freedom Tour Program, launch of our current Youth Engagement Series and eventual, “in person” tour events.  These efforts will continue to be virtual, inclusive of educational programming, projects, and trainings. The series will be conducted by the committee and partners to further strengthen the cohort and uphold the vision of the Freedom Tour. There are per student fees associated with the execution of this series and, other associated costs. MCHR is a non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1980. It is an interfaith network of religious, labor, civic and humanitarian groups, and individuals. Its mission is to promote awareness of, commitment to, and advocacy for human rights through education, community organization, and action. MCHR promotes peace and reconciliation and opposes forces that suppress human dignity, freedom, and justice locally and around the world.

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition $ 3,000.00 

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition goals: climate justice, racial equity and environmental justice:  1) we target all our educational programming on clean air, impacts of climate on housing, communities, energy, and jobs with BIPOC communities. We run community education through the Clean Air Council and have recently begun the Climate Justice Training series. 2) Advocacy in policy-- air pollution, energy justice, climate change are core areas in which MEJC puts race, income, rental status, access to education, language accessibility at the center; we drive indicators into all decision-making from water, air and climate, energy, land. We anchor the Michigan Alliance for Justice in Climate to shift federal policy, local elections, and healing justice in Michigan. 3) Create spaces for community to represent themselves-- whether it is the bi-annual MEJC Summit, the MAJIC Campaign, media creation or State hearings, we advocate that communities speak for themselves to build grassroots leadership. MEJC aims to represent our issues as defined collectively in technocratic decision-making chambers, and to skill up, and lift up grassroots leaders to be the leaders of the future. We led the March for the Green New Deal with anchoring the Frontlines Detroit Coalition in 2019 before the Democratic Debate in Detroit. 

Michigan Poor People's Campaign $ 4,500.00 

For operating support: the State and National Poor Peoples Campaigns are committed to intersectional or fusion organizing, we are focused broadly on movement work addressing militarism, poverty, racism, democratic rights, and climate crisis/environmental justice – all toward changing the national narrative on poverty and under the leadership of low income and impacted people. At the beginning of the national electoral campaign, the PPC met publicly with most of the Presidential candidates and challenged them to make poverty a priority in the campaign and in their subsequent administrations.  Many of ARPA’s provisions embrace our Campaign’s 14 Policy Priorities to Heal the Nation, including additional stimulus payments ($400 billion), unemployment insurance ($300/week), food security ($12 billion), housing assistance ($35 billion), utilities assistance ($5 billion), the expanded Child Tax Credit, resources for public schools ($130 billion), childcare ($39 billion), Head Start ($1 billion), and aid to state, local and tribal governments ($350 billion). There is also funding for students with disabilities ($3 billion) and indigenous people, including for Indian Health Services and education (+$9 billion). Early estimates suggest that ARPA will reduce child poverty and economic insecurity by 10-45%.  Our work with partner organizations contributed to the temporary moratorium on water shut-offs (state and local) and continues to pressure the Duggan administration to implement a true water affordability rate structure. 

Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign $ 500.00 

The goal of Michigan Stop The Nuclear Bombs Campaign is to help end nuclear weapons proliferation worldwide, starting with the lynch-pin for refurbishing all the old nuclear weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal and making new nuclear weapons, which is the illegal Y-12 nuclear weapons production complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We oppose the multi-billion-dollar plans for the modernization of buildings around it, plus the building of the new Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y-12, by joining events in TN.  We also organize local events, petitions and lobbying efforts in Michigan.  We are working for progressive social change with advocacy efforts towards legislators, the courts and media. The peace and justice issues MISTNBC is addressing are towards a SANE nuclear policy emphasizing environmental safety, non-proliferation and eventual abolition of nuclear weapons. MISTNBC is a campaign to help Michigan citizens learn about anti-nuclear weapons issues and to galvanize them to attend the events sponsored by OREPA. If the U.S. Department of Energy's plans are not stopped, the world will be facing an increased threat with a newly revised arms race. 

Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network $ 2,500.00 

For operating expenses.  MichUHCAN is a statewide organization established in 1990 to work for comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare for ALL and improved health outcomes through education and advocacy and by addressing the social determinants of health.  We have been a consistent voice for healthcare justice at the local, state and national levels. We believe that for any reforms to be sustainable, they must advance the values of the community and be accountable for outcomes to the people.  Without health, one may be unable to work or contribute to the community. There is no liberty or justice without one’s health.  Priorities are: advocating in Congress for the Medicare for All bills.  At the state level, we will continue to work on co-signers for the proposed single-payer bill in Michigan and for legislation that will integrate physical and mental health delivery systems. 

