FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Duke Schempp
PEPP Executive Director
116 12th St. S. Moorhead, MN
218-236-5434
duke@pepp.org
April 22nd, 2004—Moorhead, MN
People Escaping Poverty Project Awarded $150,000 from The Otto Bremer
Foundation for 3-Year Grant to fund Community Organizing Training and
Development
At the most recent meeting of the Trustees of the Otto Bremer
Foundation, consideration was given to the request from the People
Escaping Poverty Project for funding Community Organizing, Leadership
Development, Collaborative building and Support, and Technology for the
PEPP organization. The Otto Bremer Foundation Trustees approved a grant
in the amount of $150,000 over three years to use for this project.
Since 1986, PEPP has grown and continues to refine it’s work on
developing leadership, developing organizing and improving our
community by engaging ordinary people in Participatory Democracy.
Our community is alive with social activism. Numerous groups are
working towards improving the community, however, there is a lack of
unified collaboration and efforts. Thus, many groups are good at
getting attention towards community problems, yet they lack expertise
and community-organizing skills to follow through to be sure the
changes are being implemented.
PEPP will use this funding to enhance the continuation of: effective
leadership and organizing development training’s, developing more
community organizers, effectively monitoring and addressing
multi-issues, such as; housing issues, continuing the development of an
affordable housing, human rights and education agenda.
PEPP has always focused on Community Organizing. PEPP's work is focused
on developing a shift in power, resulting in real and immediate changes
in peoples lives by impacting the issues at the policy level, rather
than the individual being assisted in a direct service. PEPP’s goals
are to be a powerful organization led by people with low income and
developing alliances and partners to work together, as a collaborative
community force to creating positive changes in the Fargo, ND,
Moorhead, MN, Dilworth, MN and regional areas. Community Organizing and
Leadership Development is PEPP’s key in remaining a viable and valuable
organization in our community.
PEPP’s Vision is committed to building community, empowering people,
and uniting for power justice and equality. The PEPP's mission is
to strategically challenge the power dynamics of systems and
institutions, by organizing powerful people and resources through
intentional relationships.
This Grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation will help PEPP achieve the
mission and vision of the organization and improve the quality of life
for all residents of our community.