Table of Contents
Links:

The Black Star Project's website:

Black Star Journal:

Become a Member:

Make a donation:
DonateNow


Like us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:

 

MacArthur Foundation 
is ducking on Chicago's 
most crucial issues
Photo provided by The Black Star Project

By Phillip Jackson
May 26, 2016

The heads of some foundations think they're gods. And they can never understand why people, who are economically subjugated by their grant-making, would complain about their treatment by the Foundation Gods.

At my organization, the Black Star Project, we looked at every grant that the city's largest foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation,  made to organizations in Chicago in 2015. With MacArthur's annual spending roughly $325 million worldwide, we calculated that, in 2015, it gave some $56 million to Chicago causes. Of that, only $375,000-only one-tenth of 1 percent of total giving-went to black-led organizations that primarily serve Chicago's black communities.

Despite that fact, MacArthur Foundation representatives were surprised when  black people challenged a new $100 million loan program named Benefit Chicago. This initiative is designed to "loan" money to nonprofits and socially responsible businesses-money that must be repaid with interest. Some recipient nonprofits likely include those that MacArthur had previously not given to, nor considered for grant awards, including those in Chicago communities with the highest needs. But given our calculations above, all indications are that Benefit Chicago is just another MacArthur-proposed Benefit "White" Chicago initiative.

Chicago is MacArthur Foundation's home. Chicago is also ground zero for violence and murder in the United States. As one of the wealthiest foundations in the world, MacArthur ought to be at the forefront of reducing Chicago's violence and murders. Yet it is not even at the table. In Chicago, over 70 percent of its 2015 grantees were arts, culture and research organizations.

The black community does not want to fight with MacArthur Foundation, but we don't want to be treated as fools. We want the MacArthur Foundation to be fair to black people and supportive of Chicago. Chicago's population is about 33 percent black and 29 percent Latino. One-third of its $56 million in grants, about $18 million, should have been awarded to black organizations. And instead of a mere $159,000, about $16 million should have been awarded to Latino organizations.

Our request is for MacArthur to become a leader in philanthropy for the life-supporting, important issues that matter in Chicago, or to be on the next bus out of town. As mythology shows us time and time again, even gods can come crashing down to the earth.
Phillip Jackson is founder and executive director of the Black Star Project. He is a former CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority and the city's chief of education.

Click Here to See Grants Made in Chicago by MacArthur Foundation in 2015 and to Whom.

Please call Julia Stasch of MacArthur Foundation at 312.726.8000 and Terry Mazany of the Chicago Community Trust at 312.616.8000 and ask them to support The Black Star Project's plan to fund viable, high-functioning Black nonprofits in Chicago to help stop violence in Chicago. 
MacArthur Foundation Must Help Stop Violence in Chicago
  • The MacArthur Foundation is a $6.5 billion foundation.
  • The MacArthur Foundation made $325 million in program grants worldwide in 2015.
  • The MacArthur Foundation awarded $56 Million in grants in Chicago in 2015.
  • The MacArthur Foundation awarded only $375,000 in grants to Black organizations working to solve problems in Black communities.
This is not acceptable!!! The MacArthur Foundation must help reduce violence and murders in Chicago by funding organizations that are working to mentor, educate and develop Black communities across Chicago.

In 2015, the MacArthur Foundation granted almost $56 million to organizations located in Chicago. In that year, MacArthur did an abysmal job of grantmaking to Black and Latino communities.
Almost all of their grants have gone to White-led organizations, while Black and Latino organizations have received next to nothing. 

Please call Julia Stasch of MacArthur Foundation at 312.726.8000 and Terry Mazany of the Chicago Community Trust at 312.616.8000 and ask them to support The Black Star Project's plan to fund viable, high-functioning Black nonprofits in Chicago to help stop violence in Chicago. 
With 63 people shot over memorial day weekend, MacArthur Foundation uses $56 million to improve culture of the city. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

More Than 60 Shot in Chicago in Memorial Day Weekend Violence

By Staff Report
May 30, 2016

Chicago police beefed up patrols for Memorial Day as more than 60 people were shot during the violent three-day holiday weekend. 

By Monday evening, at least 63 people had been shot across the city since Friday afternoon, including five who were killed. This surpasses the number of people shot during last year's Memorial Day weekend, though Chicago Police News Affairs said murders are down 50 percent compared to last Memorial Day.

Among the youngest shooting victims, a 15-year-old girl was fatally shot while riding in a car with a documented gang member on Lake Shore Drive. 
First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante said the department's plan for Monday was to increase patrols in designated areas, including along Lake Shore Drive. 

"As we've said before, it's about 1,500 people that are driving the violence," Escalente said. "Those are the people we're trying to concentrate on." 

Chicago has been pulled into headlines nationwide this weekend as police struggle to curtail the city's growing reputation for violence. Escalante said he is confident the department can get things under control, but others are skeptical. 

"The police cannot stop the killings in the Chicagoland area and it's not their fault," community activist Tio Hardiman told NBC 5. "The community needs to organize in high numbers and work with these guys on street corners in an aggressive way." 

As the city wraps up the fifth month of 2016, the Chicago Tribune reports there have already been more than 1,400 shooting victims so far this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Police were paid $116 Million in overtime last year.  Policing strategies don't work to reduce Chicago's violence.  Please call Julia Stasch of MacArthur Foundation at 312.726.8000 and Terry Mazany of the Chicago Community Trust at 312.616.8000 and ask them to support The Black Star Project's plan to fund viable, high-functioning Black nonprofits in Chicago to help stop violence in Chicago.