Community Foundation grants are addressing inequities in Clark County communities hardest hit by the war on drugs

The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington has awarded more than $450,000 to 11 Clark County organizations working to address social, racial and economic inequities within communities of color.

Since August, the nonprofit has distributed $477,273 to organizations specializing in social and racial equity work through a combination of funds from the Social Justice and Resiliency Fund and $1.9 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The state funding is part of the agency’s Community Reinvestment Plan, a two-year initiative launched in October 2023 that aims to address inequalities caused by the war on drugs and similar national policies.

The Community Foundation has used its Social Justice and Resiliency Fund as a bridge to redistribute the money to local nonprofits.

“This funding will enable grassroots organizations to grow and thrive in ways that extend vital resources to people who feel the reality of disinvestment and discrimination every day,” Matt Morton, president of the Community Foundation, said in a statement.

The Foundation

The Foundation, which supports people leaving the prison system, received $100,000 from the Social Justice and Resiliency Fund in August.

Lester Griffin founded The Foundation last year after experiencing his own challenges and lack of support as he reintegrated into the community following incarceration.

The Foundation helps people released from prison find housing, employment and health care.

“It is important that individuals coming home from prison have a place to lay their heads as they take the steps toward a new path,” Griffin said. “It’s about having that support, having someone who says, ‘We see you, we know you exist.’ I am big on responsibility. We can do 30 percent, but you have to achieve the other 70.”

The Foundation also hosts weekly support groups and counseling for families affected by incarceration, recognizing that this can have a ripple effect on the entire family.

The Foundation will use part of the grant to recruit new staff. Griffin has already hired an employee to support youth in the justice system by working with probation officers and attorneys.

The money will also go toward operating costs and maintenance of the Teen Center, a space where youth can take community classes, play games, receive ongoing support and learn more about their culture.

Griffin said the Foundation just signed the lease for a new transitional housing project for recently incarcerated people. The non-profit organization partnered with the Vancouver Housing Authority to create the restored transitional complex.

The building, in the Fourth Plain Village neighborhood, will be renovated before hopefully opening in late November, Griffin said.

Griffin said the support from the Community Foundation and other local organizations has been invaluable. Going forward, he wants to continue to be a resource for those who don’t have many places to go after prison.

“They see our vision, they see our mission,” Griffin said. “My eyes have been opened to the extra time they put into guiding me through this process. It’s huge. We can expect big things.”

The Community Reinvestment Plan seeks to implement changes at the state level.

The state’s plan allocates $138 million in economic development grants, $30 million in community violence services, $12 million in reentry services, $8 million in civil and criminal legal assistance, and the remaining $12 million dollars in support of local advisory teams.

According to the Commerce Department, the plan recognizes that the government has introduced penalties for drug offenses that unfairly targeted communities of color.

In Washington, the greatest impact was on Black, Latino and Indigenous neighborhoods and people. The project will begin to redress some of these inequities, Commerce said.

For more information about the Community Foundation’s Social Justice and Resiliency Fund, visit https://clbn.us/lIuac.