On Saturday mornings, Abi Gildea makes her way to 50 50 Liberty Avenue in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood. Any other day of the week, her route would lead her to an empty parking lot. But on Saturdays, the area transforms into a bustling market filled with dozens and dozens of local vendors. From vegetables to prepared foods to home goods and everything in between, Bloomfield Saturday Market is a place for people to enjoy a taste of Pittsburgh. And Abi is the woman behind the market’s magic.
Continue reading Awesome Project: Bloomfield Saturday MarketAwesome Project: La Casa Guadalupana
Sister Marie Benzing smiles as she recalls the most recent graduation ceremony from La Casa Guadalupana, a family literacy program based in Detroit. “They were so proud, you know. They were each in their car, in the parking lot with their families, and Lourdes called their names. They got out of their car and walked up. She put their certificate on the corner of the table and then backed away. They took their certificate and all the horns were honking. It was so cool.” In the middle of a year that brought so many challenges to their community, the graduation was an occasion truly worth celebrating.
Continue reading Awesome Project: La Casa GuadalupanaNEW FEATURE! How to download your donor list on ioby
At ioby, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our user experience and offer features that help meet your needs. It’s why we always ask for feedback from project leaders like you, and why we invite your thoughts at every step of the crowdfunding process.
One of the most requested features from project leaders has been for an easy and simple way to download your list of donors. We’re happy to share that this feature is now live!
Here’s how to download your donor lists on your ioby campaign page:
Continue reading NEW FEATURE! How to download your donor list on iobyOrganizing your neighborhood for justice: Past, Present, and Future
Fighting for racial justice is an ongoing, multifaceted process. The challenges we face are interconnected and will take actions big and small from all of us to overcome. To commit to the movement for Black lives, then, is to be committed to a continuous and systemic approach to our fight for racial justice. It’s a tall order, but we know some folks who are up to the task!
We put together a three-part blog series to offer just a few examples of what the fight for Black lives might look like in your community; we invite you to support these projects and to draw inspiration from them for your own project. It features powerful examples of Black-led projects on ioby that fight for a world where Black Lives Matter in their own unique ways. Explore them below, then, check out our resources to help bring your own idea to life.
Continue reading Organizing your neighborhood for justice: Past, Present, and Future5 ideas to get involved in local elections and boost civic engagement
As we edge closer and closer to Election Day on November 3, folks across the country are heading out to the polls to cast their votes and let their voices be heard. And although there are many things about this election that make it different from those of years past, one thing remains the same: as Americans, we have the right and the responsibility to use our vote to build a better society for ourselves and our neighbors.
We know that while voting is powerful and important, our civic duties don’t end there. So today, we’re bringing you five ways that you can get involved in local elections, increase voter participation where you live, and boost civic engagement in your community. In doing so, you’ll be helping yourself and your neighbors build the habit of becoming lifelong civic doers!
Continue reading 5 ideas to get involved in local elections and boost civic engagementOrganizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Building the future
Right now, we are living in a pivotal moment in our nation’s racial trajectory, and the whole country is paying attention to the Black Lives Matter movement’s call to action. From small backyard gatherings to busy city streets, people everywhere are standing in solidarity with Black lives. They’re listening, they’re learning, and they’re fighting positive change that will move us all toward a more racially just society.
We know that we have a long way to go until we get to justice, but we know that achieving racial justice is possible. It will take neighbor leaders like you uniting to celebrate and honor Black history, stand against racism and fight for justice in the present, and look toward the future with hope.
So today, we’re sharing the stories of several ioby projects that are exploring what a just future might look like, and investing in their communities as they chart a path to that future. We hope you’ll be as inspired by these changemakers as we are! This is the final piece of a three-part series on fighting for Black lives; be sure to check out our previous posts about honoring Black lives of the past and sustaining the fight in the present.
Continue reading Organizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Building the futureFive ideas to support kids as they go back to school during COVID-19
Learning pods, virtual classrooms, and school PPE, oh my! As the school bell rings and students get ready to head back to class, our school supply lists might look a little different this year. But whether our kids will be walking into campus or logging onto Zoom on day one, one thing remains consistent: we want them to have a great start to the school year!
Right now, we’re seeing lots of ioby leaders working hard to provide the tools and technology that families need to ensure the learning doesn’t stop during COVID-19. They’re being flexible, creative, and responsive to the needs of their communities. Many are deepening the work they’re already doing as they pivot their projects, and we know their work is making a difference!
We’ve rounded up a few examples of how some folks are rising to the challenge of helping students and families prepare for the new school year. Many of these projects are still fundraising, and we invite you to learn more about how they’re empowering students and their families–and investing in a better future for us all.
Continue reading Five ideas to support kids as they go back to school during COVID-19Organizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Projects that sustain the present
As our nation continues to reckon with a 400 year legacy of racism, you might be surfacing and grappling with some of your own feelings, and coming to a place of action. Maybe you’ve participated in a protest, supported local Black-owned businesses, or contributed to a bail fund. These are all important ways we can center our Black neighbors and show that Black Lives Matter, and we know our work won’t end when the headlines fade.
Anti-Black racism in America isn’t new, and it’s clear that it continues to this day in stark terms. Many American policies are deeply rooted in racist ideology and as a result have perpetuated racist beliefs and outcomes. This systemic racism affects all aspects of life for Black Americans. Extending far beyond the criminal justice system, it results in income inequality; disproportionately high Black maternal death rates; discrimination in the housing market; chronic stress from the psychological effects of racism; and much, much more.
Today, we’re talking about sustaining the fight for racial justice in the present, and we’re also highlighting some recent ioby projects that are doing just that. (By the way, some of them are currently fundraising, so you might consider donating to help them achieve their goals.) This is the second piece of our three-part series on fighting for Black lives, so check out our previous post about why it’s important to honor Black history and movements in our past, then stay tuned for our final installment about building a racially just and equitable future for us all.
Continue reading Organizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Projects that sustain the presentOrganizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Black History Projects That Honor the Past
Every day since the June 25th murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, demonstrators around the world have been taking to the streets to demand that Black Lives Matter. (Recent studies say that the movement may be the largest ever in US history!) The protests are reigniting a long-overdue reckoning with anti-black racism, and we’re heartened to see so many neighbors across the country showing up.
We know that fighting for Black lives is an ongoing, multifaceted process. Each and every step we take is important, but our work isn’t done when our projects are complete. Instead, we need to be committed to a continuous, systemic approach to our fight for racial justice. Anti-racism is not a moment; it’s a movement.
So today, we’re sharing the first in a three-part blog series to offer a few examples of what a fight for Black lives might look like in your community. We pulled together powerful examples of Black-led projects on ioby that are, in their own way, fighting for a world where Black Lives Matter.
Continue reading Organizing the Neighborhood for Justice: Black History Projects That Honor the PastA bittersweet farewell to our dear David Weinberger
ioby friends, we have some bittersweet news to share with you: after eight years, today is our beloved colleague David Weinberger’s last day with us at ioby. We know, we almost can’t believe it either!
For many of us in the ioby community, when you hear the word “ioby,” David’s smiling face is one of the very first things you think of. Whether you know him as a cheerleader and supporter of your project from back in his days as Community Manager, or whether you’re a friend of ioby in local government or a fellow nonprofit who’s worked with him on a new collaboration, you know that David’s excitement for positive civic change easily lights up a room.
Continue reading A bittersweet farewell to our dear David Weinberger