Moratorium Now Coalition to Stop Evictions, Foreclosures & Utility Shut-offs $ 1,400.00 

Moratorium Now Coalition - Racial Profiling Along 8 Mile $ 2,000.00 

For operating expenses.  To bring together community activists in southeast Michigan to fight on a broad range of issues affecting poor and working people we have initiated struggles and campaigns and joined other organizations. These issues include fighting bank and tax foreclosures and evictions, water and other utility shutoffs, police brutality, war and militarism.  Moratorium Now responded to the Pentagon cruise missile attack in Iraq.  A protest in downtown Detroit drew 300 people and had speakers from over a dozen organizations.  During Covid, Moratorium Now had weekly virtual meetings holding together a strong core of activists. With the murder of George Floyd, Moratorium Now members hit the streets with masks, hundreds of signs featuring George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Brianna Taylor and other victims of police terror.   MN partnered with Racial Profiling Across 8-Mile organization to hold a mass march and rally that shut down 8 Mile Road for over an hour. This led directly to the 8 Mile Billboard Campaign to call out racial profiling north of 8 Mile Road.   MN after the November election issued a call for unions and community groups to discuss and prepare for a General Strike.  Issues always at the forefront of MN’s work are those of racism and police violence. We will put forward initiatives and also support and promote actions and campaigns of other progressive groups.  We will continue to work closely with Detroit Will Breathe to participate in their actions as well as offer some of our members’ long years in the Civil Rights movement. We have worked closely with Detroit Will Breathe, the National Lawyers Guild, Detroit Active and Retired Employees Association, Warriors on Wheels, Sunrise, National Conference of Black Lawyers, D-$15 (raise the minimum wage), Michigan Liberation/Action Council, Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability.

One Michigan for the Global Majority $ 5,000.00 

One Michigan grew out of direct action and lobbying campaigns around the DREAM Act. We remain active on this issue through education campaigns, public demonstrations, and assisting with DACA renewals. Founded in 2010 by undocumented immigrants to focus on a mix of advocacy, awareness-raising, resource creation, and direct action. We are directly connected and accountable to the youth and families in our community. In 2020 gave out $5,000 worth of sanitation supplies to over 100 families.  We have been able to get 20 women and one man released from Detention Centers since the Corona Virus quarantine. We gave toys to 1,340 children from Detroit for the holidays. Gave out $240K in cash to immigrant families for COVID relief based on an equitable scale (assisting around 175 families) Provided 500+ people with COVID Care sanitation supplies, provided 300+ families with diapers. 40 students graduated from our online organizing and social media training course. Provided COVID translation updates to 10,000+ people on social media. Working with Detroit Police and City Council’s Immigration Task-Force to ensure police are properly trained to not call Border Patrol/ICE when working with non-Violent police stops. Secured our largest grant of $30K from the Community Foundation to work with schools to develop plans to work and assist undocumented students. 

Mint Artists Guild $ 2,300.00 

Mint Summer Creative Jobs - Mint will hire 20 youth from Detroit to create art that reflects our commitment to community, generosity, equity and inclusion.  We will hire two to paint at least five progressive Michigan Influential women portraits and three or more Paint Detroit with Generosity paintings to honor the work and donate to local social justice nonprofits. Mint Artists Guild seeks to honor the work and mission of nonprofits that often are overlooked: helping homeless, serving immigrants and refugees and LBGT youth, cleaning up and beautifying parks and neighborhoods and advocating for fair access. Our Paint Detroit with Generosity paintings educate the youth who paint them and honor the nonprofits that receive them. We also give voice and attention to women whose voices still are not as loud or whose stories are always told. This year, we want to paint a series of portraits of influential women in Michigan who fought for women’s rights and civil rights and worker rights: Daisy Elliott, Viola Liuzzo, Ruth Ellis, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha MD, Charlotte “Lottie” Wilson. Once we paint 13 women's portraits, we will create an exhibit and a calendar to honor them all. We already have Grace Lee Boggs, Aretha Franklin and Rosa Parks.  We added new initiatives that engaged more children and youth in creative activities and partnered with two larger nonprofits to create and distribute more than 5,500 free creative activity kits during Covid. We also hired more youth artists, who created our Heroes: Now & Then exhibit, which includes nurses, civil rights activists, a gay WWII man, a woman from Gulabi Gang and more. Volunteers give substantial time as well for marketing, education and creative support of our youth and our nonprofit. 

Peace Action of Michigan $ 1,500.00

Peace Action grew out of two historic movements: The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign.  We continue to strive for: a demilitarized, sustainable economy by supporting a reduction of at least 10% in Pentagon Spending, cancelling the “modernization” budget for our nuclear weapons and delivery systems, etc.  This includes presentations of “Wars and Weapons: Realities and Roads to Sanity.” The abolition of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, by campaigning for the U.S. to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, cancelling the ICBM leg of our nuclear triad, etc.  Diplomatic resolutions to global conflict by advocating for a complete end of the Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates war on Yemen, advocating for the human rights of Palestinian Muslims and Christians, etc.  Funding is for publishing 2000 FLASH! Newsletters with information and action articles; maintaining the website, sponsoring the Fishman-Perrin Presentation by Professor Vincent Intondi, “The Intersection Between Race and Nuclear Weapons;”  leadership with the Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network; the annual Hiroshima Remembrance in August.  We remain vigilant in campaigning for the prevention of more nuclear bombings.  To that end, we will continue to publicize the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which went into effect on January 22, 2021.  We will campaign for the U.S. to sign the Treaty and disarm.    

