NEWS RELEASE 02.15.22: IMPACT FUND MAKES GRANTS OF $92,135 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE

New Grants to Support Impact Litigation on Behalf of BIPOC Communities, Young Adults, People with Disabilities, Foster Youth, and Low-Income Families.

Berkeley, CA 02.10.22 – The Impact Fund has made recoverable grants totaling $92,135 to fund five lawsuits that challenge voter suppression, racism, pollution, and inaccessible services for unhoused individuals with disabilities.

“Since its founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has stood in solidarity with people with disabilities and BIPOC and low-income communities, supporting them in their battles for justice,” said Impact Fund Executive Director, Jocelyn Larkin, adding: “we’re grateful today to renew our commitment to economic, environmental, racial, and social justice.”

The first grant was made to the Law Office of Dennis M. Grzezinski to fund a multi-plaintiff environmental justice challenge to the proposed expansion of the I-94 highway that currently runs through downtown Milwaukee. In recognition that highway projects historically entrenched segregation, the goal of the grant is to prevent further segregation of the region's Black, Asian, and Hispanic neighborhoods, while also mitigating pollution contributing to ill health.

The second grant was made to Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability in California’s Central Valley to fund environmental justice litigation challenging the City of Fresno’s plan to streamline industrial development that fails to protect vulnerable neighborhoods from adverse environmental and public health impacts.

The third grant was made to Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago to fund Carter and DRACH v. City of Chicago, a multi-plaintiff civil rights case against the City of Chicago challenging the homeless shelter program’s inaccessibility to people with disabilities.

The fourth grant was made to Children’s Rights to fund the case Bryan C. v. Lambrew, a class action against the state of Maine to challenge its pervasive failure to safely monitor the prescription and administration of powerful psychotropic medications to foster youth.

The fifth grant was made to Upper Seven Law to fund the case Montana Youth Action v. Secretary of State, a multi-plaintiff voting rights case challenging voter suppression laws in Montana that disadvantage young adults, while at the same time giving priority to gun owners.

Helen Kang, Chair of the Impact Fund’s Grant Advisory Committee, said: “These communities have earned their day in court, and we’re grateful to do what we can so that justice will prevail.”

Letters of inquiry for the Impact Fund’s next grantmaking cycle are due April 12, 2022. 

ENDS

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