Grassroots Perspectives

Join Janis as she talks with Judy de Barros, Manager of The Seattle Foundation's esteemed Neighbor to Neighbor grassroots grantmaking program.   Janis and Judy are talking about how Neighbor to Neighbor has evolved over its twenty year history (partners, mechanics, and focus) and what is ahead.  Judy is sharing insights about the benefits to both the foundation and the community that comes with a long-term "patient money" grantmaking approach - how small projects build to energizing people as active citizens and contribute to community vitality, well-being and justice.  

Listen to this Grassroots Perspectives podcast to hear Janis’ conversation with Jeanette Mitchell, Director of Leadership for Professionals of Color at Cardinal Stritch University, about Milwaukee’s new Neighborhood Leadership Institute.  The Neighborhood Leadership Institute is a partnership among Cardinal Stritch Unitersity, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, LISC Milwaukee and United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee.   Jeanette is describing how the idea for the Institute emerged, what was done to get started, and what curriculum is being piloted with 13 neighborhood teams this year.  She is also sharing what she and others are learning about supporting leadership development at the grassroots and what plans are now taking shape to make neighborhood leadership training a sustainable part of the Milwaukee neighborhood strengthening landscape.

In this podcast, Janis is talking with Zilber Family Foundation President Susan Lloyd about the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative, a partnership between the Zilber Family Foundation and the Walnut Way Conservation Corp. in Lindsay Heights, Journey House in Clarke Square, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, LISC Milwaukee, and United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee.   We will hear about how residents, educators, business owners, and nonprofit leaders have come together to envision the future of their neighborhoods with support from the Zilber Family Foundation and others for the highly engaged community work involved with completing and implementing quality of life plans for each neighborhood.   Grassroots Grantmakers is partnering with the Zilber Family Foundation to bring its highly regarded On the Ground learning exchange to Milwaukee in 2013 (September 9-12) - with in person visits to the neighborhoods that have been involved in the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative and conversations with people who have been involved.  This podcast will be a good introduction to this work for those who are interested in attending.

In this Grassroots Perspectives podcast, Janis is visiting with Emily Verellen, Director of Programs and Communications with The Fledgling Fund, a private foundation driven by the passionate belief that film can inspire a better world. Janis and Emily are talking about how film can be used to engage communities in timely issues, help teach students about complex topics, bring people together around a common story, spark conversation and inspire action.  Emily is also talking about how The Fledging Fund uses grants that support outreach and audience engagement and shares their knowledge, experience and the lessons learned to strengthen the field of social issue documentary film.  

Janis is talking with Sheena Solomon about the What If Mini-Grant Program that she designed to encourage Syracuse neighbors to join forces and move their good ideas into action.   Sheena will tell us why she thought a mini-grant program was important for Syracuse, how she approached building buy-in for the program, how it works, and what difference it is making.