Redford MLK Breakfast Committee $ 1,750.00 

Support for our annual 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast (now in its 24th year) to promote and educate the community on peace, equality and fellowship. This is always the first program of the year and springboards into additional projects. We are hoping to be able to hold our event in person in 2022, if not we will modify the event based on current MDHHS guidelines.  We seek support for additional activities for our newly formed Redford Township Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. They are kicking off events for the year with a Junteenth celebration and will continue to coordinate with Redford Township and residents for additional programs. Their goal is help promote diversity and inclusion within Redford Township.  The mission of both the MLK breakfast and Diversity and Inclusion Commission are similar: to bring to the community Peace, equality, fellowship and to expand the multicultural opportunities to bring our community together. We support the Redford Interfaith Relief Food and Clothing Pantry in Redford Michigan & St. Aloysius in Detroit. The Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast is organized by a small sub-committee comprised of the chair of the Redford Township Ministerial Alliance, Redford Township’s Deputy Clerk, Redford Township Leisure Services Director, member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the “One Redford” board. All of the proceeds from the MLK event go directly to our Interfaith Food and Clothing Pantry. Redford Interfaith has seen such a large increase of residents needing help and support through this pandemic. 

The Sarah Elizabeth Ray Project $ 2,000.00 

The SER Project was born amidst the Black Lives Matter protests. The SER Project will hold at least six, 90-minute sessions for community-based youth groups about the impact of Detroit Civil Rights activist Sarah Elizabeth Ray. Screened online and amplified by social media, it is expected that thousands will learn about her courageous fight for justice. Detroiters have fond memories of the Bob-Lo Boat. But who remembers the racist history of the Bob-Lo Excursion Company? Who knows the name of “Detroit’s Other Rosa Parks,” the woman who, when thrown from the boat, filed a complaint that took her all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court? Bob-Lo’s history has been whitewashed with nostalgia. Sarah Elizabeth Ray, whose cause became an NAACP test case paving the road to the pivotal Brown v. Board of Education (1954), has been all but forgotten. Ray’s quest for racial equality did not end with the Bob-Lo Boat. She later married Rafael Haskell, a Jewish labor activist who’d been brought before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1951. Following the Rebellion, the couple established the Action House in their east side Detroit neighborhood. They fought for the principles of shared struggle, faith in justice and a vision of equality among all peoples for the rest of their lives, impacting countless at-risk children through Action House. The SER Project will produce a book of essays, a children’s book, a 30-minute film, and an interactive website about her courageous fight for equal rights. They will be free and available to the public. It is The SER Project’s mission to uplift the work of Ray and Haskell, who spent their lives defending against the erosion of our civil rights and civil liberties. By telling their story through art, we hope to inspire multiple generations of activists to do their part in chipping away at inequality.  Talks are underway between the SER Project and the City of Detroit to extract and archive Ray’s personal papers and artifacts to prevent further deterioration. To date, ten on-camera oral histories have been conducted with community members who knew Ray or were impacted by her life.

Stand with Trans $ 2,500.00

It is critical that marginalized populations know how to advocate for their rights. There are so many inequalities within the transgender and gender non-binary population; we believe that youth and their families deserve the opportunity to learn how to use their voice to speak out, work to change law, and rally to be visible. This is especially timely now as so many anti-trans bills are surfacing in Michigan and throughout the United States. These proposed bills create problems where there are none and suggest outcomes that would leave our vulnerable youth without access to team sports, medical care, transition related services and more. This results in a greater need for mental health care, an increase in suicidality and a society that continues to “other” those with differences. We will be partnering with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to provide advocacy training to parents/caregivers and transgender and gender non-binary youth throughout the country. The intolerance, violence, and turmoil that often surrounds the community is untenable. We are speaking up and stepping up so our youth can have a future with choices and opportunities.  In 2020,  SwT was able to move everything to a virtual platform and now serves an international trans youth community.  SwT is increasing its training/education work with businesses and corporations who want to not only be better allies but learn how to integrate this education into the culture so when employees come out or have a trans child, the company and its employees will be better equipped and supported. SwT expanded its one-day Trans Empowerment Workshop to a month-long event in October of 2020. More than 700 people registered including youth from six international countries. The event boasted 50 educational sessions with nearly 40 presenters. SwT launched an equality voting initiative prior to the November election. The campaign was seen on Instagram, Reels and TikTok.  A trans teen support group was just launched in the Upper Peninsula where resources are scarce and most people have to travel an hour plus for any sort of services.

State Fairgrounds Development Coalition $ 2,200.00 

With the sale in November, 2020 of the City’s fairgrounds site to two developers for the construction of an Amazon warehouse (and two other unnamed industrial plants), our project has two objectives:  1) document the decade-long grassroots campaign led by the SFDC, distill the lessons learned for the benefit of multi-faceted social movements in it for the long haul, and produce an analysis of the neo-liberal agenda driven by the City for the conversion of land designated for a century as a Regional Park into a “light industrial” zone. 2) Continue our advocacy for the METAeXPO “7 Elements” under the new conditions in a leadership capacity and/or in support of other grassroots organizations.   

Environmental sustainability – the Amazon mega warehouse will generate massive pollution from trucks during peak hours which will have severe health impacts on the planned onsite bus station, nearby strip mall and residential areas, and beyond, and generate massive amounts of greenhouse gases contributing to the global climate crisis.   

Transit-Oriented development -- Organizations of transit riders are pushing back on a bus station location configured to Amazon’s needs, and not regular Detroiters bus riders.  The structure is not planned to be LEED certified.

