Community Ownership for Community Power Fund Makes $1 Million in Grants to San Joaquin Valley Nonprofits

Photo credit: Central Valley Empowerment Alliance

Landmark Investment Supports Equitable Land Access and Housing Justice Movements in San Joaquin Valley Communities

Common Counsel Foundation’s Community Ownership for Community Power Fund is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking investment of $1 million in grants dedicated to organizations within the San Joaquin Valley expanding community ownership of land and housing.

The twelve organizations receiving grants have a profound commitment to uplifting and serving communities of color, low-income workers, farmworkers, youth leadership and Native tribal communities, within this historically under-resourced region of Central California. This investment provides critical support to organizations that are anchors for their communities and work on land stewardship, sovereignty, and cultural as well as historical preservation, with a focus on resilience. The emphasis on climate justice that many of the organizations carry is a direct response to environmental crises, such as floods and fires, that have put so many lives and communities in danger in recent years. 

“We are honored to support the efforts of these incredible organizations. The transformative strategies and vision emerging from the San Joaquin Valley region, even with limited investment, are truly inspiring. We are hopeful that this funding will unlock more resources, and new possibilities for these groundbreaking initiatives,” shared Jazmin Segura, director of Common Counsel Foundation’s Housing Justice Initiative. 

With the generous support from foundations including The California Endowment, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The James Irvine Foundation, San Francisco Foundation and Weingart Foundation, the fund has reached this impressive $1 million milestone for San Joaquin Valley grants, and a total of $5.5 million in grants to other community ownership organizations across California. 

“The Community Ownership for Community Power Fund is at the forefront of philanthropic investment in community-led solutions,” shared Rajib Guha, director of Program Development at The James Irvine Foundation, “We are proud to support the growing ecosystem of organizations in the San Joaquin Valley and across the state that are advancing community ownership and land stewardship strategies that address systemic racism and support the aspirations of impacted communities.”

In addition to grant support, the Fund and the San Joaquin Valley Funders’ Collaborative partnered to fund technical assistance for the nonprofits through the California Community Land Trust Network. The Network is helping organizations enhance their skills and expertise in effectively acquiring and stewarding land and housing.

“The Allensworth Progressive Association is proud to pioneer resilient community models that tackle climate change head-on, ensuring equitable land access, economic sovereignty, and sustainable living for families, seniors, and veterans. This funding allows us to continue and expand our work to enhance soil health, water quality, and habitat conservation, fostering a healthy, thriving, and adaptive community,” shared Dezaraye Bagalayos, Director of Program Coordination at the Allensworth Progressive Association, one of the nonprofits receiving funding.

In the San Joaquin Valley in particular, these expansive approaches to land and housing stewardship are critical given the area’s expansive geography, and worsening danger of  extreme heat, wildfires, flooding,  land retirement, coupled with the rising costs of living.

“We are thrilled to see this level of investment in our community. This funding is not just financial support, it recognizes our longstanding efforts and a catalyst for more sustainable, community-driven efforts for land stewardship,” said Dillon Delvo, Executive Director of Little Manila Rising, one of the funded organizations.

The twelve organizations receiving funding are:

• Allensworth Progressive Association
• Asian Pacific Self-Development And Residential Association (APSARA)
• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
• Central California Community Land Trust
• Central California Environmental Justice Network
• Central Valley Empowerment Alliance
• Faith in the Valley
• Little Manila Rising
• Lowell Community Development Corporation
• Southwest Fresno Community Development Corporation
• South Tower Community Land Trust
• Wukchumni Tribe

Read about the transformative projects from these organizations:

Allensworth Progressive Association leads community development in Allensworth, emphasizing cooperative development and community ownership. With grant funding, APA will continue to honor the legacy of Allensworth’s Black founders by building a model of a rural BIPOC-driven, climate-resilient, self-sustaining community, aiming to spread this model throughout the Central Valley.

Asian Pacific Self-Development And Residential Association (APSARA), founded by Cambodian refugees to secure housing and political empowerment, currently self-manages the Park Village Apartments and has revitalized the community. With the new grant funding, APSARA plans to achieve full ownership of the complex, acquire additional properties, and expand its services to other Central Valley counties, including Stanislaus, Merced, and Fresno.

California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) is community-led legal aid, that supports homeownership for those traditionally excluded from the housing market through legal representation, technical assistance, community education, and advocacy. The grant funding will allow CRLA to continue to build power and advance community ownership models by providing technical assistance on how to navigate advocacy before decision-making and regulatory bodies, direct legal representation, community education, and advocacy.

Central California Community Land Trust creates and preserves housing in Fresno, focusing on community ownership and permanent affordability. Grant funding will enable CCCLT to ensure long-term stability and wealth-building in neighborhoods historically affected by displacement and disinvestment.

Central Valley Empowerment Alliance (CVEA) promotes sustainable development and local ownership in rural California communities through collaborative projects and capacity-building initiatives. The grant funding will enable CVEA to continue strengthening community self-reliance and equitable growth, particularly through cross-cultural programs and youth leadership initiatives.

Central California Environmental Justice Network launched “La Milpa de Fresno” in 2023, providing Fresno farmworker families with land to practice agroecological farming and land stewardship. With grant funding, CCEJN will continue enhancing sustainable farming practices and fostering a culture of health, harmony, and respect for the natural environment.

Faith in the Valley partners with the California Community Land Trust Network to enhance community ownership strategies and support the emerging land trust movement in the Central Valley. Grant funding will enable FIV to further support the efforts of BIPOC leaders and residents in addressing systemic issues and advancing community-led decisions around housing and resources.

Little Manila Rising enhances South Stockton’s well-being through youth power-building, environmental programs, and community development. With the grant funding, LMR will continue developing the Little Manila Rising CDC, the first in Stockton, and establish a new community center to further support youth leadership and community growth.

Lowell Community Development Corporation addresses affordable housing gaps in Central Fresno by creating long-term rental options and homeownership opportunities. With grant funding, Lowell CDC will expand its efforts to provide quality affordable housing and support families with barriers to homeownership.

South Tower Community Land Trust transforms spaces to build shared prosperity and health in the South Tower neighborhood. With grant funding, they plan to develop their first property into affordable homeownership and rental units, continuing their vision of a barrier-free, prosperous community.

Southwest Fresno Community Development Corporation helps community residents navigate the real estate process through homebuyer education, housing counseling, and financial assistance programs. Their efforts are crucial in growing power and restoring opportunities for Black community members, including addressing the impacts of redlining. With grant funding, Southwest Fresno will continue offering educational workshops, one-on-one credit counseling, and down payment assistance to help low-moderate-income families achieve homeownership.

The Wukchumni Tribe revitalizes and maintains the cultural values and traditional lifeways of the Wukchumni Yokuts, focusing on teaching these values to future generations. With grant funding, the Tribe will continue to preserve traditional food systems and ecological knowledge, while developing a cooperative housing village that meets the community’s housing, social, ceremonial, and cultural needs.

Part of Common Counsel Foundation’s Housing Justice Initiative, the Community Ownership for Community Power Fund was created to organize funding and investments in support communities of color in controlling their own destinies, reclaiming resources from speculative markets for collective governance and well-being. In addition to grantmaking, Community Ownership for Community Power Fund is spearheading the creation of an integrated capital acquisition fund of at least $100 million. Once launched, it will be one of the largest-scale efforts of its kind in the state and the first to be governed directly by communities.