Grantee: Hudson Link For Higher Education in Prison
Our Hudson Valley Program is now six years old with a total commitment of $5 million to support grassroots organizing in a region that extends from Albany to Westchester. The range of communities and issues shows the changing realities of the region, which has been impacted dramatically by economic pressures coming from New York City. This cycle awarded $230,000 in nine grants, bringing the total awarded by the fund this year to $1.3 million.
Meet Four New Hudson Valley Grantees
Our newest grantees work in issue areas where they join a number of existing grantees working on issues of housing justice, incarceration–many prisons now occupy the landscape of the Hudson Valley–along with Black-led organizing and environmental justice. The Hudson Valley Community Funding Committee (CFC) awarded $20,000 to each of these organizations, an increase from our previous awards of $10,000 or $15,000.
Hudson Link For Higher Education in Prison
A group of professionals—many formerly incarcerated—that provides college education, life skills and reentry support to currently and formerly incarcerated people so they can positively impact their own lives, families and communities. Learn more at hudsonlink.org.
Sullivan County Housing Coalition
A community resource for tenants who are experiencing push-outs or housing violations and want to become leaders through projects like “Housing Rights Boot Camp” that teaches people self-advocacy skills.
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
An organizing project focused on bus riders in Westchester County advocating for efficient, affordable, non-polluting transportation options to better serve the 1 million residents of the county. Learn more at tstc.org.
We ARE Revolutionary
An Albany-based community project confronting the underlying causes of poverty and violence by equipping families with the tools and knowledge they need to engage in the political process. Learn more at wearerevolutionary.org.
Plus Five Familiar Grantees
These grantees have been previously funded for their work either by the Hudson Valley Fund or by the Let Us Breathe Fund. They have been awarded $30,000 grants and will be eligible for multi-year support in fall 2024.
Community Rising Project
A grassroots organization based in Troy, New York dedicated to the advancement of people of color who have been traumatized in the community or in the criminal legal system. Learn more at crpny.org
Free People’s Market
A community-building project that distributes nutritious organic and sustainable food for free or “pay what you can” prices and is building a cooperative model to confront local policies that contribute to local poverty.
Rock Steady Farm
A queer-owned and operated cooperative vegetable farm located in Millerton, New York, rooted in social justice and food access and offering hands-on farmer training for sustainable agriculture. Learn more at rocksteadyfarm.com.
Saratoga Black Lives Matter
A community-based organization whose leaders and members are leading and participating in direct actions for racial justice across the Capital Region while connecting that work to national racial justice organizing. Learn more at
facebook.com/saratogablm1312.
Troy 4 Black Lives
An intergenerational collective of volunteer organizers based in Troy, New York who came together in response to local killings by police to demand police accountability. Learn more at
troy4blacklives.com.
We continue to see the growth of movements for justice in a complex region where effective organizing can build the potential for statewide victories. To see the big picture of our Hudson Valley grantmaking, visit https://northstarfund.org/hudson-valley.
Header image by Angela James.