Historic preservation – Preservationists and organized transit riders are collectively pushing back on present plans to locate the bus station in place of one of the three buildings on the Federal historic registry.  An online petition campaign (60,000 signatures) was successful in preventing the planned demolition of the historic bandshell.

New Economy jobs – If Amazon has its way, low paying, exhausting back-breaking jobs will be the “jobs of the future.” 

Participatory Democracy – Central to all our work is community engagement, including via Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance.  We’re in ongoing discussions focused on strengthening grassroots democratic power despite setbacks.  

St. Peters Episcopal Church Social Justice Hive $ 3,000.00 

Peace and Justice Hive offers meeting space and affordable rent to organizations working for progressive social change, for justice, peace and equality.  This shared space creates the potential for relationships, collaboration and movement-building synergy.  The Buck Dinner was instrumental in supporting the formation of the Hive at St. Peter’s and has supported it and many of the Hive’s tenants.  At a time when there are fewer affordable spaces in Detroit, the Hive offers below-market rental space for organizations that are critical to movement work in Detroit and beyond.  The Hive tenant community includes:

• ­We The People of Detroit

• Meta Peace Team

• National Lawyers Guild

• Michigan Interfaith Power and Light

• Black Youth Project 100

• Geez Magazine

• 3 Lyons Creative

• Manna Works Clay Studio

• Manna Community Meal (catholic worker soup kitchen)

• Corner Shower and Laundry (shower and laundry for unhoused guests)

We provide free heated space to organizations like Detroit Will Breathe, Michigan Liberation, Detroit Immigrant Emergency Response Network, Moratorium Now, MCHR, BAM, non-violence trainings for direct action, meetings, and events responsive to the real time needs of social movements.  We are looking for partners and collaborators in the work of justice and peace.

St. Peters Episcopal Church Water Struggle $ 2,000.00 

For the past seven years, St. Peter’s has been deeply involved in the citywide struggle for clean and affordable water for all.  Over 140.000 Detroit residences have experienced water shut offs.  St. Peter’s is a water station, meeting, training and organizing space for justice struggles and specifically water justice struggles.   At the beginning the water station was opened two days a week for residents to pick up water as needed. Eventually, St. Peter’s raised funds to assist WPD to move their main office and water rights hotline into the Peace & Justice Hive at St. Peter’s.   Today approximately 1,000 gallons of water are stored on shelves along the walls of the community kitchen in the Hive.  Volunteers from St. Peter’s regularly join in efforts to deliver water to residents who are newly or still shut-off.  Once the moratorium is lifted the issue of affordability remains.   In the wake of the pandemic we joined with We The People and the People’s Water Board to successfully pressure Gov. Whitmer to declare a moratorium on water shut-offs.  But the shut-offs never entirely stopped.  And for many who were shut off, their service still hasn’t yet been restored due to damaged pipes, plumbing, water heaters and boilers, in many cases destroyed protective coatings that prevented lead from leaching into the water – all caused by being shut-off in the first place.  Restoring water service is more complicated than just turning on a key. We will continue to stand up, speak out, and get in the way of water shut-offs as we advocate for clean, affordable, accessible water and sanitation for all the people of Detroit.  We are committed to coalition-building (with We the People Detroit, The Community Based Research Collective, The People’s Water Board, Michigan Poor People’s Campaign, Michigan Peace Team, National Lawyers Guild, MI Interfaith Power and Light, historically with Detroiters Resisting Emergency Management) to participate in both charitable giving (water and cash assistance) and to engage in research, direct action, and to advocate for policy change that guarantees clean and affordable water for all.  

We the People of Detroit $ 3,000

Funding to support We the Youth of Detroit’s project “Lead is a Great Lakes Problem - Our Youth are Showing Us Why” to demonstrate that lead in water continues to be an ongoing risky crisis. We are dedicated to community coalition building and to providing resources that inform, train, and mobilize Detroiters to improve their quality of life. WPD over the past two years has worked at the local, regional, and national levels promoting water equity and justice. Apart from co-sponsoring the Global Justice Water Summit in 2020 and participating in 2021, WPD has been at the forefront of responding to COVID. WPD has been distributing water at triple the rate to Detroit, Benton Harbor and Flint to combat the pending expiration of the state-wide moratorium on water shutoffs. The digital divide was exacerbated by the pandemic. WPD has multiple tech hubs across Detroit and Southeast Michigan to provide access to needed technology to access not only basic needs but essential training for the advocacy and policy work they are developing from the ground-up through our Water Policy Education & Engagement Program (Water-PEEP), the We the Youth of Detroit Lead Research Project, and the Great Lakes People of Color Water Policy Camp. The Community Research Collective (CRC) published Water insecurity and psychosocial distress: case study of the Detroit water shutoffs. Homes built before the 1950s are at high risk of lead contamination.  Failure to report, comply or carry out official duties has been the common thread in these crises. Failure to heed foreboding warnings or ensure safe water lead to Flint. Failure to maintain an aging system or proper record-keeping or report out on elevated lead levels lead to water shutoffs in Detroit homes and schools. This project aims to educate, train, and pay 17 Detroit youth to execute this project, host 8 community informational sessions, educate 5,000 residents, and recruit 250 residents to participate in the pilot project by having their water tested. 

