In This Issue
The Lenny Zakim Fund:
Celebrating Social Justice Together 
March 13, 2013
Greetings!  
 
The LZF Award Ceremony united our diverse community as  we  listened to the powerful and inspiring stories of our grantees. The heartfelt poetry of the children from Troubadour and the social justice commitment of the Rashi School middle school leaders gave us hope for the future. We honored our community's heroes as we presented their grants. Thank you for making all this possible. Please consider a gift to the LZF now so that we can further deepen our impact. Social justice is our common goal and when we celebrate it together, it is truly beautiful.    

Susan's Signature
Susan Rothman
 

Chair, Board of Directors

Small But Mighty! 57 New Grantees at the Award Ceremony
Rob and Genuine Voices AC2013Small but Mighty - that three word phrase describes the Lenny Zakim Fund and the small grassroots organizations that we support to a T. But, together we are not small at all, together, we are mighty! And that was certainly evident at the 17th Annual Award Ceremony held on February 25th at Boston's Courtyard Marriott. This year the LZF has allocated a record $500,000 and on that night 57 world-changing grassroots agencies received their grants. Please click here to see them all.
Each and every community leader is a hero; here are the inspiring words of those who spoke that night.


Natalicia Tracy, Brazilian Immigrant Center

Natalicia

The heart and soul of the Brazilian Immigrant Center, is to help vulnerable populations - in our case, Brazilian immigrant workers - gain a voice through our organizing, advocacy, and policy work.  

At the Brazilian Immigrant Center we seek to transform mistreatment and suffering (that) is common among immigrants still today, into hope and positive energy, with the goal of creating lasting social change. The Lenny Zakim Fund is wise to recognize that groups like ours have the energy and the vision, but not always the means to do important work that can change lives and shape future generations.   

 

Marquis Taylor, Coaching for Change 
MarquisAC2013
I grew up 6 blocks from the epicenter of the LA Riots in South Central Los Angeles. Robberies and gun violence were normal and I saw crime every day. I witnessed people overdosing on heroin and brothers pulling guns and knives on one another over $5. I decided to create Coaching For Change as a response to both my personal experiences and my observations as an adult.  Lenny Zakim Fund was the 1st funder who took a chance on me by funding our summer program in 2012. They have provided me with technical guidance and infinite support.   With the help of this organization, Coaching For Change has been able to grow from 10 to 122 kids in Brockton in the last year.  
 
Beecher Grogan, Lucy's Love Bus 
BeecherAC2013

Lucy's Love Bus was founded by a 12-year-old girl, in a hospital bed a few miles from here. Her dream was to be able to offer comfort and quality of life to every child coping with cancer through free integrative therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, art therapy, music therapy, yoga and meditation.  This child was my daughter, Lucy.  Without this grant, immigrant children with cancer in our communities would certainly never hear about or access the services offered by Lucy's Love Bus. Thank you to everyone in this room who is committed to making one dream...or many dreams...come true.

 

When I Write...

RusmirnaAC2013

When I write I have the power to believe in myself, I feel invincible and powerful. 

The poetry that flows from within me is in my heart,

I write when I'm happy, I write when I'm sad.

When I write I am a bright star in the night,

I am a girl in a dark, grey place, but when I write,

I can find my way out.

Tonight when I write my words make angels of darkness walk in light.

My words will always be about love, peace, and hope.

When I write my words are the most beautiful thing you have ever heard.

When I write, I feel free!

When I write...

 Rusmirna Thompson, Troubadour,  

Ms. Vonlegh's 3rd Grade Class, Charles H. Taylor School, Mattapan 
 
LZF offers sincere thanks to 
The Slater Foundation, primary Award Ceremony sponsor for their remarkable generosity, and to 
Eastern Bank for their continued support for the Award Ceremony.
Young Leaders Committee Co-Chairs Sam Slater, Amy Belkin and Josh Zakim
Celebrating A Beautiful Night
 
In a packed room in the Four Seasons, over 350 people - young and old - gathered to raise a record amount of money at our 2013 Casino Night. Saturday, March 2nd marked our 4th annual Casino Night, and boy was it a success! With the help of wonderful volunteers, Susan Wornick - our fearless auctioneer - and many community partners, a wonderful time was had by all! 
 
