Proximate

"We have to remember that regardless of the government in power, movements find a way to show up." We spoke with Laura Vergara and Ruby Johnson about elections, funding cuts and how organizations like The Global Resilience Fund are filling gaps for proximate activists working on the frontlines.

Adolescent girls are engaged in every social justice and national liberation movement in the world. Yet funders continue to under-resource their work. Angelika Arutyunova and Lariza Fonseca share takeaways for funders who want to support girls and young feminists that are leading creative responses to crises and rising authoritarianism. Published in partnership with Alliance magazine.

While we are all exhausted, disappointed, and disheartened by the state of the world and the current political moment, the work continues. The work to lift up the voices, to ask better of all of us, to trust that the arc of history will bend towards justice and liberation, and no one better than queer girls and youth who give me this hope and inspiration. And in this moment when queerness and trans is being criminalised and attacked it is even more so my responsibility to do my part. This is why it is my honor and pleasure to share with you this co-written piece with the brilliant and kindest Lariza Fonseca, where we pay our respects and gratitude to queer and trans adolescent girls and youth and invite funders to show up for and with them in radical ways. Thank you Alliance magazine and Proximate for co-publishing this piece. ----- So what can funders do to fund adolescent girls and youth sustainably? If we listen to what girls and trans youth are telling us, if we pay attention to how they organise, if we respect their voices and their agency, if we trust their choices about where we go from here: It’s going to look radical.? ? Radical trust:?We invite funders to release their mistrust and let adolescent girls and youth decide where the money goes and how to distribute it.? ? Radical flexibility:?Given the deeply restricting contexts in which organising is happening, be flexible in how you provide support. Go beyond funding NGOs and projects. Support campaigns, short-term initiatives, as well as the long-term sustainability of movements, individuals, collectives, and everything in between.? ? Radical practice:?What are your application and reporting requirements? And most importantly, why? Ask as many?whys?as you can until you’ve got the most accessible, flexible application and reporting processes possible. Radical practice also includes how you send money. In oppressive contexts, many groups cannot afford legal registrations and formal institutional bank accounts.?You?do the labor to figure out how to be most accessible and responsive to the funding needs of the groups you want to support.? ? Radical community:?While there are not many funders supporting adolescent girls, there are some. Be intentional about creating community with your peers; think of your contribution as part of a larger ecosystem. What is your role?vis-à-vis?others? What is your role in nurturing honest, equal, and healthy relationships with younger change-makers?? #fundinggirls #resourcemobilization #girls #adolescent #queerfunding

Saiu hoje a segunda edi??o da Proximate Brasil. Para quem n?o conhece, a Proximate é uma revista online focada em processos participativos nos eixos da filantropia, democracia e economia. Somos parceiros da Próxima para a edi??o Brasileira sobre filantropia. A edi??o está incrível! N?o percam o artigo da Ana Biglione? na nova coluna “Aprofundando a Filantropia”. Ben Wrobel Meg Massey Kevin McClendon Jonathas Azevedo Caroline Amanda Camila Haddad Rodrigo Rubido Marcelle Decothé

We're hiring! We just passed 1,000 followers on LinkedIn, and we're ready to ramp up our digital presence. We're looking for a temporary Digital Marketing consultant to help us test out new approaches to social media before we hire a full-time role early next year. This consultant will help us roll out our first crowdfunding campaign, and pilot new approaches to social through the end of the year. Apply by October 28.

You might know Extinction Rebellion as the brazen activist group raging against the fossil fuel industry. But did you know they also advocate for citizens’ assemblies? In our latest issue of Beyond Elections, Pamela Bailey spoke with XR organizers Marijn van de Geer and Kathie Conn about the group's interest in participatory democracy.

??? The newest edition of Beyond Elections is out! Discover how Extinction Rebellion is teaming up with democracy reformers to advocate for citizens' assemblies in the UK’s climate policy. ??? The September issue, authored by Pamela Bailey, also tackles the risks of "participation washing" and highlights Ukraine’s strides toward transparency during wartime. As proud content partners with Proximate, we’re thrilled to share these powerful stories that showcase innovative approaches to democratic reform. ?? Sign up for our Beyond Elections newsletter today! https://lnkd.in/dYiiRUc2 #ParticipatoryDemocracy #CivicEngagement #ClimateAction #CitizensAssemblies

Check out our new partnership with Solutions Now Africa – a mini-documentary about a democratic SACCO in Central Uganda

Want to learn about how participatory grantmaking adapts to respond effectively in crisis contexts? The Participatory Grantmaking Community of Practice is hosting an event on September 24th, called Participatory Grantmaking During Polycrisis, featuring: ? Ruby Johnson from Purposeful ? Yara Dowani from Rawa fund ? Nino Ugrekhelidze from Dalan Fund ? Moderator: Coco Jervis?from Mama Cash ?? RSVP: lnkd.in/g3JzVmdV

Our second issue of Beyond Elections is now live, courtesy of editor Pamela Bailey and our partners at People Powered. Beyond Elections is our newsletter on participatory democracy – a collection of stories and conversations about what democracy can look like between and beyond election cycles. Check out this issue for a wide range of stories: ?? Josh Lerner argues that we live in a world of "diverse democracies" – and that we'll need a "just transition" to recognize how they all work together (bit.ly/47g1U6X) ?? Susan C. shares an excerpt from her new book, "Public Engagement Made Easy", on how town hall meetings can be productive, not disastrous (bit.ly/3Ti9HeR) ?? Kudzaiishe Seti chats with us about how rural communities in Zimbabwe are developing climate policies that are more relevant than those developed in the urban capital (bit.ly/3TjdKHD) ?? Jon Alexander talks about his work with the New Citizen Project, and how we can build models to give citizens real power without scaring off politicians (bit.ly/4eaJJSj) Sign up for our Beyond Elections newsletter if you haven't yet! https://lnkd.in/dYiiRUc2