Archive for April, 2009

Walking the Walk

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

By Nina Dessart

As Agape’s administrative director for the past 7 years, I am proud of many things about the Foundation. Our commitment to supporting emerging social justice organizations.  Our efforts to reduce the power differential between grantor and grantees through transparent review processes and open granting sessions. And the Foundation’s diverse grant portfolio that includes groups working for peace, human rights, environmental protection, restoration and justice, economic justice, progressive arts & media, and grassroots organizing support.

Certainly, I am proud of all of that.  But today, on Earth Day, I am also proud to say that Agape not only supports grassroots environmental efforts, but we walk the walk ourselves.

Here is a list of just some of the things that we have been doing for years to lesson our impact on this precious planet.

We:

Re-use one sided paper.

Re-use “mistake” and used envelopes.

Buy only recycled paper products.

Print only with soy-based inks on 100% recycled stock.

Have switched to e-newsletters and annual reports.

Recycle paper, glass, cans, and all toner/ink cartridges.

Take turns carting home compostable items (in bio-bags, of course).

Buy water in bulk in reusable containers.

Use canteens for staff and real glassware for visitors and the Board.

Use real or compostable silverware for meals.

Use only non-toxic cleaning products in the office.

Keep a large collection of canvas tote bags available for office errands.

Buy only used office furniture.

Repair, instead of replace, office machines (3 of 5 are 10+ years old!).

Provide public transportation benefits to staff.

Use City Car Share when a car is necessary for Foundation business.

And of course, shop locally and support green businesses.

Even as I sit here, proud of our longstanding commitment to protecting the environment, I wonder what else can we at Agape do to walk the walk?

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15 Years

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

hourglass

by Karen Topakian

That’s how long I’ve gladly served as the Executive Director of the Agape Foundation. And what a long, strange trip it’s been!

When I began in 1993, I printed our documents on a jarringly loud daisy wheel printer. Now, we post to our blog.

When I began, I worked three days a week, alone in a small one-room office. Now, we have two employees, one of whom is full-time, who work in a four-room suite that includes a large, sunny conference room.

When I began, Agape’s annual budget was $185,000. In 2008, it was $818,000.

When I began, Agape’s largest grant was $1,500. Now, it’s $5,000.

Many things about the Foundation may have changed, but one remains constant. Agape’s commitment to funding grassroots, nonviolent, social change organizations.

In 1993, Agape awarded a grant to Lesbians and Gays Against Intervention for their counter-recruitment and anti-draft work amongst lesbian and gay youth. In 2008, Agape awarded a grant to BAY-Peace for their counter-military recruitment work focusing on working class students of color.

In 1993, when Agape awarded a grant to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for outreach to the Spanish-speaking community on the oppression of gender and sexual minorities around the world, their budget was less than $100,000. Today, their budget exceeds $1.5 million.

In 1993, Agape awarded a grant to Western States Legal Foundation to support their campaign against environmental threats posed by nuclear programs and coordination of the defense of nonviolent protestors. This week, President Obama announced that he would immediately seek U.S. ratification of a ban on nuclear testing and convene a summit in Washington to stop the spread of nuclear material within four years.

In 1993, Livermore Conversion Project was accepted into Agape’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program so that they could receive charitable donations for their work converting Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab to peaceful purposes. Today, Agape proudly continues to provide them with fiscal sponsorship.

In many ways, very little has changed about this 40-year old organization that has nurtured, supported and funded hundreds of grassroots peace and justice organizations committed to social change, except now someone else will be its leader. Because on March 31, 2009, Cesar Chavez’s birthday, my tenure at Agape ended.

Thankfully, the new leader is Eileen Hansen, who arrives with the skills, commitment and temperament to ensure Agape’s success. As the Interim Executive Director, Eileen will work with the Board of Trustees and Nina Dessart, the Administrative Director, to prepare Agape for its next journey.

Thank you for making my years as Agape’s Executive Director an honor and a pleasure.

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Exercising My First Amendment Right

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Protestors mark 6th Anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq

By Karen Topakian

It’s not every day that you publicly get to exercise your first amendment rights. By dissenting. But I did on Thursday, March 19, 2009, on the 6th anniversary of the US’s invasion of Iraq.

Lying down in the middle of Market Street at Montgomery at 12:30 p.m., stopping business as usual. Sixteen of us lay in the sidewalk in a die-in.

The police gave us three warnings to leave or risk being arrested. I didn’t leave.

A cool breeze crossed my cheek as I listened to the chants against the war and in favor of more money for health, education, jobs and housing. I asked myself how many years will I have to lie in the street on this date to stop this war?

Sadly, I don’t have an answer. Because every year I do this I hope it will be my last. But the wars continue.

I know that lying in the street alone will not stop the invasion of Iraq. Nor will just marching down Market Street. Or only sending letters to the President and Congress. But we have to do all of them to ensure that the cumulative impact will be felt and heard by our elected leaders.

On March 19, I had to publicly say NO to war. For a moment we will focus on the lives lost and the money wasted and the environment damaged in this war.

The police removed us from the scene, charged us with disobeying a traffic signal and warned us to not return or we would be arrested, charged with a misdemeanor and sent to jail. Four of my colleagues chose to literally return to the scene of the crime. They lay down again and the police arrested them. I cheered from the sidelines.

Thank you James Madison. For 220 years ago, you included this right, the right of the people peaceably to assemble, as the first right of the Bill of Rights.

I’ve been exercising it every chance I get.

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