MISSION STATEMENT
The Foundation's mission is to work towards economic and social justice. By promoting economic democracy and education, and providing legal support, the Foundation aims to contribute towards the creation of an economic system where the poorest communities have all their basic necessities of life met with dignity and integrity.
THE FOUNDATION VISION
The Foundation for Economic and Social Justice envisions a new society where we have economic democracy and where basic human rights and justice are assured. The Foundation is a powerful catalyst, moving our communities towards an economic system of full employment, where even those who are most marginalized earn enough to provide their family with the basic necessities of life and are treated with dignity and respect.
We are committed to the following principles:
The Foundation believes that education, eco-sustainability, cooperative enterprise, the empowerment of communities and legal activism are essential to a more equitable and just society.
We are committed to the following principles:
- The importance of an equitable redistribution of wealth;
- The eradication of inequality, injustice, and poverty;
- That society as a whole has the moral responsibility to enhance human dignity and is obliged to protect human rights;
- That people have a right to life, food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education and employment.
The Foundation believes that education, eco-sustainability, cooperative enterprise, the empowerment of communities and legal activism are essential to a more equitable and just society.
GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION
Because the ultimate goal is so huge, we view it as a guiding principle from which to derive our mid-term goals and short-term objectives. Thus, the Foundation’s mid-range goals would involve projects that advance structural changes to deal with the root causes of extreme poverty. For example, the Foundation funds cooperatives that allow its members to have more control over the fruits of their labor and keep for themselves more of the economic surplus they produce. The Foundation also views education as a tool for poor people to improve their economic condition. Another goal of the Foundation is to fund scholarships to help underprivileged students pursue higher education. The Foundation selects students that are likely to contribute to promoting economic or social justice, so that the funding of their education would have a multiplier effect. It would not only help the student receiving the scholarship to work his/her way out of poverty, but that student would then help others get out of poverty and actively engage in advancing economic and social justice issues.
Moreover, in pursuit of its ultimate mission, the Foundation will fund advocacy and activism that is likely to move us closer to the type of changes that may result in a more equitable distribution of resources. This may include funding research and activist efforts advocating for specific issues that are consistent with the Foundation’s mission. It may also include funding legal support for activists and advocates working to advance economic or social justice issues that the Foundation decides to adopt.
The Foundation may also provide funds for short-term objectives, such as emergency aid or disaster relief. We view this type of aid as a stop-gap measure while more permanent solutions are implemented. Funding for immediate relief will be decided upon by the Foundation’s Board, taking into account the gravity of the situation and the availability of Foundation funds.
Moreover, in pursuit of its ultimate mission, the Foundation will fund advocacy and activism that is likely to move us closer to the type of changes that may result in a more equitable distribution of resources. This may include funding research and activist efforts advocating for specific issues that are consistent with the Foundation’s mission. It may also include funding legal support for activists and advocates working to advance economic or social justice issues that the Foundation decides to adopt.
The Foundation may also provide funds for short-term objectives, such as emergency aid or disaster relief. We view this type of aid as a stop-gap measure while more permanent solutions are implemented. Funding for immediate relief will be decided upon by the Foundation’s Board, taking into account the gravity of the situation and the availability of Foundation funds.
WHAT MAKES THE FOUNDATION UNIQUE?
Although the foundation is new and small, its size and newness become assets that allow it to be innovative and creative. With no cumbersome bureaucracy, it can be versatile, offer personal hands on care, and work in ways that may appear non-traditional. It can try new things, be willing to experiment and innovate to seek and develop untried ideas. The work that it has already accomplished, demonstrates its ability, organization, and commitment. It works closely with its communities and can quickly see and identify the practices, and individuals, making an impact in dynamic, visionary, non-traditional ways. It is willing to trust their success. Older more traditional foundations may not be as willing to offer these groups support. It knows its community. It can adapt itself quickly to change as it happens and can identify the projects it chooses, will have a transformational and exponential effect. Its leadership is completely dedicated to its mission and vision.
This is a new moment in our history. The Foundation for Economic and Social Justice seeks to ameliorate some of the basic causes of the present inequities and injustices. It seeks change and social transformation and is prepared to work to see that it happens.
These problems are immense. We understand that, but… are we comfortable as a nation, a Los Angeles sinking into the future… a city, a community in which we have seen a huge increase in the number of millionaires and billionaires, while at the same time we have more people living in poverty than we have ever had before? That is the moral issue we have to address.
At its core the Foundation’s ultimate mission is to bring about systemic changes to eliminate or at least ameliorate extreme poverty and hunger. This is a very ambitious mission which many not be accomplished in a very long time but it is the underlying objective for all the undertakings of the Foundation.
This is a new moment in our history. The Foundation for Economic and Social Justice seeks to ameliorate some of the basic causes of the present inequities and injustices. It seeks change and social transformation and is prepared to work to see that it happens.
These problems are immense. We understand that, but… are we comfortable as a nation, a Los Angeles sinking into the future… a city, a community in which we have seen a huge increase in the number of millionaires and billionaires, while at the same time we have more people living in poverty than we have ever had before? That is the moral issue we have to address.
At its core the Foundation’s ultimate mission is to bring about systemic changes to eliminate or at least ameliorate extreme poverty and hunger. This is a very ambitious mission which many not be accomplished in a very long time but it is the underlying objective for all the undertakings of the Foundation.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