Learn about our Buck Dinner 2020 Grantees

American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) 

aclumich.org
The ACLU of Michigan says it is the guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee. The Bill of Rights declared that we have rights and liberties that the government shouldn't interfere with: freedom of speech and the right to a speedy trial that are the cornerstone of our democracy and define what makes us American. Protecting these liberties and pushing for more freedom and equality in our lives is their job. The mission remains realizing the promise of the Bill of Rights for all and expanding its guarantees to new areas through these tools: public education, advocacy, organizing, and litigation.

The Buck Dinner supported projects helping illegal deportation, detentions, searches. It intervened with ICE and the police on immigrant rights; stopping water shutoffs in Detroit, justice for people of Flint, access to election polls by implementing Prop 3 (2016); ending racism in criminal justice and protecting access to abortion.

Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) 

facebook.com/Detroit-Area-Youth-Uniting-Michigan-625690124499721
Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) fights for accountability from leaders, justice for their communities, and a seat at the table for marginalized youth. DAYUM grew out of the group of young people who organized the Detroit branch of the March for Our Lives in 2018. They engaged over 10,000 people in this action and wanted to continue to provide a space for youth leadership in activism.

The Buck Dinner supported building the base of high school student activists to provide stipends, training and political education, funds for campaigns, protests and strikes led by student activists fighting for climate change, school building conditions and mental health. 

Detroit Jews for Justice 

detroitjewsforjustice.org
Detroit Jews for Justice’s mission for racial and economic justice engages Jews across metro Detroit in ongoing coalitional struggles. DJJ organizes the Metro Detroit Jewish community to participate in movements for racial and economic justice. They envision a region that is more equitable and joyous for all, with an emphasis on supporting the rights and leadership of people of color, low-income workers, the unemployed, women, LGBTQI, immigrants, and others struggling against systemic oppression. They draw strength from Jewish tradition, thought and culture to sustain their work. Detroit Jews for Justice was founded by Congregation T’chiyah to live out its mission of making social change central to the life of the congregation and committed to being a social justice organization owned by the entire Jewish community of Metro Detroit.

Buck Dinner supported general operating expenses to sustain work in Detroit’s struggle for water, housing, immigration and environmental justice, and to continue engaging in cultural organizing that builds a progressive voice in the Jewish community and a Jewish voice in the progressive community.

Detroit Justice Center 

detroitjustice.org
The Detroit Justice Center works alongside communities to create economic opportunities, transform the justice system, and promote equitable and just cities. DJC is founded on the belief that we cannot build cities that work for everyone without remedying the impacts of mass incarceration. This mission requires innovative ways of community lawyering—rooted in defensive and offensive fights for racial justice and economic equity—that build up our poorest residents through direct services and novel approaches to land use, housing, and employment. They use a three-pronged approach— “defense, offense, and dreaming”—to serve individual clients, build power, and catalyze systemic solutions: Legal Services Practice, Economic Equity Practice, and Just City Innovation Lab. Buck Dinner grant to support direct legal service to youth and adults, reduce their likelihood of further court involvement and increase their economic opportunities. Serve clients by removing legal barriers from individuals from participating in the economy. The Buck Dinner supported operating expenses.

Detroit MLK Day Committee 

mlkdetroit.org
Greater Detroit’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is promoted through a rally and freedom march for truth, freedom, justice, nonviolence and compassionate outreach for those in need, at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit. The MLK Day event keeps alive Dr. King’s dream and devotion to realizing ‘The Beloved Community’ in a manner best defined by one of King’s foremost mentors, Mahatma Gandhi, by ‘being the change we wish to see.” Annually, the Buck Dinner supported the indoor rally, march through North End neighborhood and an after march community meal and cultural performers. This year’s event was held virtually.

Equitable Detroit Coalition 

equitabledetroit.org
Equitable Detroit Coalition (EDC), the city wide community benefit agreement coalition used Buck Dinner funds to support the Just Beniteau Campaign to advance the cause of Beniteau residents faced with eminent displacement by expansion of the Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) plant on Detroit’s lower eastside. The specific focus of the campaign was to hold the corporation accountable for the public subsidies they receive and the negative impacts these large-scale industrial projects have on community residents particularly among people of color and low income. The goals of the Just Beniteau Campaign: (a.) to develop an organizing strategy that recruits a base of residents; (b.) residents draft clear demands targeting not only FCA but city and state officials; and (c.) expand the reach and power of the city-wide CBA coalition membership. 

Geez Magazine 

Contemplative Cultural Resistance

GeezMagazine.org
Geez magazine, based in Detroit, is a quarterly, non-profit, ad-free, print magazine about social justice, art, and activism for people at the fringes of faith in both Canada and the U.S. Its aim is to nurture a community of faith-oriented folks that are concerned about the environment, peace, racial and gender justice, decolonization, and other social concerns. It offers a prophetic and provocative voice to the institutional church and a pastoral presence to those laboring at the front lines of social change. Buck Dinner provided funds to uplift the voice, art and stories of Detroit activists. They believe that storytelling is a crucial piece of advocacy. 

Jewish Voice for Peace–Detroit 

Facebook.com/jewishvoiceforpeacedetroit
JewishVoiceforPeace.org
Jewish Voice for Peace is the largest US-based grassroots organization dedicated to promoting full equality, democracy and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. JVP-Detroit is a local chapter of the national organization Jewish Voice for Peace, the largest US-based grassroots organization dedicated to promoting full equality, democracy and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Buck Dinner funds assisted the organizational costs of their activism, which focused on educating the local community and candidates for office to support the struggle of Palestinians for peace, social justice, equality, dignity, human and legal rights and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals. 

Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan 

jfonmi.org
Justice for Our Neighbors attorneys help low-income immigrants understand choices and navigate the complexities and barriers of the legal system for those who can’t afford a private attorney. The process to become a documented U.S. resident has complex, confounding rules. It is expensive to navigate. It can take years to secure a green card and decades to become a citizen. Meanwhile, many immigrants face deportation or incarceration.  Justice for Our Neighbors provides legal representation and help with various humanitarian applications, including visas, for victims of crime and of trafficking, refugee Green Card applications, asylum applications, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile status, representation in Immigrant Court, and Self-Petition under Violence Against Women Act. They offer family reunification services to bring and keep families together. The Buck Dinner funds provided operational support.

League of Women Voters – Oakland 

my.lwv.org/michigan/oakland-area
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan membership political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. They never support or oppose any political party or candidate. The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles. Voters Service/Citizen Education: presents unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues. Action/Advocacy: also nonpartisan, but, after study, they use their positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest. LWV conducts voter service and citizen education activities. Buck Dinner funds helped print the November 2020 folder guide a non-partisan publication that includes information on all candidates.

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights 

mchr.org
The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR) promotes awareness of, commitment to, and advocacy for human rights through education, community organization, and action. MCHR opposes forces that suppress human dignity, freedom, and justice locally and around the world and the environmental rights of planet Earth. Financial support from the Buck Dinner went to the 2021 freedom tour taking high school students on a 10 day journey to the south to educate them about the civil rights movement and inspire them to be social justice leaders.

Michigan Meta Peace Team 

Peace Teams and Nonviolence
www.metapeaceteam.org
The Michigan Meta Peace Team empowers people to engage in active nonviolent peacemaking. MPT was started in 1993 in response to the growing need for civilian peace-makers both in the U.S. and abroad. It offers nonviolence training workshops and provide opportunities to join peace teams. They seek a just world grounded in nonviolence and respect for the sacred interconnectedness of all life. Buck Dinner funds went to better develop their youth and direct action trainings and make trainings available at reduced or no cost to young people and community members who struggle financially. They wrote a direct action half a day training on resistance to water shut off and to update multi language printed materials.

Michigan Poor People's Campaign 

michiganppc.org
Michigan Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is the Michigan Chapter of the PPC. Initially envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years ago just before his assassination, the Poor People’s Campaign aims to combat the “four evils” of American society: poverty, systematic racism, the war economy and environmental devastation. It is rooted in a moral analysis based on deepest religious and constitutional values that demand justice for all. Moral revival is necessary to save the heart and soul of our democracy. They believe in the dismantling of unjust criminalization systems that exploit poor communities and communities of color and the transformation of the “War Economy” into a “Peace Economy” that values all humanity. Buck Dinner funds were for general operating support and campaign outreach support for state-wide engagement in several MI PPC and National PPC initiatives. 

Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign  

Michiganpeacenetwork.org/organizations/Michigan-Stop-the-Nuclear-Bombs-Campaign 
Michigan Stop the Bombs is associated with Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Environmental Peace Alliance OREPA. The Campaign is a series of anti-nuclear weapons events sponsored by the OREPA. They primarily focus on the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant in Oak Ridge. They oppose the plans for a $7.5 Billion new Uranium Processing Facility planned for Y-12. As a campaign they work closely with several other organizations in Michigan, primarily through the Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network. Within the Network those the main organizations they work with are Pax Christi Michigan, Peace Action of Michigan and Michigan Peace Team. Buck Dinner funds helped with operational support.

Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network (MICHUHCAN) 

michuhcan.org/about
Michigan Universal Health Care Action Network is a state-wide membership organization network that promotes comprehensive health care for all and improved health outcomes by addressing the social determinants of health through education, strategy development and advocacy. Their diverse team of experts from medicine, law, and community organizations are a consistent voice for justice in Michigan health policy. They protect the rights of patients and health care consumers by advocating on policy committees and advisory boards across the state. Education: We educate the public about how health care policy affects them and engage them to take action. Strategy: We keep our network informed about the latest updates on health care reform by publishing brochures, newsletters, emails, and mobilize our members to take actions on key issues. Buck Dinner funds helped with operational support.

Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

mwro.org
MWRO is the state chapter of the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRU), a nationwide membership organization of welfare recipients. The goals of the NWRO are to develop a system that guarantees adequate income, dignity, justice and democracy.” Buck Dinner funds went to support two projects: 1) Establishing a second MWRO office in the newly-established General Baker Institute in a building in northwest Detroit, a hub for political education and organizing. Funds also were used to partner with the Highland Park Human Rights Coalition to do outreach to Highland Park residents concerning the class action suit against the Highland Park water department.  

