We renew and reinforce our commitment to stand in solidarity with the black community. We are still learning. We will continue to do better.
One year ago, the world was reacting to the horrible murder of George Floyd. I sent out an email on Juneteenth partially as a response to the events that were unfolding throughout the world and partially as way to hold The Gobioff Foundation accountable for not doing enough. We chose 5 organizations to highlight. Each organization received $20,000 unrestricted grants from the Gobioff Foundation.
Since then we have looked for more opportunities to provide funds for organizations that are addressing the systemic inequities that exist in our country. While we have made some progress by forging new relationships and making more grants to organizations that address equity in the arts, we still continue to listen and learn about how we can do better. We will continue on that path.
About a week ago I sent an email to our Vice-president (who also happens to be my wife, Gianna) and suggested that we repeat the Juneteenth giving that we did last year with 5 new organizations and that we make it something we do every year. Gianna immediately agreed and we began our search to identify 5 organizations that we believe can create a meaningful impact with their work.
So, today, on Juneteenth, and for every Juneteenth while we can, we will raise up the voices of 5 organizations responding in different ways to the systemic issues our nation faces. We will hold them high in celebration of everything they do as they work to make the world a better place. If you have an organization you’d like us to consider in future years, please share them with us at juneteenth@gobioff-foundation.org. The Gobioff Foundation will continue to challenge everyone to stand up. Show up. Listen. Act. Be an Ally. We remind everyone that not just today, but on all days, Black Lives Matter.
Neil Gobioff
President, Gobioff Foundation
The five organizations receiving $20,000 unrestricted grants from the Gobioff Foundation this year are:
Red Olive
Culture Commons
Red Olive Culture Commons is a Black woman-owned and -led creative universe. They value working closely with their clients to produce an action plan that is rooted in best practices and the organization’s current assets and aspirational capacities. They believe in process and plan as well as activation; they believe the success is in the doing.
Red Olive values beauty, truth—even if it is brutal—rigorous analysis, the amplification of assets, and most importantly, a collaborative practice.
National Police Accountability Project
National Police Accountability Project (NPAP) is a project of the National Lawyers Guild, which was founded in 1937 as the first racially integrated national bar association. In 1999, NPAP was created as a non-profit to protect the human and civil rights of individuals in their encounters with law enforcement and detention facility personnel. The central mission of NPAP is to promote the accountability of law enforcement officers and their employers for violations of the Constitution and the laws of the United States.
The Loveland Foundation
The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle in response to her widely successful birthday wish fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women and Girls. Her enthusiastic social media community raised over $250,000, which made it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations.
The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of this effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, ultimately they hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities they serve.
Community Bail Fund
The Community Bail Fund (CBF) is dedicated to ending the widespread incarceration of individuals who have been arrested for non-violent offenses but lack the financial means to pay bail and return home to their families while awaiting their court date.
CBF is a unique collaboration between the Morgan family, State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Public Defender Bob Wesley, both of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Orange & Osceola Counties.
The organization will raise funds to provide bail money to people — who have not been convicted of the crime for which they were arrested – who are forced to sit in jail while they await trial only because they lack the funds to regain their freedom.
Black Voters Matter
Capacity Building Institute
Their goal is to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. They seek to achieve their goals with the following 5 core beliefs in mind:
- The key to effective civic engagement and community power is understanding, respecting and supporting local infrastructure.
- Black voters matter not only on election day, but on the 364 days between election days as well. This means they must support individuals and organizations that are striving to obtain social justice throughout the year.
- Black voters matter *everywhere*, including rural counties and smaller cities/towns that are often ignored by candidates, elected officials, political parties and the media.
- In order for Black voters to matter, they must utilize authentic messaging which speaks to their issues, connects with their hopes and affirms our humanity.
- The leadership, talent and commitment demonstrated by Black women in particular must receive recognition and, more importantly, *investment* in order to flourish and multiply.