Our latest granting cycle has brought us applicants from the Northeast, the South, the Midwest, and the Pacific Coast. In the months leading up to our granting decisions, I had the honor of meeting and speaking with environmental rights activist leaders, anti-genocide protesters, parents fighting for educational equality in marginalized neighborhoods, and abortion rights activists standing up to right-wing disinformation tactics. The repression that these parents and young people have faced has been, frankly, horrifying. The disproportionality and ferocity of targeting feels like a hallmark of the current moment. But in spite of that, it feels like the greatest privilege to get to know these families who, in spite of the dangerous landscape, push us forward towards a better world and remain on the frontlines of the fight for justice.

Now that our spring grants have all been awarded, we have eight new activists in our community - both parent and youth activists - from four new families. We have awarded over $220,000 so far this year, which brings us to a staggering total of over $9.6 million granted in our organization’s lifetime. And while our spring grant cycle is over, we are keeping our ears to the ground, staying plugged into activist movements and preparing to support even more targeted activists across the country in the fall. We know repression is increasing everywhere, and we want to be as ready as we can to help.

I’m deeply grateful for the ability to make some difference in the lives of these indomitable families, and from my vantage point as granting coordinator, I love getting to see how our grant funds translate into real opportunities for children and young adults. This spring, one family’s grant funds are paying for supplies for a homeschooled 6 year-old boy to build and plant his own raised bed garden, learning about nature and food systems along the way. Another family’s grants have paid for their eldest daughter to visit colleges and envision potential futures for herself after facing trauma and hardship throughout her childhood. There are basketball tournaments, gymnastics competitions, orchestra practices, and therapy sessions that are made possible every day by RFC grants. Even in the midst of the rising tide of fascism, children are finding themselves, pursuing their passions, and accessing ways to heal. There is hope and light everywhere, and I feel so lucky to be able to see it from here.