National Lawyers Guild (NLG) 

michigannlg.org
The National Lawyers Guild provides legal support and trainings to progressive groups organizing demonstrations or direct actions; they offer know your rights and civil disobedience trainings to law students, lawyers community groups and activists; they work to respond to police misconduct and protect the right to dissent. The primary role of the NLG Legal Observer program is to be the eyes and ears of the legal team. At the request of social justice and activist groups, Legal Observers attend public demonstrations, trained to observe and record events to ensure that the civil rights of protesters are not violated by law enforcement. This program is part of a comprehensive system of legal support designed to enable people to express their political views as fully as possible without unconstitutional interference by the police. Legal Observers are typically, but not exclusively, law students, legal workers and lawyers. Buck Dinner funds supported operations.

One Michigan for the Global Majority  

1 Michigan for the Global Majority | Facebook
1 Michigan for the Global Majority is a non-profit focused on youth services and community organizing around equitable rights across the world. The Buck Dinner supported Covid response with non-English speakers, undocumented community and those in detention centers with no access to hygiene products.

Peace Action of Michigan 

www.peaceaction.orgpeaceaction.org 
Peace Action of Michigan is an organization that supports and lobbies local, state, and national politicians and elected officials. The Peace Action of Michigan Education Fund is a non-partisan organization for the purpose of education about Peace Action's Mission. They are an affiliate of Peace Action (formerly SANE/FREEZE), the United States’ largest peace and disarmament organization, with over 100,000 paid members and nearly 100 chapters in 36 states. They work to abolish nuclear weapons, promote government-spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary solutions to international conflicts. Peace Action of Michigan is a democratic, grassroots movement organizing locally to achieve a new foreign policy leading to a just world without violence. They seek: a demilitarized, sustainable economy, the abolition of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and diplomatic resolutions to global conflict.

They used Buck Dinner funds for: Peace Voter campaign to shape positions on peace and justice and to get out the vote for progressive, peace-seeking candidates; Cut the Pentagon–Fund the Green New Deal; and the financing of signs and handouts to create public pressure on candidates to reduce spending our taxes on war. Funds were used to print and mail four editions of newsletter FLASH to over 2,000 and support the Hiroshima Commemoration event, the annual remembrance of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for securing a high profile speaker and publicity. This year’s commemoration focused on getting out the vote for candidates who support objectives of a demilitarized, sustainable economy, the abolition of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, and diplomatic resolutions to global conflict

Redford MLK Breakfast Committee
Redford Township 

redfordtwp.com/Portals/1072/docs/2019/MLK%20Breakfast%202018.pdf
Buck Dinner funds helped offset costs of annual MLK breakfast in Redford. The goals for the breakfast are to continue to promote and educate the community on peace, equality and fellowship among all and to expand the multicultural opportunities to bring our community together. This program is always the first program of the year and springboards into additional projects. The breakfast will be celebrating the 23rd year supporting the Redford Interfaith Relief Food and Clothing Pantry and St. Aloysius in Detroit. The MLK committee partners with the community and community members including Redford Township, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Redford Township Democratic Club, the Redford Ministerial Alliance and “One Redford.”

Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice (SEMJWJ/UC) 

jwj.org/about-us/our-network/southeast-michigan-jobs-with-justice
Jobs With Justice is leading the fight for workers’ rights and an economy that benefits everyone. They lead strategic campaigns and shape the public discourse to build power for working people. Jobs With Justice is committed to working nationally and locally, on the ground and online. They win real change for workers by combining innovative communications strategies and solid research and policy advocacy with grassroots action and mobilization. Jobs With Justice believes that all workers should have collective bargaining rights, employment security and a decent standard of living within an economy that works for everyone. They bring together labor, community, student, and faith voices at the national and local levels to win improvements in people’s lives and shape the public discourse on workers’ rights and the economy. 1) To organize 10 more Reversing Runaway Inequality workshops this year as a tool to give labor, community and faith activists the moral and economic justification to argue in behalf of the proposal to bring back a state progressive income tax to Michigan and for a possible federal wealth tax, (2) To continue building multi-racial, working-class unity around issues of economic fairness and racial and gender equality, specifically mobilizing citizens to engage in unified way around this year’s elections. Buck Dinner funds supported the operational costs. 

Stand with Trans 

standwithtrans.org
For families and youth who are transitioning, it is critical to have access to a wealth of resources that will educate, inform and support. This includes books, articles, therapists, medical doctors, and more. If you’re a transgender tween, tween, or the parent of a transgender individual, they have virtual support groups for you. They also have a support group for non-binary young adults. Be supported online. It is critical that marginalized populations know how to advocate for their rights. There are so many inequalities within the transgender and gender non-binary population; they believe that youth and their families deserve the opportunity to learn how to use their voice to speak out, work to change law, and rally to be visible. They will be partnering with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to provide advocacy training to parents/caregivers and transgender and gender non-binary youth. Buck Dinner funds went to training 10 trans youth and 10 parents

State Fairgrounds Development Coalition

mifairgroundsfuture.org
There has been a persistent outcry that the State Fairgrounds land needs to be used for the people. The group has surveyed hundreds of Detroiters over the years. Most people mourn the loss of the State Fair. They would like to see an updated use of the fairgrounds that incorporates some type of celebration of that industry and agriculture that Michigan is famous for. The State Fairgrounds Development Coalition rolled out its own ambitious proposal, a “21st century sustainable concept” dubbed “META Expo.” The acronym, derived from “Michigan Energy Technology Agriculture,” was based on a wish-list of items gathered from the coalition’s community outreach. The concept would transform the fairgrounds into a regional transit hub, complete with solar arrays, greenways, a “geo pond,” and even plans for further urban development that would encompass climate, sustainability, and reducing Detroit’s carbon footprint. Buck Dinner funds went to organizational support.