We raised over $168,000 dollars- including funds for a new grant this year -  that will continue to further our work with our grassroots partners so that they can make meaningful impact in our communities. We are continually thankful for our Young Leaders committee, without whom this phenomenal event would never happen. 

Casino Night's generous Event Sponsors - Amesalu, The Slater Foundation, and Arthur Winn - thank you for making this wonderful evening possible.  




Community Resources
Mass Budget and Policy Center - Excellent and timely information on the state budget as well as in-depth reports on the impact of budget decisions on children, youth, immigrants, education, healthcare, and human services.
TechSoup - Discounted software, inexpensive computers and tech advice for non-profits.
Blue Avocado Free -Magazine of American Nonprofits; great and provacative info on boards, strategy, volunteers and more.
The Giving Common - get on board to help donors and foundations find you.
BU's Center for Digital Imaging Arts Practicum Program - Free for nonprofits - Under faculty guidance, students build web sites, photograph, create film, graphic design and more.
The Lenny Zakim Fund Community Partners Group on Linkedin -Especially for current and former LZF grantees; info from peers and the LZF, including job postings and grant opportunities.

Community Events Corner
Looking for something to do this month? Check out some of our great community events brought to you by our grassroots partners! For more events, visit our website.

Young Women with Disabilities Focus Group
Organized by EPIC
When: Saturday, March 16th at 04:00PM until 05:00PM
Where: YWCA Boston: 140 Clarendon Street, 2nd Floor, Kuumba Library, Boston

EPIC and the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) are looking for young women between the ages of 14-23 with disabilities to join a focus group to improve services for young women with disabilities. Community based, employment, and youth programs for people with disabilities tend to be male dominated, this is an opportunity for young women to share what they are looking for in such programs in order to meet their personal, professional, and educational goals. FYI: The wheelchair accessible entrance to YWCA Boston is located on Stuart St.

For more information: Call 781-388-4340 or email [email protected] 

Build Him Up Summer Peer Institute 2013 Open House & Youth Job Fair
Organized by The Institute for Global Youth Development Programs (IGYDP)
When: Sunday, March 10th at 10:00 AM unitl 12:00 PM
Where: Simmons College, 300 the Fenway, (Library Building, Kotzen Conference Room (1st Floor), Boston

The Institute for Global Youth Development Programs is hosting an Open House and Job Fair for The Build Him Up Summer Leadership Institute for males 15 years to 17 years of age. Please join us for afternoon of fun, while you learn about IGYDP community service projects, leadership training opportunities and summer employment opportunities and connect with young men who want to make the world a better place to live. We hope to see you.

Please confirm your participation by emailing us at [email protected].

For more information: Call 857-891-3785

EPIC Youth Night
Organized by EPIC
When: Saturday, March 23rd at 05:00PM until 08:00PM
Where: The Multi-Cultural Independent Living Center of Boston (MILCB): 329 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain

EPIC Youth Night with MILCB is an opportunity for youth with disabilities between the ages of 14-23 to come together for games, movies, fun, and support. During the Youth Night there will also be a group for parents to learn more about resources and supports available for youth with disabilities. Please RSVP by March 20th and be sure to let us know of any needed accommodations.

For more information: Call 781-388-4340 or email [email protected] 

Asian Breast Cancer (ABC) Project & Asian Women for Health (AWFH) Joint Celebration
Organized by Asian Women for Health, Inc.
When: Thursday, March 28th at 6:00 until 8:00 pm
Where: Tufts Medical Center, Lower Level Wolff Auditorium: 800 Washington Street, Boston

Come hear about our accomplishments, look to our future organization and meet the award recipients who embody ABC's spirit.

For more information: Chien-Chi Huang, ABC Project Director at 617-870-4056 or [email protected] 

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