Opinion|Grassroots Organizing Makes Government Work Better

To the Editor:

I wholeheartedly agree with Ben Naimark-Rowse’s perspective that donors must support grassroots organizing — “Donors Leery of Supporting Grassroots Organizing Need to Rethink How They Approach Such Work” (February 22).

During the past year, I saw up close how one group of immigrant Latina women came together during the pandemic to secure federal investments from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan.

Forming the Mountain View Solidarity Fund, they worked with the California community’s city council to distribute direct assistance to their neighbors who faced the greatest need. City officials entrusted them with nearly $2 million in American Rescue Plan funds because of their knowledge of the community and deep respect within it.

The rationale for this was clear. Many of the women had long advocated in the local schools and were trusted by both local elected officials and community members. Reaching residents most affected by the pandemic meant addressing longstanding fears among immigrant populations about interacting with the government. The city council considered the women ideal facilitators of direct government assistance for food, utilities payment, and other essential services.

Outcomes like these are why the Latino Community Foundation, where I work, spent $1.4 million last spring to make sure grassroots organizers could partner with their local governments to ensure the American Rescue Plan was a successful endeavor for communities of color.

Beyond keeping government accountable, grassroots organizing helps make government work.

Christian Arana
Vice President of Policy
Latino Community Foundation