St. Peters Episcopal Church Social Justice Hive St. Peters Episcopal Church Water Struggle

stpetersdetroit.com/the-hive
During the COVID-19 crisis St. Peter’s participated in various calls to immediately halt water shut-off and reconnect water to all residences. Tens of thousands of Detroit residents remain without water. It will take months to bring many back on-line because long-term shut-offs have damaged pipes, plumbing, water heaters and boilers, in many cases destroying protective coatings that prevented lead from leaching into the water. Buck Dinner grant partially subsidized the dedicated space for water storage in the St. Peters Sanctuary and its delivery to those in need. The Buck Dinner was instrumental in supporting the Social Justice Hive at St. Peter’s and has supported it and many of the Hive’s tenants. The shared space creates affordable space for movement work in Detroit and for recognizing the potential for collaboration and movement-building synergy. The Peace and Justice Hive is in St. Peter’s “parish house” (the office/classroom, the attached 3-storybuilding). The concept is a social justice Hive where peace, justice and arts organizations rent space in a place where synergy and relationship can and do happen. Hive tenants include:·We The People of Detroit (which includes the Community Research Collective, the water hotline & water storage)·Meta Peace Team (formerly Michigan Peace Team)·National Lawyers Guild·Manna Works Clay Studio (a clay studio for resident artists), Detroit Hive organizations and other Detroit activists, soup kitchen guests and St. Peter’s Peace Arts Camp)·Radical Discipleship·Black Youth 100·Geez Magazine·3 Lyons Creative (a mission-driven video creative services company)·Michigan Interfaith Power and Light·Manna Community Meal(catholic worker soup kitchen)·Corner Shower and Laundry

Sugar Law Center
for Economic & Social Justice 

sugarlaw.org
During times of challenge and crisis, the preservation, protection, and exercise of fundamental rights is vital to ensure healthy and safe communities and protect the welfare of the nation. Every day the economic and social rights of low income workers and communities are threatened by unfair employment practices, inappropriate development deals, environmental harms, and a range of discriminatory corporate and government policies. The Sugar Law Center aims to support low income workers, their families, and communities as they stand up and stand together for a fuller realization of their economic and social rights, through advocacy, education, and research. Efforts focus on issues of decent work, fair development, and environmental protection. They combine public education, policy initiatives, know-your-rights trainings, legal advocacy, technical support, and other tools. 

The SLC used Buck Dinner funds for general operating support to ensure organizational stability and increase capacity to engage in precedent-setting legal work that prioritize the interests of people over property. The need to protect the most vulnerable in our society is more urgent now than ever. SLC engages in legal advocacy and public policy campaigns in the following areas 1) assist low-wage, immigrant, and temporary workers to combat wage theft, support collective action, and oppose workplace discrimination in all its forms; 2) provide legal advocacy on behalf of grassroots coalitions to obtain equitable development; 3) establish an online community benefits resource center to broaden the public discourse on equitable development and further equip organizers; 4) defend unemployment insurance protections; 5) advocacy to ensure the fair funding of Michigan cities and combat the erosion of democracy in local government. 

We the People of Detroit 

wethepeopleofdetroit.com
facebook.com/wethepeopleofdetroit 
We the People of Detroit is dedicated to community coalition building and to the provision of resources that inform, train and mobilize the citizens of Detroit and beyond to improve their quality of life. In 2008, We The People of Detroit (WPD) was founded in response to Emergency Management over the city of Detroit and Detroit Public Schools. As a community-based grassroots organization, WPD aims to inform, educate, and empower Detroit residents on imperative issues surrounding civil rights, land, water, education, and the democratic process. In 2014, as one effect of Detroit's bankruptcy, the Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) initiated a massive water shutoff campaign against Detroit residents who had unpaid water bills. For many Detroit residents, water has become increasingly unaffordable. In a city where nearly 40% of its people live in poverty, many Detroiters must choose between their water bill and other necessary payments. Since 2014, over 100,000 Detroit residents/homes have lost access to water services and that number is only predicted to rise in 2017. In addition, the DWSD and City of Detroit have no intention of creating a truly equitable payment plan for affordable water services.  

Buck Dinner funds went to publish the second research book and plan and implement a community engagement and education campaign roll out. This research and development is currently being developed by the We the People of Detroit's Community Research Collective. The title of the publication will be Mapping the Education Crisis.

Women in Black 

Facebook.com/Women-In-Black-Detroit-1414825072097546/
Women in Black holds theatrical monthly silent vigils to protest war and violence, domestically and internationally. They invite everyone, women, men and children, to join. They meet on the second Saturday of every month at noon and conduct a walking vigil for one hour. Locations vary from the east to westside of Detroit and adjacent suburban downtowns.  

Buck Dinner funds went to operating costs: creation of signs and banners to use at monthly vigils. While some signs can be used repeatedly, they also create new ones focused on the most current political issues relevant to purpose; printing of annual post-card publicity for the year’s vigil schedule, printing of monthly fliers and notices distributed at vigils and honorarium (occasional) for a singer.

See a list of many of the grant recipients over the past eight decades