The Island Spirit Fund

by GlobalGiving
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The Island Spirit Fund
The Island Spirit Fund
The Island Spirit Fund

Project Report | May 13, 2021
Rebuilding one home, one garden, and one training

By Kayla O'Neill | Senior Business Partnerships Associate

Speakers at La Marana event in Puerto Rico
Speakers at La Marana event in Puerto Rico

The Island Spirit Fund’s partners have been hard at work this spring supporting diverse projects that build environmental resiliency and help individuals and communities rebuild their lives. Here are some of their updates:

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has funded several program throughout the island including:

  • Training to 31 Virgin Islands-based entrepreneurs, most of whom were women and people of color. The two-day program helped the entrepreneurs to innovate, dissect problems, develop solutions, and lead change in their communities.
  • Equipment to mulch yard debris, which reduces the strain on the territory’s overflowing landfills and related transportation costs.
  • An eight-week urban farming program providing each participant with access to a community garden, seeds, tools, online classes, and a tour of a new sustainable local farm.

“Thank you for having such a wonderful program," Amanda B., an urban farming program participant said. "It has opened my eyes to food and food sustainability not only in Frederiksted but throughout the Virgin Islands and world. After receiving my farming license I have continued farming and plan on having plantains for sale in the next couple of months.”

CFVI funding will also support upcoming programs including a solar affordability workshop for lower-income families, training to displaced workers, and a permaculture farm project.

Meanwhile, the St. John Community Foundation finished three more home rebuilding projects, surpassing the number of homes rebuilt by any other private or federally funded project on the island. They have two more major home rebuilding projects which are pending permit approvals and depend on supplies that can be difficult to procure due to COVID-19.

In Texas, a staff member from partner Bayou City Waterkeeper called out the City of Houston for underinvesting in water infrastructure for those most vulnerable in the community. Her op-ed was published in the city’s largest newspaper.

In Puerto Rico, La Maraña is making progress on a documentary and celebrating their partner organization’s newly opened community kitchen and meeting space. With progress on their current goals underway, they are starting to think about the next chapter of their work.

Thank you for helping these organizations think big about what they can accomplish in the future!

Doors are added to a rebuilt house on St John
Doors are added to a rebuilt house on St John
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GlobalGiving

Location: Washington, D.C. - USA
EIN: 30-0108263

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