submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu
We have established a fund of $20,000 to match donations from students, faculty and staff to nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities that are doing important work to combat racism, meet the needs of our neighbors, and help to rebuild communities and businesses. We have chosen four organizations with which Augsburg has important ties and we now are ready to launch the matching fund.
Any gift to one or more of these four organizations from a member of the Augsburg community will be matched dollar for dollar. The four organizations are:
MIGIZI (migizi.org): MIGIZI was founded in 1977 as Migizi Communications, Inc., with a goal of countering the misrepresentations and inaccuracies about Native people in the media. MIGIZI’s first weekly radio production, The Native American Program, set the stage for First Person Radio and its nationally distributed programming. Today, First Person Productions is a multimedia training effort for Native youth aimed at providing state-of-the-art storytelling skills, enhancing self-esteem and improving academic performance. Additional MIGIZI efforts address youth needs in jobs, culture, leadership and more. MIGIZI’s building was destroyed in the violence that ensued after George Floyd’s murder.
JUXTAPOSITION ARTS (juxtapositionarts.org): Juxtaposition Arts develops community by engaging and employing young urban artists in hands-on education initiatives that create pathways to self-sufficiency while actualizing creative power. Black, POCI and other youth are already building the abundant and just future they envision. Help amplify the creativity of young artists in ways that improve our city.
PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES (pillsburyunited.org): Pillsbury United Communities co-creates enduring change toward a just society. Built with and for the people we serve, our united system of programs, neighborhood centers, and social enterprises empowers individuals and families across the region to own their future on their own terms. The Brian Coyle Center in Cedar-Riverside is one of Pillsbury’s community centers.
NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE (northsideachievement.org): The Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) exists to permanently close the achievement gap and end generational poverty in North Minneapolis. Together with our partner organizations, we are walking side by side with low-income families as they put their children on a path to college.
To qualify for matching funds, Augsburg community members should make a gift to one of these organizations between now and the end of July and send a copy of a donation receipt to Cyndi Berg (bergc2@augsburg) in the President’s office. Please note:request for matching funds, in the subject line. After August 1, we will total the gifts to each of the organizations and send matching funds equal to the total donated.
The matching funds are made possible through gifts to the President’s Strategic Fund, which were contributed by alumni and friends of Augsburg this past spring.
This matching fund program is simply one way in which the Augsburg community can take concrete action to live up to our personal and institutional commitments to the values of anti-racism and community building. We believe that Augsburg is called to be a neighbor to the communities that surround our campus.
